As the Hour of the Dragon drew near, Gu Yanxi pricked up his ears and listened for any movement by the Moon Gate.

When he saw Hua Zhi walking over at an unhurried, graceful pace, wrapped in a great cloak with a fiery red fox fur collar, Gu Yanxi couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips. When it came to punctuality, many men couldn’t hold a candle to her.

“Have you recovered?” he asked as she drew near.

For just a moment, Hua Zhi felt a flicker of imbalance within her heart, but not a trace of it showed on her face. She simply nodded. “Thank you for your concern. I have recovered.”

Not only from her grandmother’s passing, but also from the exhaustion brought on by her journey to the Northern Territories — all of it had passed.

It seemed as though everyone had forgotten that she had only just returned from the North, without even a moment’s rest, and had immediately thrown herself into the bustle of arranging her grandmother’s funeral rites. Yet this man had remembered just how arduous her journey back had been.

Hua Zhi lowered her gaze, concealing the rippling depth within her eyes.

“I’ll head to class now. Please do as you wish, Master Lu.”

Gu Yanxi stepped aside and watched her enter the clan school, his brow furrowing at her slender figure. She had already grown thinner from the trip to the Northern Territories, and after all the busyness of these days, she looked thinner still.

Thinking of the year of mourning she still had ahead of her, Gu Yanxi decided he would send another letter urging things along when he returned. Having Shao Yao by her side would set his mind at ease — and through Shao Yao’s hands, he could bring some fine things out of the storeroom for Hua Zhi. Hua Zhi had never been able to refuse people who were good to her, and Shao Yao was one such person she could not refuse.

Gu Yanxi walked toward the servants who had already been made ready at the other end, thinking to himself: one day, he too would become one of them.

Once the twelfth month arrived, the days seemed to fly by all the faster. Although the Hua Family was still in mourning, the necessary preparations were begun one by one. The white mourning silk was taken down; the traces of the old matriarch’s presence faded little by little. As the funeral affairs concluded, the handover of family authority was completed as well, without stirring so much as a single ripple.

The three Hua Xin sisters came to visit Hua Zhi with increasing frequency. There was a quiet rivalry among them — each wanted to outperform the other two. A measure of healthy competition was a good thing; Hua Zhi saw it clearly and made no move to disturb the balance. Those who made mistakes were each dealt the same reprimand, while those who did well received equal praise. She strived to be scrupulously fair. Even Hua Rong, who had once hoped for some special favor, had no choice but to apply herself more diligently.

Though Hua Zhi’s manner was assertive, she operated by a clear and orderly set of principles, and would never overstep into the affairs of each household. This set the Hua Family members at ease, and their loyalty to her only deepened.

To follow her arrangements, do what one ought to do, and know what one would receive in return — there was nothing better than that. Other families might say otherwise, but what the Hua Family needed was precisely this kind of head of household.

Noticing that her mistress had set down her brush, Bao Xia quickly wrung out a warm towel and pressed it over her mistress’s hands, kneading them gently. After gripping a brush for so long in the cold, her mistress’s hands had gone stiff.

Nanny Su gently blew the ink dry, then carefully lifted the long sheet of paper and set it to one side. The eldest young miss never wore her filial piety on her lips, yet her actions never fell short. Not only did she copy out a chapter of the Earth Store Sutra for the old matriarch every day, but whenever she had a free moment, she would recite it aloud as well. No one was more devoted than she.

“I see Second Aunt’s injuries have improved somewhat. Has Doctor Chu said when she’ll be fully healed? Going into the new year carrying all those wounds — Third Grandmother’s household is bound to have a hard time.”

“This old servant asked. Doctor Chu said there’s no way she’ll be completely healed in so short a time. Since no outside guests will be coming to the house, she can simply keep herself well bundled. When it’s time to eat the reunion meal, a bit of rouge and powder should cover it well enough.”

