Everything was arranged in haste, and Gu Yanxi departed with his people. The situation on Wang Hai’s end was unclear, and he needed to get there immediately — the Pengkou side could not be delayed either. There was no time even for a proper farewell.
Shao Yao hurriedly fished two porcelain vials from her robes and pressed them into Hua Hua’s hands, saying that the one with the stronger smell belonged to Master Yu, then sprinted after Yanxi brother out the door.
Watching the two of them disappear around the corner, Hua Zhi turned back and found Yu Weiwei staring blankly at her. She smiled, then walked over to stand before her. “I said I would reveal my identity when the time was right. I am Hua Zhi. Hua Ling is my younger sister’s name.”
“Zeng Xianglin said you were the eldest daughter of the Hua Family…”
“I am. You knew of me?”
Yu Weiwei’s expression hovered between a smile and tears. “The name of the eldest daughter of the Hua Family has long spread far and wide. Jinyang is so close to the capital — how could we not have heard? And it truly is you!”
Being told to one’s face that one’s name had spread under heaven was not a pleasant experience, at least not for Hua Zhi. She awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked, “Did you suspect?”
“After that night when you came to find me, I began to suspect. Surnamed Hua, from the capital, and so remarkably capable — it matched very well with what was said of the eldest daughter of the Hua Family. I just did not dare be certain, and feared I was reading too much into it.” Yu Weiwei covered her face and choked out, “It was precisely because I thought you might be the eldest daughter of the Hua Family that I trusted you so readily.”
“I had no idea I was so convincing.” Hua Zhi laughed despite herself, and placed a handkerchief in her palm. “Do you know where Qi Qiu is?”
Yu Weiwei raised her head, gnashing her teeth. “I do not know. He suddenly told Uncle Wu he needed to say something to the household servants. I wanted to know what he was up to, so I had Uncle Wu go along with it. But the moment everyone had gathered, Zeng Xianglin arrived with his people. My father and mother were in his hands. They split the servants apart and locked them in the side rooms. I thought — I thought they had only fainted, or were merely locked up. There was not a single sound. How could I have imagined — how could I have imagined that they would actually…”
Yu Weiwei crouched down and began to sob openly. They were servants, yes — but the Yu Family was small and simple in its household. Uncle Wu was practically half a kin to her. Little Peach had grown up alongside her. Nanny Lin was her wet nurse. She had eaten Nanny Su’s cooking since childhood…
And they were all gone. Gone.
Hua Zhi did not know how to console her. She could only pull her upright and turn her to face Master Yu and Madam Yu, who still lay slumped against each other on the ground, unconscious. “You have no time to grieve, Weiwei. The Yu Family needs you.”
She retrieved the vial Shao Yao had given her, opened it and sniffed it, then passed one to her. “The antidote. Drink it.”
Yu Weiwei took it and drank it without a moment’s hesitation.
Hua Zhi smiled, her tone softening further. “This one is your father’s. I must leave shortly to attend to matters. Given the state of your household, you will need people to help. Is there anyone you trust?”
“I would like to ask you to help me send word to my maternal grandfather. I need to borrow some of his people.”
“Is he in Jinyang?”
“He is — in the Qin Family, in the south of the city.”
Hua Zhi nodded. “Write the letter at once. I will have someone deliver it.”
Without another word, Yu Weiwei glanced at her parents still seated on the ground and dashed back into the house.
Hua Zhi drew her cloak tighter around herself. Sensing something off, she looked down and realized it was Yanxi’s — her own had been left on the ground, stained with mud and splattered with blood, unfit to wear again.
She bowed her head low and breathed in, catching the faint cold fragrance that still lingered from Yanxi’s body. Thinking of the dangers he might now be facing, Hua Zhi resolved that even if she could not fight alongside him, she would at the very least keep his rear in order.
“Yu Mu.”
“Your subordinate is here.”
