At the manor, Hua Zhi was listening to Dong Zi relay what he had learned.

“Word is the Emperor has fallen ill, and the Seven Lodges Division leader is presiding over court in his place. The officials who were arrested previously are being executed today — I entered the city early and went to take a look.” Dong Zi glanced at the eldest young miss, not wanting to frighten her with the details, and redirected. “They say the Seven Lodges Division leader has also promoted a great many officials. The whole city is talking about it. Oh, and there is one more thing — the First Prince, who had been confined to his residence, has had his imperial surname stripped and been exiled to the northern lands.”

Hua Zhi gave a small nod. “You have worked hard.”

Dong Zi quickly bowed and withdrew.

The hope she had carried in her heart found its footing in reality. The tension eased from Hua Zhi’s brows and eyes. She let out a quiet breath and gave her instructions: “Pack up. Prepare to head back.”

Before leaving, Hua Zhi went once more to check on the rooms where the spore cultivation was underway, offered a few more words of guidance to the older workers, and then set off for home.

Entering the city, she lifted the window curtain and looked outside. The curfew was not as severe as before, and no patrolling soldiers were to be seen — but the pedestrians on the road were noticeably fewer, and those who were out walked with hurried steps.

“Green Moss Lane will probably be affected, but this is only temporary. Fu Dong, go there tomorrow and put their minds at ease.”

“Yes.”

The Hua household too was in a state of anxious unease. Though the commotion had nothing directly to do with the Hua Family, it was perfectly natural for a houseful of women and children to be frightened by such a large-scale upheaval in the capital.

Because of the curfew, Master Mu had not been able to come for two days. Fortunately, for the same reason, the academy had also given the students two extra days of holiday, and Yang Sui’an had temporarily taken up the post of teacher for the senior class. The clan school remained full of the sound of reading voices.

Perhaps because the children had all managed to stay composed, the adults, though worried at heart, had not allowed themselves to fall apart visibly — until Hua Zhi’s carriage rolled into the front courtyard. They had received word and rushed out to meet her, and upon seeing her standing there with her usual light, calm smile, their hearts gradually, slowly, settled back into place.

Zhu Shi stepped forward and took her daughter’s hand. She had never been good with words, and nothing came to her now, but the joy on her face was plain for all to see.

Wu Shi smiled. “If you had stayed away any longer, Elder Sister-in-law would have gone looking for you at the manor.”

“As though you were not just as anxious.” Zhu Shi gave her a mild glare, but her mood had visibly eased. “You must be tired — go and rest a while. Come to your mother’s quarters for dinner tonight.”

“All right. Bailin and I will come to keep you company tonight.” Hua Zhi made no direct response to the suggestion that she rest. She glanced at her Fourth Aunt.

Wu Shi understood and picked up the conversation. “Elder Sister-in-law, let us head back inside. Zhi’er knows how to arrange things on her own.”

Zhu Shi was easily soothed — she said a few more words of instruction and then headed back to the rear courtyard with Wu Shi. There were too many manservants and attendants in the front courtyard, and she felt a little uncomfortable.

The others did not dare delay Hua Zhi, and after exchanging a few words, they dispersed one by one.

Hua Zhi entered the courtyard. Her steps paused when she caught sight of the room where the Sixth Prince was staying. She turned and gestured for the courtyard gate to be closed.

The gate was latched firmly shut. She knocked gently. “A’Jian.”

The door swung open at once. The Sixth Prince’s expression carried a hint of happiness. “Hua Jiejie, you are back.”

“Just returned. May I come in?”

The Sixth Prince quickly stepped aside and nodded repeatedly. After Hua Zhi entered, she noticed he habitually moved to close the door again — and something faintly tender stirred in her heart. “It is all right — leave it open. The courtyard gate is closed.”

Only then did he stop, and he obediently sat down across from her at her prompting.

Hua Zhi looked around the room at the belongings that clearly belonged to more than one person. “Has Bailin been staying here with you these past few days?”

“Yes.”

