At the end of October, ice had already begun to form from dripping water at Yinshan Pass. Where the effort had been deliberate, the ice on the city wall had now grown half a foot thick, and they were still continuing to pour ladle after ladle of water downward, thickening this wall of ice.
“Not bad, is it? It was Old Master Hua’s idea. I’d like to see how they plan to break through Yinshan Pass’s city gates.”
It truly was a good idea. If the entire city wall could be treated this way, Yinshan Pass would be safe until the weather thawed. Of course, the prerequisite was— “Has the city been cleared out?”
“I wouldn’t dare claim it’s entirely done. If there are any who’ve hidden themselves too deeply and haven’t been rooted out, there’s nothing I can do about that. I know what you’re worried about, so rest assured— as long as those few back in the capital keep themselves in check and stop sending all their demons and monsters my way, even if there really are some who’ve concealed themselves, I can still hold them off.” Wu Yong’s smile was as cold as the wind atop the city wall. “I’ve shut down that black market. At a time like this, there were still people selling brick tea and grain to the grasslands— they can start by paying tribute to this general first.”
Gu Yanxi looked out at the distant grasslands, dark and inscrutable, their depths unknowable, and said lightly, “People still fixated on profits this small can be dealt with as they need to be dealt with. No one can do anything to you for it. As for matters in the capital, I’ll handle them.”
Wu Yong smiled, a trace of warmth entering his eyes. It was precisely because he knew there was still someone like this back there that he could afford to worry a little less.
“Come, let me welcome you properly.”
Though it was called a welcome feast, no wine was poured. Gu Yanxi had been traveling for several days, and though A’Zhi had prepared dried provisions for the journey, nothing in the depths of winter could compare to drinking a bowl of piping hot broth.
After the meal, Gu Yanxi took his bundle and headed to the Hua family’s residence. Wu Yong wanted to come along but was turned away. Wu Yong was helpless; he wanted to say something but ultimately closed his mouth. Whatever there was to see would be seen in time— there was no need for him to stick his nose in.
At this hour, inside the main room of the residence where the Hua family members were staying, all the elder generation men of the Hua family were present.
“Father, I suggest we keep the younger ones at home for now.” Hua Pingyang, who held the most authority among their generation, broke the silence without waiting for anyone else to speak. “Although they’ve improved considerably, they’re still young. If something unexpected were to happen, they’d inevitably panic and fail to react in time. This time we were fortunate that only injuries were sustained— but if something truly were to go wrong, it would only be you who suffered for it.”
Hua Pingyu picked up where he left off. “Zhi’er has promised that she will ensure every last one of the family members in the capital returns home safely. We cannot afford to fall short of her.”
Hua Yizheng looked to the others. “Is this what you all think as well?”
“I’ll defer to Elder Brother.” Hua Yichen let out a sigh. “The method Zhi’er left behind is a good one. It’s just that we must also take the current situation into account. If hostilities had not yet broken out, having them accompany the army’s people in their daily duties would indeed have been beneficial to their growth. But circumstances have already changed— we can’t treat everything as if nothing has shifted.”
Seeing that the others all wore expressions of agreement, Hua Yizheng nodded. “I’ll speak with General Wu and have them placed under Pingyu’s command.”
Hua Pingyang frowned. “Would that be improper? There are quite a few of them.”
“Those fourteen and above receive no such special consideration.” Hua Yizheng’s expression was grave. “We are here because our family was convicted and sent into exile— not to enjoy ourselves. You might as well think about what exile looks like for other people. Know to be grateful, remember to be grateful, and cherish what you have. If anyone wants to take things for granted, then they can go right back to the stone quarry.”
Every person in the room straightened instinctively, suddenly realizing that over the past half year, they had all grown a little complacent— forgetting that they were convicted subjects, that if not for everyone pulling together they would still be digging stone, and that none of them would have any standing to want this or refuse that.
“This could even be counted as a blessing in disguise. Under ordinary circumstances, there would never have been an opportunity for the younger ones to be exposed to local governance.” Hua Yizheng looked toward his eldest son. “Apply yourself.”
