Shaking her head, the Empress Dowager took Yuxiang’s hand and rose, slowly pacing about the hall. “Those few were already wary of him to begin with. If he entangles himself further with the Hua Family, I fear they will find him even more intolerable.”

Such words the Empress Dowager could say, but Yuxiang could not. She replied carefully, skirting the edges: “The Shizi has always been thorough in his conduct. How could he not know of what Your Highness worries? He must surely have a plan that accounts for every contingency.”

“There is no such thing as a plan that accounts for every contingency in this world. He simply wants to get past this old woman first — once he has managed that, everything else will fall into place.”

Yuxiang smiled. “Does this not prove that the Shizi holds you dear? Others revere you as the Empress Dowager, but this servant observes that he treats you just as an ordinary grandchild would treat his grandmother.”

Indeed so. The Empress Dowager’s eyes softened at these words. It was often said that the imperial family knew no true kinship — she believed it, having lived it herself — yet she knew full well how much genuine feeling was carried in each ‘Grandmother’ that Yanxi called out to her. That child!

It was little wonder he treated the girl from the Hua Family differently. However fierce and formidable she might be with others, with her own people she guarded them as she would the pupils of her eyes. Yanxi had endured what he had endured, and for all these years had drifted through life alone. A girl like Hua Zhi must have given him a sense of peace.

She believed, too, that if that girl truly let Yanxi into her heart, she would protect him with every last measure of her strength.

With a sigh, the Empress Dowager settled back onto the daybed. “This old woman cannot help but love Yanxi a little more than the rest. Keep a closer eye on him for me.”

“Yes.”

The festive atmosphere of the New Year grew thicker with each passing day, reaching its peak on the thirtieth. Every household had hung couplets bearing auspicious blessings; children dressed in red, red ropes tied around their wrists, laughed and played from one end of the street to the other, so that all who saw them could not help but smile in return.

Another year’s end had come — without serious illness or disaster. A blessing indeed.

The Hua Family’s gates were hung with green mourning couplets, and master and servant alike wore the small tokens of mourning, moving between the courtyards in a bustle that was nonetheless orderly.

Hua Zhi straightened her younger brother’s collar and guided him toward the door. “Go on. It is nearly time.”

Hua Bailin was not entirely pleased. Why was it that women could not offer sacrifices at the ancestral rites? Surely the eldest sister ought to preside!

But displeased as he was, he knew the ancestral rites could not be delayed. He obediently quickened his steps toward the ancestral hall.

Hua Zhi gave a long, lazy stretch. The court had sealed its documents on the twenty-seventh, and she had spent the past few days in blissful idleness — these were precisely the days she most wished to live!

As for breaking convention to perform the ancestral rites herself — why bother.

Shao Yao came in from outside and leaned close to murmur: “Brother Yan is at the east corner gate. He says he has something he needs to speak with you about.”

A flicker of surprise passed through Hua Zhi’s eyes, but she did not linger. She rose at once and made her way to the east corner gate.

In the snow, Gu Yanxi stood in a white fur-lined cloak that nearly dissolved into the white expanse around him. His expression was like carved ice, his entire bearing radiating cold.

The moment the gate opened and he saw Hua Zhi step out, the frost around him thawed without his realizing it.

“Master Lu.” Hua Zhi dipped in a slight curtsy, making no mention of the fact that he seemed different from usual.

“I must be away for some time.”

“I see.” Hua Zhi’s expression showed no surprise whatsoever. “I will find someone else in the meantime—”

“Wang Rong will come in my place.” Sensing that his tone had been too blunt, Gu Yanxi softened his voice somewhat. “He is my companion. More trustworthy than a stranger.”

This was not something she had asked for — it was, in fact, a favor he was doing for her. There was no reason for Hua Zhi to refuse.

Gu Yanxi traced the contours of the face that had never left his thoughts, drawing closer until barely half a step separated them, and lowered his voice. “While I am away, I ask that you keep a close watch on Shao Yao. No matter who comes looking for her, she must not go.”

Hua Zhi’s heart gave a small jump. “Is someone after her?”

“There are those who wish to cut off one of my lord’s arms — and there are those who would sooner claim her for their own use.”

“I understand. You may rest easy. I will not allow her to go out.”