“And meals — has anyone come to keep you company?”

“Not yesterday. He said his cousin is very sharp and was afraid of being noticed, but he did send meals.”

Cautious enough, Hua Zhi thought. She looked at the well-behaved child who seemed nothing like anyone from the Gu family. “Have these past few days been all right? Has anyone else come in uninvited?”

“No one has come except Bailin. I have been quite well.” Though he had been confined to this room, and the furnishings here were nothing close to the splendor of the palace — there were not even any attendants — he simply felt well. Bailin would squeeze in every spare moment to come and talk with him. There were books to read. His whole body felt light and unencumbered, utterly unlike the constant vigilance he had to maintain inside the palace.

Hua Zhi gave a small nod, then told him everything she knew about what had happened in the palace and at court, without concealing a single detail. At the end she said, “If you wish to return, I will contact Master Lu — I imagine he will have a way.”

The Sixth Prince remained very calm. There was neither urgent concern nor the slightest agitation. He only asked, “Will my staying here bring trouble to the Hua Family?”

Hua Zhi paused, then shook her head. “It will not.”

“Then I will not go back.”

Hua Zhi accepted this with a nod, asking nothing further and pressing no questions. “Tonight Bailin is coming with me to keep Mother company for dinner. I will have Fu Dong make you something delicious. How is your wound? Has it been healing?”

“It only hurts a little now. It itches.”

“Is the medicine sufficient? Shao Yao has gone to the palace — she may not be back anytime soon.”

The Sixth Prince answered in his soft, quiet voice, “There is enough. Shao Yao Jiejie left several vials of medicine — more than enough to see my wound through to healed.”

“Good. Tell me if you need anything. For the places on your back the medicine cannot reach, ask Bailin to help.”

“These past few days, Bailin has been the one applying it for me.”

The child looked so genuinely docile that Hua Zhi instinctively raised her hand, wanting to give him an encouraging pat on the head — then halfway through the motion she remembered his identity, and in a moment of uncertainty she did not know whether to withdraw her hand or let it fall. It hung there awkwardly in the air.

The Sixth Prince bit his lip, summoned his courage, reached out with both hands, and guided the hand suspended in midair down to rest on top of his head. He lowered his head slightly, and only the tips of his ears, burning red, were visible.

Hua Zhi gently ruffled his hair — the same way she used to do with Bailin when he was little. She did not know what this child would grow into, nor what path he and the Hua Family would walk together. But in this moment, he was simply a child starved of affection who wanted to be close to her. No matter how many considerations and calculations moved through her mind, she could not bring herself to harbor thoughts of using a child who had not a shred of hostility.

Let things be this way. Exploiting others was one thing — if she were to even exploit a child, she would lose all respect for herself.

Her partner was Master Lu. Whatever cooperation took place was a matter between her and Master Lu. As for the Sixth Prince, she would simply treat him with sincerity.

She withdrew her hand. Hua Zhi said in a warm voice, “I will have a maid come and take your measurements in a while. The weather is growing warmer — you will need a few spring outfits made. It is not proper to keep wearing Bailin’s old clothes.”

“I can wear Bailin’s,” the Sixth Prince said, looking up. His eyes were bright and dewy. With his naturally fine features, he looked at this moment so innocent it was almost like a little white rabbit — the least like anyone from the Gu family he had ever appeared.

“He will have new ones made too. You can take turns wearing them.” Hua Zhi rose to her feet. “I need to go handle a few matters. Once I have finished, there will be no one about, and you can come out to get some air.”

“All right.”

He watched Hua Zhi leave, then gently pulled the door shut. The smile slowly faded from his face. He brought his hand up to where it had rested on his head and held it there a good long while, before the corners of his mouth gradually, gently, curved upward again.

Even though Hua Jiejie still had some reservations because of his identity as a prince, her kindness to him was genuine. He could feel it. She would ask after what he ate and drank and wore. She would ask whether his wound had healed. She would speak to him with a smile so gentle it warmed him through.

He did not want to go back. There was nothing in the palace for him.