"Before Empress Zhanghui passed away, she once entrusted the Noble Consort to my care. At that time, she was only thirteen, weeping like a broken woman as she held the Empress's ceremonial robes. Yet she refused to ask Guanjia for even a shred of grace for her maternal family. With a disposition like that, how could Lady Cao ever hope to outmaneuver her?"
With those final words, Zhang Maoze turned and left with the men of the Imperial City Guard.
As Zhang Maoze's sleeve brushed against the vermilion door frame, the bronze bell at the eaves suddenly chimed. Han Zhi watched his retreating figure disappear behind the moon gate. Zhang Xun looked over at him then and asked:
Chapter 351