Chapter 227

Chapter 227

After a simple celebratory welcome at the city gate, the weary, travel-stained Han Zhang and his accompanying officers and soldiers, amid the cheers of the people, each went home to rest up before the upcoming victory banquet.

As expected, Han Zhang had barely set foot in his capital residence when Zhao Yongchang showed up quietly—and, naturally, it was about the remaining Zhao clan members.

"Brother Han, every new ruler brings in his own people. I know that given the current situation, asking you to spare the remaining Zhao clan members is impossible, but I still want to try."

"Can you, for the sake of our brotherhood and the fact that I've been warming this throne for you, let those clan members live?"

"Brother Han, I'm begging you. Even if you strip them of their titles and banish them to the borderlands... After I abdicate, I... I'll take my own life, so I won't be a problem anymore. I only ask that you spare the rest of my Zhao clan—please?"

Zhao Yongchang looked haggard, his voice low and desperate.

When he first found out the truth about his birth, he had indeed harbored deep hatred for Emperor Taixuan—hating his imperial uncle for wiping out his family so mercilessly, realizing the imperial favor he'd once enjoyed was all a lie, and hating him for killing the foster father who'd raised him.

So, in that impulsive moment back then, even though he knew Han Zhang's whole "restoring the Former Crown Prince's orphan" spiel was fishy, he'd still chosen to go along with it.

It wasn't until Han Zhang's ambition was out in the open and his rebellion was unstoppable that Zhao Yongchang started to get scared.

Because he'd become the Zhao clan's biggest traitor!

Once the dynasty changed, the Zhao family wouldn't just lose the throne—they'd be wiped out entirely.

But by the time he realized that, there was no turning back. All he could do was watch helplessly as Han Zhang took the whole realm.

He didn't even have the right to blame Han Zhang.

Who could blame the Zhao clan for twice making deals with the devil—siding with foreign enemies to hold onto power and throwing the people under the bus?

The Zhao dynasty deserved to fall.

But he still couldn't stand by and watch his clansmen die—including uncles and elders who'd been good to him.

"Brother Han, please..."

Zhao Yongchang had no idea how else to save his clan, so all he could do was beg, weak and desperate.

Han Zhang looked at him, sighed deeply, stepped forward, and hauled him to his feet. His own eyes got a little red, his voice tinged with frustration and hurt:

"Brother Zhao! What are you talking about? Do you really think I'm that kind of ungrateful bastard who forgets old friendships?"

"Back when I got demoted to Yunzhou, if it weren't for your family's connections, I never would've survived those years in Yunyang Prefecture. Later, when I was convicted and exiled, you pulled strings for me everywhere. It didn't matter how it turned out—I'll never forget that."

"Brother Zhao, I won't lie—I've been planning this for a long time. But back then, if I hadn't rebelled, even if I'd gotten lucky and survived, I'd have spent the rest of my life as a pawn in the power games between your royal house and the big families."

"I didn't want to die, and I didn't want to be at anyone's mercy, so I had no choice. I did it not just for myself, but for the people of this land too... And I never expected the False Emperor to do the things he did."

"Brother Han, I..."

Zhao Yongchang looked ashamed when he heard that.

Whether it was the Yunyang flood or the later abandoning of the city and siding with the enemy, the Zhao clan had screwed over the people.

He'd seen with his own eyes how many people died in that flood.

One crime after another—sins the Zhao family could never wash off.

"But—" Han Zhang changed his tone, looking frank. "Everyone's selfish. I'm no saint. I can't love everyone unconditionally."

"At the end of the day, the main reason I've come this far is to survive—to be in control of my own life. So... for my brother's sake, I'm willing to bend the rules this once."

"Brother Zhao, why do you think I raised an army under the banner of 'restoring the Former Crown Prince's orphan'? With the army I've built up over the years, I could've just rebelled outright. Why go through all this roundabout nonsense?"

"It's because of the friendship we've had for so many years—heavier than Mount Tai... Brother Zhao, would you be willing to be my new dynasty's 'Prince Zhaoliu'?"

The title "Prince Zhaoliu" was based on the historical precedent where, when the Cao Wei replaced the Han dynasty, the old emperor was made Prince of Chenliu.

It was an extremely lucky "safety charm"—it guaranteed Zhao Yongchang's future wealth and status, and also, legally and morally, killed any chance of the Zhao clan trying to make a comeback.

Accepting this title meant the Zhao family was willingly "handing over" the realm to Han Zhang. If any Zhao leftovers tried anything later, they'd be going against heaven itself and rejected by everyone.

Zhao Yongchang had already decided to die after abdicating, so he didn't care about the title. What he still worried about were his clansmen:

"But what about my uncles and elders..."

"Strip them of their titles and make them commoners. I won this realm fair and square—I'm not afraid of any leftover trouble from the old dynasty!"

Han Zhang declared, all righteous and stern.

After all, he'd already killed off all the dangerous troublemakers in the chaos.

