“It is the Wei family?” Hua Zhi was surprised, yet not surprised. Whenever Imperial Princes competed for the throne, court officials were compelled to choose a side. Those with the standing to remain neutral were few indeed — and the Wei family was certainly not among them.

It was plain enough to see that the Wei family had aligned themselves with the Fourth Prince. Unfortunately, Lord Wei’s judgment had not served him well. He had gone in pursuit of the glory of backing the winning heir, only to find himself cast out as a sacrificial pawn before the storm had even begun to gather.

And what a perfect scapegoat it was, too. Everyone in the capital knew of the ill will between the Hua and Wei families. At the literary gathering, Hua Zhi had left the Wei family utterly humiliated; the reason of the Wei family seeking to make trouble for Hua Zhi in retaliation was flimsy, but it could just barely hold.

Yet who said events had to unfold exactly as they had planned?

“Stand down. This matter ends here.”

Chen Qing looked at the young lady in puzzlement. “But the Wei family…”

“Wei Jing, even stripped of imperial favor, is still a court official of considerable rank. If I press relentlessly, the Emperor — once he learns who is behind this — would have no choice but to deal with the Wei family to give me, and the ministers watching from the sidelines, an explanation. A minister’s allegiance is inward-facing; the moment a threat comes from outside, they close ranks. If a convicted criminal’s daughter were to force a court minister into a losing position, even those who previously bore goodwill toward me would have little of it left after such an incident. This is a trap laid out in plain sight.”

Hua Zhi gave a faint smile. “They probably think that because I have been so aggressive this past year, I have lost my head entirely and would throw everything aside just to vent my anger.”

Chen Qing suddenly understood — he had not thought of it from this angle. A flash of admiration passed through his eyes.

“This matter ends here. The right people already know what truly transpired, so the objective has been achieved well enough.”

“Understood.”

Hua Zhi rose, steadied herself against the table, and took a few steps. “Is there any news on the inquiry I had people pursue regarding the Chaoli tribe’s strategist?”

“It will not come so quickly, I am afraid. If it were that easy to find, they would not have concealed it from the Seven Lodges Division for so many years.”

True enough. Hua Zhi gave a nod. “Any unusual developments in Jinyang?”

“The situation there looks very promising. The several new gambling dens the Peng family has opened are packed to capacity, and the other side has grown anxious. Zheng Xing has met with Peng Fangming multiple times already — by all accounts using a combination of hard pressure and soft persuasion. The young master has not yet signaled any intention to agree.”

“I plan to travel to Jinyang in a few days.” Seeing Chen Qing’s expression of utter astonishment, Hua Zhi laughed. “What is it? Am I not permitted to go?”

“No — of course you may go. The young master will certainly be delighted to see you.”

“Do not give him advance notice.”

“Understood, I will do no such thing.”

The wound throbbed dully and itched faintly. Hua Zhi sat down again, cradling her teacup in thought before speaking. “Steward Chen, I would like to make use of your people to handle a matter.”

“Of course. Please give your instructions.”

“The Yan Kingdom’s grain stores are abundant, and I have been eyeing them with envy. I wish to send people to form a merchant convoy and go purchase grain there. To my knowledge, the two kingdoms do maintain open trade.”

Chen Qing nodded. “Indeed — even during periods of tension between the two kingdoms, trade was never prohibited. How much grain do you intend to purchase? I will need to determine the size of the convoy accordingly.”

“Purchase as much as can be purchased. Not only rice — wheat bran and grain can also be bought in large quantities. Find a way to transport it all to the capital and secure it in a hidden location; not a soul must know of it.” Thinking of the tunnel warfare tactics she had once read about, Hua Zhi smiled. “You may do something similar to what I had done on my farm — dig beneath the ground and make good use of the space. So long as the waterproofing and moisture protection are done properly, the stores can be kept for a year and a half without issue.”

“Young Lady, you intend to…”

“Consider it me worrying needlessly. Better to prepare an extra hand and be ready for anything.” Hua Zhi glanced at Ying Chun, who produced a key and passed it over. “I have stockpiled a considerable quantity of loose silver, stored in a residence on the eastern side of the city. Take it and procure what is needed — a merchant convoy should have the proper appearance of one.”

