After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1277: Chapter 1244: Borrowing Money Again

Zhao Hanzhang finished visiting all the workers and soldiers, and then had a simple lunch with Fu Tinghan before leaving.

Fu Tinghan knew that she had to rush back to attend a family banquet. After escorting her to the crossroads, he said, "It’s dark at night, and it’s not safe to travel. You should stop and rest. Even if you’re a little late, your mother and Fifth Uncle wouldn’t mind."

Zhao Hanzhang verbally agreed, but she didn’t like being late, especially when it was unexpected and beyond her plan.

If she couldn’t arrive on time for a family banquet, what else could she succeed in doing in the future?

Zhao Hanzhang hurried her horse through the night and only stopped to rest when she reached the post station on the outskirts of the Capital City at dawn.

She rested at the post station for just an hour and set off as soon as the day broke. By the time she reached Luoyang, the city gates had been open for a while, and she entered the city along with farmers carrying vegetables and flower baskets.

Upon entering the city, Zhao Hanzhang headed straight for Zhao Mansion.

The distance from the West City Gate to Zhao Mansion was long, and by the time she arrived, the sun was already high in the sky.

The family members in the capital had already arrived one after another, and the younger generation, like Zhao Zheng and Zhao Hui, had come early to help.

Hearing the sound of horse hooves, Zhao Hui, who was at the gate watching people hang lanterns, turned his head disapprovingly to look, just in time to see Zhao Hanzhang leap off her horse and throw the reins to the doorman who came up to greet her, striding in with a line of personal soldiers following her.

Zhao Hui quickly composed himself and greeted her, "Third Sister, you’re here so early?"

He had thought that with Zhao Hanzhang’s busy schedule, she would only arrive just at noon, but there was still more than half an hour to go until noon.

Zhao Hanzhang casually acknowledged his greeting and asked, "Have Fifth Uncle and the others arrived?"

"Yes, they’re in the flower hall examining everyone’s lessons."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him, "Then why aren’t you joining them?"

"Uh," Zhao Hui hesitated for a moment, then quickly pointed to the lanterns on the door, "I was ordered to hang the lanterns."

Zhao Hanzhang looked up in surprise, "Hanging lanterns in broad daylight?"

Glancing at the lanterns on the ground, Zhao Hanzhang understood immediately, "Aren’t these lanterns usually hung on New Year’s Eve? Who replaced them?"

"Seventh Ancestor," Zhao Hui whispered, "Seventh Ancestor disliked auntie’s lanterns, so he brought a hundred new ones from home to replace them all."

Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "Seventh Ancestor meddles too much. This is my house, not his. As long as my mother likes the lanterns..."

Zhao Hui quickly added, "It’s not like that. Seventh Ancestor also feels sorry for auntie. Seeing the lanterns were old-style from past years, he wanted to replace them with new ones."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Who changes lanterns every year?"

Zhao Hui: "Seventh Ancestor’s house changes them every season, and again for New Year’s, so five times a year."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She couldn’t be bothered to argue, turned to leave, and then thought of something, turned back to ask, "Is Seventh Ancestor also in the flower hall?"

"Seventh Ancestor is impatient with Fifth Uncle examining lessons; he’s currently playing in the garden."

Zhao Hanzhang turned to head toward the garden.

Uncle Cheng magically appeared from somewhere, trailing behind her, whispering, "Lady, you are travel-worn. To visit the elders, you should wash up and change clothes first."

Zhao Hanzhang thought it made sense; her mother had been criticized by Zhao Hu once already—if she went looking all grimy now, she would definitely be criticized again.

She turned her steps back toward the rear courtyard, asking, "Did Aunt cry?"

"No, during the festive season, Mistress knows it’s inappropriate to cry, so she’s holding it in." Uncle Cheng complained in a whisper, "Seventh Grandfather removed the lanterns in front of everyone. Mistress couldn’t contradict an elder and had to swallow the grievance."

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand to show she understood.

Mrs. Wang knew her daughter wasn’t in the capital, as neither had she returned nor gone to her husband’s family on New Year’s Eve, but she kept quiet. When others asked, she said they stayed up for New Year’s together, covering up for her today as family arrived.

She was talking in the backyard with her sisters-in-law when a maid reported Zhao Hanzhang’s arrival. She made her way to see her but was delayed, so upon arriving at the main courtyard, Zhao Hanzhang had already gone to the garden.

Mrs. Wang was a bit dazed, "Wasn’t she going to wash and change clothes?"

The maid attending her said, "The lady bathes quickly; she washed and dressed in just a quarter of an hour."

Mrs. Wang: ...

Zhao Hanzhang, refreshed in new clothes, went to see Seventh Ancestor.

Zhao Hu, seeing her ponytail and Hufu attire, complimented, "This outfit looks great, valiant and spirited, truly the daughter of the Zhao Family."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She glanced down at her outfit and then sat beside him, "My mother made it."

Zhao Hu said, "Your mother may not excel at other things, but she does have good taste in clothes and jewelry."

Zhao Hanzhang pointed to the courtyard, "Isn’t the courtyard set up nicely? Isn’t the house well-managed?"

Zhao Hu said, "It’s average, not great, but not bad either. You should see my courtyard, a scenic spot every ten steps, now that is exquisite."

"Too much craftsmanship; like those lanterns replaced today, I don’t find them better than the original ones."

Hearing Zhao Hanzhang question his aesthetics, Zhao Hu sat up straight and said, "Those lanterns were used for two years, the paper had faded. What’s so good about them? The lanterns I brought you are palace lanterns. Craftsmen used to make them only for the Imperial Palace, and only the palace could afford them."

"I don’t believe it. If only the palace could afford them, how did you manage to buy them, Seventh Ancestor?"

"Hmph, it’s all because of you, being so stingy! The palace procurement kept pressing prices, and with only the Little Emperor as the master, there wasn’t enough demand, so the craftsmen naturally had to sell them outside," fearing she’d accuse him of overstepping, Zhao Hu added, "many families in the capital are using them."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind. Craftsmen have to eat too, she couldn’t let them go bankrupt and starve.

"Lanterns should complement the courtyard’s scenery. This mansion, left by Grandfather, is quaint and elegant. The lanterns my mother chose are simple yet classy, complementing the mansion well," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Don’t mention fading, I saw them at the gate just now, their color, though old, looks better. Replacing them with your gaudy palace lanterns doesn’t match this mansion at all and feels like a nouveau riche."

"Aren’t you referring to me instead of the lanterns?" Zhao Hu snorted, "What’s wrong with being nouveau riche? I have money, and I’m willing."

"Fine, I won’t argue with you, be as willing as you like, since they’re all switched anyway, I can’t have them replaced back." Zhao Hanzhang leaned in and whispered, "Seventh Ancestor, judging by how you speak, do you have lots of savings?"

Zhao Hu looked at her warily, "What are you planning?"

"I want to borrow some money from you."

"Borrow again!" Zhao Hu’s voice rose, and everyone in the garden looked over before he lowered it, "Why borrow again, isn’t the war over?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "This time it’s for myself, not for the court."

Hearing it was for her, Zhao Hu’s expression softened, asking, "What do you need the money for?"

Zhao Hanzhang merely smiled without speaking, Zhao Hu observed her for a moment, and with silent communication, Zhao Hu assumed he understood, and laughed, "Right, you’re in this position, there’s no need to be harsh on yourself. So, how much do you need?"

Zhao Hanzhang held up one finger.

Zhao Hu frowned, "A million?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I’ll pay you the highest interest rate."