“Since the idea was yours, you shall be the one to carry it out.”

Hua Zhi’s mind went completely blank. This meant… he was not going to take her life after all?

“If you fail, it won’t just be you — every member of the Hua Family can go sit out their days at the frontier. Permanently, with no return.”

Hua Zhi felt her body going soft, even trembling. When she had steeled herself for death, she had feared nothing and felt free to say anything. But now that she knew the killing blow had passed — now that that surge of courage was no longer holding her up — fear came creeping in, belated and overwhelming.

She still refused to lose her composure. She slowly let her rigid back soften and settled back to sit on her heels, using the brief time to calmly sort through her current situation.

It was very possible the Emperor had never intended to take her life from the beginning. So what was his actual purpose? To frighten her and then hand her an impossible task? But if that were all, there had been no need for that remark about entering the palace as a consort — the one that had made her blood run cold. Unless… was this a test of some kind? What outcome was the Emperor hoping for? Was this, before her now, the outcome he had wanted?

Setting all of that aside, a canal was not something that could simply be built on command.

“According to historical records, the construction of the Wei River Canal consumed incalculable quantities of silver and conscripted more than five million laborers. The casualties were beyond counting, and it took twelve years to reach its current scale. The canal Your Majesty wishes to open, though smaller in scope than the Wei River Canal, is by no means a small waterway. This commoner would respectfully ask — how much manpower, how many resources, and how much silver does Your Majesty currently have available to invest?”

“None.” The Emperor said it plainly, without ceremony. “If I had all of that, I’d hand it to the Ministry of Works and be done with it. Why would I need you?”

“Then this commoner must ask Your Majesty to find someone more capable. This commoner does not have the ability, and Your Majesty need not threaten me with my family. A task that cannot be done cannot be done, no matter how many lives are taken over it.”

“I’ve heard your businesses bring in enormous profits.”

“Even if this commoner were to offer up everything she owns, it would fall far short. And it isn’t simply a matter of silver — the greater issue is labor. More than half the regions have already fulfilled their corvée obligations for this year.”

“When it’s needed, citizens can be called to serve additional corvée. This sort of thing has been done before.”

Hua Zhi knew it had been done more than once — and none of it had ever been to the country’s benefit. It only made ordinary people’s lives more difficult. She had been born into the Hua Family, grown up in comfort, lived as one of those above the common lot. Even after the Hua Family fell, her way of living still bore no comparison to that of an ordinary commoner. She had never seen their hardships with her own eyes — but she had grown up on history books, and she knew a great deal.

“To stir up resentment among the people for the sake of a canal that is not a necessity — does Your Majesty truly believe this is worth it?”

In the Emperor’s eyes, ordinary people were no different from insects, and he made no effort to conceal it here in the Imperial Study. “If it lets me leave a name that lasts ten thousand generations, then yes, it’s worth it. Consider the Wei River Canal — the price paid was immense, and the sovereign was cursed as a tyrant by all. But the histories must still record that the Wei River Canal was built during his reign. Whatever his failures, that one achievement must be acknowledged.”

“Even at the cost of being called a foolish sovereign?”

The Emperor’s expression twisted. As if anyone would choose to be called a foolish sovereign if they had the option!

“This commoner has one more question. If, while the canal is being cut, the remnants of the Chaoli tribe were to launch an assault — what then? With the able-bodied men all drafted for canal labor, where would the Ministry of War find soldiers to fill the ranks? Even if they were to conscript men directly from the canal sites…” Hua Zhi gave a cold smile. “Would they send men worn down to skin and bone to march to their deaths?”

The Emperor’s own expression cooled. “Hua Zhi, don’t think for a moment that I will not kill you.”

Hua Zhi was not foolish enough to seek death now that she knew she had a chance to live. She lowered her gaze and closed her mouth, as meek and composed as she had been the moment she first entered the Imperial Study.

The Emperor’s spurt of irate energy subsided when she fell quiet. If not for the fact that he had his eye on her mind — had seen what Yanxi had done for her sake — he would never have let her live the moment he learned of it all!

“I want this canal built. What you must do is make it happen. Anything else you have to say is worthless to me. Think it over and come back with your answer. Remember — you have one day. Shadow Guard One, escort her out of the palace.”

