Chapter 1400 - 1315: Favorability

Upon seeing that the two of them could not determine a winner for the moment, Zhao Hanzhang called out to stop them. Zhao Erlang and Beigong Tuanyuan tacitly gave each other a kick and, after colliding, leaped down and landed simultaneously.

Zhao Erlang curiously scrutinized Beigong Tuanyuan, "Sister, who is she?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "This is General Beigong’s beloved daughter, Beigong Tuanyuan. She’s quite skilled, having made meritorious contributions in suppressing bandits and is now a Colonel in the army."

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up, "If you join my army, I can appoint you as a military advisor."

Beigong Tuanyuan’s gaze flickered slightly, "Really?"

Zhao Erlang nodded, "Your skills are good, and being General Beigong’s daughter, your horsemanship must also be excellent. If you go to battle against the Tubo and Western Qiang, you will be of great use."

"Would you still employ me after I marry?"

Zhao Erlang said, "Do you intend to resign after marriage?"

Beigong Tuanyuan shook her head, "I do not want to resign."

Zhao Erlang replied, "Unless you’re with child, otherwise you must obey military orders."

Beigong Tuanyuan nervously looked towards Zhao Hanzhang, "Your Majesty, can this humble servant continue to serve in the military?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, "Of course you can. Although there are fewer female soldiers compared to male soldiers in the army, their total numbers are not insignificant, and they have the same opportunities for promotion as the male soldiers."

Beigong Tuanyuan sighed in relief and was much less resistant to this marriage act. She also saw Zhao Erlang more favorably after that.

However, Zhao Erlang was still oblivious. Straightforwardly, after the fight, he remembered what he needed to ask and took out the telegram from his pocket to give to Zhao Hanzhang. "Sister, look at the telegram. What does the teacher mean? Is he asking me to take care of the tutor and give her a backdoor into the school to teach?"

Zhao Hanzhang reached out for the telegram, quickly skimming through it with a complex expression, "The tutor?"

"Yes, isn’t the teacher’s sister considered a tutor?"

Zhao Hanzhang tucked the telegram away with a smile, "Not incorrect. Where have you arranged for the guests to stay?"

"At our house, with Uncle Cheng hosting them."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Then keep living in the palace for now. It’s just right; it’s the first time for both Tuanyuan and Miss Xie to be in Luoyang, so show them around. Let her come into the palace tomorrow, and I’ll examine her. If she truly is as talented as Xie Shi claims, then she can enter the Imperial College."

Zhao Erlang happily agreed and then turned to speak with Beigong Tuanyuan, "Where do you want to go for fun? There’s no place in Luoyang that I’m not familiar with."

Beigong Tuanyuan glanced at her mother before speaking, "Today feels unfulfilling. Is there a racecourse in Luoyang? We can go to the racecourse to grab some spears and duel again."

"Do you also excel in using spears?" Zhao Erlang became excited, "Great! Luoyang does have a racecourse, but it’s too far. There’s a spacious grassy area beside the Luoshui, let’s duel there."

Zhao Hanzhang became intrigued, "Alright, I’ll go with you."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly advised, "You are the emperor, how can you always run out of the palace?"

"Mother, the emperor must see more of the common people outside. Knowing their plights is the only way to solve their problems. Staying in the palace always would make one’s ears and eyes closed off."

"You have officials; they can look and listen for you. Why do you need to personally go? What if you encounter an assassin?"

Zhao Erlang patted his chest, "Mother, don’t worry. I’m here; no assassin can get close."

Realizing that his words weren’t entirely correct, he said, "Wait, that’s not right. My sister’s skills are better than mine."

Mrs. Wang said, "A noble son should not sit idly in the hall, must you compete in skills with a group of assassins?"

Zhao Hanzhang quickly replied, "Mother, Ting Han hasn’t returned to the palace for two days; I also want to see him."

Mrs. Wang paused and did not oppose any further but complained a bit, "Why do you always pose challenges to him, what kind of state affairs require the Imperial Consort himself to attend to? Last time I saw dark circles under his eyes, and when I asked, I found out he sleeps only two hours a day. If this continues, how can his body endure?"

