Liu Juan stumbled off the carriage, her body still shaking from the tremors that had not left her the entire ride. Her legs refused to cooperate — she had barely taken a step before she fell. Dong Zi, who had heard the sound and come out to meet her, hurried forward and caught her, asking, “Liu Juan, what happened? Are you alright?”

Liu Juan shook her head, past caring about dignity or the lack of it. “Help me up — I have something to report to the young miss.”

“Of course.” Dong Zi helped her inside without another word, walking her straight to the entrance of the inner courtyard. From there, the inner courtyard maids took over and brought her before Hua Zhi.

Hua Zhi was startled to see her like this. She knew the people around her well. Liu Juan had only come to her side more recently, but she was not the type to be so thoroughly frightened by something minor.

Fu Dong quickly stepped forward and helped her to a seat. A young maid brought hot tea. Liu Juan drank it with trembling hands, and only after it warmed her could she find her voice.

“Young… young miss, the city is under martial law. This servant saw a great many soldiers in full armor.” Once the first words were out, the rest came more easily. “After I entered the city, it was not long before someone came and brought me directly to that person — just as you said, young miss. He was wearing a mask, and those around him all had their faces covered too. Nearby, a number of people had been bound.”

Hua Zhi gave a small nod. After learning of Master Lu’s true identity, she had known — the masked figure who had rescued her that night was him. The mysterious Seven Lodges Chief of the Great Qing Dynasty.

“After this servant delivered the things, he asked whether you had any words to send. When I said you did not, he let me go. This servant did as you instructed and observed the situation in the city carefully. It was far more serious than what the servants had described earlier. This servant walked slowly on purpose and listened to what others were saying. They were saying — they were saying that someone had attempted to do harm to the Emperor.”

Liu Juan swallowed. Her eyes could not hide her fear. She had grown up on a farm estate, and the Emperor was to her a remote and sky-high presence. Even the mention of him made her heart clench — all the more so to hear that someone had attempted to harm him. It felt to her as though the very sky had cracked.

Hua Zhi had obtained the information she needed. She did not trouble the girl any further and had Fu Dong take her away to rest properly.

Bao Xia had also been frightened by the news — but in the next moment, her attention caught on something else. “Liu Juan hasn’t been with us long, but she’s shown herself well. She’s bold, careful, and hasn’t made a single mistake. I think she could be promoted to a second-rank maid.”

“Has this ever needed to be brought to me before?” Hua Zhi found this faintly amusing. She knew she was bold — but she hadn’t thought she had shown it so openly. She couldn’t quite understand how the maids around her had all ended up this fearless, one by one.

Bao Xia gave a small laugh and turned to consult with Ying Chun. Ying Chun, who had not yet fully recovered, heard the topic and immediately engaged with it seriously. “Not just Liu Juan — Chun Xiang too. And Liu Xiang as well.”

Liu Xiang, who had been busy nearby, looked over quickly.

Ying Chun smiled at her. “It was mentioned before that you’d be promoted, and though your monthly allowance was raised, it was never made official. When we return, we’ll make it proper.”

Liu Xiang curtsied to Ying Chun and then performed a full bow before Hua Zhi. “This servant thanks the young miss.”

“You’ve earned it.” Hua Zhi had never forgotten what the girl had done — had been willing to suffer humiliation herself to try to save her. And it was after that incident that all the liveliness had gone out of the girl, as though she had grown up overnight. These were things that needed to be repaid.

Nian Qiu gave Ying Chun’s sleeve a gentle tug and tilted her head toward the young miss.

Ying Chun nodded. She gestured for the others to withdraw. Then she brought warm water in, helped the young miss warm her hands, and knelt at her feet, carefully massaging lotion into them. In a soft voice she said, “Young miss, this servant doesn’t quite understand…”

“You don’t understand why I had Liu Juan bring a meal to Master Lu?”

“Yes.” What Master Lu felt toward the young miss was something the others might not see — but they were with her every day, and they could read it clearly. They were glad for her.

They were content to stay by their young miss’s side forever. But if it was possible, they hoped she might one day meet someone who would cherish and love her. Their young miss was so good — she deserved the finest treatment the world had to offer.

Yet the young miss had shown no such feeling in return, so plainly — which was why she couldn’t understand why the young miss had made this gesture.

“Because without sending someone, I would have had no way of knowing how far things in the capital had gone.” Seeing the maid’s surprised look, Hua Zhi smiled. What else — did you think I’ve suddenly fallen for Master Lu?

Even Shao Yao had been summoned. This meant the Emperor’s situation was likely not merely an attempt — it had already succeeded.

She had known from early on that someone was following her. That was precisely why she had dared to send Liu Juan in alone. She also knew that the moment Liu Juan entered the city, someone would bring her straight to Master Lu.

And that was exactly what had happened. Liu Juan had gone in without a single obstacle.

He had already openly revealed the identity of the Seven Lodges Chief and begun making large-scale arrests — Hua Zhi thought about it. This was no small matter, and it would certainly not simply blow over quietly. The Hua family had no involvement. As long as the Zhu family caused no trouble, she had no connection to any of it. She even felt a quiet anticipation that things might grow even more turbulent.

When the Hua family was suffering, weren’t they all quite pleased? Now she was pleased too.