Shao Yao came again early in the morning. Hua Zhi was propped up against the headboard, slowly working her way through a bowl of porridge. These past two days had been nothing but porridge and broth — the mere thought of all the dishes Fu Dong usually prepared was enough to make her mouth water.

Upon being announced, she set down her bowl without a moment’s hesitation and had Nian Qiu help her tidy herself to receive the guest. Over the years, she had seen no end of ladies and young misses cast from the same mold, and she found herself genuinely curious about someone as entirely different as Shao Yao — a woman who had walked out from behind the inner walls and carved out a life of her own.

In this era where men were the very sky above, too few women had managed such a thing.

Shao Yao arrived at an unhurried pace, white veiled hat on her head, medicine chest on her back. She settled onto the round stool beside the bed and lifted the veil, meeting Hua Zhi’s gaze directly.

It was indeed a face ravaged by sharp instruments. Yet Hua Zhi did not even blink. She had seen far worse — faces drenched in blood, as fearsome as vengeful spirits. By comparison, this woman, enveloped in the scent of medicinal herbs, her eyes clear and unclouded, looked as if she sat upon a lotus throne.

Shao Yao, having studied her for this moment, found her quite pleasing as well. She gave a rare smile, produced a pulse pillow from her chest, and set it at the edge of the bed, gesturing for Hua Zhi to rest her hand on it.

“Your constitution is well-tended. You are recovering nicely.”

“Thanks to your medicine.”

“Naturally — my medicine is priceless.”

Shao Yao’s matter-of-fact delivery drew a laugh from Hua Zhi. “It seems the debt I owe is considerable. But the Hua Family is stone broke at the moment — I’m afraid repayment is not possible for the time being.”

“Yours costs nothing.” What Shizi had sent freely, who would dare charge for — Shao Yao reached into her medicine chest and produced six vials in quick succession, large and small. Pointing to the largest, she said: “Scar removal.”

Bao Xia was overcome with delight, dropping into a sincere bow. “This servant thanks Miss Shao Yao.”

Shao Yao gave a nod, then pointed to the medium-sized vial. “Apply.”

Then to the small one: “Consume. One pill per day.”

Hua Zhi sat up slightly and inclined herself in a proper bow. “Such great kindness is beyond words — Hua Zhi will hold it in her heart always.”

“I was entrusted to come.” Shao Yao tilted her head and looked at her. “Do you want to know who sent me?”

“Would you say?”

Shizi had not said she could not tell — but he had not said to tell her either. Better not to, then. Shao Yao shook her head. “Let me go ask first.”

Hua Zhi nodded without pressing further. She had no particular desire to know. From the way things had unfolded last night, it was clear this was no ordinary person — and likely one whose identity posed certain complications, otherwise there would have been no need to cover his face with a black cloth. What the Hua Family needed now was to keep a low profile and remain steady. No more ripples.

Besides, he had clearly come for the scoundrel last night — whatever grudge that was, it was plainly no small grievance. Even so, gratitude was still owed.

“Do you live here for now?”

“For the time being, yes. I need to let the injury heal before I can go back.”

“If I come every day, will you grow tired of me?”

Amusement rose in Hua Zhi’s eyes. To have such an open and guileless spirit even with a ruined face — how rare. Even if she had some use to play, it spoke well of the master who had looked after her so carefully.

“As long as you are willing to come, I will answer the door even at midnight.”

“Nothing good comes of midnight knocking. Do not make careless promises.” Shao Yao closed her medicine chest, her tone light — visibly pleased. “I’ll come tomorrow.”

“My maidservant has an exceptional hand in the kitchen. Come for breakfast.”

“Good — then I’ll come even earlier.”

Bao Xia saw the guest out, and only once the figure had vanished entirely from sight did Nian Qiu begin carefully putting away the vials, saying softly, “This Miss Shao Yao seems cool and distant at first, but it turns out she has a gentle nature.”

“Not necessarily a gentle nature.” It was simply a matter of taking a liking to someone — she spoke freely with those she favored, and might not be so accommodating with those she did not. “Keep the others in line and make sure no one behaves rudely toward her.”

“Yes.”

After returning, Shao Yao did not even set down her medicine chest before charging straight to the study. Unless he had gone out, Shizi could almost always be found there.

“You seem very happy.”

Though her expression had not changed much, years of acquaintance allowed him to see the unfamiliar brightness in her eyes.

Shao Yao nodded. “Happy. I am going to have breakfast at Hua Zhi’s tomorrow.”

Shizi raised an eyebrow. Shao Yao was more attuned to people than almost anyone — yet beyond those who had spent years at his side, she had no one else in her life. And now, rare as it was, she had taken a liking to this Hua Zhi. He was glad for her. “If it pleases you, you may stay there for a while.”

Shao Yao considered it seriously for a moment, then shook her head. “You all have a mission in a few days. I’ll stay once things have settled.”

Looking at the crisscrossed scars on her face, Shizi found himself thinking of Hua Zhi’s fierce expression from the previous night, and he suddenly understood, in some way, why Shao Yao had taken to her.

“Shizi, may I tell her your identity?”

“Which identity? Has she been asking?”

Among those she was close to, Shao Yao grew more talkative. “She did not ask. I was the one who asked whether she wanted to know. She asked if I would tell her, and I said I would come back and ask first.”

A woman with such sharp intuition might not actually want to know. Given the Hua Family’s current situation, forging ties with those in power would bring no benefit — it might in fact invite the Emperor’s suspicion. He could see it clearly, and he was certain Hua Zhi could too. That was why she did not ask. Why she had deflected the question back.

“There is no need to tell her. Consider yourself simply a friend.”

“A friend.” Shao Yao turned the word over several times on her tongue. With each repetition, her eyes grew brighter. Bright with joy, she bounced twice on her heels with great force, hugged her medicine chest, and spun around to run off. “I’m going to make medicine!”

The study settled back into quiet. Shizi set aside his documents, his expression unreadable. Friends. How extravagant a word — for him in his role as Shizi, there were none. For him as the head of Qi Su Division, there would be fewer still.

Hua Zhi lay in bed for another full day before insisting on getting up.

“The fruit is almost ready to come off the tree. Peaches don’t keep long — if we don’t get them stored away quickly, even what we manage to harvest will spoil.” As she raised her arm to put on her clothes, the movement pulled sharply at her wound. She endured it without letting it show, unwilling to make the maidservants — already drawn thin with worry — fret any more than they already did.

If they had their way, they would have liked nothing better than to tie her to the bed. But they also understood that what little remained of the Hua Family’s finances had already been poured into this endeavor. If their mistress stumbled in her first attempt at managing the household, it would make everything that followed harder to manage. For the sake of what lay ahead, they dared not interfere with her proper business.

Even so, their hearts ached. Their mistress, whom they had tended with such care for more than ten years — when had she ever been made to suffer like this?

Nian Qiu carefully smoothed out the hem of her clothes and said softly, “You need only speak the word and think things through — leave everything else to your instructions. There are so many people below. Surely they cannot all be drawing idle wages.”

“I would not put myself at odds with my own body.” Had she a choice, she would have been perfectly content to stay in bed and let herself heal. Hua Zhi sighed inwardly. Catching the silhouette that had appeared in the doorway, she broke into a smile. “How timely — Liu Xiang, tell Fu Dong to bring breakfast.”

“Yes.”

Shao Yao stepped inside, pleased to find this morning’s arrival entirely unimpeded.

“Why are you out of bed?” She caught Hua Zhi’s wrist and took her pulse. Nothing in Shao Yao’s expression suggested concern.

“This wound will not heal quickly. There are things that still need to be seen to.”