Dr. Chu turned to the reason for her visit. “The scholar your household’s guards brought in — he was covered in bruises from head to foot, though fortunately the injuries are not severe. Nanny Su’s injuries, by comparison, look milder but are actually worse — she is getting on in years, after all, and that blow struck her lower back. I am afraid she will need to rest and recuperate for a good while.”

“Please do not worry — I will see that someone looks after Nanny Su properly. But that scholar…” Hua Zhi’s brow furrowed slightly. “The autumn examinations are almost upon us. Will this affect him?”

Dr. Chu stroked his beard. “I am afraid it may cause some hindrance. Do not be fooled by the absence of damage to the tendons and bones — the pain is very real.”

If that were truly the case, then the debt of gratitude owed was considerable — yet she had no choice but to accept it. He had helped Hua Ling, and that was a fact. One debt of gratitude in exchange for Hua Ling’s good name — it was worth it.

“Is he still here?”

“He is. I thought you would likely come, so I kept him. He came to the capital to sit the examinations but arrived late due to the incident. Every inn is packed to the brim by now and it would be difficult to find a room, so I pointed him in a direction and had his manservant go find lodgings first.”

Hua Zhi rose and gave a bow. “Thank you.”

“There is no need for that. This old man also received much kindness from Elder Hua in years past.” Dr. Chu rose as well. “He is in the rear courtyard.”

Beyond the medical hall lay a two-courtyard residence. Dr. Chu and his family lived in the inner courtyard; the outer courtyard had one wing serving as the dispensary, with the yard spread with herbs drying in the open air, the fragrance of medicine all around. The left wing housed Dr. Chu’s two apprentices and two medicine boys, while the remaining room, though unoccupied, was kept tidy and served on occasion as a resting place for patients who could not easily travel — and that was where the scholar was now.

To avoid any impropriety, Dr. Chu accompanied them in person, while both maids followed without leaving Hua Zhi’s side for even a moment.

The man inside had heard the approaching sounds and was already on his feet. He had assumed it was only Dr. Chu coming, never expecting to find a lady among the visitors. He hastily cast a glance down at himself, and only when he confirmed his appearance was acceptable did he breathe a quiet sigh of relief.

This small gesture put Hua Zhi at ease about him — a person who instinctively shows respect to others is unlikely to have a bad character. Then again, a person of poor character would not have stepped in to help when outnumbered in the first place.

Dr. Chu made the introduction. “This is the eldest young miss of the Hua Family.”

The eldest young miss of the Hua Family? Before Hua Zhi could say anything, he had already bent at the waist. “This student Yu Xiasheng pays his respects to the eldest young miss.”

This was the second time Hua Zhi had directly encountered a scholar’s reverence for the Hua Family. The first time had been in Xiangyang.

She returned the bow. “This young woman is grateful to you, sir, for your noble deed in extending a helping hand to my sister when she was in peril.”

Yu Xiasheng instantly understood what had transpired. The young woman who had been cornered by those ruffians and nearly driven to take her own life — she had been a daughter of the Hua Family? And the Hua Family had now… come to this?

As these thoughts took shape, his face had already darkened with anger. “Is that young miss safe now? At the time, this student truly… I am ashamed — I was of so little help.”

Hua Zhi assumed his anger was directed at such a thing occurring in the capital itself and thought nothing more of it. “Thanks entirely to you straining every effort to hold them off long enough for our household’s guards to arrive, my younger sister is safe and unharmed. She has also asked me to convey her gratitude to you.”

“I am utterly undeserving of such thanks — the shame is entirely mine.” Yu Xiasheng flushed red and waved his hands repeatedly in denial. The movement was too vigorous and pulled at his wounds; the pain distorted his face for a fleeting moment, after which he composed himself as though nothing had happened.

