After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 759 - 749 Two Types of Disobedience

As soon as the music from the General’s Mansion began, within less than an hour, Zhao Zhongyu knew about it.

He let out a breath, feeling both fortunate and slightly troubled.

He sat there gloomily, staring into space.

Zhao Ji observed him and sneered, "Gou Xi indulges in pleasures, his ambitions gone, isn’t this exactly what Zhao Hanzhang wants? Why are you worried?"

Zhao Zhongyu glared at him and said, "Our greatest enemies now are still the Xiongnu and Jiehu, not Gou Xi. His indulgence could also be detrimental to us."

Frankly, it’s not yet time for Gou Xi to be lost in pleasures. Were it not for the strong enemies Liu Yuan and Shi Le, Zhao Zhongyu would be more than happy for him to indulge.

But the world doesn’t always develop according to one’s wishes. They’re already lucky to have achieved such results in Qingzhou.

If Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang really fought, the first to die would surely be Zhao Zhongyu and his son.

So at this moment, Zhao Ji was full of resentment. He couldn’t stand seeing his father like this and, full of grievance, said, "Father, Zhao Hanzhang never considered your life and death when doing things, yet you still count on her at this point. For what?"

Zhao Zhongyu glanced at him and said, "If you were in Hanzhang’s position, I would also be willing to sacrifice my life for you. You too must not concern yourself with my life and death."

Zhao Ji opened his mouth, eyes wide with disbelief, "You, since when did you value her so? Back then, when fighting for the title..."

Zhao Ji blurted out, "When fighting for the title, you didn’t hesitate to scheme against Uncle. Why are you now only considering the main branch?"

Zhao Ji was almost led to suspect that his father had become possessed by his uncle.

Zhao Zhongyu frowned, "The title and family property should have been inherited by you and the Eldest Son. The title of Shangcai Marquis is yours due to your grandfather’s protection and your uncle having no male heirs; hence it should be yours. As for the family property..."

He pursed his lips and said, "Of course, much of it is your uncle’s savings, but there’s also a lot that our Zhao Family ancestors left behind. With Second Son in such a state, for the sake of the family, naturally, it should be inherited by our second branch."

"Family property, the legitimate eldest inherits seventy percent, and the rest is divided among sons and grandsons. It’s to accumulate strength and nurture future descendants to ensure continuous sacrifices," Zhao Zhongyu said, "And now, you lack the ability to control the Zhao Family and the virtue to gain the family’s recognition, so these things should go to Third Lady, who is more capable."

Zhao Zhongyu’s eyes shone with purpose as he said, "Do you think we are fighting with the main branch? No, we are fighting with the collateral branches of the Zhao Family, with other aristocrats of Yu State, with Gou Xi, with the various aristocrats of this Great Jin, with the Xiongnu, with the whole world!"

"When we succeed, the Zhao Family will achieve great feats, its name celebrated throughout history, with sacrifices uninterrupted!"

All fame and fortune in this world can ultimately be summed up in one phrase: to ensure uninterrupted ancestral sacrifices!

Only with endless generations and a constantly strong family will ancestral sacrifices last. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhao Ji’s mouth gaped open, and after a while, he found his voice, "But, but Zhao Hanzhang is a woman; she will marry out sooner or later!"

Zhao Zhongyu glanced at him and said, "So what? Even when married out, she remains a Zhao. Are there not many examples of powerful relatives throughout history? And the Zhao Family isn’t even a powerful relative. Zhao Hanzhang is the real person in power, and among the people she uses now, how many are from the Zhao Family, how many are students brought out by Zhao Cheng?"

Just thinking about this made Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. He turned and glared at Zhao Ji, "So stay out of trouble and continue recuperating at home. Remember, you are the Shangcai Marquis, blessed by ancestors. I don’t expect you to bring glory to the family, but at the very least, you shouldn’t hinder the family’s prospects or disrupt ancestral sacrifices!"

Zhao Ji’s breathing became rapid, full of defiance.

