Hua Zhi was also taking medicinal meals within the palace — Shao Yao had personally prepared and sent them to her.
Although the two of them could still see each other in the palace these days, they no longer had the carefree environment and time they once shared. Shao Yao was not particularly happy about it, but she knew what mattered and never said a word. She only clung close whenever they did meet.
Even so, she was in very good spirits right now. “Grandmother told me I could go with you.”
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow at the form of address. Shao Yao had always addressed the Empress Dowager as “the Empress Dowager” — she had not expected her to change it.
Shao Yao leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Grandmother asked me to change how I address her. She said the Gu family doesn’t have many people left, and Yan-ge asked me to agree to it.”
Hua Zhi gave her arm a light pat. How could one speak so freely in front of the Crown Prince? She was about to offer an apology on Shao Yao’s behalf when the Crown Prince laughed first. “No matter the occasion, Shao Yao-jiejie is always so genuine. It’s truly wonderful.”
Shao Yao waved her hand carelessly. “That’s not quite right either — I used to dare to give you a beating, but I don’t dare to now.”
Hua Zhi did not know whether to laugh or be exasperated. The way she said it — as though beating an imperial prince were some admirable feat. Though… thinking back, she herself had once struck the Crown Prince’s palm.
Watching the look of pure nostalgia on the Crown Prince’s face, Hua Zhi decided against reining Shao Yao in after all. A person who could still look back fondly on the past showed that he valued old bonds — and that was far better than someone who, the moment they rose to power, wanted to sever all ties with what came before.
After resting a while to let their meal settle, the sky outside had grown dark. Hua Zhi proposed, “Let us go now. I expect we will need to spend some time there.”
The Crown Prince looked down at his own conspicuously imperial yellow robes and rose to his feet. “I will go change.”
They were already in the Hall of Quiet Contemplation. The others waited in the outer hall. Hua Bailin sidled over and whispered, “Elder Sister, could I perhaps mention to the Crown Prince — could we secretly bring out a few books?”
“Are there none outside?”
Hua Bailin nodded. “They are rare editions.”
Hua Zhi did not stop him, only reminded him: “Mind the degree to which you ask.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Setting down her teacup, Hua Zhi straightened her younger brother’s clothing. “You’ve been working hard.”
Hua Bailin shook his head repeatedly. His hardships could not compare even a fraction to his elder sister’s. A few days ago, he had quietly asked Shao Yao-jiejie about his elder sister’s condition, and Shao Yao-jiejie had said that Elder Sister’s health could actually recover if she set everything aside and rested for a year or two. Before Grandfather and Father returned, he wanted to help carry more of the burden — so that Elder Sister could be spared at least some of the strain. He did not dare hope she would recover right away; he only hoped things would not worsen any further.
Before long, the Crown Prince emerged in a blue robe — half-worn and well-used in appearance. Hua Zhi recognized it as the one he used to wear often during his days at the Hua household. Over the past year he had grown quickly, and clothes were often too short before he had worn them more than a few times. She had eventually had several new ones made with extra length allowed in the hem. They fit him perfectly now.
“Let us go.” A rare ease had settled over the Crown Prince’s expression these past few days, as though changing into these clothes had changed everything.
Hua Zhi smiled to herself, and could not help but feel a quiet hope stir within her — if Sixth Young Master could remain this way forever… how wonderful that would be.
Hua Lin Lane — this alley that had once seen a constant flow of carriages and visitors had grown still and quiet since the Hua family’s troubles. The lane remained clean: no weeds, no moss creeping across the stones, and the same was true even outside the Hua family’s main gate. Were it not for the conspicuous seal strips across the doors, nothing at all would have suggested this was the home of a family under investigation and locked away.
Hua Zhi pressed her lips together, then turned and gave a deep bow toward the Lin family’s residence. These small acts of consideration in quiet corners — she had only seen them today for the first time. It was truly thoughtful of them.
