While Hua Zhi remained homebound recuperating from her illness, the Yan Kingdom sent envoys to negotiate a peace settlement. The negotiating delegation led by Hua Yizheng pressed the Yan Kingdom relentlessly at every turn, forcing them to sign a letter of surrender. From that year onward, half of the Yan Kingdom’s national treasury grain would be handed over to the Great Qing, with the Ministry of Finance serving as the liaison.

Good fortune rarely comes alone — just at that moment, a victory report arrived from the western front: the Li Kingdom had been driven into retreat, and every captured city had been recovered. From that point on, the Great Qing’s realm was secure and stable.

Gu Yanxi was visibly kept busy, yet no matter how occupied he was, he would always return to share meals with A’Zhi, and after leaving the office he would come directly to the Hua Family and not go out again. No one gossiped about this; on the contrary, more and more people were teasing that the Hua Family had taken in a live-in son-in-law.

“What did the Chaoli tribe promise the Yan Kingdom at the time?” Hua Zhi asked unhurriedly as she sipped her medicinal tea. Compared to the average person she was still thin, yet compared to the state she had been in when she lay unconscious, she was already so much better.

Gu Yanxi had already changed into everyday clothes and removed the jade crown from his head, looking very much at ease. “One city — they gave them one city on the southern border.”

Hua Zhi was not surprised. Had the Chaoli tribe promised to jointly rule the realm in the future or offered them half of the Great Qing, the Yan Kingdom would certainly not have believed it. Only this kind of benefit — perfectly measured to scratch at a person’s heartstrings — could have enticed the Yan Kingdom to take the risk.

“Half of their grain supply — Grandfather really had the nerve to demand that.” Hua Zhi laughed. “That is truly finding the Great Qing a granary.”

Looking at A’Zhi’s little face which had grown no larger than a palm, Gu Yanxi also smiled. Who knew how much fury the old master Hua had been suppressing in his heart — the Yan Kingdom had walked right into his hands, so naturally they had to be fleeced down to the bone.

“Minister Zhu has already produced the taro flour according to your formula. Today’s court deliberation approved sending the product westward first. The recently recovered cities are in complete disarray — when the Li Kingdom retreated they took some of the grain with them, and whatever they could not take they burned. The western region is currently in the most desperate need of food, so this taro flour will be used to tide them through the transitional period.”

“The Yan Kingdom’s grain won’t be handed over so readily.”

“For the first delivery of grain I’ll have the Seven Lodges Bureau handle it — drag our feet and they’ll be beaten again. Turning the Yan Kingdom into the Yan City wouldn’t be so bad either.”

“Oh my, how fierce.” Hua Zhi laughed until her eyes curved into crescents. “I think it’s workable. When the right opportunity comes, give them a chance to act up, then let the Emperor personally lead another imperial campaign, turning the Yan Kingdom into the Yan City and expanding the Great Qing’s territory — this would be something no one has managed to accomplish since the founding Emperor.”

As long as he had this achievement to his name, Little Six would have no need to go through the same struggles as the late Emperor had in trying to make his mark. Of course, the canal still needed to be built — all these accomplishments would belong to Little Six. Thinking about this, Hua Zhi smiled even more happily. You plant flowers with intention and they may not bloom, yet you plant a willow branch without thought and it has already grown into shade. A fine thing indeed.

Gu Yanxi clearly thought of this as well. He supposed it was because neither of them had had the kind of fortune the Emperor enjoyed — having a Grand Tutor who thought of him in all things.

“I’ve already had someone draft the betrothal gift list.”

The topic shifted so abruptly that Hua Zhi blinked. Three matchmakers, six rites — it seemed like quite a few steps had been skipped?

Gu Yanxi smiled, rose from his seat, walked to A’Zhi, pulled her to her feet, then sat back down and drew her into his arms. “I don’t want to wait too long.”

Hua Zhi touched the nape of his neck. “So all this time you have actually been working through the wedding procedures?”

“Yes.”

“How far along has it gotten?”

“The third rite has been completed — we are now at the fourth.”