Faced with someone like this, Hua Zhi found her own manner softening quite naturally. “Your injuries are not light, sir. If they should affect your performance in the autumn examinations a few days from now…”

“There is no need for such concern, eldest young miss.” Yu Xiasheng’s expression was entirely at peace. “Before I set out, my teacher told me — if I pass in one attempt, that is a blessing; if I do not, there is no one to blame but myself, and I need only put in three more years of effort before trying again. Besides, what I have learned is hardly something that will be forgotten over a little injury like this. If anything, the pain may sharpen my mind and see me through the examination better.”

With a spirit like that, leaping the dragon’s gate was only a matter of time. If Grandfather were to learn of a scholar like this, who could say how pleased he would be.

“Oh — one more thing.” Yu Xiasheng went to the cabinet and retrieved his bundle, opening it and taking out a letter. “My teacher was once fortunate enough to receive guidance from Elder Hua and has always remembered that debt of instruction. This time, as I set out, my teacher prepared a letter — please accept it, eldest young miss.”

Such letters had been arriving for Hua Zhi at an increasing rate these past few days. In former times, a letter like this would have served as a letter of introduction — when someone who had shared a connection with Grandfather sent a young relative or student to sit the examinations, they would have the person carry a letter to call upon Grandfather. Regardless of the depth of that connection, it was in Elder Hua’s nature that with this bond of goodwill in place, he would always give a little more attention if anything arose.

But to do this with full knowledge that the Hua Family had fallen from power was no longer about seeking refuge. It was a way of making their position known: whether the Hua Family faced confiscation of estates or exile, the one they recognized as the foremost of literary men remained the Hua Family.

In this moment, Hua Zhi once again felt that the Hua Family’s decades of perseverance had found its reward.

Hua Zhi dipped in a curtsy — a silent expression of gratitude.

Yu Xiasheng had no time to step aside and had already received it; he was at a complete loss as to what to do with himself, not knowing where to put his hands or his feet.

After finally persuading Yu Xiasheng to accept the gift of thanks, Hua Zhi left the medical hall to find the sky already darkening.

She dragged her lead-heavy legs into the carriage and leaned back against the soft cushions, letting out a murmur that this day had finally passed — her eyelids had barely met before she was asleep. Ying Chun retrieved the thin blanket from the corner and draped it over her, then lifted the curtain and told the coachman to drive slowly.

In the dim glow of the carriage, the two maids exchanged a glance with Bao Xia and fell into a shared silence. Their young miss was truly exhausted. Burning the candle at both ends day after day — most people could not accomplish in a lifetime what she had done.

When they arrived home, Ying Chun took charge and had the carriage drive directly through the main gate into the front courtyard. She called over a sturdy matron, and she and Bao Xia carefully supported the young miss until she could be transferred onto the matron’s back. Hua Zhi opened her eyes for a moment, took one look around, confirmed she was in her own home, and closed them again in peace.

Hua Ling had been waiting all this time for her elder sister to return so she could ask after the scholar’s injuries. Seeing the state of things, she pressed her lips tightly together and quietly stepped forward to help make the bed.

She did not know whether her elder sister was always this exhausted. But she knew that today’s exhaustion had been on her account.

Perhaps because she was exhausted to the very bone, Hua Zhi slept deeply that night without shifting position once. When she finally opened her eyes again, the sky seemed brighter than usual.

“Of course it seems brighter — it is already past the si hour.” Ying Chun was all smiles, her eyes crinkling so much her teeth showed. Seeing their young miss sleep so soundly for once was enough to make them happy.

“It is already that late?” Her whole body still felt languid and heavy, her mind unable to latch onto anything. Hua Zhi was a little reluctant to leave this wonderfully comfortable state and simply did not rush herself — stealing half a day of leisure for once.

“Indeed. You slept so soundly.” Ying Chun brought tea over, helped her rinse her mouth, and fed her a cup of water before continuing, “The first Madam and the fourth Madam both came by, and the third young miss came once as well — but seeing you sleeping so well, they all told this servant not to wake you.”

“Nothing urgent? How did the third young miss look?”

“This servant thought she seemed well enough. Nothing urgent was mentioned, either.”

Good — that was enough. Hua Zhi did not trouble herself further with thought. Her mind needed a rest. A fresh start.