After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 918 - 903: Misunderstanding

Ming Yu changed the topic, "What does Lord Zhao think of Linghu Sheng and his son?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "They both have the talents of generals."

"Linghu Sheng is indeed a good general for defending the city. For so many years, Jinyang managed to hold its ground, with Yue Shi taking sixty percent of the credit, while Linghu Sheng took the remaining forty percent." Zhao Hanzhang said, "He is steady and upright, though perhaps a bit too straightforward."

"As for Linghu Ni," Zhao Hanzhang continued, "He is undeniably a good general with excellent martial skills, well-read and knowledgeable, but with a cunning and deceitful nature. Such a person, under a righteous lord, would be a general whose name could be immortalized in history; under a less virtuous lord, he could be a deviant general."

That matched his own thoughts, so Ming Yu asked immediately, "Lord Zhao is aware of the discord between Xu Run and Linghu Sheng, I presume?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded without reservation.

Ming Yu: "Lord Zhao thinks that Xu Run staying here will harm Linghu Sheng, while Linghu Ni here will harm Jinyang and Liu Kun, so you’re planning to take them both away?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Xu Run is a vile person, yet Liu Yueshi is someone who employs based solely on personal connections. As you saw today, Xu Run relies on Liu Yueshi to act with impunity in the city. With Linghu Sheng’s character, he won’t tolerate this for long before petitioning Liu Yueshi again for punishment. Jinyang’s crisis may be temporarily averted, but who knows when Xu Run will retaliate with slander?"

In history, Xu Run did indeed slander, claiming Linghu Sheng had intentions of supporting Liu Kun as emperor.

Liu Kun was a descendant of the Western Han Zhongshan Jing King, a legitimate descendant of the Han family, unlike the counterfeit royal branch Liu Yuan who established the Han Kingdom.

Ever since Liu Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, his greatest fear was being misunderstood as harboring imperial ambitions too. Xu Run evidently knew his sore spot and stepped right on it.

Surprisingly, Liu Kun didn’t even investigate and directly executed his subordinate general, Linghu Sheng.

Linghu Ni managed to escape. Knowing his father and family all died tragically, he couldn’t endure it and vowed revenge!

But Liu Kun was the City Lord of Jinyang, holding a large army, how could he as a lone person avenge them?

Linghu Ni thought it over and immediately rode to seek asylum with Liu Cong, selling out Jinyang’s city defenses and internal affairs one by one, even borrowing troops from Liu Cong to return with a large army, driving Liu Kun out of Jinyang City.

In the end, Liu Kun fled under his trusted aide’s protection, but his parents died amidst the chaos, and it was only then that Liu Kun regretted not listening to his mother’s advice.

But what shocked Zhao Hanzhang the most wasn’t Liu Kun killing Linghu Sheng, nor Linghu Ni’s betrayal of Jinyang, but rather, even knowing Linghu Ni had escaped, Liu Kun maintained the city defenses arranged by Linghu Sheng without any changes.

Making it as easy as pushing over blocks of tofu for Linghu Ni to attack Jinyang.

So Zhao Hanzhang felt he was sometimes smart, sometimes foolishly clueless, and to prevent him from repeating past mistakes, Zhao Hanzhang decided to take Xu Run and Linghu Ni away. If even then he lost Jinyang, she’d really have nothing more to say.

Xu Run returned and fell sick that very night, very seriously, almost bedridden, urgently calling a doctor who said he had caught a cold from overindulgence in alcohol and intestinal discomfort.

Zeng Yue went to fetch Xu Run the next day but couldn’t due to Zhao Hanzhang’s serious concern, and immediately reported back.

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and quickly took Fan Ying to visit.

Coincidentally, Liu Kun heard of Xu Run’s illness and also hurried to visit.

The two collided at the front gate and entered together.

Thus, before long, Xu Run’s bed was surrounded by two concerned visitors.

The feigning gravely ill Xu Run: ...

He truly was sick. After returning last night, he deliberately had servants fetch water from the ancient well, stood in the courtyard drenching himself with two buckets of water, wearing damp inner clothes throughout the night, finally sickening himself by dawn.

Yet perhaps his body was too robust as even though he fell ill, it wasn’t severe. So, he had bribed the doctor to falsify its severity, claiming he couldn’t travel for at least a month or two.

He aimed to miss Zhao Hanzhang’s departure time and thus remain.

He had no idea Zhao Hanzhang originally planned to send him away today.

However, now he knew.

When Zeng Yue arrived to fetch him, his back was drenched with sweat, only feeling relief.

Yet now, sitting bedside with Zhao Hanzhang’s gentle gaze upon him, all that remained was dread.

Xu Run deeply regretted; had he known Zhao Hanzhang, this Regent Governor, was so exacting, he wouldn’t have leveraged her name for profit.

But who could predict such narrow-mindedness from Zhao Hanzhang as an Inspector, to personally handle such a trivial matter!

No, maybe not solely due to this, perhaps it connected to Linghu Sheng and his son.

Thinking of them, Xu Run’s face turned cold, with much to say to Liu Kun, yet he hesitated, glancing at Liu Kun.

Liu Kun just intended to question him when Zhao Hanzhang said with concern, "Ruanlang no need to worry, although the doctor says it’s dangerous, there are skilled military doctors and miraculous medicine in our army, and I’ll make sure you’re cured."

Liu Kun’s eyes flashed, immediately saying, "Yes, Lord Zhao has miraculous medicine, it will surely heal you."

Zhao Hanzhang declared, "I’ll send you to the camp for the military doctor’s help now."

Xu Run was startled on hearing, hastily coughing hard to decline, "No need..."

The doctor nearby also trembled and advised, "Mr. Xu should not be moved now."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Rest assured, he won’t strain himself. I’ll prepare a carriage and have it covered, then carry Ruanlang to the vehicle."

She apologized warmly, "Ideally, I’d have the military doctor visit, but there are many injured soldiers in the camp, the doctor can’t leave even briefly, and the miraculous medicine requires his administration, so Ruanlang must be moved."

Liu Kun listened and his doubts faded, though slight worry arose as Zhao Hanzhang seemed overly attentive and kind to Xu Run.

Despite no direct connection to Fu Tinghan, he was Fu Zhongshu’s grandson; if such closeness compromised their relationship due to him...

Now it was Liu Kun’s turn to hesitate, unknowingly missing Xu Run’s increasingly troubled expression.

Zhao Hanzhang performed brilliantly, so much so that even Xu Run nearly believed her, although the danger never disappeared; the gentler she was, the more terrified he felt.

In the end, Xu Run couldn’t speak out against nor have private conversation with Liu Kun, and Zhao Hanzhang’s people took him away.

Zhao Hanzhang lavished him with utmost care, with Zeng Yue personally leading guards, shielding him from wind and sunlight with thick cloth, and four aides carrying the litter from inner to outer courtyard and to the carriage, then sending him to the camp.

Zhao Hanzhang even escorted him personally.

Such affection was no less than Liu Kun, to the extent Liu Kun’s expression remained concerned, wishing to speak to Zhao Hanzhang but hesitating.

At this moment, Liu Kun realized the inconvenience of having a confidante as a lady—some matters are hard to voice.

Had it been Zu Ti or any other man, he’d express directly, cautioning not to betray the rightful spouse.

Liu Kun watched them depart with worry, realizing this won’t do, immediately asking, "Where is Mr. Fu now?"

"Seems he’s in the Inspector Mansion."

Liu Kun was displeased, "With Lord Zhao here, why does he remain in the Inspector Mansion?"

Not eager to even contest for his wife, no wonder Zhao Hanzhang took notice of Xu Run.