Hua Zhi passed him the command token. “Take control of Jinyang. Seal the city gates. Detain all Jinyang officials at the government office. Furthermore, station garrison troops at the Zeng Family estate — no one permitted to leave, no one to enter. Have men call out along the city streets: all residents of Jinyang are to return to their homes, all visitors are to return to their lodgings, and all those from outside the city are to gather at the East Market. In a short time, I want a Jinyang with no one moving about. If anyone refuses to comply, beat them into compliance.”
“Understood.”
At this moment, Yu Weiwei came out holding a letter whose ink had not yet dried — she had not even put it into an envelope. She was blowing on the ink as she walked over, but when she looked up and saw Hua Zhi was still in the middle of issuing orders, she had the sense to stop where she was.
Hua Zhi did not notice her. “Confiscate the Zhu Family’s assets, interrogate Zhu Ling separately, and extract as much information from him as possible. Also, send someone to wait outside the city gate — when General Lu arrives, have him immediately deploy troops to surround the horse ranch. A hundred elite soldiers is too few. I want five hundred. When they arrive, leave three hundred here for use.”
“Understood.”
Hua Zhi buried her face in the cloak for a moment, then raised her head and continued her instructions. “Jia Yang, find Qi Qiu. Whatever his identity, he must not be given any opportunity to send word to the Chaoli tribe.”
Jia Yang shook his head. “The Shizi has given orders that your subordinate and Yu Mu must ensure one of us remains at your side as protection at all times.”
“If Qi Qiu finds a way to send a message out, what Yanxi will face is a Chaoli tribe that has already made its preparations — one side weary from a long march, the other rested and waiting. Who do you think will suffer the greater loss?”
There was no need to think long about this. The Seven Lodges Bureau could hold their own against anyone in the Great Qing, but going up against the Chaoli tribe, two against one was already a strain.
Hua Zhi turned and beckoned for Yu Weiwei to come over. “Shao Yao left me some things for self-protection. Even against the Chaoli tribe, I dare to fight.”
Jia Yang was considerably reassured upon hearing this. He knew all too well what Shao Yao was capable of. He bowed deeply and departed with great speed. Though the eldest daughter was now also a master to him, in his heart the Shizi still came first — where the Shizi’s safety was concerned, he could not afford to be careless.
Taking Yu Weiwei’s letter, Hua Zhi passed it to Yu Mu without even looking at it. “The Peng Family is not far from here. Borrow their people for this errand. Before the elite troops enter the city, you may draw a few hands from the Peng Family in the meantime.”
“Understood.” Seeing the eldest daughter had no further instructions, Yu Mu turned and left.
Hua Zhi walked to the covered walkway and bent down to help Madam Yu up. She glanced at Bao Xia, who understood immediately and went to support Master Yu. Yu Weiwei rushed over to help as well — her father was tall, and even reduced to little more than bones, he still had considerable weight to him.
“Miss Hua… eldest daughter, please trouble yourself to carry my mother to my room.”
Eldest daughter again. Hua Zhi sighed inwardly — would future generations end up thinking her surname was Eldest and her given name Miss?
Yet she did not correct it. What Yu Weiwei needed right now was not a friend, but someone more capable than herself who could take charge of things. Since she had cast her in that role, she would step into it.
After settling the two elders back in their bed, Hua Zhi watched Yu Weiwei pull the covers over them and asked, “Do you know about the two months Zeng Xianglin was missing?”
“Though I was still young at the time, I remember the story was not that he had gone missing — it was that he had gone out and failed to return when expected. He came back and fell gravely ill. They said the illness damaged his constitution at the root. Over all these years, Elder Sister-in-law has had no children, and he has taken no concubines.”
A faint sadness crossed Yu Weiwei’s face. For many years, Elder Cousin had been the foundation of her confidence within the Yu Family, and she had always remained very close to the Zeng Family as well. As she grew old enough to understand things, she could not help envying Elder Sister-in-law enormously. In all the world, the only man she knew of who refused to take a concubine was Elder Cousin. She had even once hoped to find a husband just like him — yet the truth had proved so devastating.