Hua Zhi tilted her head to look at him with a smile. “A Regent wedding a Grand Tutor — that has never happened in history, has it? Does this count as two powerful forces joining hands?”

“It does.” The smile spread through every line of Gu Yanxi’s face, his expression softening until he seemed like an entirely different person. He oversaw the Seven Lodges Bureau — how could he not know that people throughout the capital were laughing that he had become the Hua Family’s live-in son-in-law? What they did not know was that if A’Zhi truly wanted a live-in husband, he would have been perfectly willing. No one else would ever get the chance.

The door was pushed open with a creak. Shao Yao walked in with her eyes shut tight, feeling her way forward. “May I open my eyes now?”

Hua Zhi laughed helplessly. Ever since that first day she had walked in on Yanxi kissing her, Shao Yao entered the room like this every time — she would rather do this than knock on the door!

After finishing her examination, Shao Yao stretched contentedly. “Recovery is coming along well. I’ll swap out two of the herbs in the formula next time.”

“I feel somewhat more at ease in my body.” Hua Zhi asked, “How much longer must I rest?”

“Quiet convalescence for one year.”

Hua Zhi was startled. That long? But the Emperor…

Shao Yao rolled her eyes. “Giving the Emperor a lesson or two won’t affect your recovery. Just try to avoid taxing your mind — don’t get involved in anything else.”

“Grandfather is back now, and the household has so many men to hold things up. What use is there for me to manage anything?” With the Hua Family’s current standing, no one with any sense would come stirring up trouble. Hua Zhi could see it clearly, and she had made her plans long since.

The Hua Family’s standing could not be allowed to wane — not yet, the time had not come — but neither could it be maintained indefinitely at this height. In these few years while she could not yet step back, she needed to prove her worth. Having lived two lifetimes, there were still things in her head she could draw upon. Once the agreed-upon date arrived, she could shed the Grand Tutor’s title, and as the years passed the Hua Family’s prominence would naturally and gradually recede. After that it would be nothing more than the petty squabbles of great families competing with one another — matters the Hua Family had long since mastered better than anyone.

Compared to the way she had been shoring things up inside and shouldering burdens outside these past two years, being a teacher was hardly any pressure to Hua Zhi, to say nothing of taxing her mind.

Yet no one was going to bring the Grand Tutor out of seclusion now. She went on living her peaceful, homebound days, listening to her mother speak of how far along the wedding arrangements had progressed, commenting on the thick stack of dowry lists sent over from the Regent’s residence, learning that her own wedding had been set for the eighth day of the fourth month the following spring. She would occasionally discuss court matters with her grandfather, and sometimes her fourth uncle would come by to share tea and conversation. Other times she would hole up in the library with Xiao Han, two bookworms swimming at ease in that space, their expressions almost perfectly mirrored — nothing short of contentment.

Color gradually returned to her face, and her frame gradually filled enough to carry her clothes properly. By the eleventh month she was still slender, but her color had visibly much improved.

On the twenty-fourth of that month came the Hua Family’s grand ancestral ceremony, with all branches of the family — main and collateral — in attendance.

Such an occasion naturally required Hua Zhi’s presence, and this was also her first public appearance since falling ill. The following day, Hua Zhi once again donned her Grand Tutor’s official robes and passed through the palace gates, taking up the duties of Grand Tutor once more.

Two hours every day, without fail, rain or shine.

Once the new year turned, the days flew by.

Amid the fine patter of rain, Gu Yanxi came striding in with an umbrella, pushing back the person who had come to meet him at the door and saying, “The damp air is heavy — don’t come out here. Shao Yao said you can’t catch a chill.”

“I’m much better now.” Hua Zhi instinctively offered a word in her own defense, then asked, “What brings you over in the rain at this hour?”

“Nothing to do at the office.” Gu Yanxi had been intent on dissolving the Seven Lodges Bureau and had spent this period steadily redistributing to the various ministries the matters that properly belonged to them. Progress had been significant and he found himself with considerably more free time — though there was in fact something at hand. “Wu Yong has come to the capital.”

Hua Zhi nodded. “I heard you mention it yesterday. What of it?”

“Afterward the Emperor received him. He put forward a request to marry Shao Yao.”