The carriage had barely pulled away when Yu Mu lifted one corner of the curtain and reported in a low voice, “First Young Miss, there’s a tail following us.”
“Head straight home.”
“Yes, miss.”
Shaoye looked at Huahua’s coldly composed expression. “That Qi Qiu truly does have something to hide.”
“A guilty conscience.”
Shaoye gave a nod. “Back in the Yu household, Qi Qiu had been lingering outside listening for a while before he came in. I thought then that something was off about him.”
Once they were home, Hua Zhi sent Yu Mu to circle back and shadow their followers. Stepping inside, she was unsurprised to find Yan Xi already there.
Gu Yanxi placed a warm hand warmer into her hands and looked at her expression. “What happened at the Yu household?”
Hua Zhi recounted the visit. When she finished, she said, “Weiwei seems to have sensed something is wrong. But her father and mother are both in the household, and she has no way to act.”
Gu Yanxi gave a thoughtful nod. “What are you thinking of doing?”
“Shaoye, did you bring the sleeping draught?”
Shaoye nodded eagerly. “I brought it.”
Hua Zhi turned to look at Yan Xi. “I want to slip into the Yu household tonight and speak with Weiwei face to face.”
“What if she sides with her husband? You’re not afraid she’ll give you up?”
“I have no value worth giving up.” Hua Zhi took a sip of hot tea. “If we think the best of it, I’m someone who cares about her — who sensed something was wrong and came at risk to help her. Even if it turns out to be a misunderstanding, at worst I was acting out of worry and concern. Where’s the value in handing me over? And I trust that Weiwei isn’t that sort of person.”
Gu Yanxi smiled. He loved seeing that confidence on Hua Zhi’s face. “Very well. We’ll go tonight.”
Shaoye, who had been listening from start to finish, immediately made her position known. “If you’re using my medicine, you have to take me along!”
Hua Zhi had a peculiar feeling — as though the three of them had been making plans together and then left the fourth member out. Now the left-out companion was expressing her displeasure. Of course she had to accommodate her. “You’re coming, you’re coming. Who said you weren’t?”
Only then did Shaoye, satisfied, go off in search of something to eat.
Before long, Yu Mu returned. “Master, First Young Miss — the tail was sent by the Yu household.”
“As expected.” Hua Zhi gave a nod. “This also means Qi Qiu has already gotten people on his side inside the Yu household. We’ll need to be careful tonight.”
Gu Yanxi looked to Yu Mu. “Keep a close watch on the Yu household. If anything seems off, do not startle them into action. They’re just pawns — they’re not our true target.”
“Yes.”
The night was dark and the wind restless. Even the moon had been swallowed up behind layer upon layer of cloud. Four figures dressed entirely in black blended into the darkness as though they had become part of it.
Yu Mu led a group of men to hold back in the shadows, ready to move at a moment’s notice. Gu Yanxi carried Hua Zhi on his back and vaulted over the wall. Shaoye and Jia Yang followed close behind. The four of them slipped silently into the Yu household and made their way to the third inner enclosure, following the memory of the afternoon’s visit.
Shaoye pressed a cloth to her face, crouched low, and crept into the courtyard. Jia Yang moved to cover her from behind.
Gu Yanxi set Hua Zhi gently down and drew her into his arms, enveloping her completely in a posture of protection. His ears were attuned to every sound around them. He bent his head and pressed a quiet kiss to the top of Hua Zhi’s head, then pulled her in even closer.
This was the first time in two lifetimes that Hua Zhi had done anything this daring. Her heart was beating fast — from exhilaration. Perhaps everyone carried within them a latent need for adventure. She felt it awakening in her now. For all that this was a dangerous thing to be doing, with Yan Xi at her side, she felt not a trace of fear.
Before long, Jia Yang beckoned to them.
In the outer room, the maid who kept the night watch was deep in sleep. Inside the bedchamber, Shaoye stood by the bed. The bed curtains had been drawn aside. Both husband and wife lay equally deep in slumber. Hua Zhi was quietly relieved to find them both fully clothed — the most awkward of situations had been avoided.
