Chapter 228: I Don’t Owe Favors
Spring suddenly arrived, the ice and snow melted, and water droplets dripped continuously from the eaves as if even the roof was melting.
Han Ruzi barely noticed such obvious changes. He was too busy, with one matter after another and guests arriving in waves.
Prince Donghai came at dawn and left only after sunset, introducing and receiving guests for Han Ruzi, willingly serving as an advisor. Yang Feng, on the other hand, rarely appeared, only talking with the Weary Marquis briefly in the evenings.
The most frequent visitors were the sons of noble families. Though they were secretive in the first two days, they soon became open about their visits. They came to chat, deliver messages, express respect to the Weary Marquis on behalf of their fathers and brothers, and explain situations for certain officials.
Though scholar-officials and nobles looked down on each other, there wasn’t a clear divide between them. Marriages and family connections happened frequently. While they competed and schemed against each other, sometimes they needed mutual support – like wild beasts tied to opposite ends of a rope, fighting over food but having to cooperate when hunting.
Han Ruzi gradually understood how difficult it was to be the real emperor.
Due to the battle at Shattered Iron City, Prince Donghai’s reputation among noble families was extremely poor. Not wanting to add to Han Ruzi’s troubles, he took the initiative to reconcile with various families, sending people to express condolences and sharing his regrets with visiting noble sons. Ultiamtely, he was Prince Donghai – even if he was worthless, few people truly wanted him as an enemy. Thus, he received forgiveness, even more easily than Han Ruzi received forgiveness from the Chai family.
In the spring of the second year of the Wuwei era, the wind changed direction. The Weary Marquis increasingly showed the bearing of a throne contender, and everyone waited for Chancellor Yin Wuhai’s reaction.
Yang Feng’s strategy put Yin Wuhai, who had been feigning illness at home, in a precarious position. The reason officials only communicated secretly with the Weary Marquis rather than visiting openly was that they were waiting for the Chancellor’s move.