After that night’s meeting, to outside observers, the two seemed no different than before. But those in the know could see the change between them — the warmth that flowed when their eyes met, the way their conversation had shed its former polite distance. When Gu Yanxi came, he no longer treated himself as a guest, and Hua Zhi, in turn, had grown considerably more at ease around him.

Yet all of this existed only within the small courtyard of the front residence, only when the two of them were together.

Naturally, Gu Yanxi spent every free moment at the Hua Family estate, and had found himself an excellent reason to do so: he would personally instruct both Bailin and the Sixth Prince in the six gentlemanly arts.

Compared to Hua Bailin, his expectations of the Sixth Prince were considerably higher. He needed to prepare for two outcomes — if the one who ultimately ascended to that seat was not the Sixth Prince, he would hand the Seven Lodges Division over to him, giving him a foundation to stand upon. But to actually sit in that seat, mastery of the six gentlemanly arts alone would never be enough. The Sixth Prince was thus destined to spend many years rising before the roosters crowed and sleeping long after the dogs had settled.

Time moved into the fourth month. The grass grew long and the orioles took to flight.

Just as he was shedding yet another layer of clothing, Liu Qi brought word that Bai Mingxia had requested a meeting — the same Yunlai Restaurant, the same private room on the third floor.

“The cannery need not supply the restaurant any longer.”

Hua Zhi was somewhat surprised. She had assumed this meeting was about his upcoming journey north — it had already been delayed several days past the originally agreed date, and she had even wondered at one point whether Bai Mingxia might not be going at all.

Anyone with eyes could see that walking away from this deal was not her loss. Her business had already expanded; the shop had long been unable to keep up with demand. Bai Mingxia should have known this.

Faced with her questioning look, Bai Mingxia felt a bitterness rise in his heart. “The Bai Family’s affairs — I will no longer have any part in them.”

Hua Zhi suddenly recalled what Master Lu had said to her on the way home after her very first visit here to negotiate with Bai Mingxia. She had not expected it to come to pass so quickly.

It was not her place to pry into the Bai Family’s matters, so she only said, “With your abilities, Young Master Bai, even starting from nothing, building a name for yourself would not be beyond you.”

“If First Young Miss could point me toward a promising path, the effort would be halved and the rewards doubled.”

Hua Zhi paused. She had only been making polite conversation — Bai Mingxia should have been able to hear that. Could it be that the Bai Family had truly driven him to this point?

She gave a sincere nod. “If Young Master Bai truly intends this, I will lend my full support.”

Bai Mingxia, exhausted to the bone, had not expected such a genuine promise. How laughable — so-called family could not even match a stranger. What was there left for him to linger for? Let it be a separation, then. Let them have their way. He would take only his own share, and nothing more of the rest.

“As for the cannery, you would do well to find a partner. After all, it is an open and visible business, and everyone knows the profits are considerable. There are bound to be many who will eye it with envy.”

Hua Zhi’s mind moved swiftly, and she made her decision at once. “If Young Master Bai does not think it beneath him, I would be very willing to partner with you in this business.”

“The Bai Family would not only be unable to help — they would drag things down.”

“Not the Bai Family. You.” Hua Zhi held his gaze steadily. “Every variety of fruit can be preserved and sold as canned goods — it is the finest method of storing fruit, and the taste is excellent besides. From seventy-year-old grandmothers to three-year-old children, everyone loves it. This venture has tremendous potential.”

That Bai Mingxia had grown the Bai Family’s business to a scale that even his official elder brother could not tolerate said enough about his acumen in commerce. He had long considered the feasibility of preserving other fruits as well. Now, with this confirmation, it took only a moment’s thought for him to grasp just how vast the profits could be.

If it were truly like this…

“If I leave the Bai Family, it is as good as abandoning every resource they possess. Are you certain you wish to partner with me?”

“Why not? The Great Qing dynasty is vast — why should either of us limit our sights to this one place? If we could carry this business across all nine provinces, what would the profits of the capital amount to?”

Hua Zhi had thought it through clearly. Even after leaving the Bai Family, Bai Mingxia still bore the Bai name. Even without the Bai Family’s support, they would not permit others to wrong him — a natural shield, the kind merchants could only dream of having. That alone was enough.

The most important thing was that she needed a partner of this sort. What she sought to earn had never been limited to the capital’s clientele — all nine provinces were her goal. Bai Mingxia was not the ideal choice, but among those she could think of at this moment, he was the most fitting. She believed that a man willing to aid the wife and children of a friend fallen on hard times, and prepared to travel a thousand li to visit — such a person could not be of poor character.

If she could bring him into the fold, in time their cooperation need not be limited to this single venture.

Bai Mingxia was, naturally, tempted. He had not yet thought far ahead — he only wanted to leave the Bai Family behind. Yet eventually he would have to think. He could not spend his days idling about as his elder brother wished. Hua Zhi was right: the Great Qing dynasty was so vast. Why confine himself to one capital city?

“Let us discuss this in full when I return.”

“Agreed.”

With unspoken accord, the two set the topic aside and turned to the matter they had arranged earlier. “Are the goods ready?”

“A few carriage-loads have been prepared. They are already packed and loaded at the house — you can collect them directly outside the city gates.”

Bai Mingxia raised an eyebrow. “How many carriages?”

“Four. Each household contributed something. I had them focus on the most essential items.”

“That is fine — there is room for more. I have assembled a convoy, and I intend to look for goods along the way. If anything suitable turns up, I plan to bring some back.”

Hua Zhi smiled. “Young Master Bai is a merchant born and bred.”

“There were those who once said I was a scholar born and bred.” Bai Mingxia gave a short, dry laugh — whether at himself or at others, it was unclear. “Oh, by the way — that Shen Qi came to see me. Said he wanted to travel with me.”

“He said he wished to visit my father. I have no grounds to stop him.”

“I am quite surprised that the Shen Family would agree.” Just as with the Bai Family — the reason things had come to such a pass was that he had moved a considerable sum to procure supplies, all for the sake of a member of the Hua Family who had already fallen from grace with nothing to offer in return. Yet Shen Qi seemed to have met no resistance whatsoever.

Hua Zhi turned to look at the blue sky and white clouds beyond the window, her voice unhurried. “Old Master Shen is himself a man of deep learning. Yet he had Shen Qi become a pupil under my father — given that the Shen Family’s standing is no lesser than the Hua Family’s, it was clearly not the Hua name he was after. I thought about it afterward, and I suspect the old master wished to raise his eldest grandson to be a gentleman of upright character. For that purpose, could any household have been more fitting than the Hua Family? He may no longer wish for a marriage alliance with the Hua Family, but he would not stand in the way of Shen Qi fulfilling a student’s duty. That is what a gentleman ought to do.”

Bai Mingxia studied the young woman across from him as she spoke with quiet composure, her manner so self-possessed that it entirely concealed the youth of her features. And her decisiveness in conduct was wholly at odds with her age — as was that clear and dignified air she carried. To this day, the capital was still talking about her striking appearance at the Song Family gathering. Everyone said the Hua Family had been hiding a remarkable person: had the family not fallen into misfortune, she would surely have found her way to the Shen Family.

Bai Mingxia thought of Shen Qi, who had come to find him a few days prior. He had seen him a handful of times before — a young man of open, gentle features. But this time, there was an unmistakable trace of sorrow at the corners of his eyes. He was not without regret, it seemed.

The sons of great families were, in truth, the ones with the least freedom. This was likely the price they paid for the wealth and privilege they enjoyed.