No news had come from the front lines, and the silence was unsettling.
Zheng Zhi had not gone to Xinyu Pass alone — the Second Imperial Prince had sent a trusted aide to accompany him. Who could have imagined that a scheme once devised for personal gain would now prove useful in a matter of national importance?
By this time, the forty-ninth day of mourning had arrived. This was the period of imperial mourning, and so long as the fighting had not reached the capital, it was an event too significant to be neglected. The entire court had been thrown into a flurry for several days; every imperial prince, princess, royal, and minister had been put through the wringer before it was all over.
As for Hua Zhi, the Crown Prince had issued an order on the grounds of her poor health, requiring only that she observe a vegetarian diet at home. The favoritism was brazen, yet no one stepped forward to object. Everyone could see how gaunt and hollow she had become, and knowing well why she had worn herself to such a state, even those who felt no gratitude toward her had no desire to make things harder for her.
Hua Zhi did not waste the consideration shown to her. She exercised at home every day without fail. Though outsiders could not yet see any change, she herself could tell her body felt lighter, and her sleep had improved — for which the divine physician praised her warmly.
“Miss, Madam Yu and Madam Yuan have arrived. The Fourth Madam has sent someone to ask whether you would like to come out to receive them.”
During a period of imperial mourning, matrimonial matters would not be openly discussed, yet everyone understood the purpose of the visit well enough. If she were not at home it would be one thing, but as the head of the household, being present was a matter of propriety.
When the two madams saw her appear, their smiles became visibly more sincere. Both were perceptive women — so long as Hua Zhi gave her word, there would be no complications, even after the Hua Family’s men returned home.
Madam Yu said with a warm smile, “Who would have thought that Xiasheng would remain in the capital? In that case, there is no need to rush matters. What does the Grand Preceptor think?”
“Please, call me Elder Miss as you always have.” Hua Zhi smiled. “At present, both the civil and military ranks show signs of a generational gap. His Highness wishes to cultivate a group of younger officials. Your son was personally named as the top scholar, which speaks to His Highness’s regard for talent. However, remaining at the Hanlin Academy for now is fine enough — in time, he will need to move elsewhere.”
Madam Yu nodded repeatedly. She had come today at her father-in-law’s urging, hoping to glean some information about Xiasheng from the Elder Miss — yet she had not expected the Elder Miss to treat her so much like family, speaking so candidly. And rightly so: though the Hanlin Academy had long been known as the Hua Family’s domain, the Hua Family had never placed all of their people there. Once a marriage was arranged, Xiasheng would become family, and it would no longer be fitting for him to remain there. The Elder Miss had said it so openly and plainly that Madam Yu actually felt more at ease.
“Such matters are best handled by someone as capable as the Elder Miss. I need only concern myself with welcoming a daughter-in-law.”
“Everything shall follow proper procedure. Second Sister first, then Third Sister — the timing should be staggered. There is no rush now, is there?”
Madam Yuan and Madam Yu nodded in unison. “Quite right.”
At this moment, Steward Xu came in to report. “Elder Miss, Eunuch Laifu has arrived.”
Laifu? Hua Zhi’s heart stirred. She rose and looked toward the doorway, and everyone else in the room stood as well.
Laifu came in quickly, bowed, and said, “Grand Preceptor, there is an urgent report from the border. His Highness requests your presence at the palace.”
Without a word, Hua Zhi turned and headed for the door. She had already crossed the threshold when she remembered she had guests, and turned to offer a bow. “Forgive my discourtesy — please discuss the remaining matters with my mother and Fourth Aunt.”
Neither woman dared to detain her, and they said hurriedly, “Elder Miss, please go attend to your affairs at once.”
Hua Zhi gave a nod and left with swift steps.
Those remaining in the room exchanged glances. Wu Shi covered a smile at the corner of her lips. “Please do not take offense, both of you — our Elder Miss is never idle.”
“Not at all — she has brought great honor to us women.”
While those in the room exchanged pleasantries, Hua Zhi quickly changed into her official robes and boarded a carriage. She asked Laifu, who was seated on the outside, “Which direction did the urgent report come from?”
