The moment word spread that the spring imperial examinations would proceed as scheduled, the examination candidates rushed to tell each other the news. The heavy pall that had hung over them for days was swept away at a stroke. In truth, many had already begun preparing to return home — that the examinations would not be delayed had genuinely caught them by surprise.

“I rather thought this was to be expected. The Hua Family has always been a protector of scholars, and now that the eldest daughter holds the post of Grand Tutor, she will naturally consider every matter on our behalf.”

The inn was packed to capacity because the candidates had all gathered in the capital, and not a single empty seat could be found in the main hall. All one could see were scholars in Confucian robes and square caps, faces lit with excitement, their voices a notch higher than usual.

With these words spoken, the mood in the room seemed to lift another degree. Daqing’s first female official was the Hua Family’s eldest daughter — and they felt, without quite understanding why, a certain pride by association. Of course, not everyone felt this way. Someone immediately spoke up: “A woman entering officialdom and working in close quarters with a host of men — is that really appropriate?”

“I think the eldest daughter is more than worthy, and deservedly so.”

“I agree — she has earned it. The Crown Prince was taught under the eldest daughter’s instruction for over a year. You only think of her as a woman, but have you noticed what remarkable courage and resolution the Crown Prince possesses? Is that not largely to the eldest daughter’s credit?”

The matter of storming the palace was not exactly a credit to the imperial family — yet after weighing the situation, the Empress Dowager had approved Hua Zhi’s suggestion, put forward through the Seven Lodges Bureau, to use the incident to bolster the Crown Prince’s image. Word had spread throughout the entire city that the Crown Prince, out of concern for the late Emperor who had not been seen for days, had stormed the deep palace — and that afterward, he had been willing to bear the responsibility alone. The courage he had displayed was now common knowledge, and what had initially been worry over a young and inexperienced new ruler had transformed entirely into eager anticipation. Whether as officials or as commoners, no one did not hope that a new ruler would be a wise one. The people wanted peace and prosperity; the court officials wanted to vie for power and influence — and both depended on the premise of a stable nation.

Spreading alongside that story was the news that Hua Zhi had been teaching the Crown Prince for over a year and was already in every sense his imperial tutor in name and in deed. Had this been anyone else, it would have been impossible to believe — yet with Hua Zhi, not a single person found it strange. A daughter raised by the Hua Family was naturally bound to be extraordinary. Over the past two years, the eldest daughter had proven that point with a countless string of facts.

Still, some could not quite shake a certain unease — a feeling, vaguely, of being surpassed by a woman. It was fortunate, they thought, that the person in question bore the surname Hua. If it had been someone else, it would surely have amounted to far more than a matter of public opinion.

But on the whole, things were going well.

Hua Zhi listened to the reports her people brought up and thought for a moment, then gave her instructions. “Guide things more carefully. Don’t let the topic center on me — circulate more things that reflect favorably on the Crown Prince. The matter of his handling of the flood disaster in Xiangyang can be worked with, as can the Jinyang affair. There is no need to keep that under wraps any longer — it will come to light eventually, so we may as well get ahead of it. You can ask those who accompanied us to Jinyang about how the Crown Prince conducted himself at the time. Some of what Yanxi and I did can be attributed to him as well. Layer more gilded credit onto the Crown Prince — do everything possible to keep public sentiment stable during this transfer of imperial power.”

“Yes.” Chen Qing glanced several times at the eldest daughter, whose expression carried a faint trace of weariness. “Now that this matter has reached a conclusion and the tutoring need not begin immediately, why not rest properly for a few days? There are likely many more places that will need to rely on you in the days ahead.”

“Let me wait until Yanxi returns. With him not back yet, even sleep brings me no peace.”

Chen Qing had no further words of persuasion. He was about to take his leave when the eldest daughter spoke again. “I will not be going to Shizi’s residence for the time being. Let the old master know — the Crown Prince is thinking of him and his injury, and asks that he recuperate in peace without needing to change his lodgings. The divine physician is staying there as well, which makes things convenient.”

“Yes.”

“Also — keep a close watch on Prince of Ling’s residence.”

