Chapter 147

Chapter 147

After this heart-to-heart, there were no more barriers between the two of them—their hearts were now completely one.

Han Zhang and Shen Qinglan's bond grew even deeper and more passionate.

To keep his husband from suffering any more, he'd planned to go see the Crown Prince the very next day to negotiate the matter of being posted outside the capital. But as it turned out, he was one step too late.

The very next day, rumors swept through the capital: "Chang Gongjun Jiayou, having failed to steal another man's husband, lashed out in vicious spite. The Crown Prince, playing favorites, shielded his little brother and screwed over a loyal official under his command."

At this point, how could Han Zhang not realize he'd become a pawn in the princes' power struggle?

Even though he now harbored a grudge against both the Crown Prince and Chang Gongjun, and wouldn't make nice with the Crown Prince just because he now knew the truth behind their falling out, he still couldn't let the schemers behind this have their way!

After all, right now, Emperor Taixuan and the Crown Prince were in the thick of their father-son honeymoon phase. If the Crown Prince's reputation took a hit, the one thrown under the bus to calm the storm would be Han Zhang himself.

"Sure enough, this world has always been one where the strong prey on the weak... The lives of those at the bottom are forever just pawns in the games of those at the top. If you can't rise up and take control, you can only end up as someone else's prey."

Han Zhang's eyes darkened, and his resolve to rebel hardened.

If he didn't want to be the fish on someone else's chopping block, he had no choice but to be the one holding the knife—only then could he truly live on his own terms.

The Zhao family could sit on that throne—so why couldn't Han Zhang?

After weighing the current situation in his mind, Han Zhang got ready to set aside his grievances for now and head to the Eastern Palace to discuss a resolution with the Crown Prince.

His grudge with the Crown Prince was between the two of them—he'd be damned if he let the schemer behind this have their way!

However, Han Zhang had ultimately overestimated the Crown Prince's generosity of spirit.

He went to the Eastern Palace to request an audience and was let in, but the Crown Prince never showed. He was left cooling his heels in the front hall, drinking cold tea until he was sick of it.

Then, at the next morning's court session, the Crown Prince stepped up to defend Chang Gongjun Jiayou, and recommended Han Zhang for the post of Prefect of Yunyang in Yanzhou as a consolation prize.

"...Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou borders Quyang Prefecture. I hear Han the Compiler's ancestral home is in Quyang, Yanzhou. This posting out could be seen as returning to his roots, going home in triumph."

"During the imperial exams, Han the Compiler's policy essays showed remarkable insight. I believe that with his talents, he'll surely turn Yunyang Prefecture into another land of plenty for our dynasty. I humbly request Your Majesty's approval."

Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou was notorious as one of the most godforsaken, bitter-cold regions. Being posted there as an official was practically a "sentence"—barring some miracle, your career was basically over.

But the Crown Prince had also gotten him a fourth-rank Prefect post—even if it was in a frozen wasteland, that rank alone would make plenty of people green with envy, enough to cancel out the "banishment" label.

So in the eyes of outsiders, the Crown Prince might seem to be shielding his little brother, but he hadn't treated Han Zhang all that shabbily either.

But was that really true?

Don't forget—Han Zhang had already pissed off the noble families and aristocrats to the core.

While he was in the capital, they could only undermine him in the shadows. But once he left the capital, they'd have no qualms about killing him outright!

Even though this proposal suited Han Zhang's plans perfectly, it couldn't hide the Crown Prince's coldness toward him, or the underlying intent to send him to his death.

It seemed the abilities he'd shown earlier had made the Crown Prince wary.

So, even at the cost of a reputation for mistreating loyal officials, the Crown Prince didn't want to keep this ticking time bomb around.

At this point, Emperor Taixuan finally spoke up: "Han the Compiler, are you willing to share this burden for Us?"

Unsurprisingly, Emperor Taixuan also chose to cover for the Crown Prince and Chang Gongjun Jiayou.

For a moment, the ministers in the know all looked at Han Zhang with pity in their eyes.

Everyone knew the royal family was playing favorites, but so what?

As the saying goes: When the sovereign orders a minister to die, the minister has no choice but to die!

Han Zhang sneered inwardly, but on the surface he took a deep breath, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Finally, with an air of resignation, he stepped out of the ranks, lifted his robes, knelt, and said with a defeated bow:

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace, and thanks His Highness the Crown Prince for his kind consideration. One who eats the sovereign's grain must share the sovereign's burdens. As for Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou, your servant will give it his all and will not fail Your Majesty's expectations."

"Very well, Han the Minister is loyal and commendable. Make your preparations at once and head to your post."

Emperor Taixuan waved his hand, finalizing the decision.

...

After morning court ended, by the time Han Zhang got home, word of his transfer to Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou had already spread to every household in the capital.

Kang Zhanxun, Shen Huaizhi, Pan Taining... all of them, not giving a damn about the Crown Prince's displeasure, came with their families to visit.

Though they were deeply pissed off at the Crown Prince and His Majesty's favoritism, feeling the royal family was really pushing people around, they didn't dare badmouth the royal family behind their backs. All they could do was console Han Zhang.

"Brother Han, sure, Yunyang Prefecture is remote and godforsaken, but you're still a top official of a prefecture, fourth-rank, governing an entire region. No one would dare look down on you."

"With your abilities, Brother Han, given time, there's no reason you can't turn Yunyang into a prosperous place. If you win the people's hearts and earn a 'ten-thousand-umbrella' of gratitude, then even... wouldn't dare touch you lightly."