“Yes, Father.”
Hua Yizheng was just about to add a few more words of admonishment when Chen Shan came to report. “Master, a distinguished guest has arrived.”
A distinguished guest? Wu Yong had called at the residence before on ordinary days, and Chen Shan would never describe him as a distinguished guest. Then who could it be—
Hua Yizheng’s heart gave a sudden leap. Before he could even react, the person had already appeared within his line of sight. Indeed, it was him! His eyes instinctively flicked past him to look behind— even though he had not allowed anyone to come, truly not seeing her there still brought an involuntary pang of disappointment.
Gu Yanxi caught his expression and clasped his hands in a junior’s salute. “A’Zhi received the Old Master’s letter the day before she was to depart and did not dare disobey it. She has entrusted me to bring letters from all the family members at home.”
Hua Pingyang took the letters. “Is Zhi’er’s health any better?”
“She is recuperating.”
Gu Yanxi turned and bowed to the others. “She would have come regardless of whether I allowed it or not, so it was fortunate that the Old Master’s letter arrived when it did. The north is too cold— given her constitution, it is best that she not make unnecessary journeys. She said this was a good opportunity to adjust the timing and avoid these coldest months.”
“She has had a difficult time of it.” Hua Yizheng smiled and shook his head. Before, she had wanted for nothing and had lived her days in perfect harmony with his own old, leisurely pace. But now everything had to be calculated and planned— truly, however idle she had been before was precisely how busy she was now. He knew his own granddaughter’s temperament better than anyone. She truly had had a difficult time of it.
Host and guest took their seats, tea was served, and Hua Pingyu asked impatiently, “My father-in-law’s letter was unclear about the details. The Emperor wishes to build a canal— why does that involve Zhi’er? She is only a young woman. Even if she has some cleverness, it has its limits. With so many civil and military officials at court, can they truly not match a single Zhi’er?”
“What the Emperor values is her ability to make money.” Gu Yanxi explained patiently. “Not long ago, a rumor suddenly began circulating in the capital that A’Zhi had the ability to turn stone into gold. When people brought up the several ventures she had been managing, they found that every single one of them was indeed looking quite profitable. The Emperor heard of this rumor and grew interested— he wants to build this canal in order to cover up his decades of accomplishing nothing, but he is short on funds.”
“Mind your words!” Hua Yizheng frowned. The Hua family had been loyal subjects for generations and could not abide such talk— even though the Hua family had come to this state of affairs, even though his granddaughter had been placed in the Emperor’s grasp, he was furious. It was only that some things had been ingrained into his very bones and could not easily be changed.
Gu Yanxi lowered his gaze. He felt a private sorrow for the imperial house— petty men were nurtured at court and fed upon the blood of the Great Qing, while loyal subjects were exiled a thousand li away. Such were his imperial uncle’s achievements.
“Was the rumor deliberately spread? And how did whoever spread it know that the Emperor wanted to build a canal?”
“I have already investigated this matter fully. The one who spread these words was the Wei family. It was also a stroke of misfortune— they had intended to give things a push so that A’Zhi’s name would grow more prominent and attract the covetousness of others toward her. They did not anticipate that they would end up attracting the Emperor.”
“Wei Rongwen!” Hua Yizheng ground his teeth in fury.
“He has already been made to pay for it.” Gu Yanxi gave a broad account of the Wei family’s scholarly gathering, at which A’Zhi had thoroughly humiliated them. “Wei Rongwen has since been transferred from the Ministry of Personnel to the Ministry of Rites. Before I left, the Emperor had also found fault with him and docked a year of his salary. He has already fallen out of the Emperor’s favor and will find it difficult to have smooth sailing from here on.”
Yet the Hua family could not find it in themselves to be pleased— even if Wei Rongwen were beheaded, it would not change the fact that Zhi’er had been mistreated by him.
Hua Pingyu, as her father, reacted with even greater force. He was the sort who ordinarily had a literary allusion ready for any occasion, but in this moment his fury had him trembling so badly that he could only manage a single outburst: “Bullying the weak, shameless wretch!”