Yet another Grand Morning Court Assembly. The court officials held their nerves on a knife’s edge, dreading that the Emperor would set his mind firmly on excavating the canal. If he truly did so, their objections would be useless — they could only comply.

But on this day the Emperor seemed to have forgotten the matter entirely, and instead brought before the assembly the reform of water and overland transport systems, an issue that had already been taking shape since before the New Year.

The military generals, who ordinarily had little presence at court, immediately perked up and began angling for a share of the gains.

“This matter won’t be resolved any time soon — but the military men don’t have as many twists and turns as the civil officials. Even at its most contentious, it won’t take as long as when the Seventh Ministry was being established.”

Hua Zhi had previously not concerned herself with court affairs — her reach had never extended that far. But now that Chen Qing came each day to give her reports, she listened. She understood this was Yanxi’s intention. Yanxi wanted her to have a clearer view of the larger picture.

Chen Qing raised his eyes slightly. With an expression that was not entirely pleased, he brought up another matter. “You calculated correctly — all three of those in the Ling Prince’s household have defected.”

Hua Zhi was not the least bit surprised. The Ling Prince and the Ling Princess had not been joined in a blind match arranged by others — it was the Ling Prince who had first set his heart on her and found ways to court and win her. This marriage had affection as its foundation. Their children moreover gave them no cause for complaint. And from Shao Yao’s very existence, one could see that the Princess was not a jealous woman who could not tolerate rivals. Husband and wife had been in perfect harmony for many years. And yet that woman had been able to make the Ling Prince cast aside every shred of feeling for his Princess, and even raise his hand against his eldest son in so vicious a manner. A man like that — could he possibly have been unaware that there were informants within his household?

“I recall that Yanxi once mentioned the woman had no formal standing?”

“That is correct. The Ling Prince once submitted a petition requesting an imperial decree to grant her status, but the Emperor refused, and the Empress Dowager explicitly stated she would not acknowledge her. Throughout these many years she has never been summoned to an audience. Even the young lord was not entered into the imperial family register until he was past ten years old. Within the Prince’s household, the two of them are referred to as Madam Xiao and the Young Lord.”

“What is the background of this Madam Xiao?”

“After… that incident occurred, the Emperor had people investigate. Later, when the Shizi took command of the Seven Luminaries Division, he personally conducted a thorough investigation as well. The results were the same both times — she is simply a woman from Yangzhou whose family has operated an escort agency for several generations. The Ling Prince’s assigned territory is in Yangzhou, and their meeting showed not the slightest trace of anything deliberately engineered. The Ling Prince has always been susceptible to beauty, and she was not the only woman he had ever brought home — yet none of the others had ever posed a threat to the Princess’s position. Until Madam Xiao. Never mind that the Xiao Family runs an escort agency — Madam Xiao herself is a woman of water-like temperament. The Ling Prince behaved as though… he had been fed a bewitching potion. He was willing to do anything for her.”

As Chen Qing spoke of these past events, a grievance he could not reconcile stirred within him. For as long as he could remember, he had not known who his parents were. He had scraped by as a beggar child on the streets of Yangzhou, surviving day after day. Once, having accidentally collided with someone and been beaten by their guards until he thought his end had come, the Princess had stepped in to save him. She had taken him back to the household, given him clean clothes to wear, given him warm food to eat, taught him proper conduct, and then placed him in service at the Shizi’s side.

To this day he still could not understand — how the Ling Prince could have brought himself to do what he did to someone as good as the Princess.

That Madam Xiao — she was not worth a single finger of the Princess!

“No problems whatsoever with her background?”

“That is correct.” Chen Qing recalled himself. “The Shizi also had someone produce a painted likeness and bring it to those in the surrounding area — they all recognized her as Madam Xiao. Then working through official channels, clan elders also vouched and confirmed she was indeed Madam Xiao. So the Shizi ultimately had no choice but to accept that no one had deliberately arranged any of it. Two people who happened to be ruthless and calculating — and they simply found each other.”

Hua Zhi massaged her brow. It was probably that she had grown so wary of the Chao Li tribe in her heart that she had developed a kind of paranoia — seeing anything slightly off and immediately suspecting it might be a remnant of Chao Li.