Ultimately, Zhao Hanzhang is to marry out. Resisting her means disrupting ancestral sacrifices? Are all these young men of the Zhao Family mere decorations?

Zhao Zhongyu saw his resistance, an expression he knew all too well, for he had once been like that, full of defiance against his elder brother.

Was this retribution?

Because of his past foolishness, Heaven now punishes him with his son’s stupidity.

Zhao Zhongyu took a deep breath, rare in his good temper, and spoke candidly, "Jizhi, even if you don’t approach this issue from the family’s perspective but consider the stability of the world, don’t you think Third Lady is worth supporting?"

He continued, "The world is in turmoil now and will only get worse. You are the Shangcai Marquis and hold office in the court. Have you thought about the future? Where will this world be heading? How will the people find peace?"

Zhao Ji: "Our Zhao Family upholds loyalty and integrity as its principles..."

"I’m not asking you to betray the country or harm the emperor now," Zhao Zhongyu opened his mouth, but in the end, he swallowed his words and sighed, "Forget it, reflect more when you’re idle, and read more, perhaps then you’ll understand."

He sadly said, "Blame my giving birth to you with some foolishness, otherwise you wouldn’t be so confused even after all this talk. If it were Third Lady, I’m afraid she’d have figured it out even before I finished. In this respect, she rather resembles your uncle."

At this point, Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t help but sigh, "It’s a pity Second Son was born foolish. If he had half of Third Lady’s wisdom, it wouldn’t have come down to you and the Eldest Son."

There was a sense of regret in his words.

Zhao Ji: ...

Is this really his father?

Filled with anger, Zhao Ji stomped away.

Zhao Zhongyu sat still, unmoving, as Zhao Dian came forward to pour him tea, speaking in a low voice, "Great Master, we are always watching the Lord and won’t let him leave."

Zhao Zhongyu looked up at Zhao Dian and asked, "Do you also think I’m too harsh on him?"

Zhao Dian shook his head repeatedly. He was a bondservant of the Zhao Family, unlike Zhao Ju, and was a hereditary family servant, thus granted the Zhao surname.

So, when Zhao Changyu passed away, whether for the sake of his family or his future, he chose to follow Zhao Zhongyu.

As a family servant, he was naturally well aware of the matters between the two Great Masters, so when he saw Zhao Zhongyu frowning, he advised, "Second Master, the Eldest Master is different from you in that you genuinely admired the Old Master’s talents and virtues."

Zhao Ji’s defiance of Zhao Hanzhang was deep-rooted, unlike Zhao Zhongyu, whose poor relationship with Zhao Changyu was solely due to the latters’s condescension.

As for Zhao Changyu’s abilities and virtues, he had both respect and admiration, although he wouldn’t admit it out loud. Just like Zhao Song, he took pride in Zhao Changyu’s talent and virtue.

His only grievance was Zhao Changyu’s disdain towards him.

Zhao Changyu was too brilliant. Few among his peers and contemporaries could surpass him. Yu Yi praised him as a thousand-foot pine, a pillar of talent, Jia Chong valued him greatly, and Emperor Wu favored him from their first meeting.

Zhao Zhongyu, of similar age, could not match his brother from a young age.

When they went out together, his brother was more handsome, better at writing, and consistently praised for his virtues. The younger generation regarded him as their leader; who would notice Zhao Zhongyu standing behind?

The most infuriating thing was that Zhao Changyu himself considered Zhao Zhongyu quite foolish, often reprimanding him in front of others during their youth, and this was what Zhao Zhongyu could not abide.

He did not believe he lagged much behind his brother; he was just slower in response.

However, observing the gap between Zhao Ji and Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Zhongyu increasingly doubted himself. Perhaps, in his brother’s eyes, he was indeed as foolish as Zhao Ji now appeared to him?

Whenever he thought of this, his heart felt pierced and pain, as if stabbed by a thousand arrows, deepening his melancholy.

Zhao Hanzhang, unaware that Zhao Zhongyu was questioning his own intellect at that moment, was busy roasting rabbits in the field.