Hua Bailin followed with a long, formal bow.
They did not disturb the seal strips on the main gate. Hua Zhi led the group to the side entrance. The Crown Prince stepped forward and peeled away the seal, letting Lai Fu carefully set it aside — it would need to be reaffixed when they left.
Nearly two years without inhabitants had left clear marks of decay upon a residence that the Hua family had maintained and repaired each year.
Cobwebs everywhere. A thick layer of dust that came off on the hand. Wooden boards cracked and hanging askew. Stone garden ornaments toppled. Potted plants leaning in every direction… Hua Zhi looked upon what had once been her home and was gripped by a strange feeling — she did not know where to set her foot.
Hua Bailin held himself rigidly still to keep from rushing over to right the fallen potted plants, and averted his gaze. “Elder Sister, shall we cut straight through from the garden instead?”
As if taking that route would spare them anything. A garden untended for two years would surely be worse, not better — at least the main approach was a smaller space to take in all at once.
“No detours. We go straight through. Your Highness, mind your step.”
The group passed through the main hall and walked a good while along the covered connecting corridor before the two buildings the Hua family was known for came into view — the Library Tower and the Clear Discourse Tower.
The two structures stood no more than a hundred paces apart, connected by a dedicated covered walkway.
Hua Zhi suddenly smiled. “Whenever the clear discourse gatherings were held, the Library Tower’s doors would be thrown wide open. If neither side could persuade the other, the debaters would run across this walkway to the tower opposite, searching through the volumes there to prove their argument. Grandfather said the ancestor who built these two towers once declared: it matters little if the people get rained on, but the books must never get wet.”
The Crown Prince had long yearned to see the Clear Discourse Tower, and his eyes were full of longing. “May I go and look inside?”
“The Clear Discourse Tower turns no scholar away. Bailin, accompany His Highness inside.”
“Yes.”
Watching the two figures disappear through the entrance, Hua Zhi went to the Library Tower across the way. Even had the Crown Prince not mentioned it, she would have arranged for him to come and see. She intended to use these two towers to show him the Hua family’s loyalty — to let him see clearly that the Hua family harbored not a shred of ambition. While he could still see and still hear, she wanted to plant this seed in his heart. As the years passed, this seed would take root and grow within him, so that even in his old age he would be certain in his heart that the Hua family would never rise against his Gu clan. A confiscation and exile — one time was already more than they deserved.
She pushed open the Library Tower’s door. Dust swirled up in clouds. Shao Yao moved to pull her back; Hua Zhi shook her hand free. Through the drifting curtain of dust, the sight of books scattered across the floor struck her with a deep ache. In sixteen years living in the Hua household, she had spent a great many hours here. Amid the full fragrance of ink and paper, even simply sitting here and emptying her mind had been a comfort. But now that ink-fragrance was buried beneath dust, and volumes that had once earned a scolding and a punishment if a single corner was folded over were scattered across the ground. Hua Zhi thought: she must have the Library Tower set in order before Grandfather and the others returned. If Grandfather were to see it like this… how heartbroken he would be.
Stepping inside, Hua Zhi noticed a cleared path and books stacked neatly to one side. She frowned slightly. “Someone has been here.”
Shao Yao followed her gaze and nodded in agreement. “Someone has indeed been here.”
Neither of them spoke aloud as to who it might be. Someone who could come and go freely and had even helped tidy the books could only be one or two particular people — and none of them would bear any surname other than Gu.
Crouching down, Hua Zhi began picking up books one by one and stacking them to the side. Shao Yao positioned herself slightly further away and passed books over to her. Before long, the Crown Prince and Bailin came over from the Clear Discourse Tower, took one look at the scene, and without a word came to help as well.
Hua Zhi stood up and surveyed the several tilted bookshelves and the volumes spread across the floor beneath them. She dusted off her hands and said, “Let us go. What we are looking for is on the second floor.”