Hua Zhi remembered him. On the day Shizhai opened, he was the first one to step through the courtyard gate.

Later, when Yan Xi spoke to her about these people, he had mentioned his name too — Jiang Huanran of the Jiang Family, a typical wastrel son of a noble house, the sort who seemed to live his entire life for the sole purpose of swaggering over women.

She bore no ill will toward men like him. Who could fault someone for being born lucky? He had every right to fritter his life away in pleasure.

Dipping into a light curtsy, Hua Zhi greeted him pleasantly, “I did not expect to run into Young Master Jiang. What a coincidence.”

Jiang Huanran’s eyes lit up. “Does the First Young Lady know who I am?”

“Shizhai is grateful for Young Master Jiang’s patronage.”

Without thinking, Jiang Huanran straightened his chest. He had said as much — if he could not catch a glimpse of her at the Hua Family’s gate, he would go to Shizhai instead. Reserving a table there every single day, he had been sure his name would eventually reach the First Young Lady’s ears, and so it had.

Besides, the food at Shizhai was genuinely excellent. He had never imagined a single ingredient could be prepared in so many ways. Even without the aim of currying favor, he would have been happy to host his dinner gatherings there.

Jiang Huanran smiled, flashing all eight of his front teeth. “And where might the First Young Lady be headed?”

“To visit family.”

“Oh,” Jiang Huanran drew the word out lazily. “I am on my way to Zhengyang in Jingzhou. I wonder if fate might allow us to travel the same road.”

Hua Zhi was mildly surprised — they were indeed heading in the same direction. Since there was no way to conceal it, she nodded. “What a coincidence. I am also going to Zhengyang.”

“One coincidence is chance, but two coincidences is no longer chance — this is fate.” Jiang Huanran laughed heartily, his eyes glittering. No matter how one looked at him, he appeared to be up to no good. Shao Yao’s fingers twitched as she prepared to make a move, but Hua Zhi glanced at her, and she stood down with visible reluctance.

“I would not wish to disturb Young Master Jiang. I shall take my leave first.”

Jiang Huanran sidestepped and planted himself in her path. “What a shame it would be not to linger over such a sunset. Why must the First Young Lady rush back inside? If I am an eyesore, I can simply keep my distance.”

Hua Zhi glanced at the crimson horizon, then turned back. “Even the most beautiful scenery depends on the company beside you.”

If Yan Xi were here, she would be looking at beautiful scenery. But the person standing before her now was no one of consequence — however lovely the view, it was merely a natural phenomenon.

Watching her brush past him, Jiang Huanran raised an eyebrow. Did the First Young Lady mean that because it was he who stood here, the beautiful scenery was no great loss to miss?

How very interesting.

Hua Zhi waited until Xiao Liu had returned to the cabin before going back herself. She was not worried about Xiao Liu’s safety — apart from the several guards watching over him both openly and in the shadows, anyone who dared to try something aboard this vessel would have no hope of escaping. Ships on a long journey traveled down the center of the river until they docked; no matter how strong a swimmer, no one would choose to make a move on a vessel like this.

“Hua Hua, stay away from that man. He is not a decent sort.”

The moment the door closed, Shao Yao stuck to Hua Zhi’s side like a shadow, muttering endlessly. This was her sister-in-law — anyone who harbored ill intentions would have to answer to her!

“Whether he is decent or not, what does it have to do with us?” Hua Zhi brushed away the hand tugging at her sleeve and settled into a seat, picking up a chess piece and turning it between her fingers. “Is Yan Xi safe on this journey?”

“Qisu Division received word that a sect called the Seven Star Sect suddenly appeared in Yuzhou. They say the sect leader walks upon seven stars and can restore the dead to life and bring flesh back to bare bones — extraordinary abilities. In a short span of time alone, its followers have already swelled to two thousand. Yan Xi was uneasy and decided to go himself.”

Hua Zhi understood. Throughout history, any sect that appeared this suddenly was never there merely for show. Yan Xi’s instincts for danger were sharp — he must have sensed that something was off. No wonder he had left in such haste.

“And that one — has he recovered?”

