After respectfully sending off Zhao Hanzhang, Ming Yu looked at Ji Yuan, "By marrying into the Zhao Family, aren’t we getting closer to the lady?"

Ji Yuan, having followed Zhao Hanzhang throughout and understanding her plans for the Zhao Family’s future, replied, "Our relationship with the lady is not less than that between the lady and the Zhao Family."

He said, "We do not need to leverage the Zhao Family to get close to the lady, Ming Zhongshu, you have to look farther ahead. Ten years from now, the lady’s relationship with the Zhao Family will not be as it is now."

Ming Yu nodded, and then the question arose, who should they marry into then?

The two exchanged a glance and quickly looked away, deciding it would be better to care for their single subordinates and urge them to set an example for the people.

Because of the announced joyous union of Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, more people were getting married in Luoyang City, and many wanted to marry in the same year as Zhao Hanzhang.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hanzhang’s famous saying, "Marry a wife for a good New Year, marry a husband for a good festival," spread beyond Luoyang in all directions.

The people thought the Great General spoke truthfully; this year had many sorrows, with many having died due to war and natural disasters, but joyful events also happened.

The warfare had calmed down.

The Nine Provinces of Northern Land were all under the Great General’s control, and currently, no military force seemed capable of contending with the Great General, indicating that a long period of peace was forthcoming.

They would no longer be displaced by war, losing their homes and families. They also received grain relief from the court. The Great General was a woman, soft-hearted and kind, making them feel hopeful for the future.

Therefore, getting married at this time was indeed a doubly joyous event.

Moreover, the young men desired homes and a supportive wife; the ladies also wanted a home and a dependable husband.

Thus, many quickly agreed and immediately went to the county government to have their marriages registered.

Indeed, the county government had the duty to register marriages for the people,

The County Magistrates were mostly selected from educational institutions and scholars, seventy percent were single. To avoid pressure from the court to marry, and to make the county’s statistics look better, the County Magistrates not only personally handled marriage registrations but also calculated auspicious days for passersby and encouraged people to select spouses before auspicious days. They offered free fortune-telling services and held collective weddings for the newlyweds. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

In this context, Zhao Xin was bewilderingly escorted back by Zhao Shen’s personal guards and, still bewildered, left to carry out Zhao Hanzhang’s mission.

It was only when he reached the city gate that he realized and lamented, "Great General, the Wu Castle case I reported in Liang County still has no results..."

Zhao Hanzhang, unconcerned, said, "Zhao Shen will handle it; go to Chang’an with peace of mind, and remember to tell Governor Fu that the country is poor now, for the better development of local marriage customs, please prepare a minimal bride price."

It was only then that Zhao Xin barely regained his focus and asked, "Isn’t it better to have more betrothal gifts?"

Zhao Hanzhang, with a righteous face, replied, "No, my and Tinghan’s wedding will be as simple as possible from the start."

Zhao Xin: ...Even asking for a date requires me, an Imperial Censor, to go personally, how is this simple?

However, Zhao Xin’s trip to Chang’an was not merely to ask for a date; it was to collect tokens and letters from Fu Zhi to bring people from Shu.

Conveniently, since he had to pass through Yongzhou to get to Shu, a detour to Chang’an wasn’t too far.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "This matter is urgent; I still hope that the Fu Family elders can witness the wedding."

Zhao Xin pondered for a moment and asked, "What if they cannot make it in time?"

"In that case, Governor Fu must be present."

With a bit of pressure relieved, Zhao Xin raised his hand solemnly, "Rest assured, Great General, I will not fail in my mission."

Saying that, he turned to mount his horse but couldn’t help turning back again to ask, "Great General, about the Wu Castle in Liang County..."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly, "Last night, someone was already tasked with going to Liang County. Since they are bandits, they will be eradicated, sparing travelers the anxiety of interrupted commerce on the Luoyang trade route."

At this crucial moment of national construction, anyone who dares to block her path, she dares to block their life!

Zhao Xin, unsure whether to feel sad or happy, wore a look of complexity.

In the past four days, he lost contact with Luoyang because, on the fourth day after arriving in Liang County, he discovered clues. When he brought people to collect evidence, they were resisted by the alerted County Magistrate and Wu Castle.

Though Zhao Xin was an Imperial Censor, in this era, which censor could not wield a pen off horseback and kill enemies on horseback?

Though Zhao Xin lacked Zhao Shen’s martial prowess and talent, he could still resist. He and his subordinates fled into the mountains, intending to use the terrain to evade pursuit and seek aid from surrounding counties.

Since Liang County wasn’t far from Yu State, his plan was to escape back to Yu State for help.

During the maneuvering, Zhao Shen descended like a god and rescued him from the mountains.

Though he neither died nor was injured, those four days of fleeing for his life in the mountains, narrowly escaping death multiple times, made him truly feel relieved when he heard Zhao Hanzhang deciding to treat them as bandits and eradicate them.

However, aside from relief, he also felt a bit worried and sad, "Their families and clansmen..."

Zhao Hanzhang considered for a moment and said, "If they are willing to surrender, I will only hold the chief offenders accountable."

After all, surviving in chaotic times is not easy; she allows them to have bandit tendencies, high martial prowess, and drive.

Zhao Xin, reassured, leaped onto his horse, glanced at the envoy behind him, and exuberantly swung his hand, saying, "Let’s go!"

Full of vigor, he headed towards Yongzhou, feeling that diplomacy was more suitable for him. Debating with those great figures was quite enjoyable; doing the work of an Imperial Censor, sometimes seeing people suffer, and seeing those innocently dragged into disputes suffer, made him suffer too.

Fu Zhi had already received Zhao Hanzhang’s letter ahead of time, and upon calculating auspicious dates, Zhao Xin arrived.

Fu Zhi went to meet him immediately.

Fu Zhi, surprised, asked, "Bringing back Princess Hongnong?"

Zhao Xin nodded with a smile, "Yes, a marriage alliance between the Zhao and Fu families also means an alliance between the Zhao Family and the Imperial Family. With Princess Hongnong and the Prince Consort as elders, they must be present."

Fu Zhi regained his composure, agreeing that it’s not just an alliance between the Zhao and Fu families, but also with the Imperial Family, given Princess Hongnong’s involvement.

Fu Zhi, suddenly delighted, earnestly entrusted Zhao Xin, "I leave this matter in your hands, envoy."

He then handed over a seal to Zhao Xin so that he could convince Fu Xuan and his wife in Shu.

Zhao Xin did not linger in Chang’an for long; receiving the tokens, he set off for Shu.

Shu had long since declared independence, separated by Da Shan, Li Xiong first declared himself Chengdu King, then seeing that Jin State was too occupied to intervene, he declared himself emperor, establishing Shu as Cheng Country and changing the era name to Yanping. Of course, outsiders did not recognize this, referring to it only as Shu.

Nonetheless, as Zhao Xin was there to retrieve people, propriety was observed. Before setting off for Chang’an, he sent someone ahead to deliver Jin State’s edict.

So when he reached the border of Shu, Shu’s officials awaited him, guiding him through the difficult terrain to Shu’s Imperial Palace, where he met Li Xiong.