Knowing that his master was not well-informed about the situation outside, Gu Yanxi picked out the important matters and told him everything, not leaving until dusk.

Chen Qing came forward to meet him, draping a cloak over his master’s shoulders. He tilted his chin toward the carriage and said, “The eldest young miss instructed that you should rest.”

Gu Yanxi smiled and patted Linying’s neck before getting into the carriage.

“Have the important matters summarized and deliver them personally into Master’s hands. As soon as possible.”

“Yes.” Chen Qing climbed up onto the driver’s seat and flicked the reins to set the horse in motion. “You managed to bring the old chief out of retirement?”

“The capital is the most critical front. If I’m not here, there’s no one capable enough to hold things together, and I won’t be at ease. You stay by A’Zhi’s side and be at her disposal. In any situation, her safety comes first.” Inside the carriage there were blankets and a warm hand warmer. He held it in his hands and smiled — only A’Zhi still treated him like an invalid.

“Yes.”

Hua Zhi had not had an easy day either. All her businesses had opened their doors today. The vegetarian restaurant was fine — it had only started taking reservations from the sixteenth, the same as always, with only a set number of tables to prepare. Fudong still manned the kitchen there. As for the seafood restaurant, she had already handed that over to Liu Juan, only stepping in to oversee things at critical moments.

The seafood restaurant was another matter entirely. On its very first day of reopening, it was packed to the brim — by midday, there was not a single seat to be had. Fortunately, she had purchased the shop next door before the new year and turned it into a waiting area. With fire basins set in the middle, it was nice and warm. Those waiting were seated in order and then called over to the main restaurant in turn.

She had considered knocking through the wall between the two shops, but the space was small — fitting two extra tables would be about the limit, and breaking through would be a great deal of trouble. So she had left it as it was for now.

As for Lvtai Lane and Liyun Lane, there was no need to even mention them — queues stretched in front of every single shop, people packed shoulder to shoulder. Had there not been a rule against queuing into the middle of the road, the lanes would have been completely blocked.

Hua Zhi went around to check on each location. The situation everywhere was excellent. She could almost hear the crisp, satisfying sound of silver coins tumbling into her pockets.

People cannot do without clothing, food, shelter, and transportation — especially food. One could buy fewer new garments, but going without food meant going hungry. Anyone with a few extra coins was willing to spend a little to satisfy their appetite.

Watching the lively scene, Hua Zhi felt the urge to add one or two more ventures to her business portfolio, but after much deliberation she decided to hold back. She could not give the Emperor another reason to find fault with her.

After dinner, Gu Yanxi cradled his teacup and said, “I had people verify those families. The Yuan family and the Yu family are decent. Both their family conduct and the individuals themselves are reasonably upstanding.”

“That’s good. The Hua family’s branch relatives still have several young ladies of marriageable age. I’ll ask Grandmother again and see which family suits Second Sister better.” Hua Zhi suddenly broke into a smile. “Here we are picking over other people, and we don’t even know if those families would look favorably on the Hua family as it stands.”

“They certainly will. A’Zhi, you have protected your family well, and everyone can see that.” Just as her grandfather had said — aside from the eldest young miss braving storms and waves out in the world, all the other members of the Hua family continued as before: those who should study studied, those who should keep to the inner quarters kept to them, without a single thing for anyone to criticize. No one had expected Hua Zhi to shield her family to such a degree, yet she had done it — and in doing so, had transformed herself into an impenetrable wall standing guard at the front.

Gu Yanxi took A’Zhi’s hand and kissed it. Her grandfather had also said that the noble families throughout the capital now harbored a measure of softness toward A’Zhi. These were men, and every one of them privately admitted they would not have done better than her — let alone a woman venturing out into the world where everything was inconvenient. The respect hidden within the way everyone addressed her as “eldest young miss” made that perfectly clear.

His A’Zhi had, through her own efforts alone, made those people who looked down their noses at everyone else not dare to look down on her. If they ever found out what she had been doing in secret, their jaws would drop clean off. Gu Yanxi felt thoroughly proud — such an extraordinary person, and she was his!

