A single strike of the wooden clapper rang out. The hall doors slowly opened.
Lai Fu — who had seemed as though a breath of wind might topple him, yet had held on until this very moment — flicked his horsetail whisk and called out in a drawn, high-pitched voice: “His Majesty the Emperor has passed!”
The ministers fell to the ground in unison, their voices rising in mournful cries: “Your Majesty!”
Hua Zhi knelt along with the rest of them. The heart she had kept suspended for so long finally settled heavily into place. Having come this far, even if there were further upheavals, she would no longer be as powerless as before. With the Emperor gone, even if Little Six were to have second thoughts, it could not be now — during these few years while he still needed to rely on her and Yanxi, their relationship would necessarily remain harmonious. As for what came after… she would never allow them to end up like the bow discarded once the birds were gone, or the hound cooked once the hunt was over.
Little Six stepped out from within the hall, his gaze sweeping across the gathered crowd before finally resting on his Teacher, who appeared even more slight and frail now that she was kneeling. He least wanted her to bow before him — and yet moments like this would likely become all too common from now on. This was one among the things he was losing: this gentle and kind woman, at once like a mother and an elder sister, would likely never again ruffle his hair.
He reined in this emotion that had no place here. Little Six’s voice — not yet having broken — rang out clear and bright: “Imperial Father has passed. I ask that all ministers perform their respective duties to stabilize the court, and give no opportunity for those with ill intent to exploit.”
“We shall comply with the Crown Prince’s words.”
“Minister Wei.”
Wei Congwen, Minister of Rites, snapped his head up, his heart leaping into his throat. “Your servant is present.”
“All the affairs that follow will require the Ministry of Rites to take on much of the burden. Your Crown Prince is young and does not fully understand the proper protocols. Should any matters require a decision, please consult with the Grand Preceptor.”
Wei Congwen responded in a loud, clear voice, and felt the breath return to his lungs. The string wound tightly over the past several days finally eased. He had gambled on a dangerous move — and won. The Wei Family had at least managed, barely, to balance merit against fault.
The Duke of State-Founding also bowed in acknowledgment. As the Administrator of the Imperial Clan, this matter was not his to shirk.
“Sound the funeral bells.”
The bell tolled twelve times. The entire capital fell still for a moment. Many people stepped out of their homes and silently knelt, pressing their foreheads to the ground in the direction of the palace. The music ceased. The pleasure houses and brothels swiftly shut their doors. Within a very short time, the capital was draped in white mourning clothes and undyed hemp.
The movements within the palace were even swifter. Everywhere one looked was an expanse of white.
Little Six, now dressed in plain white mourning clothes, came before Hua Zhi, who had been asked to stay behind. Before she could fully register that the person before her was no longer quite the same Little Six as before — before she could even begin to bow — he had already bent at the waist first. “Teacher, you are now, in all legitimacy, my Grand Preceptor.”
Hua Zhi’s heart melted. She had always known this. His every display, his every effort — one reason among them had been to have her identity as the imperial prince’s teacher recognized. In those years when he had no power to formally appoint her, all he could do was make himself outstanding enough that the world would come to acknowledge her qualifications as his Teacher from the bottom of their hearts.
She raised him gently to his feet, and smiled softly. “From now on, that waist cannot bow so easily.”
Little Six had been born and raised in the palace. His understanding of its rules seemed almost innate. And yet he felt aggrieved — aggrieved in every way, about everything.
“What is wrong with paying respect to my own Teacher? Heaven, earth, sovereign, parent, teacher — even kneeling before you would be proper.”
Hua Zhi paused, and almost immediately recognized the emotion beneath his words. She thought it through for a moment and understood. Yes — when all was said and done, this was only a twelve-year-old child. He had gained the most exalted position in the realm, yet in gaining it he was cut off from everyone and everything else, becoming a person utterly alone. How could he not feel resentment?
Her body still ached. This day had been so unbearably long, and her strength had long since run dry. She decided, on a whim, to be a little indulgent. She simply sat down right there on the ground, and patted the space in front of her, gesturing for Little Six to sit as well.
Little Six’s eyes brightened. He sat down obediently, and visibly the color returned to his face.
