After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 784 - 774: Seriously Injured

Zhao Zhongyu had someone clean out a courtyard for Zhao Hanzhang in the backyard. Ting He had already gone ahead with the luggage. At this moment, the grandparent and grandchild walked side by side, without attendants. As soon as they entered the second gate, Zhao Zhongyu was about to point out the direction of the courtyard for her, when Zhao Hanzhang suddenly lifted her foot and kicked forward. Zhao Zhongyu could only see a shadow fly forward, and with a ’pop’ sound, it fell to the ground.

Zhao Zhongyu was startled and instinctively shouted, "Assassin! Someone, there’s an assassin!"

Zeng Yue, who was organizing patrolling tasks, heard the shout, felt a jolt in his heart, and immediately led the soldiers towards the direction from which the voice came.

Damn it, it must be Gou Chun!

Zeng Yue rushed into the second gate and saw Zhao Zhongyu standing with a dark face aside, and Zhao Hanzhang squatting on the ground. In front of her, Zhao Ji was lying down and moaning miserably.

Zeng Yue hurriedly asked, "Where has the assassin gone?"

In the moonlight, Zhao Zhongyu’s face appeared even darker.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "There is no assassin, Zeng Yue, come over and check if Uncle is injured internally?"

Zeng Yue stepped forward, touched his upper abdomen according to the footprint on his clothing, checked his reaction, and said, "The internal organs should be uninjured."

Zhao Ji let out a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to complain to his father, he heard Zeng Yue whispering to Zhao Hanzhang: "But the ribs are probably broken."

Zhao Ji: ...

Just hearing this was terrifying enough, Zhao Ji laid his head on the ground and began to moan in misery.

Zhao Zhongyu was both angry and resentful, and turned to Zhao Dian who had arrived, "Hurry and fetch a doctor!"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Quickly bring a wooden stretcher, or even a plank, Uncle should not be moved now."

Finally, Zhao Ji was carried back into the room, and the doctor arrived.

He checked the pulse and the bone, confirming, "There is slight bleeding inside the abdomen, two ribs are broken. I will prescribe some hemostatic medicine, and after a couple of days, when the bleeding stops I’ll prescribe decoction for bone healing."

Zhao Zhongyu asked, "Will his life be at risk?"

"No risk, it’s just that the one who kicked him did it skillfully, hitting some of the most painful spots on the body. Tomorrow, the upper abdomen should exhibit traces and will hurt, but it’s just superficial, and will recover in a few days by resting more in bed, avoiding walking as much as possible."

Zhao Zhongyu nodded, and asked Zhao Dian to lead the doctor to prescribe the medicine.

Zhao Hanzhang stood quietly to the side, and once the doctor had left, she immediately stepped forward and said apologetically, "Uncle, it’s all my reckless mistake, I didn’t see clearly before I made a move, or rather, a kick."

Zhao Zhongyu frowned deeply, saying, "It’s not your fault, he was being irresponsible, even if it’s within one’s own home, there’s no reason to hide in the shadows and spy."

He said, "It is late, you’ve been exhausted from traveling, rest first."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then about Uncle’s situation..."

"There will be servants to serve him, what can you do by staying here?" Zhao Zhongyu said, "You may go."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, saluted, and left.

As soon as she left, Zhao Zhongyu angrily lifted the curtain and entered the inner room, standing by the bed staring at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji wasn’t feeling so much pain by now and finally able to speak, although he still couldn’t speak loudly, as it would provoke pain in the abdomen.

Zhao Ji complained, "Father, tonight I almost lost my life because of her."

Zhao Zhongyu asked calmly, "Why hide behind the tree instead of walking properly along the path?"

Zhao Ji defended, "I didn’t."

"Do you think I’m blind? Third Sister was holding a lantern, I was watching the path. Do you think I don’t know if there’s anyone on the road before entering the second gate? If it wasn’t for you suddenly leaping out from behind the tree, would she have kicked you flying?" Zhao Zhongyu cursed, "Were you trying to scare her or scare me? She’s young and able, a military general, can you frighten her? Are you trying to frighten me to death so you can inherit the clan leader position? You..."

"I just wanted to file a complaint to you," Zhao Ji said aggrievedly, "I heard you talking to her, wanted to listen on the side. From entering the house till now she hasn’t come to greet me or pay respects. I heard you were sending her to rest, so couldn’t help but want to complain. Who knew she would harm me as soon as I stepped out."

"Father, she surely did it on purpose," Zhao Ji said, "You said it yourself, she’s a warrior and needs keen eyes on the battlefield. Would she not recognize me?"

Zhao Zhongyu: "Stop imagining things, at the time I couldn’t even see your shadow, so dark, how could she recognize you?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Zhao Ji: "This is our Zhao Family residence, I don’t believe with her smartness she wouldn’t know that anyone in the inner residence is family. You didn’t see me, but she certainly did; even if she didn’t, she could guess."

He then mentioned the matter of Zhao Hanzhang entering the house today without going to the front hall, "I kindly had a meal prepared, waited in the front hall, but she entered without paying respects to Uncle, going instead to see a staff member..."

Zhao Zhongyu rubbed his forehead and said, "Today she bumped straight into Gou Chun at the city gate, the two had a conflict, Third Sister pointed a spear at Gou Chun’s neck, and could have killed him within a knife’s distance."

Zhao Ji trembled, "Are you threatening me with her, or saying she’ll threaten me?"

"I’m telling you, don’t treat her as just another lady in the inner residence; she’s no longer the Zhao Third Lady who used to subtly compete with you for favors in the inner residence. She’s Zhao Hanzhang, who can confront you with sword and spear and legitimately kill you."

"She is the Duke of Ru Nan County, the Inspector of Yu State, the most powerful person in Great Jin aside from Gou Xi!" Zhao Zhongyu said, "When your uncle was around, I never opposed him on political or family matters, because I knew I didn’t have the ability."

"In the court, he’s the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Shangcai Marquis, with high prestige. Between him and me, courtiers and the world would only listen to him, so I only made suggestions. If he didn’t adopt them, I wouldn’t oppose. At home, the inheritance of family property and titles was also determined by him, because his status in the clan was high, far above mine. Even if I opposed, he could find ways to make me comply." Zhao Zhongyu admonished his stupid son earnestly, "Now, Zhao Hanzhang to you is like your uncle was to me in those days. Third Sister is much like her ancestor, and you are far from my level, so you need to be even more careful and cautious."

Zhao Ji’s blood pressure rose, and his face turned bright red.

Not only his abdomen hurt now, but his chest was hurting as well.

Zhao Zhongyu also feared driving his son to his death with anger. Seeing him like this, fearing he would follow him in dying from anger, decided to avoid further harm, stood up, and said, "Rest, servants will bring medicine soon. The doctor advised you to stay in bed, avoid moving around. Take leave and rest at home for now."

Then Zhao Zhongyu walked away, angrily flicking his sleeves.

Zhao Ji clutched his chest, "Father, Eldest said in his letter that he’s been assigned as County Magistrate to Yang’an County. That Yang’an is so impoverished, that even Second Son is Prefectural Governor there, while our Eldest, who reads well and is smart, ends up..."

Zhao Zhongyu didn’t listen anymore, pulled open the curtain and left.

Soon, Zhao Hanzhang found out about the conversation between the father and son in the room.

Ting He glanced at Zhao Hanzhang’s expression and whispered, "Lady, will Second Lord be dissatisfied?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Sending Zhao Yi to Yang’an County as County Magistrate is already my favor to him. He failed the talent test two years consecutively. Uncle knows this well, he won’t be dissatisfied."