After a silence, Gu Yanxi changed the subject. “Today is the day the provincial examination results are posted.”

Hua Zhi did a quick calculation — right, the results were indeed due. She had completely forgotten. It had nothing much to do with her, really — those people on the list were known to her grandfather and her father, not to her. Though, come to think of it, there was one she knew who had sat the exam. “Did my cousin pass?”

“He did. Yu Xiasheng placed second.”

“The Yu Xiasheng who helped Hua Ling?”

“Yes.”

Hua Zhi was somewhat surprised, yet it felt entirely reasonable. The measure of a person’s character is revealed in how they act — she did not know the quality of Yu Xiasheng’s writing, but the fact that he had stepped in to help even when he knew he was outmatched, and then declared after being injured that the pain only made him more clear-headed, said everything. The classical texts had not been wasted on him.

“I hope he passes the metropolitan examination next spring.”

“If a second-place examinee can’t get through, then I’ll be looking into whether there’s been any foul dealing.” Gu Yanxi lowered his gaze and raised another matter, one that brought less pleasure. “Three days from now, the Wei Family is holding a literary gathering.”

They actually dared? Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Someone is backing them?”

Gu Yanxi had no good answer to that and simply said nothing.

“Wringing every use out of me on one hand, while doing everything possible to hollow out the Hua Family’s foundations on the other — how willful.” Hua Zhi lifted her teacup and barely managed to swallow a sip. “Pour the tea.”

Liu Xiang slipped in quietly and set to work.

Gu Yanxi could see perfectly well that A’Zhi was displeased — and though this was not his doing, he still felt a twinge of guilt. He could only grip her hand by way of apology.

Hua Zhi cast him a sideways glance, gave a soft huff, but could not bring herself to take it out on him. “Have the invitations already gone out widely?”

“Most likely.”

“Then I’ll wait and see what scale of event they manage to put on.”

As they spoke, footsteps sounded outside. Liu Xiang quickly stepped out — the young miss and her companion were still holding hands, and absolutely no one else could be allowed to see that.

It was Steward Xu. Liu Xiang learned what he had come for and reported back: “Miss, Official Chen requests an audience.”

Hua Zhi couldn’t place the name at first. “Which Official Chen?”

“Official Chen Dayi.”

Hua Zhi rose at once. “Show him to the main room.”

“Yes.”

“Do you need to leave soon?” She glanced at the man beside her.

Gu Yanxi smiled. “No rush. I’ll wait for you to return.”

She went back to the desk, gathered a few documents and set them out. “Then look these over — I’ve drafted some plans.”

Gu Yanxi gave A’Zhi a light embrace, then settled into the large chair. “Go on. His coming at this hour is most likely about the Wei Family’s literary gathering.”

Chen Dayi had indeed come about the literary gathering. A man who was typically composed could barely bring himself to sit still — he paced restlessly, and the moment he saw Hua Zhi he clasped his hands and spoke directly. “Does the young miss know that the Wei Family intends to hold a literary gathering?”

“I only just heard.” Hua Zhi gestured for him to sit, taking a seat below him herself. “Official Chen received an invitation?”

“Indeed.” Chen Dayi’s face flushed with indignation. “I am the Teacher’s student — and the Wei Family had the audacity to send me an invitation. This is too great an insult!”

“It is precisely because you are my grandfather’s student that the Wei Family would be sure to invite you.”

“How could I possibly attend!”

Hua Zhi smiled. “Why not go? The one in the wrong is not you.”

Chen Dayi frowned. “If I were to go, what would that say about my respect for the Teacher?”

“A literary gathering’s purpose is, after all, scholarly discourse.”

Chen Dayi’s eyes lit up. Truly distinguished families seldom condescended to sit the imperial examinations — they had other avenues open to them, and the Imperial Academy was an excellent one. Aside from a rare few, who would bother squeezing through that narrow passage if they didn’t have to?

The Hua Family was among those rare few. Every generation of Huas had sat the imperial examinations — the Teacher himself had been named top scholar by imperial decree, and the Hua Family’s eldest son had also earned degrees in both examinations. This was why the Hua Family’s literary gatherings were genuinely about scholarly discussion, touching on no political matters whatsoever. It was for this reason that they had been held in such esteem for so many years, and that the Emperor had permitted them to continue.

The Wei Family? What did the Wei Family have?

“The young miss is right — a literary gathering should of course be about scholarship. This humble official may not be greatly accomplished, but I have achieved the title of a modest Presented Scholar, and in matters of learning I daresay I can hold my own. What is there to fear in attending?”

Hua Zhi lowered her head and took a quiet sip of tea. Those who lack the ability and yet choose to compete only invite ridicule — she had no objection whatsoever to adding a little fuel to that fire and letting it burn all the brighter.

Chen Dayi, being a man not of her household, left promptly to avoid impropriety, but before departing he said: “The Hua Family is now relying on the young miss in all matters. You must take good care of your health.”

Hua Zhi blinked, touched her forehead, and smiled as she acknowledged the remark.

She had just seen Chen Dayi off and was walking toward the study when she saw the steward striding swiftly across the courtyard. She stopped where she was and waited.

“Young miss, the Wei Family has sent someone to deliver an invitation.”

The Wei Family? An instinct flashed through Hua Zhi’s mind. She took it and opened it — and immediately broke into an indignant laugh. The Wei Family had truly, knowingly, sent such an invitation to the Hua Family, fully aware that the household currently had no grown male heir. What were they playing at?

“Where is the person who delivered it?”

“Waiting.”

Hua Zhi went back inside, took a card from the desk, and wrote several lines with rapid, fluid strokes. She tossed down the brush without even waiting for the ink to dry and handed it to the steward. “Give this to him.”

“Yes.” Steward Xu cast a discreet glance toward Gu Yanxi, then turned and left.

“What happened?” Gu Yanxi offered his own cup of tea and watched her drain several mouthfuls before asking.

Hua Zhi tilted her chin toward the invitation on the desk. “See for yourself.”

Gu Yanxi read it, and his brow furrowed. “This couldn’t have been the Emperor’s idea. Right now he wants nothing more than your full attention on making money for him — he wouldn’t do something that distracts you.”

“I know it wasn’t his idea. He simply chose someone not entirely well-suited to try and take over everything the Hua Family holds.” Hua Zhi smiled. “He can hardly blame me for not devoting myself to serving him. The other party has issued the challenge — I can only answer it.”

“I’ll go back and bring this up with the Emperor and have the Wei Family—”

“There’s no need. Don’t go back to the palace. Leave the city directly when you go. And—” Hua Zhi fixed her eyes on him steadily. “Yanxi, from now on, don’t speak on my behalf in front of the Emperor. I’ve begun to understand how his mind works. The more you stand on my side, the more he will target me. If you don’t mention me — if you appear to not care much about me — he will feel at ease.”

Gu Yanxi laughed, a bitter sound. “I used to think I was capable of anything. But ever since I met you, I’ve felt as though I can do nothing at all.”

“That’s not true.” Hua Zhi pushed back at once. “Without you I would have died who knows how many times over. Without you I wouldn’t have made it this far. The Hua Family wouldn’t have found its footing so quickly. The things you say you can’t do all involve the Emperor — and that isn’t a failing, it’s an impossibility. He is the Emperor and you are a subject. He is the elder and you are the younger. In every regard he holds you down. Yet even so, you have found every way you can to help me. Yanxi, half of what I’ve managed to accomplish has been because you held it up for me.”