The Zhu Family did not come, which surprised Hua Zhi somewhat.

“Master Zhu is a perceptive man.” Gu Yanxi rested against the headboard. Whether because he had finally shed the burdens and responsibilities weighing on him or for some other reason, his spirits seemed quite good. “Things have already come to this point. Others may still think of ways to distance themselves from the Hua Family, but the Zhu Family and the Hua Family cannot be separated — it’s too late for that. Since the outcome is the same regardless, why come and trouble you on the very first day of the new year?”

That made perfect sense. Hua Zhi nodded thoughtfully.

“Besides, don’t you have to accompany your mother back to her family tomorrow? Master Zhu can certainly manage one day’s patience.”

“I prefer to believe it’s because my maternal grandfather wants me to have a good New Year.”

“That interpretation isn’t wrong either.” Gu Yanxi nodded with a smile. “The capital is not actually that large. These established clans, whose roots run deep — who among them didn’t grow up knowing each other from childhood? And yet most in the end either drift apart like strangers or turn on each other for the sake of their own family’s interests. Even those who maintain some contact mostly do so because of entangled interests — the moment their family’s welfare is truly at stake, the first thought is how to disentangle themselves. Master Zhu the elder and Master Hua the elder are rare exceptions. Back then, Master Hua went to every length to restore Master Zhu’s good name, and now Master Zhu does everything in his power to protect the Hua Family. That is what true friendship is. Years from now, it will surely become a fine tale told by many.”

“Hearing it like that, it’s quite a beautiful thing.” Hua Zhi blinked. “Are you going back to the Shizi Estate?”

“I had Chen Qing move everything of mine out of it — I need people to know I mean what I say and not merely speak empty words.”

Hua Zhi opened her mouth, then found she had nothing of particular substance to say in response. Yanxi was not an impulsive man — every decision he made was surely something he had already thought through. There was no need for anyone else to tell him what to do; that included her.

She only needed to support him.

Shao Yao came in carrying the medicine. She found it utterly remarkable that the two of them were getting along like old friends, and told herself this was the first time she had ever seen a man and woman be at ease in each other’s company in quite this way — yet she also thought there was nothing better than this. Just watching them like this, she felt as though she had so much, so very much — more than all the world had to offer, and she would not trade it for anything.

“Are you planning to drink it yourself?” Hua Zhi turned to look at her with a teasing smile.

Shao Yao snapped back to herself, grinned, ran over and shoved the medicine into Yanxi-brother’s hands, then pressed up against Hua Hua’s side and started being affectionate.

Hua Zhi once again felt as though she had raised a daughter — one who was two years older than this body of hers.

She pulled the girl down to sit, then offered the candied fruit to the man who had swallowed his medicine without so much as a change of expression. “Is it all right for Cao Cao — Shao Yao — not to return to the palace?”

“It’s not as if I can drag her back and execute her.” Gu Yanxi picked up a piece of candied fruit and put it in his mouth. The medicine hadn’t tasted particularly bitter to him — but now he could tell just how sweet this candied fruit was.

“I’m not going back to the palace. Even if an imperial decree comes for me, I won’t go.” Shao Yao gave a huff. She didn’t sit properly either, settling down beside Hua Zhi’s leg and resting her head against it — she was quite fond of this close, warm posture of being able to lean on someone without worry.

“Elder Yu should be returning soon.”

Shao Yao hunched her shoulders, feeling a little guilty. For others, it was the duty of the student to serve the master in times of need — for her, it was the master who served the student. Her master was definitely going to beat her.

The atmosphere here was warm and harmonious, yet within the imperial palace the tension was so thick that palace attendants and eunuchs walked on tiptoe, smothering any urge to sneeze or cough, terrified that a single noise might bring disaster down upon them.

Inside the Fushou Palace, the Empress Dowager sat in full formal dress with her eyes closed. After the imperial family members had come to pay their morning respects, she had not changed out of it. She was old now — she needed this attire to keep the ghosts and monsters at bay.

Zhi Niang came in at a quick pace. “Your Highness, the Moon Consort has sent word that she is feeling unwell and wishes to request a physician.”