Hua Zhi herself did not feel she had done anything particularly remarkable. She had simply done what she could.

“Oh, right — let me show you something.”

Hua Zhi rose and retrieved a sheet of paper covered in drawings. “This is sugarcane. It goes by different names in different places — some call it potato cane or sugar cane. Do you recognize it?”

“I’ve never seen it. What is it used for?”

“It can be used to make sugar. The cost isn’t high, and the quality of the sugar is good. In some places, sugarcane is just something children chew on for sweetness — it fetches no great price. If I recall correctly, it should be found in both Yangzhou and Jingzhou.”

“If it’s not a rare thing, then someone must have encountered it. I’ll have my people ask around.” Gu Yanxi carefully folded the paper. “Is it a lucrative business?”

“What is the current price of sugar?”

“That… I wouldn’t know.”

“I’ve put the young master in a difficult spot.” Hua Zhi laughed. “From what I know, the cheapest sugar still costs around two hundred wen per catty. Better quality goes for three or four hundred wen. If I can produce sugar of higher quality than anything currently on the market, what would you say — is that not a lucrative business?”

“It is.” Gu Yanxi loved watching A’Zhi speak with such confidence and ease. Her whole person seemed to radiate light. “And this lucrative business — you intend to offer it to the Emperor?”

“Yes. Only when he’s in a good mood will things go smoothly for us. We just embarrassed him in front of others, so we ought to appease him a little.”

Gu Yanxi laughed quietly. Appeasing that man in this particular way should prove extremely effective.

Hua Zhi shot him a sideways glance. As if she wanted to — a business this profitable, she’d much rather pocket it herself and sit back collecting the money.

But while the business could be handed over, the process could be drawn out slowly. First, the raw material had to be found. Then it would need to be cultivated on a large scale. And after that, the production method would have to be refined gradually — none of it could be rushed. If sugar could be produced before the year’s end, that would already be a victory.

All she needed to do was demonstrate to the Emperor how profitable this venture could be. As for the progress, he would learn of it in time. She would make him happy for now and buy herself a period of stability.

Two days later, Gu Yanxi left the capital.

Before his departure, he came to say farewell to A’Zhi. “If anything comes up, have Chen Qing handle it. And if the Emperor gives you trouble, don’t strike back head-on — even for my sake, bear with it. Understood?”

“I know. I won’t throw an egg against a rock.”

He drew her gently into his arms. Gu Yanxi spoke softly into her ear: “Yu Lao has returned. Shaoyao no longer needs to go back to the palace. I have asked Master to keep watch over the capital. Should anything urgent arise, have Chen Qing take you to Master — he can be trusted.”

“Alright.” Hua Zhi wrapped her arms around his waist. “Is there nothing else you want to say to me?”

Gu Yanxi let out a quiet sigh. Of course there was — there was too much, and he didn’t know where to begin. If he could, he truly wished he could bring her along with him. Only keeping her within his line of sight would put him at ease.

He pressed his lips to the side of her ear, his voice growing softer and warmer. “I am fond of you. From the very first time we met, I have never once taken my heart back.”

Gu Yanxi gave a low laugh. “Otherwise, why would I have volunteered myself to become a martial arts tutor at your home? I simply wanted to see more of you, to know you better, to be a little closer to you. If I hadn’t been steadily warming you up like this all along, how would you have ever come to hold a place for me in your heart?”

Hua Zhi smiled secretly. She tilted her head up and kissed him. “I am fond of you too — not one bit less than you are of me.”

Gu Yanxi leaned in and caught her lips, kissing her tenderly for a long while before finally letting go. “Take good care of yourself. Don’t get hurt. Don’t fall ill. Don’t be troubled, and don’t be heartbroken over anyone — I have never once made you cry.”

“I promise you all of it.” Hua Zhi raised her hand and pressed it to his chest. “Protect yourself. Come back injured again and I’ll deal with you.”

“As you command, my future bride!”