Hua Zhi pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down. “How much longer should I remain unconscious?”
“Until everyone who needs to know already knows — that should be about right.” Shao Yao scooted over to her side and took her pulse again, her mood a little low. After an entire winter, Hua Zhi’s body had shown hardly any improvement — this was truly disheartening.
Hua Zhi patted her on the head. Elder Yu turned back and saw the two of them like this, warmth rising in his heart. He had already reached the age of destiny, and did not know how many years he had left. The only thing he could not let go of was this apprentice of his. With her skill, even those of the imperial family would not be eager to offend her — that, he did not worry about. What he worried about was that she had come into the world alone and would leave it just as alone — without three or five close friends, without a beloved who knew her warmth and cold. And so he had gone to such great lengths to gather all the medicinal ingredients that prescription required, hoping that if her complexion improved a little, someone might discover what a wonderful girl she was, and hoping that someone might accompany her through a hundred years.
Whether such a person had appeared he did not know, but what he could be certain of now was that she would no longer be completely alone. This girl from the Hua Family had a most sincere heart — how well she treated Shao Yao was plain to see from her eyes alone, from every one of her gestures.
Shao Yao took the prescription and began to study it. Hua Zhi was about to stand and speak with Elder Yu, but Elder Yu raised his hand and gently pressed downward, then seated himself at the table as well. “She must keep drinking it for half a year — it is quite a good prescription.”
At the mention of drinking medicine for half a year, Hua Zhi felt her mouth turn bitter. Even her smile carried a tinge of that bitterness. “The medicine I have drunk over these past year or two is probably more than most people drink in an entire lifetime.”
“Drinking it now is always better than having to drink it later.”
“You make a fair point.” Hua Zhi glanced over at Shao Yao, who was gnawing on her finger. “With that single-minded one around, even if I wanted to skip it, I wouldn’t be able to.”
The single-minded one did not even turn her head — she had not heard a word the two of them had said, her whole mind and spirit entirely absorbed in that prescription.
Hua Zhi smiled and turned back to speak with Elder Yu. “I heard earlier that you had intended to remove the scars from Shao Yao’s face — I wonder…”
Elder Yu smiled. “How much I can actually remove, I don’t truly know myself. I found this prescription in an ancient text, and tracking down the medicinal ingredients took several years. I can only hope the effect will be strong.”
“Is it to be taken or applied? When can it be used?”
“It is a topical ointment. I have only just completed the preparatory work — once it is ready, I will have her bring it to you. Apply it morning and evening, and remind her.”
“Yes. Rest assured, I will look after her well.”
“Oh, right — I originally came to find Master because there was something I wanted to ask, and then all of this happened before I could even bring it up.” Shao Yao turned her head around. “I mentioned before that Hao Yue had a smell of blood about her. Today I paid particular attention, and I noticed it was gone from Hao Yue — but now the Emperor has it instead. Master, during these days you have been in the palace, have you noticed anything?”
“These past few days I have not taken anyone’s pulse.” Elder Yu frowned. “A smell of blood? Is it strong?”
“Not very strong. If Hao Yue hadn’t left, I would still have assumed the smell was coming from her. Has the Emperor not summoned you to take his pulse at all?”
“Correct. The Emperor said I had traveled a long way and needed rest, so he gave me a few days off, and I took the opportunity to mention that I wanted to prepare your medicines. He said if there was any need, to simply send someone to summon me.”
Shao Yao stood up, rubbing her chin and pacing back and forth a few times. “It sounds as though the Emperor does not want you close to him — which means he knows where this smell of blood is coming from… Hey, Huahua, your head works well — help me think through what’s going on.”
Hua Zhi gave her a sidelong glance, but relented under her earnest, eager gaze. “This much is clear: regardless of whether this smell of blood comes from an injury of his or some other cause, he does not wish others to know of it. Judging by his attitude, it may not be something that displeases him.”
“He takes pleasure in it?” Shao Yao’s eyes went wide. “There can’t be many people in this world who take pleasure in watching themselves bleed — so he takes pleasure in watching someone else bleed?”
“…” Hua Zhi looked at her, at a loss for words, and turned her ear toward the sounds outside.
Elder Yu shot her a stern look. “Reckless talk. What kind of place is this? Are these words that can be spoken here?”
“I’m listening to outside — and when I shut the door earlier I already set traps. Anyone who dares come close without making a sound…” Shao Yao made a slitting motion across her throat, looking exceedingly smug.
Elder Yu shook his head. This temperament of hers — righteous one moment, devious the next — was truly a headache.
Shao Yao suddenly made a hushing sound and helped Hua Zhi back to the bed. In a short while came the announcement from outside: “Her Highness the Empress Dowager has arrived!”
Shao Yao quickly ran to open the door, and with a subtle flick of her wrists scattered some medicinal powder to either side, then bounced and skipped out to welcome the guest. “Your Highness the Empress Dowager, what brings you here!”
The Empress Dowager pulled her to her side and waved for the others not to follow, walking inside while saying, “I heard that the young lady of the Hua Family had fainted in the palace, so I came to look in on her. How is she? Is she all right?”
Shao Yao immediately began to pour out her grievances, her mouth turned down at the corners. “Huahua’s health was already poor to begin with. Throughout the entire time the Emperor was receiving her, her mind never stopped working, and she was standing the entire time — her body was already past its limit. And then that Lady Yue had to put on airs and demand Huahua perform a full bow — in this weather? And at a place in a direct draft of wind! Huahua couldn’t bear it and collapsed on the spot. Your Highness, you must believe me — that Lady Yue is not a good person.”
“She is Noble Consort Yue now.” The Empress Dowager lightly tapped Shao Yao on the head. How could she not know that Hao Yue was not a good person? Yet when the Emperor was determined to shield her, what could be done? The spectacle of mother and son at a complete break had been seen so many times in this palace that even some of the older residents had grown tired of it.
Entering the room, Elder Yu cupped his hands in salute. Hua Zhi was standing properly — she had no wish to deceive this Empress Dowager who was so kind to Yanxi.
“Hua Zhi of the Hua Family pays her respects to Your Highness the Empress Dowager.”
“No need for formality.” The Empress Dowager settled onto the brocade stool that Yuxiang brought over. “How are you still up? Come, sit and talk.”
Hua Zhi made no show of being coy and sat down openly, spine straight and back upright — in truth a posture that concealed a guarded alertness.
The Empress Dowager smiled, choosing to appear not to notice. “Is your body feeling better?”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern. I am quite recovered.”
“Having just come out of a faint, one’s head is most dizzy and one’s body most weak — there is no need to force yourself to speak with me. Go lie on the bed. Yuxiang, go and help her.”
Hua Zhi was about to speak when she heard the Empress Dowager add, “You need not be strong for appearances here, either. Being strong here in this palace is what gets people at a disadvantage. Let’s not put ourselves at that disadvantage — wouldn’t you agree?”
Hua Zhi understood at once, rose, and curtseyed. “You are right. I am grateful for the lesson.”
“These things — I truly have no desire to be teaching you at all.” The Empress Dowager smiled with a trace of helplessness, and as old memories arose she was flooded with deep feeling. “I still remember those two years I spent with Wan Niang. More than once I wanted to teach her more about managing inner household affairs, but she would say she had no intention of marrying into a household full of such sordid dealings — and whenever I tried to teach her, she would run away. In the end she learned very little, and when she left I was still worried for her. I never imagined she would truly end up marrying into a clean family. If she knew I was teaching these things to you, she’d likely come into my dreams that very night to make a scene.”