Shadow Guard One bowed and withdrew to stand at Hua Zhi’s side, waiting for her to rise.

Hua Zhi’s feet had gone so completely numb that she could not feel them at all. She pressed her palms to the floor and pushed herself to standing, then willed herself to walk upright and directed her unresponsive feet forward — only for the leg that was buzzing with a million biting sensations to lift too low as she crossed the threshold. Before anyone could catch her, she stumbled headlong through the doorway and struck the ground face-first, the impact sharp enough to wrench a muffled groan from her.

Gu Yanxi had kept his ears pricked the entire time, listening for every sound from outside. Now, certain that the blade hanging over A’Zhi had finally been lifted, he could not endure another moment. He flung open the door and ran to her, gathering the disheveled and wretched-looking A’Zhi into his arms — holding her with a force that seemed like he wanted to press her into his very body.

Hua Zhi froze for a moment, then threw her arms around him with equal force. She had just taken a turn at the gates of the underworld, and so had Yanxi. Looking past Yanxi’s shoulder, she saw Shao Yao standing there with her medicine case, and managed a small smile, reaching her hand toward her.

Shao Yao, who had been unnaturally calm until this moment, felt her eyes sting all at once. She threw herself at the two of them, weeping so hard she could barely breathe, calling out over and over, “Hua Hua… Hua Hua…”

Hua Zhi was utterly drained of strength, her vision dimming at the edges. Without making it apparent, she closed her eyes and endured the spell, then with what little energy she had left, bit hard into the tip of her tongue. Searing pain washed over her all at once, and the taste of blood flooded her mouth — but it cleared her head.

Shadow Guard One stepped in with a reminder. “The hour grows late, Miss Hua. It is time to leave the palace.”

Hua Zhi glanced at the sky. It was already dusk.

Gu Yanxi lifted Hua Zhi into his arms and started toward the exit. Lai Fu came hurrying out of the Imperial Study after them. “The Emperor asks that you go in.”

Gu Yanxi’s steps faltered. “Let me send A’Zhi out first.”

“The Emperor asked this servant to remind you — your identity cannot be revealed.” Lai Fu glanced back. In the dying light of the sun, the darkness inside the Imperial Study seemed all the more deep. He narrowed his eyes but could not make out the Emperor’s expression, only guessing that it must not be pleasant.

“Wait for me.” Gu Yanxi set her down with care and went into the adjacent side chamber. A moment later, when he came back out, he was a different person.

Hua Zhi had only seen this face once before — the time Yanxi had revealed his identity to her. The fourth-ranked saber-bearing guard, Wu Liang.

He gathered her into his arms again and strode out. Shao Yao hurried after them, her medicine case clanking with every step, having completely forgotten that she was not normally permitted to leave the palace on her own.

Compared to all the thorough checks required upon entering, leaving the palace was almost astonishingly unhindered.

Outside the palace gates, a carriage from some household or other happened to be waiting. Carrying a person in his arms did nothing to slow Gu Yanxi’s remarkable agility. Without a word to the coachman still seated atop the carriage, he vaulted up and carried her inside.

The coachman did not dare offend someone who had come charging out of the imperial palace. He asked carefully, “Who are you…?”

Shao Yao came sprinting up behind them, snatched the reins from the man’s hands, and kicked him off his perch. “Requisitioned by the Seven Lodges Division.”

The moment the Seven Lodges Division’s name was invoked, the coachman did not dare say another word.

Shao Yao cracked the whip and set the carriage in motion. Then she rapped on the side of the carriage and called out, “Yanxi, come out here and drive — I want to go check on Hua Hua.”

Gu Yanxi paid her no attention. He laid Hua Zhi down carefully and looked at the bruised and bloodstained wound on her forehead, wanting to say something — and finding he could not produce a single word.

He felt it now — every measure of fierce and tender protection this woman, who had always been so guarded with her own feelings, had poured out on his behalf. The emotions that had broken through her had come with such heat that even through a closed door they had been enough to undo him entirely. He thought: he would give every part of himself — flesh and blood — to nourish her.

This person was his.