Last year had been a plain and subdued New Year. This year, Hua Zhi was determined to make it a lively one.
Wu Shi was capable and efficient — everything had been prepared thoroughly and in good order.
On the thirtieth, Hua Zhi led the main and branch members of the Hua Family, young and old alike, to the ancestral hall. She stood at the front, her brothers in the middle, followed by the Hua Family sisters; the Madams of each household, along with Hua Xian, knelt outside the doors. Though the family was divided into two halves, the Hua Family could still be considered flourishing in its descendants.
Holding incense in hand, with pale blue smoke curling upward, Hua Zhi’s gaze fell upon the spirit tablet of Hua Jingyán, set in the highest place of honor. When she had first learned of this ancestor of the Hua Family, she had once suspected whether he, like herself, had come from a future age — yet after poring through every record concerning him, she found that he was simply a native of this world. His brilliance was such that even a transmigrator would pale in comparison before him; his erudition, his foresight, his mastery of both civil and military arts — he was worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest figures in history.
More fortunate still was that he had encountered a worthy ruler — one who had not discarded him after his use was spent, nor grown threatened by his great contributions. The two of them, sovereign and subject, understood each other perfectly, maintaining that bond that was both that of ruler and friend until their very deaths. And it was this man, gifted with both high wisdom and high virtue, who had laid down the family’s many rules, defining the Hua Family as purely a family of scholars, setting them apart from all other subjects, allowing them to pass their legacy down to this very day.
But it had only lasted up until now.
Bowing her head to the ground, Hua Zhi raised her hands level with her shoulders and spoke clearly: “Hua Zhi, current head of the Hua Family, humbly reports to the ancestors — this past year, the Hua Family’s descendants have been diligent and devoted to their studies, conducted themselves with integrity, upheld the rules of our Hua Family, and abided by the laws of our great Daqing. Not for a single day have we dared to forget the ancestors’ admonishments.”
Hua Zhi paused, then continued: “In the year to come, the Hua Family will surely be even better. We ask the ancestors to bear witness.”
She bowed once more, waving aside the steward’s hand that came to receive the incense, and personally placed it into the incense burner herself, before stepping back and kneeling again to complete her final obeisances.
The full rite of three kneelings and nine prostrations — performed without the slightest omission.
After rising, Hua Zhi turned to face the assembled younger brothers and sisters. By custom, it was now time for an address.
“Everyone has made great progress this year. Come this same day next year, I hope I will still be able to say the same.” Hua Zhi swept her gaze over the young faces, still touched with the softness of youth, her voice gentle. “The Hua Family has been a family of scholars for generations. Books are the foundation of the Hua Family — no matter the circumstances, this is something all of you must always keep in mind.”
Everyone responded together in agreement — though young voices, they rose in a resounding chorus.
Hua Zhi turned back to face the spirit tablet of Hua Jingyán. “Together, we will protect the good name of the Hua Family and keep it from falling.”
“We will protect the good name of the Hua Family and keep it from falling!”
Outside the ancestral hall, someone had already let tears fall. These were ordinary words, yet they struck straight at the softest part of their hearts. They were happy — and yet the tears could not be stopped.
Still, there was steadiness in their hearts. Last year, they had not known what lay ahead — no direction, not knowing what to do, full of anxious uncertainty. And now, there was someone leading them forward.
On the thirtieth, no one was idle.
The three elder aunts by marriage had each found tasks for their hands; the two Yiniángs kept them company. In the past, the Yiniángs would certainly not have had the standing to serve as companions to guests — but now, no one in the Hua Family thought anything of it.
Over the past year, Hua Zhi had pushed and prodded and coaxed and rewarded until everyone had grown accustomed to standing united and coexisting in peace — especially since, just before the New Year, they had each received a generous share of dividends. Such insubstantial things were hardly worth mentioning when set against tangible benefits.
Hua Zhi came to keep them company for a while. No one brought up anything unpleasant; they spoke of which young boy had made progress, which young girl had grown more and more capable in managing household affairs — all harmony and warmth.
When Ying Chun came in, the others merely glanced over and continued talking.
But Hua Zhi noticed something amiss. Her heart sank, and she found an excuse to stand and step outside.
“What is it?”
Ying Chun swallowed, keeping her voice low: “An imperial envoy has arrived.”