Gu Yanxi’s gaze on her grew softer still. “I am going to the Yan Kingdom. Something is not right there. If all goes well, I can return within a month. Should you need anything while I am gone, speak to Shao Yao — do not underestimate her. She knows how to handle things.”

Hua Zhi did not ask what would happen if all did not go well. She simply nodded her assent, then said: “Please wait a moment, Master Lu.”

She turned and exchanged a few words with Bao Xia, who went back inside. Nanny Su moved forward a small step — close enough not to disrupt their conversation, far enough to preserve propriety.

Gu Yanxi felt a small stir of anticipation. Not wishing silence to make Hua Zhi uncomfortable, he continued where they had left off. “After receiving your warning, I sent men to investigate the Yan Kingdom. They proceeded with great care — in nearly a year, they had barely worked through half of what should have been a very small iron mine, and the agricultural tools that ought to have been produced were indeed being produced. Had I not received your warning and sent men specifically looking in that direction, we might never have uncovered anything at all.”

Watching Hua Zhi listen with such attentive focus, Gu Yanxi found himself thinking back to the way she had spoken with such ease and certainty at Yinshan Pass. Had the timing not been so ill-suited, he would have gladly presented her before the Emperor and requested commendation on her behalf.

“I have been ordered to go and determine how serious the situation truly is. If it comes to the worst… the south may face a period of unrest.”

“The south cannot be allowed to fall into unrest.” Hua Zhi’s brow furrowed slightly. Something felt off to her, though she could not quite say what. Her information was too limited — she would need to give more thought to this in the future.

“I will confine matters to the smallest possible scope and reduce the damage to a minimum. The Yan Kingdom does not have the boldness to truly stand against the Great Qing Dynasty.” Even as he said it, Gu Yanxi suddenly felt that something was rather odd. He had come to say his farewell — so why were the two of them standing here like this, discussing matters of state and nation?

Hua Zhi was still following the thread of the conversation. “The Great Qing Dynasty has not been a poor neighbor to them. And the Yan Kingdom has neither the strength to swallow the Great Qing Dynasty whole. Master Lu, I feel there is something amiss.”

He genuinely admired her sharpness. Even as he felt they ought not to continue this particular topic, he could not stop himself from answering her. “I suspect the Yan Kingdom has forged an alliance with another kingdom.”

Hua Zhi feared war. She would sooner be a dog in times of peace than a person in an age of chaos. She knew her own limits: in times of peace, she might still be able to protect her family. The moment war broke out between two kingdoms, they would all be meat laid out on a chopping block, to be cut however another pleased.

In the capital, they would still be relatively safe — no dynasty in any age would allow its capital to be the first place touched by conflict. But the men of the Hua Family were in the north.

“There is no need to worry. There will be no war — at least not yet.”

Hua Zhi looked up at the man who stood a full head taller than her, a vulnerability in her eyes she was not aware of.

That rare, seldom-seen fragility of hers stirred in Gu Yanxi an impulse to reach out and pat her head in reassurance. His voice grew even gentler. “Thanks to your warning, we were already on guard. They are not yet prepared. They will not make any move in the short term.”

“But once both sides are ready — there will still be a battle, won’t there?”

“One side has already set its heart on war. If we do not fight, we must endure their invasion. If we do not wish for the fires of war to burn on Great Qing’s soil, we must carry those fires to their territory instead. The Emperor is not muddleheaded on this point.”

Hua Zhi felt a measure of ease settle over her heart.

At that moment, Bao Xia and Fu Dong each came out carrying a bundle. Hua Zhi gestured for them to hand the bundles to Gu Yanxi. “After the funeral rites, quite a bit of meat remained. The Hua Family must observe mourning and cannot touch meat, so I had Fu Dong dry it into jerky. When you are out traveling, Master Lu, keep it with you in case of need.”

Gu Yanxi did not stand on ceremony. He had eaten enough of Fu Dong’s cooking during his time at the Hua Family’s residence to know the skill of her hands.

He mounted his horse. Looking down at Hua Zhi from the height of the saddle, Gu Yanxi said quietly: “An early wish to you — may the New Year bring you nothing but good.”

Hua Zhi dipped her head in a curtsy. “And to Master Lu as well. Safe travels.”