Zhao Hanzhang wanted to say she has also been busy sleeping only two hours lately, but she didn’t dare to.

Since they were going to Luoshui, she decided to bring Xie Xiangrong along as she was also very interested in Miss Xie.

Father Xie and Mrs. Xie naturally wanted to come along, Zeng Yue immediately refused. But thinking it over, he went to ask Ting He.

Ting He went to ask Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a while before saying, "Let them follow as well and let them see the girls outside."

Ting He smilingly agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang often left the palace, and the people of Luoyang were accustomed to it, wouldn’t clear the streets. But Zeng Yue would arrange for guards to be at the sides, setting up defenses along the roads and placing numerous plainclothes guards. The convoy would quickly pass through the streets.

Father Xie and Mrs. Xie sat in the carriage, which trailed at the back of the convoy. They lifted the curtain to look around, saw only a few kneeling, the rest stood bowing on either side, their eyes following the carriage at the front.

Father Xie asked in confusion, "How can the citizens not kneel when the Emperor passes by?"

Xie Xiangrong replied, "Because His Majesty cares for the people and often leaves the palace to investigate the people’s conditions, citizens are specially allowed not to kneel upon seeing the Emperor."

Additionally, because of this, when seeing the Emperor, citizens no longer kneel when they go to government offices to meet officials; the new laws have also abolished corporal punishments and exiles for lower-ranking people suing higher-ranking ones, and for wives suing husbands.

Mrs. Xie frowned as she looked at her, "Where did you pick this up from? Have you been attending classes outside again without our notice?"

Xie Xiangrong replied meekly, "Mother, these matters are written in the official reports. Father is a teacher at the school and receives a report every day."

Father Xie realized, repeatedly nodding, "Yes, yes, it’s written in the reports. I thought it sounded familiar but couldn’t immediately remember, age is catching up, affecting my memory."

Mrs. Xie said nothing more.

This conversation between the family of three quickly traveled to the front carriage where Mrs. Wang was. She frowned, "This Xie couple compares poorly to Mrs. Beigong."

Qing Gu chuckled as she prepared tea, placing the teapot on a stove secured by an iron ring, stabilizing both the stove and the teapot.

Mrs. Wang murmured softly, "Miss Xie wants to attend school, clearly a studious child, yet they won’t allow it. If Erlang had that motivation, I would laugh myself awake from my dreams."

Qing Gu smiled and said, "Perhaps it’s because Miss Xie is a girl."

"What about being a girl? Our Third Lady once said that men and women make up the world equally; women hold up half the sky. The Third Lady is a woman, and she is now the Emperor!"

"Indeed, my lady is a woman, and even the Empress Dowager."

Mrs. Wang’s eyes crinkled with her smile. Even after half a year, she was still immersed in this joy, unable to extricate herself.

Pleasing Mrs. Wang cheerful, Qing Gu lifted the curtain and instructed the Palace Attendant, "Choose some clever ones to look after the Xie couple, and mention Vice Minister Fan and Vice Minister Chen to them frequently."

The Palace Attendant agreed.

Mrs. Wang huffed, "They need a good teaching."

Taking advantage of the raised curtain, she saw Erlang and Beigong Tuanyuan riding behind Zhao Hanzhang, both smiling and excited as they conversed.

Mrs. Wang was pleased, whispering to Qing Gu, "I feel this time it will likely work out."

Longing for Zhao Erlang to marry, she had been for many years, yet they seemed unconcerned, appearing as if only she was anxious.

Previously, there were Zhao Ming and others helping to urge him, but since Third Lady ascended to the throne, Zhao Ming and the others stopped pressuring Erlang. From their looks, whether Erlang married or not seemed indifferent to them.

"After Eldest Son’s mourning period ended, I heard he is discussing marriage too. Our Erlang needs to marry soon and have the firstborn son of the eldest branch; only then will it be more straightforward for him to succeed as Clan Leader."

Qing Gu couldn’t help but exclaim, "Madam, you still remember this?"

"I could remember this matter for a lifetime." Mrs. Wang said, "The marquisate of Shangcai Marquis need not be contended for, but the position of Clan Leader is singular and must belong to people of our main house."