Without Hua Zhi as its backbone, the Hua Family had grown ever more cautious. Each day, almost no one came or went beyond what was strictly necessary for household purchases.

Wu Shi set down the account ledger and glanced toward Ying Chun and the others, who were busy yet composed. “By my count, the young miss should be returning soon.”

At this, all the senior maids brightened at once. With their young miss absent, the thread of tension in their hearts had been pulled taut every single day. Though they handled these same duties when she was present, having her nearby was different — as long as she was with them, their hearts felt settled, and they felt capable of anything.

Liu Xiang came in with hurried steps. “Fourth Madam, Master Wang requests an audience.”

Wu Shi naturally knew the household’s martial instructor was surnamed Wang. He had always been exceptionally proper in conduct — in the past several days when she came to the front courtyard to handle affairs, he had made a point of keeping out of her way, let alone coming to seek her out.

Abnormality signaled something. Wu Shi steadied herself and replied, “Please show him in.”

Wang Rong entered without looking around, lowered his eyes in respectful greeting, and presented a parcel with both hands. “The master entrusted me to deliver this, on behalf of the young miss. The reasons within are explained in the letter — Fourth Madam will understand upon reading.”

“Zhi’er has not returned?”

“That is correct.”

“You have made the journey for nothing, Master Wang.” Wu Shi received the parcel and gave him a nod.

Wang Rong bowed and withdrew.

Opening the parcel, the topmost letter was addressed to her. One glance, and Wu Shi recognized her husband’s handwriting.

She unsealed it and began to read those familiar characters. A pang of longing moved through her — yet as she read on, line by line, that longing transformed into shock. Her hands began to tremble involuntarily.

Ying Chun and the others exchanged glances, unease stirring in their hearts.

Wu Shi bit the tip of her tongue to force herself calm, and read through the letter once more from beginning to end. She folded it, sat in silence for a moment, then handed it to Ying Chun. The master was right — even if she could not let the whole household know all that had transpired, nor what Zhi’er had endured out there, someone ought to be made aware of it and help shoulder the burden.

The senior maids crowded together to read it at once. Bao Xia had barely begun before she choked up. “She’s been hurt again. How can she keep getting hurt? Every time she goes out she comes back with injuries — how is her body supposed to recover?”

Wu Shi, hearing this, thought of the medicinal smell on Zhi’er after she returned from the south, and asked immediately, “How was Zhi’er injured before? If I recall correctly, it was you, Bao Xia, who accompanied her south that last time.”

Bao Xia dabbed at her eyes. “The young miss said not to tell.”

“I already know. I only wish to know more clearly.”

Bao Xia had long wanted the entire Hua household to know how much their young miss had suffered. Seizing the opening, she said, “It was business-related. A merchant house in that area with a bad local reputation came pestering us after they lost the deal to the young miss. She didn’t want to stir up trouble with local people and tried to avoid them — but that person wouldn’t give up and then set his sights on the young miss herself. We were intercepted at the docks as we were leaving. That’s where she was hurt.”

Wu Shi thought of what her husband had written in his letter and asked further, “When did Zhi’er learn self-defense? The Hua Family never hired a martial instructor before.”

Ying Chun, worried that Bao Xia might speak out of turn, took over the answer with deliberate vagueness. “The young miss taught herself.”

“It has been hard on her.” Wu Shi let out a sigh. Had she not known some self-defense, the Hua Family truly did not know what terrible price they might have paid this time. “Let us not speak of this outside — there is no need to alarm everyone. We will do as Zhi’er intends and say that the Fourth Master has fallen ill and needs her care.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Wu Shi took the letter back and read through it once more, then let out a long, deep breath. From now on, she would need to pay more careful attention to the inner affairs of the Hua household. Even if people spoke ill of her for it, it did not matter — so long as Zhi’er did not have to finish handling matters outside only to return and worry about what was within.

As the eighth month arrived, the temperature at Yinshan Pass became noticeably cooler. By night especially, even a thin blanket left one slightly cold.

Away from the imperial city, with no need for constant vigilance, and with no women and children around her who needed her protection, Hua Zhi was finally free to stop holding herself so tightly together. Even her sleep had greatly improved — and over the course of her recovery, she had actually put on a little weight.

If anyone in this period was most content, it was undoubtedly the younger members of the Hua Family. They were finally free from going to labor. Though they had grown accustomed to it over the past year, not having to chisel and haul stone was truly a relief.

Practice archery on horseback? No problem — they had trained in it before, just not to any great skill.

Study military strategy? Gladly — military texts were still books, and they had each read a few.

Tactical sandbox exercises? Wonderful — this was far more entertaining than any of the games they had played back in the capital!

The Hua household, once quiet during the day, had become visibly lively. While copying out military texts, Hua Zhi would stroll about to watch the exercises, gradually getting a sense of each person’s foundation. Wu Yong also made good on his promise, presenting every member of the Hua Family with a special token, and personally introducing each of them to be recognized, so they could enter and leave the military camp freely by face and by token.

Hua Zhi felt she ought to reciprocate the kindness. So she copied out the military text by Master Siqing twice — one copy for her own household, one for Wu Yong. However, she only transcribed the upper volume, for she had only finished reading that portion so far, and could not claim to have fully mastered even that. She had never been one to swallow a book whole without digesting it.

Wu Yong was naturally a man who recognized value. To him, such a generous gift was impossible to refuse, and he even dared to hope he might yet receive the lower volume.

“I will transcribe a copy for General Wu the next time I come.”

Wu Yong gave her a long, measured look and offered a solemn bow. “Many thanks, Miss, for your generosity.”

“The General need not thank me. I am only making free with another’s gift. Master Siqing would surely not have wished for his life’s work to gather dust.”

“…”

The two of them exchanged pleasantries in a roundabout fashion. Shao Yao stood listening nearby and let out a yawn. These two were truly insufferable.

Wu Yong noticed her expression and a smile entered his eyes. “Shall we play a round?”

Shao Yao came alive at once, bounding toward the door in a few running steps. “Let’s try a different terrain today.”

Wu Yong clasped his hands in farewell and turned to follow.

“General Wu.”

He turned back around. “Is there something else, Miss?”

“Nothing of great importance.” Hua Zhi rubbed her wrist — she had been holding a brush for long stretches of time recently, with no one to attend to her, and her wrist had grown sore. “Shao Yao has the temperament of a child. The General need not hold back from his duties on her account. My health has recovered somewhat now — I am well enough to keep her company.”

“I have not set anything aside. At present, Shao Yao is the only one who can give me a real match. Sparring with her every day gives me some small measure of improvement. I am more than glad to come spend a round with her each day.”

“Has the General perhaps forgotten something?”

Wu Yong already sensed nothing good was coming, and held his tongue.

“Propriety exists between men and women. I can bear the idle talk that comes from outside — but the one truly inside this situation is always her.”

Word had already spread through the city that Wu Yong had taken a fancy to the eldest miss of the Hua Family, which was why he paid daily visits and lingered for one or two hours at a stretch, as if a match were practically imminent.

Hua Zhi cared nothing for what was being said outside. When Hua Pingyu had tried to set the record straight, she had refused him. Such things were a small matter she could shoulder. What she did not welcome was Wu Yong growing too close to Shao Yao. Rough and carefree as Shao Yao was, she was still a woman — a woman in the full bloom of youth. Hua Zhi was afraid she might let her heart be moved.