“Who in the palace is feeling well? It’s a holiday. Let the physicians have a peaceful year.”

“Yes.”

Zhi Niang went to brew tea and brought it over. Only at the scent of the tea did the Empress Dowager open her eyes. She took the cup and brought it to the tip of her nose to inhale.

Looking at the tea brought the one who had made it to mind. The Empress Dowager kept her gaze lowered, watching the tea leaves drift and settle in the cup, and asked, “Is Yanxi still at the Hua residence?”

“Yes — said to have not come out at all.”

“He would have had to be able to get out first. Driving a blade into that position — he certainly had the resolve for it.” The Empress Dowager’s hands trembled slightly. Some of the tea spilled over. She seemed not to feel the heat — she waved away Zhi Niang’s move to take the cup, brought it to her lips and drank two mouthfuls. But no matter how hot the tea was, it couldn’t warm the cold hollow in her chest.

Every time she thought of her grandson driving that blade into himself before her, of two young women supporting him through the winding long corridors of the imperial palace on the way out, she trembled from head to toe. That was her grandson — the Shizi who had rendered great service after great service to the Great Qing dynasty. And in those circumstances, there hadn’t even been a single person to arrange a palanquin for him. It chilled more than just her heart.

“I truly want to have that Hao Yue flayed alive!”

Zhi Niang offered a quiet word of counsel at her side: “You will have the chance to deal with her later — just not now. Even if not for the face of the imperial family, you must hold on for the Shizi’s sake. The mantis catches the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind — we mustn’t let others reap the benefit.”

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and pressed down the violent impulse in her heart, that overwhelming desire to draw blood. She was just about to speak when the announcement came from outside the door: “The Emperor arrives.”

She set down her cup and drew in a long, slow breath. She rose, straightened her robes, and stepped forward two paces to receive him — not overly close, not distant, just as she always was.

“Your son pays his respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The Emperor made a vague bow; the Empress Dowager made an equally vague gesture of support. “It’s New Year today. Would the Emperor like to have a meal here with this Dowager?”

A warmth crossed the Emperor’s face. “It is your son’s fault for not thinking of it sooner. As the Empress Dowager wishes.”

Zhi Niang immediately went to make arrangements. Lai Fu glanced up and ushered all the other attendants in the room away.

A moment of quiet, and the Empress Dowager was first to break the silence. “If the Emperor has come to take Hao Yue back, there is no need to feel awkward — take her.”

The Emperor’s gaze became opaque. “Do you suspect this matter has something to do with Hao Yue?”

“What if it does? What if it doesn’t? She is your favored consort — this Dowager has no intention of depriving you of someone you cherish. Rest assured, I have merely kept her confined. I have not done anything to her.”

“The Empress Dowager is reproaching your son.”

“This Dowager’s heart aches for a grandchild. I should think the Emperor can understand that.” The Empress Dowager’s smile did not reach her eyes. “Yet this Dowager will still stand on your side. The ache of the heart is just that — an ache of the heart, nothing more.”

The Emperor’s gaze drifted to some distant point. He repeated: “You are reproaching your son.”

The Empress Dowager pinched the bridge of her nose, holding herself in check again and again, willing her voice to sound less sharp than she felt: “This Dowager always believed that a true rupture between you and Yanxi could never happen. That child can endure, he respects you, holds you in esteem, and keeps the greater picture in mind. You in turn have always been generous and close with him — more than all your princes put together, they couldn’t match. How did it come… to this?” She paused. “And don’t say it was a woman clouding your judgment. This Dowager knows you have never had any fondness for Hua Zhi. So who was it that planted this idea in your mind? Who was it that goaded you into forgetting that the most loyal subject under heaven is Gu Yanxi — is your own nephew?”

The Empress Dowager raised her head, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Who was it that urged you to forget that?”

The Emperor’s face twitched. His mouth opened and closed — yet not a single word came out.

He wanted to say he hadn’t forgotten. He had simply never expected that even a member of the imperial family could turn out to be such a devoted fool in matters of the heart.

From outside there suddenly came a noise and clamor. Both mother and son fell silent at once and looked toward the door.