After a moderately fruitful business in ME, that sure didn't make anyone rich nor solve anyone's financial problems, they decide to return home.
They open the portal, normal everyday business, right close to Taifuan. When they get on the other side, though, that doesn't seem to even be the location they chose.

They do a few tries, but the place is always the same.
Open countryside, a meaningless hamlet, less than 10 houses separated by a buddy road. Nothing even similar to the Taifuan they are used to.
There is only one detail that they can recognize in the environment: the Spring Palace, exactly the same as the one they know well.

The previous day, when he said he'd go to offer a drink to his friend, he was actually accompanied to the Prancing Pony Inn in Bree, where 'mercenaries' and fortune seekers usually go to find jobs or people to hire.
He remained there till late night but he actually found a little job too. Now he doesn't even need to think about it anymore, he only has to act.

He returns to the Hobbit house very early in the morning and doesn't even go to hit the bed to have a little rest. He adds more supplies to the baggage he had left by the entrance and goes to wake up only the characters who are going to come with him, with the excuse of a hard excursion not just anyone could keep up with.
* Yes, QinShi is there.
* Carlie arrived there too, together with her nephew.

"So, why are you here and how have you found out where I am?" he asks in a rather annoyed tone to Carlie, both closed inside the living room of the Hobbit house.
"Finding you was the easiest part, my nephew SiXiang came here to his friends, your nephews. I have come to 'congratulate' with your brother for finally being safe from the risk someone could suspect he could like a man, but apparently I have wasted my time, considering in what state he is. And I sincerely hope what I heard about him is false, but I won't ask for a confirmation."
He tries to figure out what she means, but maybe because his mind doesn't want to consider that possibility yet, he doesn't catch it. "What the hell are you talking about, even?"
Carlie raises a brow. "You seriously don't know? The situation is worse than I thought, but I'm not surprised. Maybe you should sit down though, I have quite a few bad news to give you at once."
He doesn't like this matter at all. "Please just say what you have to say, I don't have whole day."
She tilts her head. "How hasty you are, for someone on an holiday. Anyhow, I'll resume your problems into three main categories: first, QinShi died last time. Second, the Riddle family has put your whole family into a legal, international mess for it and last, but not least, the dear BangSul has sent capture orders for your whole family, kids included, and has already taken JinGoo." She takes out some papers, wanted posters, one for each Zhou except Wool, but just because nobody know what he currently looks like.
"What...?" he gasps, his voice is trembling already for the shock. "H... QinShi... how..." He places a hand on his forehead, struggling not to burst into tears.
"According to the autopsy report, his heart simply stopped. He died in the sleep, there was no track of poisons or medicines or drugs, according to the doctor, it probably happened due to his poor health state combined with the heavy stress he has been coping with, in the last years." She takes a seat. "I'm 'sure' that you all have been doing all you could, in order to prevent this, thus your shock is very justified", she says sarcastically.

He actually bursts into tears and sobs for a while, feeling like a total failure already. "The children must not know anything of this..."
She glances at him. "As a matter of fact, I came to you and not to them. The point is that you can't set a foot back in Nortrig, neither Heinmenhos nor Xhuanghen."
"Where did they take Jin?"
"I don't know where he was taken, probably the Imperial Prison. The good news is that they will probably keep him alive as a bait to lure you back."
"I need to save him, I can't leave him like that... and what about the funeral rites, I have to go back, I must..."
"Richard Riddle has taken legal action against you, so that he'd be the one taking care of the funeral rites. Also, according to what I heard from QinShi's banker, who is a friend of mine, months ago QinShi's lawyer communicated to him that in case of death, all of his fortune would go to certain 'ZiXin'. He probably didn't have the chance to change his last will, after Zhou fell into such misery."
ZiTao covers his face with both hands and keeps crying. "What am I going to do now...?" he sobs, so desperately.
"Now, I guess you have to go away from the Shire, since someone else could find out you are here. Then it would probably be wise to start making a living here. I don't think you can safely return to Nortrig, unless you want to test if what they say about your new, evil tyrant on the throne is true."
"I can't abandon Jin..."
"Getting imprisoned with him or dying won't help him much, will it? You see, this is exactly the kind of situation where having some skillful friends would be handy, but you Zhou have been too busy to make enemies just for the sake of it, to make useful allies." She snorts.
"I can't abandon everything like this... tell me what can I do to save my family, to be able to return there... who do I have to give to BangSul?! Richness? Jewels? What does he want to leave us alone?"
She doesn't look particularly softened by his desperation. "I don't know what he is seeking from you. I don't know what could convince him to change his mind."
"Why is he doing all this...? What have we done to deserve to be hunted down like animals?"
She shrugs. "He loved the previous Emperor and probably didn't take so well the fact you have treated QinShi so poorly all this time. Call it a revenge for his brother-in-law? But that's my speculation, maybe he just dislikes you all so much he'd execute even your children."
ZiTao shuts his eyes and remains like that for a while. "What do I do now, what do I do...?"

Carlie stands up and approaches him, looking up at his covered face. "Now the damage is done. Does it look to you like BangSul is a reasonable man?"
He shakes his head. "He is never going to spare us, not after what Song and Haru did..."
"Look... you are not your brother and shouldn't just accept his mistakes to fall upon your shoulders. Take a grip on your life and your family, follow your own ways and solve the problems as you think, not as someone else would do. You need a strategy, you need powerful allies and I don't mean strong ones, I mean high ranked ones."

They keep talking for a while.
In the end, ZiTao decides to keep the news secret to everyone, not knowing that Wool actually eavesdropped their entire conversation, and to continue with his plan.
If he wants some allies, he knows that he needs money in his pockets and a good amount of power and influence.

The previous day, when he said he'd go to offer a drink to his friend, he was actually accompanied to the Prancing Pony Inn in Bree, where 'mercenaries' and fortune seekers usually go to find jobs or people to hire.
He remained there till late night but he actually found a little job too. Now he doesn't even need to think about it anymore, he only has to act.

He comes back to the room and frowns at them. "What did I tell you?" He snorts. "Whatever, I'm not paying for that stuff anyway. Let's go hyung-nim." He takes QinShi by wrist and pulls him through the portal with himself. QinShi had already paid for his wand anyway.
Once back to the others, he hopes another portal that leads to a secluded spot right outside the Shire.

The next afternoon, as it was programmed, the two families meet up to go on an holiday in Arda.
After Tomiel is done making a "show" because Song is there, ZiTao opens a portal but doesn't let them go through yet. "Before we go to our destination, I have to make a stop in another place. Won't take long. You can wait here or follow me there, but if you decide to follow, for Shii's sake, don't let him sell you his whole store." He rolls his eyes.
Naturally some of them have to follow, as the RP starts there.
The people who will follow, will get to have a Harry Potter styled special wand for themselves and to learn some spells.