“There’s also Yang Qi that needs to be dealt with. As long as he remains the Hua Family’s son-in-law, he’ll have every opportunity to act under the Hua Family’s banner.” Hua Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “He beat someone from my Hua Family and still wants to borrow the Hua Family’s influence — who gave him the audacity!”

“I’ve heard several versions of this story in bits and pieces. Tell me what actually happened.”

“He pressured Second Aunt into returning to her maternal home to make connections for him. He wanted to use the Hua Family to get acquainted with scholars and expand his influence so he could advance further. When Second Aunt refused, he beat her.”

Zhu Haocheng shook his head. The man’s greed was truly unsightly — barely had the Old Madam passed and he was already this impatient. No wonder Zhi’er felt the need to act so forcefully. Still, “You must still be mindful of how you go about things. Don’t ruin your own reputation. You’re a young lady — what will become of your marriage prospects?”

“I gave up on that idea long ago.” Hua Zhi had no interest in picking apart that question, and returned to the matter at hand. “Some other day I’ll sound out Second Aunt’s thoughts and see whether a divorce is possible. Once she’s divorced, Yang Qi will have no further ties to the Hua Family.”

“It’s said that it’s better to tear down ten temples than to break apart one marriage. Don’t be the one to bring it up — you don’t want to end up with nothing to show for it and still be blamed for meddling.”

“Yes.” Hua Zhi acquiesced dutifully. “As for those few, I have no better solution. I can only keep the Hua Family in the public eye so they’ll think twice before making a move against us.”

Zhu Haocheng gave a helpless nod. He and his father had discussed this several times and both agreed it was the most viable approach for now. As long as eyes were on the Hua Family, those few would at least feel some restraint and not dare go too far.

“They may still make small moves against you. You must remain vigilant.”

“Yes, Zhi’er understands.” This was a society where imperial authority reigned supreme. Those individuals were beyond her power to oppose — unless she chose a side and used every ability she had to help one of them seize the position of Crown Prince.

But she was unwilling.

The Hua Family’s downfall was not without fault on anyone’s part, not a single one of them was innocent. Having no power to take revenge was one thing — to go and actively aid them was something she could not bring herself to do, not until that resentment in her heart had settled.

“And then there’s Mr. Lu.” Zhu Haocheng looked at his niece. “What are your thoughts?”

“I owe him a great deal. He’s helped me in many ways, and the person behind him even saved my life. Uncle, I know what you’re thinking, and I understand your concerns. But unless he chooses to leave on his own, I cannot turn him away. And if he truly has ulterior motives toward me — I accept.”

“Zhi’er…” Zhu Haocheng looked at her with disapproval.

Hua Zhi lowered her head and smiled softly. “No one receives without giving something in return. I’ve prepared myself for that.”

Now that she knew she would not need to marry, the restrictions between men and women no longer bound her the way they once did. Even if it came to giving up this body of hers, she had no great psychological resistance to it. In the world she had once lived in, such things were utterly ordinary.

Though she didn’t believe that was what Mr. Lu was after. The price he had already paid would be far too great for something like that. In her view, what was unfolding between them was already the game of exchanging one genuine heart for another.

She only wondered whether Mr. Lu himself understood what he was doing.

Zhu Haocheng still wore an expression of clear disapproval, yet he said nothing more. Zhi’er was no longer simply his niece — she was also the head of the Hua Family. He could no longer treat her as a mere junior.

Gu Yanxi lay on the rooftop listening to the conversation in the study, the corner of his mouth curling upward slightly. Hua Zhi was so perceptive — how could she not see that he had his own motives? It was just that… she had probably guessed in the wrong direction.

But what did it matter? In the end, she had already set him apart from everyone else.