“Not entirely. It will take time. A full recovery is out of the question.” Speaking of the Emperor, Shao Yao’s mood fell as well. She and her master had exhausted every method they knew, and this was the furthest they could bring him.

What Hua Zhi truly wanted to know was how much longer he had to live, but she was not a reckless person. She understood that such words could not be spoken — not to Yan Xi, and not to Shao Yao. She patted Shao Yao’s head and steered the conversation elsewhere.

Life aboard the ship was dull and monotonous. Hua Zhi and the Sixth Prince could sit quietly for hours, passing the time over several games of chess. Shao Yao, however, could not. She darted in and out constantly until Hua Zhi stuffed a copy of Master Siqing’s military strategy book into her arms, and only then did she finally sit still.

Bao Xia carried in the dinner tray, turned swiftly to close the door, then drew close and reported in a low voice, “That Young Master Jiang is waiting outside again.”

“Then let him wait. It is not as though I must go out. Pass the word — have all our people pay him no mind.”

“Yes.”

The Sixth Prince, who had spent some time searching for a move without finding one and finally conceded, looked up. “Flower Sister, let me go and send him away.”

“Under what identity? Without revealing that you are an imperial prince, you will not be able to stop him. Simply ignore him.”

The Sixth Prince was a little displeased. Flower Sister had a habit of taking evening strolls after dinner — how wonderful it would be to watch the sunset with her again. He sneaked a glance at Shao Yao, but she did not even spare him a look, and so he had no choice but to let it go.

Jiang Huanran waited like this for nine whole days. With Jingzhou now only a day’s journey away, he had not managed to catch even a glimpse of the First Young Lady since that first encounter. The less he saw of her, the more he wanted to wait, and each day his waiting grew longer. After several days of this, he had even been noticeably darkened by the sun.

He finally understood now why, despite all these years, Hua Zhi’s name had barely circulated among the people of the capital. The patience she had shown — staying indoors for nine full days just to avoid him — was enough to command his genuine admiration.

Then again, Jiang Huanran thought, turning it over in his mind, that was grounds to admire himself as well. She had stayed indoors for nine days; he had waited for nine days. How many people could say the same?

Just as these thoughts were passing through his mind, the door that had been firmly shut all this while swung open from within. Expecting the pretty maidservant again, he lifted his gaze with idle indifference — and when he saw who had actually emerged, his whole body snapped to attention like a bowstring!

He had waited long enough!

Elated, he raised his hand and called out, “First Young Lady!”

There was a breeze today — a tailwind, as luck would have it — and the ship moved faster than it had on the first day. Hua Zhi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and dipped into a small curtsy as Jiang Huanran approached. “Young Master Jiang looks full of vigor.”

“Without this vigor I could never have waited for the First Young Lady. The First Young Lady is truly exceptional at staying put.”

“One grows accustomed to it.” Hua Zhi moved past him toward the ship’s railing. The temperature in the south was noticeably warmer than in the north, and the breeze carried the damp quality particular to this region — a sensation that felt strangely familiar, even after so many years away.

Jiang Huanran, not the least bit put out by being sidestepped, smiled pleasantly and took a position beside Hua Zhi. By nature, his every word and gesture carried a quality of ease and flair that, being so open and unguarded, never came across as offensive.

“Has the First Young Lady been here before?”

“Never.”

Seeing that the First Young Lady had responded at all, Jiang Huanran immediately became animated. “The south, you know, is quite unlike the north. Up north, rain is rare, but here in the south, the rainy days in a year likely outnumber the clear ones. It makes getting about a little inconvenient, but there are scenes of beauty here that simply cannot be found anywhere else. The First Young Lady would do well to keep an umbrella close at hand.”

“Many thanks for the reminder.” Hua Zhi turned her head to look at him. “Does Young Master Jiang come to the south often?”

“My family’s ancestral home is in Zhengyang. I come once every year or two, so I know this place rather well. Once we arrive, I would be happy to show the First Young Lady around.”

Hua Zhi declined graciously, “I am only going as far as the city of Zhengyang. There is no need to trouble Young Master Jiang.”