No matter how exhausted she was, Hua Zhi woke at her usual hour.

Servants always rose before their mistress. Some had already completed a full set of boxing practice; others were waiting to begin together once the young miss was up. How they divided it among themselves, Hua Zhi had never determined — but since she had never once seen any disorder from it, she left it well alone.

“Huahua, shall we try a bout?” Having finished her boxing practice, Shao Yao sidled over. Huahua’s movements were so forceful; watching them had made her fingers itch.

Hua Zhi also wanted to put the results of nearly a year’s training to the test, and agreed without hesitation. The two of them took their positions in the courtyard. The maids busy at work inside and outside quickly gathered around, excitement shining in their eyes. Over this past half-year, they had all endured considerable hardship themselves — even now, though the daily early morning exercises had become routine, the memory of doing boxing drills in the frozen depths of winter was still vividly etched in their minds.

Yet what they remembered even more vividly was this: whenever their young miss was at home, she had not skipped a single session. They all hoped that their young miss’s hard work had not gone to waste.

Shao Yao used the same set of movements. She had heard countless tales of Huahua’s bravery, and although she held back somewhat in striking, she harbored not a shred of condescension in her heart. But after a few exchanges she frowned. Huahua’s weakness was glaringly obvious — insufficient force. Her strength was equally obvious — her reflexes were fast. Even when Shao Yao struck first, Huahua could always manage, just barely, to counter and block. But because she lacked force, she would be pushed back several steps before she could find her footing. All in all, it fell somewhat short of what Shao Yao had anticipated.

Shao Yao withdrew her hand, looking puzzled. “It’s not quite what I’d heard.”

A light flush covered Hua Zhi’s face, lightly filmed with sweat. “This is my level,” she said with a smile.

“Then why was she so formidable at the manor? The person I’m thinking of — I know who he is. He had managed to slip away from Yanxi’s hands before, so his abilities were no small thing.”

“He was coming for my life — I had no choice but to fight with everything I had. You are not my enemy, so of course I cannot stake everything against you.” Hua Zhi took the handkerchief Bao Xia handed her and wiped away the sweat. Something crossed her mind, and she turned her head. “I recall that the sand table at the old residence was made by a household servant skilled in woodwork — is he still with the Hua Family?”

Bao Xia was momentarily taken aback, then after a moment’s thought replied: “He is, though I would need to check whether he is currently at home or has been sent elsewhere.”

“As long as he’s at home. Ask him to find a free moment and make two more according to the original design — larger ones would be fine.”

“Understood.”

“What is a sand table?” Shao Yao came over to ask.

Hua Zhi was somewhat surprised that she didn’t know. In households of military lineage, such things should be kept as standard… or so she would have thought. Given Shao Yao’s expression, it didn’t seem like she had simply never heard of it.

Looking at Shao Yao’s face, Hua Zhi suddenly wasn’t quite so sure whether this was actually common knowledge in this world at all.

What expression had Grandfather worn when he first saw that sand table back then? Hua Zhi tried hard to recall — she really hadn’t been paying attention at the time. She only vaguely remembered that her grandfather, who usually left her entirely to her own devices, had come to her courtyard more than once during those few days.

“Huahua?”

“A thing children play with. Once it’s made, you’ll see for yourself.” Hua Zhi simply let it go and stopped thinking about it. After all, it was not something that would affect the people’s livelihoods, nor would it bring any harm to the Hua Family.

The moment Shao Yao heard it was something to play with, her interest was piqued. She was nowhere to be found after breakfast. Knowing what she had likely gone off to do, Hua Zhi didn’t give it much thought. She had already decided to head south — which meant she needed to get the household’s affairs sorted out as quickly as possible. The seventh month would see her heading north to the frontier, and her time was not plentiful.

“The Head Steward’s color is looking quite good.”

Xu Dong bowed, a comfortable smile on his face. His eldest son now had a future to look forward to, and his youngest had been called to attend the young mistress directly. As long as he himself did not misstep, given the young mistress’s character she would surely not treat him poorly. He had made up his mind before coming — even if she asked him to step down from his position this very moment, he would agree with full willingness and ease.

“Though I wish I could let you rest and enjoy your ease, the household cannot truly do without you at present — I’m afraid I must trouble you a while longer.”

Xu Dong was taken aback. Hadn’t Xu Jie said before that…

Ying Chun placed a sheet of paper before him. He reached out and took it by instinct, looked down, and saw several names — all managers within the household.

“Each of these individuals has demonstrated both good character and reliable ability. I must ask you to select one to take under your wing and train carefully — not to match your thoroughness in every detail, but to ensure the essential things are fully understood. Tell me, who do you think is most suitable?”

Xu Dong had always known that the selection and assignment of household managers was not determined solely by the young mistress — it was the result of her capable maids working together to narrow it down, with the young mistress making only the final call. Clearly, she was not someone who kept power concentrated in her own hands.

So he did not deflect the question. He studied the names carefully and said: “In my view, Li De is most fitting. Both his father and mother are in the household’s service; his wife is also household-born; and his brother has followed the family to the northern frontier. One could say his entire family’s fortunes are tied to the Hua Family. In terms of character, while he lacks the quick-wittedness of Xu Qiang, steadiness of temperament is more important in a household manager. The rest can be shaped and honed over time.”

“Then Li De it is.” Hua Zhi settled it on the spot. “Head Steward, I leave Li De in your hands.”

“It is within my duty.” To entrust the one who would eventually succeed him to his own training — this was the greatest show of trust that could be given to him. Xu Dong only wished he could pour decades of experience into Li De all at once, so that Li De could serve the young mistress as soon as possible.

One matter after another. By the time a lull finally came, the sun had already tilted far to the west. Bailin’s voice drifted in from the courtyard, woven through with the voices of the Sixth Prince and Sui An — and of course, the loudest of all was unmistakably Shao Yao.

She stepped out of the courtyard and smiled at what she saw. That person had moved quickly — it was already done. She drew a few steps closer and found that this sand table was considerably more refined than the one at the old residence, and larger as well — the length and width both looked to be nearly two meters.

“Elder Cousin.” Yang Sui An spotted her first. The young man, free now of what had constrained him, had shed the brooding shadows from his brow. When he smiled, there was something of the open, unguarded ease a young person ought to have.

Hua Bailin and the Sixth Prince both turned around at once — one called out “Elder Sister,” the other “Sister.”

She smiled at them, then looked toward Sui An. “A day off from school?”

“Yes — the teacher had something to attend to, so he let us out early today.”

“Perfect. Teacher Zheng has asked me for a day off tomorrow. You’ll go to the clan school in his place for the day, and leave only the Analects lecture to Bailin.”

Yang Sui An agreed with a cheerful smile. He loved this kind of interaction enormously — no polite distance just because he didn’t share the Hua surname, no treatment as a guest. Instead it was simply however it should be, however it was handled. It made him feel that this was his home, and that he was no different from any of Hua Family’s other cousins by marriage.

Here in the Hua household, he was at ease to such a degree that two days of rest always felt like they passed far too quickly.

On one side, Bailin — unable to wait any longer — cut in eagerly: “Elder Sister, let’s play a round against each other.”

“Are you sure?” Hua Zhi swept her gaze over everyone present. Without her noticing when, Yanxi had arrived and was now standing to one side, studying the sand table with a slight furrow in his brow, seemingly lost in thought.

Bailin also had no wish to embarrass himself — but it had been so long since he’d played, and his hands and heart both itched for it. Besides, how many times had he lost to his elder sister now? He’d long since lost any sense of shame about it.

After all, it was only Elder Sister. It wasn’t anyone else.