The conversation stretched on for half a day. When Zhu Haocheng took his leave, he still couldn’t help adding a few more words. “If you truly find yourself unable to hold on, it’s perfectly fine to retreat and protect a smaller foothold. While you still live, there is still hope. The road ahead is long, and your father and the others may yet return. Don’t try to shoulder everything alone — if you have to sacrifice yourself to preserve the Hua Family, what face would we have? What face would your grandfather have? What face would the younger generation of the Hua Family have?”

Zhu Haocheng sighed. After this long conversation, he had come to see clearly that Zhi’er — who used to barely say a word — was in fact a fierce and unyielding soul. If truly pushed to the edge, she was the sort who would rather both sides suffer than be the one to lose.

He couldn’t quite tell whether his heart held more pride or more worry.

Hua Zhi responded with perfect compliance, her manner as gentle and demure as any well-bred young lady from an esteemed family.

Zhu Haocheng sighed once more, mounted his horse, and rode away with a light press of his heels.

Outside the east side gate, watching her uncle disappear down the alley, Hua Zhi turned and walked back inside, asking her younger brother as she went, “Did you understand all of it?”

Hua Bailin answered honestly, “I still need to think it over.”

“Then think it over carefully. You must also apply yourself diligently to the Six Arts — those are what will present your character to the world.” The scholars of the Great Qing Dynasty were by no means weaklings. Those without illness or injury who rode in carriages and sedan chairs were considered laughingstocks. Even her father, the quintessential man of letters, could draw a bow and perform an elegant sword routine.

“Elder Sister, my teacher already instructs me in those.”

“How about letting me teach the Sixth Young Master archery?”

Hua Zhi looked up toward the man standing in the corridor, arms crossed over his chest, and her expression softened almost imperceptibly. “It is what I have always wished for, yet dared not ask.”

Gu Yanxi was exceedingly fond of Hua Zhi’s expression in that moment. Amusement shone in his eyes as he drew closer and said, “Then let the Sixth Young Master be prepared — I am considerably less lenient than Teacher Mu.”

Hua Bailin straightened his spine. “I’m not afraid.”

As long as it could make Elder Sister happy, he wasn’t afraid of anything!

The delight in Hua Zhi’s eyes as she looked at Hua Bailin seemed almost ready to spill over. Gu Yanxi watched from the corner of his eye, growing ever more certain of the weight Hua Bailin held in Hua Zhi’s heart. With quiet deliberateness, he raised that weight a notch in his own mind, pondering that he ought to treat the boy even better.

The very day after the sweet syrup canned goods were delivered to Yunlai Restaurant, good news arrived — a wealthy household had sent someone to order one hundred jars each of the canned peaches and tangerines. They were carted away right from the restaurant’s main hall in full view of passersby. Even those who had initially taken no interest in the product ended up sampling a taste, and in the days that followed, people began buying jars to take home.

Hua Zhi didn’t bother wondering whether Bai Mingxia had arranged that scene. He simply had the refined pastry recipes along with their preparation methods sent over, then dispatched a cartful of canned goods to Dazhu Temple for Master Boruo. Some were also sent to the Zhu Family, and of course, the two tutors were not forgotten either.

Gu Yanxi, making use of his privilege of free passage in and out of the imperial palace, wrapped two jars in his cloak and brought them in for his grandmother. The Empress Dowager, whose teeth were not what they once were, took an immediate liking to them, and had someone go and purchase more, distributing one jar to every imperial consort in the rear palace.

Gu Yanxi couldn’t tell whether his grandmother genuinely didn’t know the goods had come from the Hua Family or was simply pretending not to, and he made no move to reveal it.

In the bleak depths of winter, even within the palace there were few fresh fruits to be had. The canned goods were quickly embraced by all.

Through Gu Yanxi’s maneuvering, all canned goods procured for the palace came by way of Yunlai Restaurant. With the Bai Family serving as a front, anyone looking to cause trouble would have to think twice. As word gradually spread, he had people steer attention toward Hua Zhi’s shop — and within just a few short days, it went from desolate to bustling.

P.S.: My male lead really is shamelessly forcing his way into the spotlight.