Their words were vague, but those in the know, knew.

The Crown Prince was in favor now, enjoying the Emperor's special affection, but who could say what the future held?

Kang Zhanxun handed him a letter. "Qinzhang, have you heard of the Marquis of Weiyuan's household?"

"The Marquis of Weiyuan's household? You mean the one that crushed the grassland cavalry in the border victory reports a while back?"

Han Zhang quickly pulled the info from his memory—after all, he'd only been able to take the special imperial exam because of that victory.

"Exactly." Kang Zhanxun nodded. "Our Dingbei Earl's household and the Marquis of Weiyuan's household aren't just both military families—we've also been family friends for generations."

"Our earl's household has dwindled to almost nothing, and the marquis's household isn't much better off. In that recent victory, the young heir of Weiyuan died on the battlefield. The household was heavily rewarded, but now only one descendant is left in the entire family."

"And that one's just a young lad. The old marquis, grieving his son's death and afraid that if he himself goes back to the battlefield and something happens, his only grandson would be left with no one to rely on, petitioned His Majesty for a transfer to Yanzhou. He's currently stationed in Yunyang Prefecture. If you run into trouble after taking office, take this letter to him—the old marquis won't refuse."

Sure, military officers and civil officials run in different circles, but out in the provinces, having military backing can make pushing through civil policies a whole lot easier.

This connection was genuinely useful.

Han Zhang bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Uncle, for your care."

"Between family, no thanks needed. Just send letters home often once you're there—your aunt worries about you a lot."

Kang Zhanxun patted his shoulder, not keeping his distance just because Han Zhang had been "banished."

It's easy to add to someone's success, but hard to help them in their hour of need.

If Han Zhang rose in the future, this help now would be a huge debt of gratitude; if he didn't rise, then it was just looking after a relative, to put his wife's mind at ease.

Jiang Wencheng and Pan Taining didn't think much further and simply nodded along, saying, "Brother Han, if you ever face difficulties in the future, just send word back. We'll risk our lives to help you!"

Zhao Yongchang also handed over a jade identity token and a letter, looking somewhat embarrassed as he said:

"Brother Han, about this matter... just don't take it to heart. The emperor's favor is fickle, but I believe that with your talent, even in that desolate place, you won't be overlooked."

"My maternal uncle is a local bigwig in Yanzhou with considerable influence. If you encounter any trouble after taking up your post, you can seek his help... He's close to my mother, and with this letter from me, he certainly won't refuse."

Although he was a member of the imperial clan and thus technically part of the royal family, he simply couldn't in good conscience claim that the royal family was in the right regarding Brother Han's situation. Cousin Jiayou had indeed gone too far.

What the other party called a "bigwig" was essentially a local power broker. Since ancient times, officials taking up posts had most feared obstruction from such local powers. If one couldn't get along with them, no matter how high your rank, you'd find it impossible to make any progress locally!

Han Zhang looked at Zhao Yongchang before him with a complicated expression: ...

Brother, you're basically handing supplies to the enemy, you know that?

Well, never mind. Why be a sucker and turn down a good thing? He'd cross that bridge when he came to it—for now, he'd remember Brother Zhao's kindness.

"Brother Zhao, rest assured. I know where my loyalties lie, and I know that all favors and punishments come from the emperor. I only wish to live peacefully with my husband. Leaving the capital might not be such a bad thing, after all."

Han Zhang sincerely thanked him again, his smile easy and untroubled.

Zhao Yongchang sighed. "I'm glad you understand, Brother Han."

He knew that Brother Han must harbor resentment inside, but he absolutely couldn't show it. After all, in an imperial society, openly expressing hatred toward the emperor was like asking for a death sentence.

Although Brother Han's situation was difficult now, as long as he was alive, there was still room to turn things around. As long as the Crown Prince didn't become emperor, Brother Han's prospects were bound to be bright!

Meanwhile...

On the other side, Shen Qinglan's mother and the others were also comforting Shen Qinglan.

"Yunyang in Yanzhou may be remote, but it's still a prefecture. Your husband's posting there is a decent rank. Bring plenty of money and valuables with you, and you won't have a hard time of it. Most importantly, from now on, the two of you can finally have some stability..."

Shen Qinglan's mother was worried inside, but she still put on a smile to comfort him.

Shen Qingyue, Li Huilan, and Fifth Aunt also said, "Though the journey is long and meetings will be rare, don't let us lose touch. Keep the letters coming."

An Yongyan, wiping away tears, pressed a stack of banknotes into Shen Qinglan's hands. "Lan Ge'er, my family has no connections in Yanzhou. Take these banknotes—money opens doors. You can never go wrong with extra cash."

"My husband hasn't taken up a post yet. When I get back, I'll talk to him and persuade him to seek an appointment in Yanzhou too. Then we can continue seeing each other often..."

He and Lan Ge'er had been closest since childhood. He hated the thought of being apart from him.

"Mm, then you'd better sweet-talk your husband! We've made a pact, remember—our kids will grow up together as playmates, and we'll be related by marriage!"

Shen Qinglan was also reluctant to part with An Ge'er. He believed An Ge'er without a second thought and told him seriously, with real hope in his voice.

Shen Qinglan's mother sighed worriedly: ...

This naive child—the other person was probably just being polite, and he actually took it seriously.

With them no longer by his side in the future, what would become of him with such a nature?

She could only hope her son-in-law would really keep his word and treat Lan Ge'er well for the rest of his life.