At this point the medical attendant spoke quietly, “My lady, your wound has torn open several times. It must be attended to without delay.”

“How large is the wound?”

“It is nearly four cun. You should keep your left shoulder as still as possible — any strain and it is likely to tear open again.”

If her conjecture was correct and the Strategist was indeed in the capital, then tonight would be a hard fight — hardly a situation where she could decide simply to spare her shoulder. Hua Zhi lowered her gaze. “Please ask the Crown Prince to send for the Divine Physician Yu.”

“This subject has already sent for him. Please wait a moment, Grand Tutor.”

“This subject will also need some strong liquor.”

The Crown Prince immediately ordered it brought. While they waited, Hua Zhi did not sit idle. “Your Highness — the materials that were sent back from Wuxing, are they still here?”

“They are.” The Crown Prince retrieved the rolled leather paper from a concealed cabinet. “Does the Grand Tutor intend to use it?”

“It is the only thing we have to rely on right now — but it carries enormous risk. Please have it entrusted to someone trustworthy.”

“Would the Seven Lodges Division be suitable?”

“They would. Have them begin production immediately — as much as can be made. We may need it tonight.”

The others in the room had no idea what the two of them were referring to, but seeing that the Crown Prince said nothing, they did not feel it their place to ask.

The Seven Lodges Division, however, was well acquainted with the existence of black powder. When Yu Xing had first begun researching it, the Seven Lodges Division had sourced all the materials. Later, when the weapon was test-fired at Segu, many of them had gone to witness its power. Now, receiving the formula, they set to work with practiced efficiency and no delay whatsoever.

Behind the screen, Hua Zhi directed the medical attendant to clean the wound with strong liquor. The pain was excruciating. Hua Zhi took the liquor and drank a large mouthful herself, then clenched her jaw and made not a sound.

Divine Physician Yu arrived to find exactly this scene. He pointed at her but could find no words of reproach. When it came to it, who would choose to endure such suffering — it was simply the force of circumstances.

“Please suture the wound with catgut thread.”

Divine Physician Yu was briefly at a loss. Sutured wounds did heal more cleanly — he had said as much — but the drawbacks were also plain. The chief among them was pain. A needle and thread piercing through living skin and flesh; the agony of it was beyond what most people could endure. Over the years he had used the technique on the Shizi’s men, and of course on his own recklessly brave disciple — and she had handled it with spectacular roughness.

“Shao Yao should have told you how painful it would be.”

“I can bear it.” Hua Zhi leaned forward and sat with her back to Divine Physician Yu. She took the liquor jar and drank several more mouthfuls, then asked the medical attendant for a roll of the bandaging cloth and pressed it between her teeth — making clear with her actions that her mind was made up.

From outside, the Crown Prince’s voice drifted through. “Suturing?”

“Yes — using a needle and thread to close the wound. This way it is far less likely to reopen and worsen.” Divine Physician Yu let out a long sigh. He opened his medicine chest and took out needle and thread, then — to prevent infection — immersed the catgut in liquor before threading the needle.

“Beginning now.”

Hua Zhi gave a small nod and drew a slow, deep breath to steady herself.

It truly was agony. The moment the needle pierced her flesh, her entire body went rigid. Divine Physician Yu did not waste breath telling her to relax — her body’s resistance was purely instinctive and beyond her control. He simply kept his hand steadier than ever, working at the very peak of his skill to move as quickly as possible, so that she might be spared some measure of suffering.

“Hmph—!”

Hua Zhi’s muffled groan reached those standing outside, and to a person they felt ill at ease. The Crown Prince, who had been straining to hear every sound, stepped forward in alarm, calling through the screen: “Grand Tutor — are you all right?”

“In response to Your Highness, my lady has cloth between her teeth and cannot speak.” The medical attendant wiped the sweat from Hua Zhi’s forehead, her admiration clearly audible in her tone.

The Crown Prince paced back and forth with the air of someone who would rather have pushed through the screen entirely.

For a stretch of time no one spoke, and in the silence the occasional muffled groan rang out with particular clarity.