“Yes.” Chen Qing acknowledged, then asked, “Do you suspect there are remnants of the Chaoli faction within the Prince of Ling’s residence?”

“Anything is possible, but evidence is needed.”

“Yes. This subordinate understands.”

The day Yanxi returned to the capital fell precisely on the seventh day of mourning after the late Emperor’s passing. The moment Hua Zhi learned he had returned, she immediately made her way to the palace to request an audience — this was the first time she had ever entered the palace on her own initiative. Knowing Yanxi’s habits well, she was certain his first act upon returning would be to go to the palace and report back. At a time like this, she wanted to be at his side.

Gu Yanxi received word of her the moment he entered the city. Casting all protocol aside, he rode at a full gallop straight for the palace gates.

The palace was draped in white mourning everywhere. Before the spirit hall it was especially solemn. At this moment, a Buddhist ceremony was underway — the chanting of monks filled every corner of that stretch of heaven and earth. With the Crown Prince at the head, and save for the Fourth Prince who had been imprisoned in the Imperial Gaol, even the First Prince who had been stripped of his status and reduced to a commoner had been granted special permission to enter the palace. The assembled princes knelt behind the ritual master, bowing their heads to the ground with an air of reverence.

Gu Yanxi moved as though he could see none of it. Step by step he passed by everyone and approached the coffin. Expressionless, he gazed at the figure within — who looked as though he had merely fallen asleep. This imperial uncle of his — once towering and mighty as a god of heaven, before whom he had stood in awe, and whom he had later come to feel disappointed by, nearly to the point of a final rupture — was truly gone just like that?

Xiao Liu had made several attempts to speak and stopped himself each time. In the end, it was the Duke of Founding Nation who broke the silence. “The late Emperor issued an imperial decree, appointing Shizi as Prince Regent to assist the Crown Prince in becoming a wise ruler for the ages. Shizi, please receive the decree.”

Gu Yanxi turned around. The ever composed, seemingly all-powerful head of the Seven Lodges Bureau — his gaze hollow and vacant — looked as though he had not understood. He stared at the Duke of Founding Nation without moving.

The Duke of Founding Nation sighed. The late Emperor had been foolish. The bond Shizi felt toward him was likely deeper than that of any of the imperial princes. What a pity!

“Please accept our condolences, Shizi.”

“What has happened?”

This was something the Duke of Founding Nation could not speak of. Just as he found himself at a loss, the Empress Dowager appeared. “The ceremony continues. Yanxi — come with me.”

Gu Yanxi’s chest was heavy with grief, yet he understood keenly that however much he suffered, it could not compare to his grandmother’s pain. He turned and knelt, performing a full nine prostrations before the coffin — a belated farewell — then rose immediately and went to her, supporting his grandmother, who was visibly thinner than before.

The Empress Dowager patted the back of his hand. In her heart, she found a measure of comfort. The heavens had, at least, left her these two.

“Empress Dowager, Shizi — please wait a moment.”

Hearing Lai Fu’s voice, the grandmother and grandson turned as one. Before Lai Fu could say another word, the sight of the person beside him told them everything.

Hua Zhi stepped forward and dipped into a curtsy. “This younger one pays her respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The stern and composed expression on the Empress Dowager’s face eased somewhat. She stepped forward and lifted her up, then placed her hand into Yanxi’s. Gently she said, “You know all of what has transpired — let it be you who tells Yanxi.”

Gu Yanxi instinctively tightened his grip around her hand. Hua Zhi shifted slightly and adjusted her hold so that their hands were clasped together. She dipped once more toward the Empress Dowager. “Yes. This younger one will take him away now.”

“Go.”

Watching the two depart hand in hand, the Empress Dowager lowered her head and pressed gently at the corners of her eyes. Among the exhaustion on her face, a thread of relief had worked its way through. “He has finally returned. This heart of mine can at last settle back into place.”

Yuxiang stepped forward to support her and said in a soft voice, “Indeed. Shizi is the steadying pillar of our Daqing. With him here, Your Majesty can set your mind at ease and rest.”

The Empress Dowager’s lips curved very slightly upward. “Pass down my word — whatever Yanxi needs to do next, no one is to obstruct him.”

“Yes.”