“The north.”
The Yinshan Pass!
Hua Zhi’s brow furrowed, but she asked nothing more. Once she entered the palace, the Crown Prince did not wait for her to pay her respects before handing her Wu Yong’s letter directly.
Hua Zhi set aside all other concerns and read the letter from beginning to end in one go. The renewed fighting was as expected — what she had not anticipated was how quickly Wu Yong had already requested reinforcements.
“What does Your Highness think?”
“The Grand Preceptor has met with General Wu in person. What impression did you form of him?”
“He can be trusted.” The Crown Prince had asked delicately; Hua Zhi answered directly. “The Wu Family has guarded the Yinshan Pass for generations — that place is their roots. If he says he needs reinforcements, it means he is truly struggling to hold on. When I was at the Yinshan Pass, I faced the steppe tribes in battle. Their combat strength, though not equal to the Chaoli Tribe, surpasses that of the Great Qing. If they press an all-out assault, Wu Yong will be in serious difficulty.”
Hua Zhi looked at the map. “Last year there was a drought, followed by a harsh winter — their livestock must be nearly gone. The new harvest is still far off, and the old grain stores have long been exhausted. In ordinary times, they would raid the border settlements for plunder to sustain themselves for a while, but ever since my grandfather took over the border defenses, he relocated the border people further inland, cutting off their opportunity to raid. That explains these relentless, unceasing assaults.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes lit up. “Then so long as Wu Yong holds the Yinshan Pass, would they not fall into chaos on their own?”
“The Yinshan Pass must be held. If a pack of starving wolves is let through, the consequences would be unthinkable.” Hua Zhi clenched her back teeth — she could not bear that outcome either.
Taking the long pointing rod that Xiao Shuang passed to him, the Crown Prince traced the map. “At present, only the Yuzhou forces can still be mobilized.”
Hua Zhi was silent for a moment. The decision of whether or not to move them was not hers to make.
Yuzhou was closest to the capital — in the event of upheaval there, the forces could ride to its aid at any moment. From that standpoint, leaving them in place was the wiser choice. Yet the capital was shielded at the very center; if fighting ever reached it, it would only be because the border had already fallen. If the border held, the capital would be safe — and besides, the five garrisons guarding the capital were not mere decoration.
“Whatever decision Your Highness makes, I will support it.”
The Crown Prince tightened his fist and gave a firm nod. “Then mobilize the Qingliu Garrison of Yuzhou — seventy thousand men — to march and provide reinforcements.”
Hua Zhi bent at the waist in a bow, her heart quietly gladdened. A ruler forged through such trials would surely accomplish great things in the future.
As if a switch had been thrown, urgent requests for reinforcements began arriving in quick succession from the north, followed by the west and south. The Crown Prince dispatched forces as best he could, yet he had no choice in the end but to draw three of the five garrisons guarding the capital into service.
And yet, the Shouya Pass — which had drawn the most attention of all — remained without a stir.
Gu Yanxi, in full military attire, bent over the map in concentration. His fingers tapped heavily several times on the mark for Xinyu Pass in the south. “Have Wu Xing come.”
Wu Xing entered with the smell of gunpowder smoke clinging to him. “My lord.”
“How well have they learned?”
“Near enough. As long as the quantity is controlled, it is not difficult to learn.”
Gu Yanxi gave a nod. “Teach them whatever remains to be learned. Then take three men and set out at once for Xinyu Pass to find Shao Yao.”
Wu Xing withdrew without a word.
Chen Qing looked puzzled. “Is it not Shouya Pass that is the most dangerous?”
“The Chaoli Tribe is a people of great pride. They have been held at bay outside the Shouya Pass for nearly two hundred years, and they will inevitably want to break through that defensive line and enter from there, reclaiming the glory they once held. But they have a strategist among them now — they will not grind themselves against us here to the bitter end. I suspect that killing General Sun first was precisely to shackle me in place and render me unable to move, so they could strike elsewhere.”