Peony sat on the threshold, swinging a little cloth bag back and forth, gnawing on a strip of dried beef.

Xiao Liu had heard that Elder Sister Hua was back but had waited a good while without seeing her. It took no great wit to figure out where she had gone. He came looking, was about to speak, and then caught Peony making a hushing gesture. She scooted to one side and patted the space beside her, signaling him to come sit.

“…” Xiao Liu hadn’t even fully sat down before he felt a wave of cold seeping through, yet he sat anyway — though not without slipping the back hem of his cloak under him for some measure of insulation.

Seeing him comply, Peony rewarded him by fishing several strips of dried beef from the bag and handing them over. In the cold wind the two of them sat in identical postures, chewing dried beef, waiting for the two inside to finish their private time together and remember that they existed.

Which was plainly not going to happen any time soon — Gu Yan Xi hadn’t told A’Zhi that Xiao Liu had come out of the palace at all.

“We’ll need to get in contact with the Lu and Sun Families within the next few days.” Hua Zhi was idly twirling a lock of the man’s hair. Without his hair bound, even with the scar on his face, he looked far less cold and severe than usual. “Before, I only needed it not to fall into the hands of adversaries. But now I think it would be better to have it in the hands of people we can truly trust. We need to leave ourselves a way out.”

Gu Yan Xi raised his hand and smoothed the crease between her brows. “I’ve already made some arrangements. Don’t worry — I never intended to hand this to anyone else.”

Hua Zhi said nothing more on the matter; this was always something Yan Xi handled better than she did. “You must send more people to protect Xiao Liu. Now that Haoyue knows he is on our side, and with her pregnancy — I’m afraid she’ll use the rules and conventions as a weapon to confine Xiao Liu to the palace. We cannot let Xiao Liu stay there and be made to suffer.”

Yan Xi had sharp ears — they had learned about Haoyue’s pregnancy almost the moment the palace physicians had confirmed it. But there was nothing to comment on: a man and a woman coming together and producing an heir was the natural order of things. If anything could be said, it was only that Haoyue had a remarkable constitution, given that the palace had not seen the birth of a prince or princess in many years, and she had only been there a few months.

“There is one solution.”

Hua Zhi tugged lightly at his ear — barely any force behind it. “Don’t be coy. Tell me.”

Gu Yan Xi took her hand in his, tilted his head back to meet her gaze. “Have Xiao Liu formally take you as his teacher. Then he would have every justification to remain at the Hua Family home under your instruction. It would be good for you and for him both.”

Hua Zhi frowned. Being a teacher or not was another matter — a nominal arrangement would be fine — but the issue was: “The Emperor will never agree.”

“Act first, report later. And as long as you commit no serious misstep, he has no reason to make trouble for a prince’s teacher. He can find excuses to muddle through other things, turn a blind eye, use some ambiguity. But a prince’s teacher is no ordinary person. If you were to be punished for that reason alone —” Gu Yan Xi smiled, but his eyes were cool and clear — “there are quite a few senior officials in court who have served, or who presently serve, as teachers to imperial princes. If he arbitrarily punished you today and set that precedent, who could know whether they themselves might be next? If only for their own protection, they would never allow such a thing to happen.”

Hua Zhi’s brow remained faintly furrowed. She did not agree immediately — she needed to think it over further.

Gu Yan Xi simply smiled and made no effort to press her. This was not the only option, but it was the best one for A’Zhi — this status would give her an additional layer of protection, and if things later went as hoped, A’Zhi would become an imperial tutor. Even without the Hua name, she would have a place to stand.

Besides, he genuinely believed no one was better suited to teach Xiao Liu than A’Zhi.

Leaning down, Hua Zhi kissed him on the forehead and sighed. “Last New Year was barely a year after Grandmother’s passing. Everything was in chaos inside and out — the holiday itself was a muddle. I thought this year we might finally have a proper New Year. And now look — it’s even more eventful. I don’t even dare imagine what next year will bring.”

“Perhaps by this time next year, everything will have settled into place.”

“I don’t dare let myself hope for something that good.” Hua Zhi leaned down and kissed him again — this time on the lips. The two of them lingered there for a moment, warm and unhurried, like two weary travelers offering each other quiet comfort.

Gu Yan Xi couldn’t help but smile. In noble families of this world, a young woman this forthright — treating all convention as nothing — was probably only ever going to be A’Zhi.

“I wonder how Xiao Liu is getting on in the palace.”

“You can ask him yourself.”

Hua Zhi startled. “Xiao Liu is here?”

“He came this afternoon.”

“Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Hua Zhi shot him a look, helped the man settle back against the headboard, and stood. “I’ll go find him.”

“He’s right outside — just call him in.”

The door was opened from within. The two outside, who had nearly been frozen solid, practically tumbled in together, catching each other just enough to stay upright. Peony shuddered dramatically, immediately seized Xiao Liu’s arm, and pulled him inside. With a sharp click she shut the door behind them. When she spoke, her teeth could be heard chattering.

“You were in there so long — you two weren’t doing anything improper, were you?”

Hua Zhi rapped her on the head. Given Yan Xi’s state, what could possibly be done? Was she expecting Hua Zhi to climb on top and move herself? Even setting aside whether she’d have the audacity, she’d be worried about blood soaking the sheets.

Peony knew she’d spoken out of turn. Afraid of another knock, she stuck out her tongue and sidled over to Xiao Liu’s side.

Xiao Liu was equally rattled by what she’d said. He turned a dark look on her, hands itching to give her a smack as well.

“Why did you come out of the palace? Have you been given any trouble there? When do you go back?”

Three questions at once — and Xiao Liu found no excess in them at all. He felt only a deeper warmth. “Today is the second day of the new year. By imperial custom, palace consorts may receive family members for a visit. Mother is gone, so I asked Grandmother’s permission to visit my maternal grandmother’s family. After sharing a meal with her, I came here. As for going back…”

Xiao Liu looked at the person on the bed. “I don’t want to go back.”

“Is that all right?”

“Being in the palace is nothing but cold and empty. Father is entirely absorbed in Noble Consort Hao, and he probably doesn’t even remember the rest of us exist. When I left I informed Grandmother, and she didn’t stop me.”

Xiao Liu smiled faintly. Once, perhaps, he would have felt a sense of injustice, a measure of hurt. But now he had long since made his peace with it.

“Then don’t go back. Having you in the palace makes me nervous anyway.” Thinking of her own situation, Hua Zhi paused and said: “After the holiday is over, go to Bolin’s place — and make sure to come back personally carrying the first successful batch of salt.”

“But—”

Hua Zhi cut him off. “No buts. You remaining in the capital would not help me in any practical way. But if you can come back with the salt, my achievement becomes something no one can deny or dismiss. Even if there is no title or reward, everyone will know — and that is precisely what I want. That common understanding.”

The reasoning was sound enough, but Xiao Liu understood perfectly well what the real reason was. Things were unclear right now, and Elder Sister Hua wanted to send him away from this dangerous place. If they ultimately fell into trouble, he would at least be kept safe.

But still — “I want to face this with you.”

Hua Zhi looked at him with an expression of grave sincerity. “Sending you away is not a sign that I think little of you. It is not that I believe you can’t be useful and so I’m chasing you off. In truth, you are the most important one of all. If anything should happen to me, the entire Hua household — young and old — will need you to look after them. Xiao Liu — you are the only one I trust.”