After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 27: Chapter 21 The Imperial Edict

The servants brought over the sedan chair, and Zhao Hanzhang steadied herself on Ting He’s hand as she sat down, then handed the scissors to Fu Tinghan, saying, "Cut whichever flower you like, cut casually."

Fu Tinghan glanced at her, reached out to take them.

He looked around, slowly selecting three well-grown roses nearby, and returned to Zhao Hanzhang’s side, handing all the flowers to her.

During this time, the little maid continuously knelt on the ground, not daring to move, and the people behind the rockery dared not make any noise.

Zhao Hanzhang pointed to a pink-white rose not far away and said, "Make it an odd number, it’s auspicious."

Fu Tinghan went to cut it.

The colorful roses were wrapped in a handkerchief by Zhao Hanzhang as she held them in her hand. She glanced coldly at the still silent rockery, snorted coldly, and then had people carry the sedan chair away.

Fu Tinghan looked back at the rockery before following the sedan chair, returning to his reserved state.

As soon as they left, the person behind the rockery softened, collapsing to the ground. The maid covered her forehead with one hand and supported her back with the other, almost bursting into tears, "Eldest Sister, are you alright?"

The maid who was kneeling outside the rockery crawled back urgently, assisting Eldest Sister Zhao together.

At the front courtyard, Zhao Ji had just sent off the Angel, returning to the main hall with a joyful expression.

Yesterday, they knew the royal decree appointing the Princely Heir might arrive today, so they prepared early, and no one went out.

In the second household, apart from Eldest Sister Zhao who was just released, everyone was present;

While in the main household, Zhao Erlang was dazed, his presence made little difference, and Third Sister Zhao couldn’t appear due to a leg injury.

Zhao Ji glanced at Mrs. Wang standing silently on one side, unable to suppress his smiling lips. The Princely Heir position had been discussed for five or six years, and today, it was finally settled.

Zhao Ji stepped forward to greet Zhao Changyu, "Uncle, do you think we should host a banquet to express imperial grace?"

Zhao Changyu glanced at him indifferently and nodded, "Then let’s do it."

Third Lady should also formally meet some people.

Zhao Zhongyu frowned slightly, disagreeing, and glanced at his son, about to speak when Ji Yuan hurriedly came in, "Master..."

Everyone halted their conversation and looked over.

Ji Yuan skirted around Zhao Ji and whispered a few words in Zhao Changyu’s ear, his expression turned shocked, and he couldn’t help but cough violently, soon his face turned pale, only his cheeks showed two morbid red from coughing.

Zhao Zhongyu was startled, hurriedly stepped forward, "Big Brother!"

Ji Yuan was also taken aback, not expecting Zhao Changyu’s drastic reaction, hurriedly supporting him, "Master, stay calm, why is it so?"

Zhao Changyu tightly gripped Ji Yuan’s hand, his nails almost digging into his skin, exasperated, "He is destroying our Great Jin’s foundation..."

After speaking, Zhao Changyu finally couldn’t bear it, leaning back and fainted.

The main hall descended into chaos at once.

Zhao Zhongyu was somewhat panicked, hurriedly calling out, "Quick, go get a doctor, take a post and request the Imperial Physician..."

"We can’t request the Imperial Physician," Ji Yuan stopped Zhao Zhongyu, saying, "Today is a fortunate day for the decree, the matter of the master’s severe illness should not be spread, let’s quietly call a doctor."

Zhao Zhongyu solemnly replied, "Brother is severely ill, how can we still worry about reputation at this time?"

Ji Yuan lowered his voice, "The master fainted because he learned of King Hejian’s death, are you sure you want everyone to know?"

Zhao Zhongyu widened his eyes in shock, "King Hejian..."

He realized something, hurriedly closing his mouth, no longer insisting on calling the Imperial Physician.

Mrs. Wang was pushed to the back, unable to get close, she anxiously paced, having just secured the Princely Heir position, her father-in-law couldn’t have an incident now, or they would truly lose their support.

Ji Yuan and everyone carried Zhao Changyu to the inner room bed, turning back to see Mrs. Wang’s bewildered look, considering a moment, then moved forward without revealing anything, whispered, "Quickly go get Third Lady."

Mrs. Wang regained herself, hurriedly pulled Qing Gu out, "Quickly get Third Lady here, and Fu Zhongshu too, since both families have exchanged engagement posts and gifts, we are in-laws now, they have to be informed."

Qing Gu answered, hesitantly glanced inside, "Madam, please wait for us, do not conflict with the second household."

Mrs. Wang stomped her foot, "Do you think I don’t know? The most urgent now is the father-in-law, hurry, right, bring Second Son too."

No matter how foolish, if grandfather is ill, he must come.

Zhao Hanzhang just arranged the cut roses in a vase, Fu Tinghan casually handed over a handkerchief, while Fu Zhi sat aside with a smile, finding them highly compatible.

Just as they were pleased, they heard rapid footsteps.

The three turned their heads to look outside the door, Qing Gu hurriedly approached, respectfully said, "Third Lady, the master is in critical condition and urgently summons you."

Zhao Hanzhang was surprised, "Wasn’t he fine earlier? How did he suddenly become critically ill?"

How would Qing Gu know why?

Perhaps only Ji Yuan knows why, therefore she remained silent.

Fu Zhi already stood up, "Let’s go, together to check."

Once reaching the main courtyard, Zhao Changyu had already awakened, yet his complexion was dreary, starkly different from the morning.

Zhao Hanzhang strode into the room, ignoring Second Household’s wide-eyed stares, heading to the bedside.

Zhao Changyu reached out to take a pill, after scanning around, told Zhao Ji, "Everyone else leave."

He said, "Leave Changrong and Third Lady."

Zhao Ji couldn’t help glancing at his father, Zhao Zhongyu slightly nodded, and he led everyone out.

The room was instantly left with only six people, Ji Yuan retreated to the back of the bed, quietly watching them.

Fu Zhi sat by the bedside, sighed and asked Zhao Changyu, "What’s causing such commotion?"

Zhao Changyu didn’t want to speak, only pointed towards Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan then stepped forward and said, "The news returned this morning saying King Hejian encountered bandits on his way back to the capital, he and his three sons, all perished."

Fu Zhi stood up in shock, "What?"

Ji Yuan glanced at Zhao Changyu, receiving his permission, continued, "According to spy reports, it was the Prince Nanyang’s subordinate Liang Minister who led people to wait in Xin’an, once confirming it was King Hejian, ordered everyone to be killed, not a single one from King Hejian’s family survived."

Fu Zhi slowly sat back down, "He aims to monopolize court power..."

"But it’s unnecessary to annihilate them all, self-destructive to the Great Wall," Fu Zhi annoyedly struck his thigh, his tightly clenched fist slightly trembling.

Zhao Changyu managed to regain himself, sweeping his gaze over Third Lady Zhao and Fu Changrong, then told Zhao Zhongyu, "The Princely Heir position is settled, prepare yourselves, I’ll take you to meet some people later, for these two days, keep doors shut, no entertaining visitors."

Zhao Zhongyu hadn’t expected his brother would so easily entrust the family’s foundation to their father and son, after a brief pause hurriedly bowed in agreement.

Fu Zhi quickly said, "Others aside, you can’t stop my eldest son, now your granddaughter’s husband, let him care for you and fulfill his filial duty."

Zhao Changyu didn’t oppose, nodded in acceptance.

Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t help but turn to glance at Fu Tinghan, still quietly standing aside.