After a good while, Divine Physician Yu’s voice finally came through: “Done. I will go prepare a medicinal compress. Keep the left shoulder as still as possible.”

“Thank you, Elder Yu.” Hua Zhi’s voice was dull and hoarse with exhaustion. “Your Highness — this subject needs a cloak to cover herself.”

“Yes — yes, of course.” The Crown Prince did not even call for an attendant; he walked quickly to fetch his own cloak and draped it over the top of the screen.

After a soft rustling of cloth, Hua Zhi emerged from behind the screen with her back straight, her hair at the temples damp with sweat, her face ash-pale. She carried herself as though nothing had happened at all, and bowed to the Crown Prince. “This subject drank a little liquor — forgive the impropriety.”

“No — think nothing of it.” The Crown Prince’s voice was strained. He turned and walked back to his position behind the imperial desk. “Someone — bring seating.”

The order was extended to all present, but everyone knew who he truly meant. Shen Qi, the only one there with no standing to be seated, watched Hua Zhi with a feeling he could not quite suppress — she had done what many a man could not.

“This subject seemed to hear someone come with a report just now. Was it news from the Ling Wang’s household?”

The Crown Prince nodded. “Xiao Shi’s mother is present. Her father cannot be found. This subject has already sent the Seven Lodges Division to conduct a thorough interrogation. Laifu has also confirmed that Xiao Shi’s father came to the capital eight years ago to visit his daughter. He came alone at the time — Xiao Shi’s mother has always been frail and seldom leaves home.”

“Which means it is entirely possible that he truly is the Strategist.” Hua Zhi felt a flare of frustration within her. She could not fathom what the Strategist’s next move would be.

The Grand Preceptor looked across at her. “Might it be possible to make a breakthrough through Xiao Shi’s mother?”

Hua Zhi considered for a moment. “It is worth trying. If she has been under his control all this time, there may be something to be learned from her.”

The Crown Prince glanced at Laifu, who understood at once and immediately withdrew.

Zhu Bowen spoke up. “Setting aside for a moment what gives the other side the confidence to strike at the tiger’s den directly — the most critical place in the capital is still the palace. Practically speaking, an assault from outside the walls is not realistic. Is it possible that they have someone within the palace to receive them?”

“This is something this subject has also considered. After Shen Qi’s report arrived, I immediately issued an order that no one within the palace was to move freely — violators to be executed on the spot.”

“The most vital concern within the palace is your own safety, Your Highness.” The Grand Preceptor clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. “Even if the Chaoli tribe were to fight their way inside, so long as you live, you are the legitimate ruler. If they wish to succeed, they must first remove you — which means the men protecting you must not be moved under any circumstances.”

“The Grand Preceptor is right. No matter how desperate things become outside, the guard around you must not be touched.” The Minister of War followed on. “So long as you live, Great Qing lives.”

A warmth settled in the Crown Prince’s chest. “This subject will stand or fall with Great Qing.”

Hua Zhi listened to their exchange while at the same time turning over in her mind the moves available to the other side. As the Grand Preceptor had said, their numbers were limited — a direct assault on the palace walls was not feasible. Their most likely path was to erode Great Qing from within. And what place could be more “within” than the palace itself?

But the palace had been purged more than once. If there truly were a spy within these walls, the person would be of no low standing — and would be someone trusted absolutely.

Reports from outside kept arriving in a steady stream.

The Ling Wang had fallen into what looked like a frenzied state and refused to believe that Xiao Shi was a Chaoli remnant; he had sent word demanding an audience with the Empress Dowager. Xiao Shi’s mother had died. The Hua Family had bolted its doors and was still secure. And Jia Yang and Yu Mu — they were dead.

Hua Zhi turned her back to the room.

This outcome was not unexpected. Given the situation at the time, there was no way they could have held on. She had simply — believed there might be a miracle. That so long as they kept breathing it would be all right, no matter how badly hurt or broken. She would have taken care of them herself, found them wives, raised their families, given them everything they needed — as long as they were alive.

But they were dead.