Nanny Su soaked her hands in hot water, rubbed them vigorously, then began kneading Hua Zhi’s shoulders with just the right touch — firm yet measured. She had waited on the old matriarch her entire life; the skill in her hands was something no maidservant could match. After the aching, numb sensation passed, Hua Zhi felt her shoulders loosen considerably.

“Go and have Xu Jie come in.”

Bao Xia answered cheerfully and stepped out with light, quick steps. Xu Jie had asked her so many times already, yet she had only just been set straight by Ying Chun and hadn’t dared open her mouth carelessly before their mistress again. Fortunately, their mistress had kept it in mind herself.

Xu Jie arrived in no time.

“Are there any inns or restaurants in the capital that have old ties with the Hua Family? Specifically speaking, old ties with my Fourth Uncle?”

“This servant knows a little, but those who wait upon Fourth Master ought to know far more. Would it not be better, eldest young miss, to have one of them summoned here to be asked?”

“That’s true. Liu Xiang, go to Fourth Aunt’s courtyard and explain the situation to her. Have her send over someone familiar with this matter.”

“Yes.”

While waiting, Hua Zhi asked about the affairs of the estate.

“After all the tangerines were processed, this servant took it upon himself to release all the hired farmhands from the workshop. This servant also made an arrangement with them that if there is work again next year, we will come to them first.”

“Was Liu Jiang released as well?”

Xu Jie looked startled. “But Liu Jiang has already signed a permanent indenture contract, has he not?”

A permanent indenture contract? Hua Zhi looked toward Bao Xia. When had this happened?

Bao Xia looked completely blank. “He did sign one. Did Ying Chun not mention it to you?”

There was nothing left for Hua Zhi to wonder about. It seemed everyone around her knew of this matter except her. It wasn’t that anyone had intentionally concealed it — she simply wasn’t sure whether it was disorganized management or whether everyone had forgotten in all the recent busyness. She leaned toward the former explanation.

“Sort it out among yourselves later and find where things broke down. This must not happen again.”

Bao Xia, who had always been entrusted with so much of her mistress’s confidence, could not conceal her shame. “It is our fault. It will never happen again.”

Hua Zhi did not belabor the point. She turned to Xu Jie and said, “Pass a message to Liu Qi and Liu Jiang — the workshop was built by me, and I will not abandon it. The preserved goods in the cellar must be properly looked after. There must be no mishaps.”

“Yes.”

Just as she was saying this, Liu Xiang led in a tall, lean man. “Miss, this is Du Cheng. He previously handled errands and affairs for Fourth Master.”

Hua Zhi gave a slight nod. Fourth Aunt understood her well — this was exactly the kind of person she needed. “Du Cheng, do you know which inns and restaurants in the capital have old ties with my Fourth Uncle?”

“This servant does know. The famous Yunlai Restaurant in the capital belongs to the family of Fourth Master’s close friend, Master Bai Mingxia of the Bai Family.”

“What was his attitude after the Hua Family’s troubles began?”

“Master Bai sent over a bank note for two thousand taels of silver and had his servants deliver the message that if there was ever need, one could come to the restaurant to find him — and as long as it was within his power, he would certainly help. Fourth Madam only said to accept the gesture, and the bank note was returned.”

So this person had not drawn a clear line from the Hua Family the moment trouble arose, and had even pledged his willingness to help. His character was plain to see. Such a person was worth working with.

“You go and tell him that the young miss of the Hua Family wishes to discuss a business arrangement with him, and ask him to spare some time for a meeting.”

The eldest young miss going to meet an unrelated man in person? Du Cheng instinctively looked toward the most senior person in the room.

But Nanny Su lowered her gaze. She had always known her proper place — whatever decision the eldest young miss made, she need only follow.

Xu Jie hesitated and said, “I wonder if this servant might go on your behalf?”

“He won’t see you.” To put it plainly: you are a servant, and it is not your place to speak with him face to face. Rather than spending the goodwill between her Fourth Uncle and this man, she preferred to offer clear, tangible benefit and settle accounts cleanly. Receiving something for nothing always put one in the other person’s debt — and in this world, there was nothing more dangerous than owing a favor to someone.