“When investigating the three of them, was there any disturbance that might have tipped them off?”

“There was not. You may rest assured — I was very careful.”

“Then for now, continue to act as you were before — as though you are unaware of it. Let whatever messages they were sending and receiving continue as they were. And think of a way to see if we can arrange to place one of our people inside.” She paused, then continued, “Safety above all else. That Madam Xiao is no easy opponent.”

“Yes. I understand.” Chen Qing bowed in salute. “There is one more matter. Before the Shizi departed, he instructed me to investigate Lady Yue and Noble Consort Xu, and to report the findings to you.”

“What did the investigation turn up?”

“I used the Seven Luminaries Division’s network to find that not long after Lady Yue entered the palace, she was put through considerable hardship by Noble Consort Xu. The two have always been on poor terms. Later, as Lady Yue grew increasingly favored, whether out of a desire for revenge or a desire to flaunt, she took to calling on Noble Consort Xu frequently to pay her respects. Noble Consort Xu’s methods are many and varied, but Lady Yue is no pushover either — the two of them fought each other bitterly. However, Lady Yue kept it very well concealed. None of this was known to the Emperor. Noble Consort Xu once attempted to expose Lady Yue’s true face before the Emperor, was met with imperial displeasure as a result, and suffered a punishment for it.”

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. “You are saying Noble Consort Xu lost?”

“Not quite lost — more that they came out even.”

“Hao Yue was able to hold her own against Noble Consort Xu — a woman who has spent years in this palace and at one point was the most favored in all of the rear court?”

“That is what the investigation shows.”

Hua Zhi held her hand warmer close and rose to pace the room. It was not that she underestimated Hao Yue — but scheming within the rear palace was not simply a matter of being clever. How much had Noble Consort Xu endured to reach where she was today? Could Hao Yue, on cleverness alone, genuinely have pressed her down?

She did not believe it. The experience and acumen that come with advancing years were things cleverness could not buy.

“Might the young lady have some thoughts on this? Whatever instructions you have, please feel free.”

Hua Zhi considered for a moment, but ultimately shook her head. Without evidence, she could not act on instinct alone.

“While Yanxi is absent, keep the movements of everyone on our side as small as possible. Do not draw the attention of others.”

“Yes.” Seeing that the eldest young lady had no further instructions, Chen Qing took his leave and departed.

Hua Zhi paced circles about the room in quiet contemplation. Hao Yue’s earlier target had been Yanxi — so she had played the role of harmless and docile before him. After Hua Zhi entered the picture and Hao Yue’s hopes were dashed, and once Hao Yue learned of her relationship with Yanxi, she had begun to target her at every turn.

If things were truly as she had previously deduced — that Hao Yue was someone who had been reborn — then after her wits returned to her, what would she do first?

Investigate Hua Zhi!

In Hao Yue’s previous life, Hua Zhi had not been present in this way — which meant that in the previous life Hao Yue had lived through, Hua Zhi had been nothing like she was now. If Hao Yue was truly clever, she ought to have grown suspicious of her long ago. And even if she had been slower to realize it, after the incident in the palace she should have taken some action by now.

Pressing the hand warmer against her face, Hua Zhi suddenly went rigid. She recalled the time she had given Hao Yue the genuine and falsified birth characters of the three Imperial Princes, and the divination result she had produced: the Fourth Prince faced a mortal calamity with no resolution; the Fifth Prince faced a grave calamity involving blood; the Sixth Prince would die young!

This might well have been the fate of the three princes in the previous life. The Sixth Prince… might not have been able to escape what happened at the Yunlai Tavern!

And now the Sixth Prince was still alive. Hao Yue was currently with child. If she had plans…

Hua Zhi strode quickly toward the door, forgetting even to drape her outer cloak around her. Liu Xiang hurried to take it down and chase after her.

“Is Master Wang here?”

In only a few breaths’ time, Wang Rong entered from outside the courtyard. Before he could speak, Hua Zhi said, “Go and tell Chen Qing — the Sixth Prince may be in danger. Send people to provide support at once.”

“Yes.”