For several days in a row, Hua Zhi spent more hours asleep than awake. Her body was healing itself, and Shao Yao had also added a mild sleep-inducing herb to the medicinal congee — Hua Hua was in too much pain while awake, and Shao Yao couldn’t bear to see it.

The Hua family took turns coming to sit with Hua Zhi during her waking hours. By the fourth or fifth day, she was sleeping far less, and the ghastly pallor had begun to fade from her face. Shao Yao started carrying her outside morning and evening to sit in the sun.

It was only by seeing it with her own eyes that Hua Zhi came to understand what life had looked like for the Hua family since their exile.

Every morning, from the eldest — her grandfather — down to the youngest — her eleven-year-old younger cousin — every member of the family first read for half an hour, after which the older generation dispersed to their respective offices, while the younger generation changed into sturdy, practical clothes with their trouser legs tucked into their shoes, each taking a shovel and setting off to work in groups.

Yinshan Pass had ore mines, stone quarries, and city walls that needed reinforcing every year. Those exiled there were sent either to the mines or to the stone quarries.

When the Hua family first arrived, half had been assigned to the mines — underground work, dangerous and filthy. Hua Pingyang had gradually worked through the problem using the gold ingots Hua Zhi had given them, slowly extracting his family members one by one. For a family that had never known hardship, those early days had been genuinely grueling.

Later, Hua Pingyang found a way to free the older generation first, then those of his own generation. The youngest could not yet be moved — human hearts were easily thrown off balance, and if the entire Hua family were suddenly comfortable, others in Yinshan Pass would grow resentful. They could not directly harm the Hua family, but they could make daily life unpleasant. So the youngest generation of the Hua family still went to work at the stone quarries. After more than half a year, they had all grown accustomed to it. Change into a long robe and they still looked every inch the scholar; but in their short work jackets, small firm muscles were visible along their forearms.

Hua Zhi couldn’t help thinking: she wondered if that formidable ancestor of hers had ever imagined that one day his descendants would grow themselves a body full of hardened muscle.

The warmth of the sun was delicious. Hua Zhi, lazier than she had been in a long time, let her mind drift for a while. The sound of footsteps drew her attention.

Dong Zi came over quickly to report: “First Young Miss, General Wu requests an audience.”

Hua Zhi raised her voice pleasantly: “The Hua family’s threshold is low these days. There’s no need for words like ‘requests.’ Please show General Wu in.”

Shao Yao, grinding herbs inside the room, heard this, tucked the pestle under her arm, and poked her head out. “Hua Hua, we don’t need to entertain anyone. You focus on recovering.”

“It’s fine — I’m just idling.” Hua Zhi tilted her head to look at her. “Painted cat — go wash your face first.”

Shao Yao instinctively wiped her face, which only made it worse.

Wu Yong walked in and burst out laughing at the sight. Shao Yao shot him a glare and retreated back inside.

It wasn’t as though Hua Zhi had never laughed — why was he the one who couldn’t? Wu Yong rubbed his nose and looked toward the young woman whose smile was quiet and composed. Who would have thought it — someone who looked every inch the perfect noble daughter, and yet had that kind of courage and presence of mind.

“General Wu, have you come to find me about something?”

“I do have a matter.” Wu Yong glanced back. His deputy understood and stepped out through the courtyard gate, signaling to several soldiers to carry something in. Hua Zhi understood immediately at a glance.

“This was made on Shizi’s instructions. He said the idea was yours, and that you set the rules of play. I wonder if First Young Miss would be willing to teach me?”

Hua Zhi lay still and gazed up at the sky, a touch of wryness in her eyes. She could only console herself that stealing half a day of leisure was a pleasure in itself — and she had already stolen quite a few such half-days. That was enough.

“What did Yanxi say?”

On a first-name basis, is she? Wu Yong smiled meaningfully. That was no small thing.

A soldier brought over a chair. Wu Yong settled in across from Hua Zhi, his manner easy and familiar — the kind one reserves for one’s own people. “Shizi said this was a game you devised for your own amusement, and that it has since been introduced across the five capital garrisons and is gradually being extended to regional forces throughout all nine provinces. This general has been lucky enough to get ahead of them all.”

“If it began as a game, let it continue to be treated as one.”

Wu Yong assumed Hua Zhi was being modest and waiting to be praised, and was just about to offer a few compliments to this person who held the center of Shizi’s heart — when he heard her continue: “Though even games can have winners and losers. Does General Wu know the rules?”

“Shizi doesn’t have that kind of patience with others. This general is waiting for First Young Miss to enlighten him.”

Hua Zhi smiled, then turned her head. “Cao Cao.”

Shao Yao’s head appeared again. Before Hua Zhi could speak, she said, “I don’t want to talk to someone who goes around calling himself ‘this general’ every other sentence.”

Hua Zhi smiled serenely. “Explain it to him and you can play afterward.”

Shao Yao’s eyes lit up. Play freely? Hua Zhi nodded.

Wu Yong couldn’t make head or tail of the wordless exchange, but his instincts prickled — though when he saw that plain-looking girl bounding over with a face that was now an even more spectacular riot of color, he pushed that unease aside entirely. “Does Shao Yao also know how to play?”

“I do.” Shao Yao was rolling up her sleeves, already savoring the thought of what was coming — just wait until I wipe the floor with you until you can’t walk straight.

Hua Zhi tapped her hand and smoothed the rolled sleeve back down. “Go wash your hands and face first.”

“Oh.” Shao Yao ran off. Wu Yong’s gaze followed her without quite meaning to.

Hua Zhi was about to say something, then saw his expression and narrowed her eyes, letting every remark she’d been about to make die unsaid. Could it be — was there truly someone in this world who looked past appearances to see the person within?

Shao Yao came sprinting back, face still dripping, entirely unbothered by it. She wiped it dry with her sleeve as she walked, went straight to the sand table, looked around for a pointer, found none, and trotted off to the kitchen to rummage up a stick instead. When she explained the rules, she stood over the sand table wielding it with the air of someone surveying the whole world — comical and endearing at once.

“Wu Yong, why do you keep looking at me? Did you hear anything I just said?” Shao Yao rapped the stick against the table with a thud. She was used to being stared at, but the way Wu Yong stared at her had none of the irritating undertones she usually encountered. This person was truly strange. What was there worth looking at? She certainly didn’t have much to offer in the way of looks — if there was something on her face, just say so.

Hua Zhi let her eyes fall half-shut as though she were dozing, while her ears were sharpened to catch every sound from that side of the courtyard. Even when Shao Yao’s antics made it nearly impossible to keep from laughing, she held herself still, waiting to see how this Wu Yong would respond.

Wu Yong gave a light cough, rubbed his nose, and said, “You have something in your hair.”

“In my hair?”

“Yes, here.” He pointed to a spot just above his own right temple. “Up a little. No, not there — let me help.”

He walked over and made a small brushing gesture near her hair. “There. Done.”

“What was it?”

“A smudge of ash.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “I heard everything you said before. Go on.”

Shao Yao gave him an unamused look, then simply continued her explanation.

Hua Zhi opened her eyes, watching Wu Yong’s back, her expression thoughtful. Those machinations were quite enough to fool Shao Yao, but not her. She had seen clearly when Shao Yao came out of the room — there had been nothing in her hair at all. Could it be that this Wu Yong was genuinely interested in Shao Yao?

His taste was decent, at least. But if she recalled correctly, Wu Yong was the only son of the Wu family. Surely he had not yet married?

Even if he hadn’t, there was probably a houseful of concubines and attendants waiting back home.

Hua Zhi’s fleeting interest cooled instantly. Shao Yao was better off staying with her.