After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 582 - 576: Persuasion

Ji Yuan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang’s expression. Seeing little change on her face, he sighed and said, "Lady, let’s not mention Mrs. Wu, let’s talk about Zhao Ji. You and he are blood relatives and have lived under the same roof for more than ten years. By all accounts, you should be among those with close ties in this world, yet it has reached a point where you are strangers in life and death."

Zhao Hanzhang shivered involuntarily and quickly raised her hand to stop Ji Yuan from continuing, "Sir, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There’s no need for such preamble."

Ji Yuan paused, looked at Zhao Hanzhang for a moment, and then said slowly, "Fu Changrong seems to be building his own influence."

After saying this, he intentionally stopped, wanting to give her time to react.

Zhao Hanzhang blinked, quickly understanding the key to the matter. Ji Yuan knew all her forces, and he was sharp. If there was a significant movement, he would naturally find out.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Where is he cultivating it?"

Seeing her seemingly unconcerned demeanor, Ji Yuan frowned and said, "He bypassed you and transferred several people, and they all disappeared silently. I sent someone to investigate, and there are rumors lately that a business caravan from the Shangdang area took Zhao Family’s glass, including books and paper."

With Ji Yuan’s caution, he would start by gathering some evidence before discussing his suspicions with Zhao Hanzhang.

Ji Yuan said with a face full of regret, "Unfortunately, whether in Luoyang, Chen County, Xiping, or Shangcai, the workshops are all under Fu Changrong’s supervision. Even if people originally came from the Zhao Family, they now listen to him more. It’s difficult for me to inquire about their secrets, so I can only deduce from some accounts that a batch of goods from Luoyang and Xiping have gone missing."

Unable to help but exclaim, Zhao Hanzhang said, "Sir, you are impressive. Gao Hui has been out for less than half a month, and you already know everything."

Ji Yuan was startled, "Gao Hui? Lady, you know?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "I instructed Ting Han to do this."

She roughly told Ji Yuan about her plan and the recent people she enticed.

Ji Yuan: ...

He calmed down, looked at Zhao Hanzhang carefully, and said, "This plan is indeed excellent."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Sir, do you have any additions?"

Ji Yuan shook his head, "You and Uncle Ming are both extremely intelligent. As long as you do something with intent, it’s seldom that others can find flaws."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Didn’t Sir just find one?"

She said, "I just lifted... cough, I mean, I just started moving, and you already knew which direction I was heading."

Ji Yuan retracted his warning gaze, his expression relaxed, and his face once again showed a gentle smile, "Lady, there’s no need to tell Uncle Ming about my visit today."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed readily, smiling with a hint of mischief in her eyes, "You just called him Fu Changrong, and now he’s Uncle Ming again, why?"

Ji Yuan ignored her as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

After laughing for a while, Zhao Hanzhang became serious, "Since Mrs. Wu is dead, let’s send a funeral gift from Luoyang, in my name."

Ji Yuan became serious too, nodding, "Indeed, we need to maintain a good relationship with the side in Yun City. Lady, how do you plan to arrange Zhao Yi?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Let him attend the talent recruitment exam in Chen County this year. If he passes, we will use him."

Ji Yuan: "And if he doesn’t pass..."

"Still use him," Zhao Hanzhang curled her lips and said, "He has studied for many years. Even if he doesn’t pass the talent recruitment exam, he won’t be too far off."

It’s just that the uses would be different.

She paused and then said, "If he doesn’t pass, place him in the school. The school’s promotion path is different from that of the talent recruitment exam."

Ji Yuan understood, "Why choose Chen County? Zhao Ming is in Chen County. Wouldn’t placing him in Xiping be better? Fifth Grandfather has always disliked people from the second branch."

Currently, Zhao Ming is managing the Zhao Family’s resources. He holds a high reputation within the clan. Placing Zhao Yi beside Zhao Ming might not be a good idea.

Zhao Hanzhang thought differently, "It’s precisely because of Fifth Uncle that we need to place Zhao Yi in Chen County. Fifth Uncle tends to act emotionally, while Uncle Ming does not."

She said, "If he truly is suitable to be the Clan Leader, I have no words. But if he isn’t suitable, he won’t pass Uncle Ming’s test."

And knowing Zhao Ming’s character, even if he doesn’t like Zhao Yi, he wouldn’t make things difficult for him;

Zhao Song is different. When he used to manage the clan’s affairs, he wouldn’t make things difficult for those he didn’t get along with. But now that he’s essentially a hands-off shopkeeper, he’s become more willful, even more childlike.

He dislikes the second branch and would inevitably take it out on Zhao Yi.

Currently, Zhao Zhongyu is still the Clan Leader and is in Yun City as a hostage. She doesn’t want to create more trouble.

News of Mrs. Wu’s death reached Xiping and Chen County. Zhao Yi, even though he expected it, couldn’t help but shed tears and began mourning with his entire family.

Zhao Dian, holding two letters, walked straight to the backyard where Zhao Yi was packing his things.

He bowed and said, "Young Master, the Lord has sent a letter."

Zhao Yi hurriedly turned to receive the letter and found there were two. He couldn’t help but pause.

Zhao Dian explained, "The other letter was sent back from Luoyang by Third Lady."

Zhao Yi nodded and opened his grandfather’s letter first.

Zhao Dian waited on the side for him to finish reading.

Zhao Yi’s expression didn’t look good. When he saw Zhao Dian standing beside him, he paused and handed the letter to him.

Zhao Dian was specifically left by Zhao Zhongyu for Zhao Yi. Most of the servants around them had been replaced, and Zhao Dian was one of Zhao Zhongyu’s trusted aides. By leaving him behind, Zhao Yi understood his grandfather’s intention for him to heed Zhao Dian’s advice.

Zhao Dian received the letter respectfully, read it quickly, and then looked at the letter Zhao Yi was opening.

Zhao Yi, expressionless, handed him the letter.

Zhao Erniang and Zhao Si Niang stood nervously to the side.

Zhao Dian, after reading, relaxed his expression, glanced quickly at the three siblings, and said first, "Young Master, the Lord means that now thieves and bandits are rampant outside, traveling is too dangerous, so the lady’s body is temporarily placed in a temple. When the Lord or the elder returns, they will bring her back to be buried. You’d better not go to Yun City."

Zhao Yi, although he had anticipated it, still felt downcast.

Zhao Dian paused and said, "Third Lady suggests that you participate in the talent recruitment exam..."

"I’m mourning," Zhao Yi interrupted him, "How can I go to the exam?"

Zhao Dian replied, "The servant sees that the Lord also has this intention."

He said, "Now Yu State is managed by Third Lady. Since she has personally spoken, it’s a matter of priorities. Why not put away your sorrow and help your sister as well?"

"You now only see Third Lady’s prestige, but you don’t know how difficult this path is," Zhao Dian said earnestly, "Even someone with extensive experience like the Lord has many unsatisfactory experiences in the officialdom, let alone Third Lady? She is not only young but also a lady, and to achieve such accomplishments starting from nothing to commanding tens of thousands of troops, all these achievements were fought for bravely on the battlefield."

"You are her cousin. Besides your own siblings from the same mother, you two are the closest. The young people in the clan, even the ladies who are ambitious and talented, are all going to help Third Lady. If you don’t go, wouldn’t it hurt her feelings?"