After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the neighboring estates on either side. Someone secretly opened a door and peeked out. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang and her brother in mourning clothes kneeling at the main entrance, they were all shocked. Did the Zhao Family have a funeral?

Both parties were at an impasse when a voice called out from a distance, "I’m coming to meet you!"

Everyone turned their heads to look and saw Fu Tinghan leading a group of people hurriedly approaching on horseback, followed leisurely by several horse-drawn and ox-drawn carriages.

Upon meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, Fu Tinghan spurred his horse to quicken its pace and only reined it in abruptly at the main gate.

He dismounted and strode forward. The military advisor raised a hand to stop him as a gesture but then did not insist—did they not see the crowd following behind?

Among them were gentlemen and ladies, clearly important people. He could afford to offend one or two, but so many? He wasn’t foolish and naturally knew to recognize the situation.

Fu Tinghan hurriedly approached Zhao Hanzhang, fixed her with a look, and took a strip of hemp cloth from her hands to tie around his waist.

Wang Xuan and Wang Si Niang lagged a step behind.

Wang Si Niang jumped off her horse and ran over, her face full of concern, "Third Lady, are you alright?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at her, lowered her head, and raised the cloth in her hands, "Zhao Family’s Third Lady announces to all gathered friends and relatives, that our grandfather Zhao, posthumously named Jiao, passed away last night."

Wang Si Niang’s eyes reddened, and she also took a strip of hemp cloth.

Wang Xuan walked up slowly and said to the military advisor, "Regardless of Mr. Zhao’s achievements, even for an ordinary family, the dead must be respected. With both Zhao Family branches present, they must at least be allowed to announce the funeral. Someone should inform His Majesty and the Prince."

He said, "If you cannot decide, you might as well go and ask General Ma now."

"Mr. Zhao lived a simple and unadorned life; how could he be insulted by you with just your lip service? A person has died, yet you do not allow the announcement of the funeral. What do you mean by this?"

Those who followed Wang Xuan, whether on horseback or in carriages, gradually arrived. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang and her brother stopped with hemp cloth in their hands, they became indignant.

These people, in the prime of their youth, were most dissatisfied with the current national situation and most ambitious. Stirred with emotion, they couldn’t help but point at the Assistant General and the soldiers and curse.

A destitute middle-aged man, carrying a wine pot, simply sat down on the steps and, facing the gate, alternated between crying and laughing, "The world is declining, and morality is lost. National heroes are belittled, and territory lost. Haha, this is all retribution. Zhao Changyu, oh Zhao Changyu, you advised me to serve, saying a good man wishes to serve the country. You were loyal and righteous, but what fate did you meet?"

He pointed at the gate and cursed, "You toiled for the Sima family and exhausted yourself for Great Jin, yet you almost perished at the hands of the Jin Dynasty twice. Finally, finally, you still died, unable to even protect your descendants. Why go through this suffering?"

He then pointed at the Assistant General and cursed, "You soulless corpse, with no heart. With the loss of Zhao Changyu, Great Jin is as if losing a great pillar. Yet, you still have the time to detain the Zhao Family. Just wait, it won’t be long before even your masters won’t be able to step foot in Luoyang."

Zhao Hanzhang heard this, lifted her head, and looked at him steadily with tears streaming down her face. She suppressed her sobs and asked Wang Xuan, "Who is he?"

Wang Xuan replied, "This is Mr. Zhang Jingyang."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Did you invite him?"

Wang Xuan gave a bitter smile, "How could I have the capability? Mr. Zhang refused the emperor’s solicitation again last month, claiming to be ill. I, nor even my father, could see him easily. I did not expect him to come today."

Zhao Hanzhang understood. She held the strip of hemp cloth and kneeled forward, bowing her head as she presented the cloth, "Thank you, Sir, for coming to pay respects to my grandfather."

The military advisor and soldiers’ faces turned blue and purple from the scolding, but they dared not act against Zhang Jingyang, nor could they stop Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhang Jingyang silently looked at the white cloth before him, tears falling uncontrollably. With trembling hands, he clutched a strip tightly, crying as he fell onto the steps, "Changyu, Changyu, where to return, where to return. Alas, alas, Great Jin, alas... "

Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply to him, then stood up, turned to Zhao Erlang, and said, holding back tears, "Second Son, follow me to announce the funeral."

Zhao Erlang hurried to his feet and jogged to follow. As a soldier stepped forward, Fu Tinghan and Wang Xuan stepped aside to block him, their gaze resolute.

The military advisor pulled the soldier back, "Let them go."

Damn it, those above know how to hide. He had blocked them for so long and no one came. If he continued, even if they weren’t scolded to death by these scholars, they would be executed later. In that case, it was better to let them pass.

Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang down the steps, heading step by step toward the street corner. Zhao Zhongyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he watched, the task accomplished.

The siblings, with one holding hemp cloth and the other leaning on a mourning staff, walked along the street. They would stop outside the gate of anyone acquainted with the Zhao family, kneel, and announce the funeral, waiting for someone inside to come out and receive the strip of hemp cloth.

Fu Tinghan and the others followed behind at a slow pace, stopping to watch from the side.

He watched Zhao Hanzhang kneel at the gate, holding the strip of hemp cloth high, loudly announcing, "Ru Nan Zhao Family’s Third Lady, with younger brother Second Son, here to report a funeral. Grandfather Zhao, posthumously named Jiao, passed away last night..."

At first, those inside the house couldn’t hear clearly. Tao Wei stopped his writing, perked his ears to listen, "What’s being shouted outside? It sounds like a funeral announcement to me."

Soon, the steward ran in urgently, "Master, the Zhao family is here to announce a funeral, saying Zhao Zhongshu passed away last night."

Tao Wei suddenly stood up, pointing with his writing brush, "Who did you say?"

"Zhao Zhongshu, Shangcai Marquis, passed away last night!"

Tao Wei lifted his robe and rushed out, "Was it the work of the Prince of East Sea?"

This was the common question of all the onlookers and those who received the news. Was Zhao Changyu’s death due to the Prince of East Sea?

The gates opened, and Tao Wei hurried out, seeing Zhao Hanzhang and her brother kneeling at the entrance, tears instantly streamed down.

He stepped forward to take the cloth from Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, choking on his words, "I will definitely come to pay my respects."

Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Erlang in a kowtow, then rose to leave.

Zhao Changyu had many acquaintances in Luoyang, not only friends and family but also colleagues and old acquaintances. Zhao Hanzhang, having recently assisted Zhao Changyu with letters and documents, knew who to notify of the funeral.

Luckily, even though she wasn’t very familiar with directions, Zhao Erlang knew his way around.

As they announced the funeral, some, like Tao Wei, came out personally to receive them, some sent their stewards or servants, and some kept their doors closed.

No matter the situation, Zhao Hanzhang always led Zhao Erlang in a kowtow, as if thanking the world on behalf of Zhao Changyu.

The young people following behind couldn’t help but shed tears at the sight. Wang Si Niang cried like a tearful person, and when they arrived at the Wang family gate and found it shut tight, she grew furious and moved to pound on the doors, "What’s Father thinking?"

Wang Xuan hurriedly stopped her, "Father isn’t home; the servants inside likely don’t dare to make a decision."