After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 699 - 691: Two Kings Rule the Country

Pei Yuanjun raised her eyes in surprise and looked at Zhao Hanzhang, her hand holding the tea bowl trembling slightly, causing ripples in the sugared water inside.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang watching her, she quickly put down the tea bowl, placing her hands in front of her abdomen. Her face regained composure, but her heart was stirred with waves of emotion. She never expected Zhao Hanzhang to invite her... to become an official.

Despite her efforts to restrain herself, Pei Yuanjun’s eyes quickly filled with tears, unable to hide her emotions, "Did Lord Zhao... request me to be the Book Supervisor?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, saying, "I currently have Fan Ying, Wang Hufeng, Wang Yifeng, and Zhao Yunxin as female officials by my side, but that’s far from enough. Wang Yifeng recommended you to me earlier, and I’ve long heard of Miss Pei’s talents, so I came to ask for your assistance. I hope Miss Pei will aid me."

Pei Yuanjun twisted her hands together nervously, speaking with difficulty, "Lord Zhao is young and may not know that I was once betrothed to Wang Rong’s son, Wang Sui. After his death, I was ordered not to leave my home, so..."

Zhao Hanzhang replied indifferently, "Wang Rong is already dead. Besides, even if he were alive, what should I fear?"

Pei Yuanjun swallowed nervously, looking at her with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

Ting He, standing by the side, remarked, "Miss Pei, the Late Crown Princess is now our lord’s secretary. Though Wang Rong once held high power, how does he compare to the Late Crown Princess?"

But within the aristocratic clans, they acknowledge Wang Rong’s power more, don’t they?

However, considering Zhao Hanzhang’s actions over the past two years, she doesn’t seem to care much for the aristocratic clans. Pei Yuanjun clenched her hands, realizing this might be her only opportunity.

Wan Gu, standing by the side, also looked earnestly at Pei Yuanjun, her eyes full of expectation.

Pei Yuanjun raised her head to seriously observe Zhao Hanzhang, straightened her back, and bowed deeply, placing her forehead on the back of her hand. With a solemn tone, she said, "Thank you, Lord, for not discarding me. I, Yuanjun, will give my all and devote myself until death."

Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly helped her up, showing a bright smile, "Good, then I shall await Book Supervisor Pei at the Zhao Mansion tomorrow."

Pei Yuanjun nodded brightly and only saw Zhao Hanzhang off to the main gate before stopping.

Watching Zhao Hanzhang and her servant walk away into the distance, Pei Lai and Pei Lun turned to ask Pei Yuanjun immediately, "Yuan Niang, what did Lord Zhao say to you?"

After leaving Pei Yuanjun’s courtyard, Zhao Hanzhang took her leave, not giving Pei Lai and Pei Lun a chance to speak, though they wished to keep her a while longer.

After slightly bowing to her two elder clan brothers, Pei Yuanjun said, "Lord Zhao came to ask me to be her Book Supervisor. I have already agreed and will assume office tomorrow."

Pei Lai and Pei Lun widened their eyes, "What?"

Pei Lai asked, "Why did Lord Zhao invite you?"

Pei Lun said, "Wouldn’t this offend Mrs. Wang?"

They were right there; if someone from the Pei family was to be used, it should have been them. Why invite Pei Yuanjun?

Not knowing how to answer these questions, Pei Yuanjun said, "Perhaps you two brothers could ask Lord Zhao yourselves."

Having said that, she offered a slight bow and took Wan Gu back to her courtyard.

Pei Lai and Pei Lun: ... As if they dared to ask her.

Watching Pei Yuanjun’s leaving figure, Pei Lun frowned deeply, "Letting her leave, won’t Mrs. Wang and her relatives resent us?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Pei Lai said, "Do you dare to stop her and not let her leave?"

He added, "Now, letting her leave might offend the Wang faction, but not letting her leave will definitely offend Zhao Hanzhang."

Between the two options, they would rather offend Mrs. Wang than Zhao Hanzhang.

The county magistrate is not as good as the current official, and now, both the county magistrate and the current official are Zhao Hanzhang.

Pei Lun and Pei Lai exchanged a glance, silently suppressing the concerns, envy, and jealousy in their hearts.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the position of the sun and decided to conveniently buy some delicacies to take back for lunch.

Ting He, following behind and paying, was somewhat puzzled, "Hasn’t the young lady been short of people? I saw those Pei family gentlemen seem eager to serve. Why not invite them out to help as well?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "They are not worthy of my personal invitation."

She continued, "I’ve invited many, though not everyone is worthy of my invitation, as that could make truly talented individuals appear mediocre."

"If the Pei brothers want to enter politics, they can join through the recruitment exam, or they can come to recommend themselves to me; they might even ask someone to recommend them. They have used none of these methods, showing their desire for officialdom doesn’t surpass their pride."

Zhao Hanzhang is not afraid of ambitious people right now, but fears those who are all talk and no action and hold onto their reputations without doing substantial work.

Ting He said, "The young lady only met Miss Pei once, yet you know she is a person of great talent?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Not only is her calligraphy excellent, but her status and current situation are also worthy of my invitation."

Ting He, being her chief maid, handles many of Zhao Hanzhang’s affairs and will deal with more in the future, so Zhao Hanzhang is happy to instruct her.

She explained in detail, "Everyone fears the Wang family’s power. Although Pei Yuanjun is talented and wise, due to Wang Rong’s word, no one dared propose to her, and even the Pei family feared the Wang family’s influence, failing to advocate for her. What would happen if I stepped in to break this deadlock?"

"Pei Yuanjun would undoubtedly be loyal to the young lady, doing her utmost to serve her."

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled and said, "That’s just one aspect and a minor one at that."

She said, "I don’t lack loyalty; there are so many who wish to be loyal to me that it’s easy to get. So why specifically seek Pei Yuanjun’s loyalty?"

Ting He could not reply immediately.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Because Pei Yuanjun’s status is significant. Once I employ Pei Yuanjun, letting her hold power by my side, the world will know that I, Zhao Hanzhang, am not afraid of the Wang family’s influence or any force; as long as one is talented, they can find a suitable path with me."

Those formerly oppressed by Mrs. Wang will choose to side with her, and even those close to Mrs. Wang might be swayed to join her upon seeing her strength.

This is the most important reason she chose to use Pei Yuanjun.

So even if Pei Yuanjun had no abilities, Zhao Hanzhang would still take her out of the Pei family, let her become active, and provide her with a brighter future.

Seeing that Ting He was still somewhat unclear, Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Do you know the saying ’Two Wangs in Power, Yang Gong without Virtue’?"

Ting He shook her head.

Zhao Hanzhang explained, "The Two Wangs are Wang Yan and Wang Rong, while Yang Gong refers to the former Marquis Juping Yang Hu. Yang Gong was upright and loyal, despising evil as if it were a personal enemy, and didn’t get along with the then ruling Xun Xu and others, often getting slandered. Wang Yan once tried to persuade Yang Gong on this matter, oh, Wang Yan was Yang Gong’s cousin’s nephew."

"Yang Gong was unaffected, and once commented on Wang Yan, saying that if he were to rise to high position with his great reputation, he would certainly fail and harm society’s values. Looking back today, his evaluation was not wrong at all," Zhao Hanzhang said lightly, "And as for Wang Rong, he participated in the battle of Xiling and erred. Yang Gong wanted to execute him according to military law, but unfortunately, he was saved, leading both Wang Yan and Wang Rong to bear a grudge against Yang Gong."