Chen Qing took the key. He was no fool; he could see clearly what the young lady was aiming for. In the year and more he had known her, he had noticed more than once that she invariably made preparations for the worst possible outcome before acting. The most recent example had been this very trip to the farm estate — even though there had been no sign of anything amiss before setting out, she had made thorough preparations in advance, which was precisely why she had been able to turn the tables after being surrounded and trapped.

He believed in her words: better to prepare an extra hand and be ready for anything. Besides, grain was never something without a use.

“When do you plan to depart?”

“You stay and follow Xiao Liu. I will travel by boat. Once I arrive there, Yan Xi will be on hand to ensure my safety. I will bring Shaoyao along, so you may set your mind at ease.”

Chen Qing was not satisfied with this arrangement. “But the young master instructed me to remain at your side.”

“Xiao Liu cannot afford to stumble. He has started later than his brothers, and his foundations are too shallow — this period is precisely when he needs the most support. I will speak to Yan Xi about you. You simply stay here without worry. Besides, the matters on this end also require someone to hold things together, and I cannot entrust that to anyone else.”

“…Understood.”

Five days later, Hua Zhi departed the capital quietly with a light retinue, accompanied only by Shaoyao and Bao Xia.

The Emperor, naturally, was informed. He suddenly broke into laughter and said to Lai Fu, “She truly does know the times. She preserved the Fourth Prince’s face, sowed discord between Wei Jing and the Fourth Prince in one stroke, and no doubt earned the praise and admiration of countless people. Tell me — how did that stubborn old man Hua Yi produce such a slippery creature?”

Seeing that the Emperor was in fine spirits, Lai Fu joined in the cheerful banter. “Even Lord Hua himself is probably baffled. The young lady’s temperament really does not resemble anyone in the Hua family.”

The Emperor suddenly thought of Hua Jingyan — the man named twice in the founding Emperor’s posthumous will. According to the imperial records, Hua Jingyan had been a man who never played by the rules. Hua Zhi, it seemed, bore something of a resemblance to him.

Yet what Hua Zhi had done this time genuinely surprised him. Was she not worried that letting the Fourth Prince off so lightly would only invite a next time? Was she not afraid that others would follow suit and use her as a target to establish their own authority?

As for the idea of Hua Zhi traveling to find Yan Xi to air her grievances — the Emperor had never entertained such a thought. Even with Yan Xi stationed in Jinyang, matters in the capital would certainly be clear to him; there was no need for Hua Zhi to travel so far to lodge a complaint. Knowing her temperament, she likely had no intention of letting anyone else fight her battles. If anything, she had probably already dug a pit somewhere and was quietly waiting for the Fourth Prince to step into it.

The Emperor had no intention whatsoever of sending his son a warning. She would not take the Fourth Prince’s life — letting him learn a hard lesson and gain some sense was just as well. Acting so recklessly, unable even to outmaneuver a woman — and still harboring ambitions for the throne?

A palace attendant arrived outside with a report. “Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince requests an audience.”

“Xiao Liu? Show him in.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Liu entered carrying a basket. After paying his respects, he passed the basket to Lai Fu.

The Emperor’s brows rose sharply at the sight of its contents. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Teacher has lent Your son the people skilled in making crispy noodles and dried meat. Along with them came a warehouse full of flour and pork, as well as several chests of silver. Teacher says that as a subject of the Great Qing, she is willing to do her part for the realm.”

The Emperor was silent for a long moment. Xiao Liu also lowered his head without speaking. He harbored resentment — how could he not? Every person close to him, one after another, had left. Only he remained behind in the capital. And the one responsible for this state of affairs was none other than his own father, the Emperor. When he had seen his teacher off on her departure, only he alone knew how desperately he had wanted to abandon everything and go with her. He did not want to be left behind — not even a little.

And yet he could only stay. His teacher had said that this place was his battlefield.