"Brother Han! Good brother!"

And so, Zhao Yongchang, who never caught on to the subtext, was moved all over again.

After an emotional bro-hug with Han Zhang, he rushed straight to the prison to give his Zhao clansmen the good news.

The surviving Zhao clansmen: "..."

Is this guy blind? Can't he see half the clan is already dead?

Where the hell was Han Zhang merciful?

Of course Zhao Yongchang had seen it, but in his view, people die in war—it would've been weird if all the Zhao clansmen had survived.

Besides, the ones left were basically all his close relatives. What more could he want?

As for the distant relatives—well, they were distant for a reason. If they died, they died. Every regime change needs sacrifices. Compared to the previous dynasty the Zhao family had wiped out, the Zhao clan was already doing pretty well!

Zhao clansmen: "..."

Fine, happiness is all about comparison.

...

Over at Han Zhang's place.

After Zhao Yongchang left, it wasn't long before Shen Qinglan came shuffling in awkwardly, carrying the nourishing soup he'd made himself.

Shen Qinglan's goal was simple—he wanted to ask for an honor for his mother: a noble title one rank higher than his father's.

His mom had always loved him the most. He'd once promised to make her proud. Now that Han Zhang was about to take the throne and hand out rewards, how could he pass up this chance to repay her?

Watching his husband hover around his desk with a soup bowl, clearly wanting to say something but too shy to spit it out, Han Zhang couldn't help but laugh.

He put down his brush, reached out, pulled the man over, and sat him on his lap.

“What does my husband desire? Why must you say ‘beg’? We are one; what is mine is yours. Being so distant with me, my love, truly wounds me.”

“Or is it that I have been away at war these years, weathered by wind and sand, grown haggard and less handsome than before? Has my husband’s heart wandered to some fair-faced young man, that you treat me with such reserve?”

With that, Han Zhang put on a look of abandoned melancholy.

Though Shen Qinglan knew full well he was putting on an act, he couldn’t help but grow anxious, his face flushing as he quickly retorted:

“I have not! My lord, you—you’re deliberately teasing me again…”

His lord knew well that his heart had always held only Han Zhang alone, with no room for another!

The more flustered Shen Qinglan got, the redder his ears became, a faint blush spreading down his neck—so lovely it was hard to resist.

Unable to hold back, Han Zhang lowered his head, catching the reddened ear between his lips and nibbling on it a few times, making the man in his arms squirm with bashful indignation before he let out a low chuckle:

“If you weren’t so distant with me, how could I tease you like this? You know I’m not from here; I don’t care much for such conventions.”

“Everything I’ve done, I did so you and our three treasures could live freely and joyfully. Now that the dust is settling, you speak to me of rank and formality. If you’re going to be so proper from now on… how am I supposed to go on, my love?”

“My husband, I still prefer the way you used to twist my ear…”

Those words made Shen Qinglan’s heart ache and soften at the same time.

Truth be told, he was happy that Han Zhang was about to ascend the throne. After all, who wouldn’t want the supreme seat, to be master of all under heaven? He was never one for pretentiousness.

But with the change in status came not just glory—but endless temptations.

The saying that power and money corrupt a man isn’t just talk, especially for a ruler of the realm.

Even if Shen Qinglan had full faith in their bond, believing Han Zhang would never betray or abandon him, he wasn’t confident that a monarch could stay devoted to him alone for life.

The throne was a scary thing; once you sat on it, many people changed completely.

These past days, he’d put on a cheerful face, but inside, he’d been full of worry…

But Han Zhang’s attitude right now dispelled all his unease and gloom in an instant.

Shen Qinglan smiled, eyes red, and played along, gently twisting Han Zhang’s ear as he declared with a spirited air:

“Very well, my lord, you said it—a gentleman’s word is his bond. Then I’ll take advantage of that, and you mustn’t regret it.”

“I want to petition for a top-rank honorary title for my mother, so she may live in glory… and also for my eldest sister and second brother.”

“My eldest sister has returned home after divorce. Though our father’s backing keeps bullies at bay, many still mock her behind her back. I want her to walk with her head high from now on, never again enduring such cold whispers.”

“My second brother is the second legitimate son, unable to inherit the title, but I know his abilities—it would be too hard for him to earn a noble rank on his own…”

“My eldest sister and second brother have always doted on me most… My lord, for my sake, grant them your favor, won’t you?”

The young lad clutched at his clothes, his expression pitiful and endearing, enough to melt any heart.

Not only had Han Zhang already intended to richly reward the Shen family to give his husband greater standing, but even if he hadn’t, he could hardly resist such a beguiling plea.

Love, after all, is simple.

Whether between lovers or parents and children—when one truly cherishes another, one cannot help but offer the very best of everything.

“Alright, alright, as my husband wishes, all as he wishes—rich honors for all!”

Han Zhang pulled him close, grinning like a tyrant, his eyes filled entirely with Shen Qinglan’s image.