Hua Zhi was startled. She tried to recall whether there was any precedent for sending imperial envoys on the thirtieth, her feet already moving swiftly toward the front courtyard. As she went, she casually beckoned a maidservant over and instructed her: “Go and relay a message to Fourth Madam — if I am not present, she is to take charge of everything.”
The maidservant answered crisply and went at once in the direction of Fourth Madam’s quarters.
“Miss, what does His Majesty intend by this?” Ying Chun was nearly in tears. She still remembered clearly what state her Miss had been in after her last visit to the palace; she feared her Miss was about to suffer again.
“Don’t be anxious yet. On New Year’s Eve it is customary for the Emperor to bestow dishes; it may be that His Majesty was pleased and sent a portion our way.”
Hua Zhi was not sure whether she was saying this for the maidservant or for herself. She dared not slow her steps the whole way. In the end she simply unfastened her cloak and tossed it to the maidservant, her pace growing a little lighter.
The imperial envoy was not Lai Fu.
Her heart sank further. She greeted him with a curtsy. “This humble woman Hua Zhi pays respects to the imperial envoy. Forgive me for failing to receive you sooner.”
The eunuch flicked his horsetail whisk, his voice sharp: “His Majesty’s oral decree — the Hua woman is to enter the palace for an audience.”
Hua Zhi drew a deep breath and assented.
The carriage was driven forward. The eunuch lifted the curtain. “Please, eldest young Miss.”
Hua Zhi curtsied again, and as she raised her head, she caught sight of Wang Rong in the corner. Their eyes met; Wang Rong gave her a small, quiet nod.
Hua Zhi steadied herself somewhat. She was just about to step forward when a weight settled on her shoulder — Ying Chun, under the eunuch’s watchful gaze, tied her cloak back on for her. On the other side, Bao Xia immediately pressed forward a small but generously packed sachet and spoke in a low voice, by way of plea: “My Miss is of delicate health — would the eunuch please look after her.”
“Quite devoted, aren’t they.” The eunuch felt the sachet, then took a seat at the driver’s perch, bracing himself against the carriage frame. The carriage, surrounded by its escort, rolled out of the Hua Family gate.
Bao Xia dug her nails into her palms. “I’ll go to the Zhu Family —”
“Don’t cause a commotion.” Ying Chun was biting her fingernails, unable to help herself. “On ordinary days we can still send in a request to enter the palace, but today is New Year’s Eve — unless it is a matter of military urgency, who would dare present themselves uninvited? Going to Old Master Zhu would be no use either. Let us not panic for now — perhaps Miss will be back before long.”
And besides, the Sixth Prince had already returned to the palace. That person of great standing and influence — the head of the Seven Lodges — ought to be in the palace at this moment as well. Surely they would not stand by and watch Miss come to harm.
Yes, those two both held Miss in high regard. They would certainly protect her.
What should she do now? Right — she needed to… she needed to…
Ying Chun smacked herself sharply on the head and kept telling herself to calm down. If it were Miss at home, how would she handle this? Right — she would steady everyone in the household, find the best explanation to keep things quiet, and let everyone spend a peaceful New Year.
Right — find Fourth Madam…
“Where is Zhi?” Wu Shi came rushing over at nearly a run, panting as she asked.
Ying Chun shuddered, yet miraculously grew calm. It being the New Year, Hua Zhi had given the household staff their holiday; there were not many people in the front courtyard. She dismissed the others and told Fourth Madam the truth: “The Emperor has summoned her.”
Wu Shi’s legs buckled; she nearly crumpled to the ground.
Inside the carriage, Hua Zhi pricked her ears to listen to the sounds outside, then smoothed open the small crumpled paper in her palm. The handwriting was hurried and scrawled: Noble Consort brought it up. Malice intended. Be careful.
This was what the eunuch had thrown in when boarding the carriage. Though she did not know whose side he was on, from these words it was clear that this summoning to the palace had been orchestrated by Hao Yue — and that she harbored nothing but ill intent.
She was not surprised that Hao Yue would move against her. It was only the choice of New Year’s Eve that gave her pause. By custom, there should be a royal family banquet a little later — what did they intend by summoning her? Surely they could not be planning to expose her relationship with Yan Xi on such an occasion and bring both of them down together.
She tucked the note into her mouth and chewed it slowly. Hua Zhi thought irrelevantly that in all those spy dramas, little paper notes carrying intelligence were always dealt with this way. She had not imagined she would ever have use for that particular skill herself.