She exchanged a glance with Shaoye. Shaoye understood, stepped up onto the bed, and lifted the sleeping Weiwei from the inner side of the bed. Hua Zhi was already moving — she took the cape hanging from the dressing screen and draped it over Weiwei’s shoulders. Even with no one watching, neither of them allowed a man’s hand to touch her.
She signaled for Jia Yang to stay behind and keep watch over Qi Qiu. The three of them carried Weiwei out of the room. Shaoye went directly to the side chamber — most likely where the personal maids slept, and empty at this hour.
A small vial was held beneath Weiwei’s nose. She stirred immediately. Her brows drew together, and then her eyes slowly opened. Shaoye, with characteristic foresight, pressed a hand over her mouth at once.
Hua Zhi pulled down her face covering. “Weiwei, it’s me. Can you not make a sound?”
The terror in Weiwei’s eyes eased the moment her gaze adjusted to the dark and she made out who was in front of her. She couldn’t be certain of Hua Ling’s intentions, but a familiar face was still better than a stranger’s.
Seeing her give a nod, Shaoye gradually released her hand — though she stayed ready to clamp it back at a moment’s notice.
Weiwei steadied herself, gathering quick, shallow breaths, the cape pulled tightly around her. She looked up at the three figures before her, all in black. Shaoye had pulled down her own face covering. Gu Yanxi took a few steps back and stationed himself at the door.
“Weiwei, you can speak freely. The others won’t wake up.”
Weiwei’s eyes brightened. “Truly?”
Hua Zhi nodded. “Truly.”
Weiwei hugged her knees and breathed deeply for a moment, then let out a long, slow exhale and lifted her head. She gave Hua Zhi a faint smile. “I can finally take a proper breath.”
Hua Zhi helped her to her feet and settled her at the table, then tucked the cape more snugly around her shoulders. There was a floor heating system in this room, so there was no concern about the cold.
“This afternoon, when you told me it wasn’t convenient to talk, I knew something was likely wrong in your household. Yesterday, when I ran into Miss Wang, she had already mentioned that your behavior seemed off. That’s why I came — without warning, without ceremony. If I’ve read the situation incorrectly, please don’t hold it against me.”
Weiwei reached out and took her hands. Only then did Hua Zhi notice that she was trembling. Her palms were damp. Hua Zhi wrapped her own hands firmly around hers. “Are you cold? We can’t disturb anything in the room…”
Weiwei shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself. Given the connection between us, you had absolutely no obligation to take a risk like this on my behalf. Yet here you are… I don’t even know how to describe what I’m feeling right now.”
“I have my own reasons for coming. But you can trust that I won’t harm you.”
Weiwei smiled. Just the fact of Hua Zhi appearing here tonight was enough to make her believe those words. How could she not? The care on this person’s face was practically spilling over.
“How much time do we have?”
Shaoye picked up the thread. “Enough for you to say everything you want to say.”
“Then I won’t rush.” Weiwei took another glance at the person who had seemed quiet earlier in the day but now clearly showed a sharp edge, then brought her gaze back to Hua Ling. “My father’s health took a sudden turn for the worse last April. It went downhill day by day. Every physician in Jinyang was called to the house, yet none of them could identify what was wrong. I hadn’t thought too much of it — until a few days after I got married and my own health suddenly faltered in the same way. The symptoms were very like my father’s.”
Weiwei lowered her head and gave a quiet, dry laugh. “What they likely don’t know is that my father has been quietly teaching me to manage household affairs since two years ago. I watched his illness from beginning to end with my own eyes. Once suspicion took root in my mind, I began to think back more carefully. I suddenly remembered that just before my father fell ill, he had gone out for a few days at my elder male cousin’s invitation. When he came back, he developed what seemed like a chill. After that, his health went back and forth — never improving, only worsening, until he deteriorated to the point where he is now. He is likely clinging to the last thread of life.”