Seeing him like this, Hua Zhi felt a pang of tenderness. She let out a gentle sigh and softened her voice. “Rules and propriety form the foundation of order — you understand all these great principles, and I need not repeat them. Let me instead speak to you about the human heart. If you were merely an unremarkable prince, no one would care who you were close to, because it wouldn’t matter — it wouldn’t affect the grand scheme of things. But now you are the Crown Prince, and soon you will be the ruler of the entire nation. Your preferences, your leanings, your closeness and distance from people — all of it carries enormous weight. Countless people will wish to become someone you favor. Countless people will try to divine your thoughts. They will cater to your every taste in hopes of earning your particular notice. And so, naturally, they will not allow me to be that one exception — they may even join forces to destroy whatever makes me exceptional.”
Little Six’s gaze went cold. Hua Zhi sighed. The imperial family was without sentiment — that was something that needed no teaching. Even when that coldness was not directed at her, and was in fact born of a desire to protect her.
“Yet this is not entirely without solution.” Hua Zhi suppressed the urge to reach out and pat his shoulder. “Only when you are powerful enough — powerful enough to make all your ministers bow their heads to you, powerful enough that they would not dare scheme against you or play vile tricks based on your personal attachments — only then will you be able to act in accordance with your own heart.”
She smiled, and her voice grew a little warmer. “You have been by my side for over a year now. You know I have no great ambitions. Once you are married, I will retreat far away. As long as I do not contend for power or authority, I doubt anyone would hound me relentlessly. And you will always know where my family’s home is. Who would dare refuse you entry when you come calling? I have said this before — the Hua Family’s doors will always be open to you. As long as you are willing, there will always be a room for you at the Hua Family home, and a set of bowls and chopsticks at our table. Little Six — the greatest distance has never been how far apart people are in miles, but the distance between two hearts. And ours are not distant at all.”
Little Six was silent for a moment, and at last a look of genuine ease appeared on his face. He had been trapped in his own thoughts. The choice was in his own hands, was it not? As long as he always remained close to his Teacher, who could possibly forbid it?
Teacher was right. He still needed to become strong enough — strong enough to subdue all the treacherous spirits haunting the court — before no one would dare to bring their schemes anywhere near him.
“I understand, Teacher. I will work hard.”
“From now on, call me Grand Preceptor. It leaves fewer handles for others to grab.” Hua Zhi thought of something and reminded him: “You are at an age of spirited youth right now. Take great care not to let others get hold of your emotions and lead you about by the nose. Listen more, watch more, say less. Do not be used as a tool by others. The Duke of State-Founding is a pillar of the nation — when you face decisions that are difficult to make, you may seek his counsel. But do not rely on him too heavily.”
“Can I not ask you instead?”
“You may not. By the late Emperor’s decree, I am forbidden from participating in governance. And in truth, I would not understand those matters any better than the Duke of State-Founding does.”
Thinking of how the late Emperor had granted Teacher the title of Grand Preceptor yet encircled her with layers upon layers of restrictions, Little Six felt indignant on her behalf — but deep within, also a small, secret sense of relief. It was unfair to Teacher, he knew. Yet knowing that for at least a few years he would not be entirely alone felt like the greatest gift. He would make it up to her someday — make it up to her many times over. Yes — he could prepare an extraordinarily generous dowry for her when the time came. A wedding procession stretching ten li. No — twenty li!
Behind the side door, the Empress Dowager stood and listened for a good long while. It was not as though she had never worried. With Yuepin as a cautionary example before her, she could not help but harbor some unease toward a woman of such exceptional intelligence. But now she was at ease. Hua Zhi was not Yuepin. Only when cleverness was directed toward the right ends could it truly be called cleverness.
“Take Yuepin and lock her in that room — the one where they drew heart’s blood. Nothing inside is to be added or removed.” The Empress Dowager curled her lips coldly and added one final instruction: “Board up every door and window with planks of wood.”
“Yes.” Yuxiang felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of what lay within that room — yet could not help but feel a fierce, cathartic satisfaction. This was a debt Yuepin had incurred herself. It was hers to repay.