When all was said and done, what weighed most on Hua Zhi’s heart was still her maternal grandfather.

Once war broke out, the Ministry of Finance would be the department most tormented of all — summoned from every direction, every quarter holding out its hand for funds. If her grandfather were the kind of official who cared nothing for his responsibilities, he could simply push back with both hands: there is nothing, and there is nothing regardless of what you do to me. But her grandfather was not that kind of man.

The reason her grandfather and her paternal grandfather had remained such deep friends for so many years was precisely that both of them were men who took matters with the utmost seriousness. If it truly came to that, he would strip his own household bare before he stopped trying to find a way. Now that an opportunity was within reach, why should she not reserve something in hand?

She was also genuinely afraid. Afraid that once war broke out, the nation would have neither grain nor funds. Gaunt, half-starved soldiers could not win battles. She did not want to become a person of a world in chaos, a person stripped of nation and roots. Just imagining that possibility made the cold sweat rise on her back. By comparison, doing a little more now was nothing at all.

She steadied herself and looked up to say the rest of what she meant to say. “Most of the gambling stakes from the casino have already been divided up — very little would remain there, and I do not intend to touch it. As for the silver mine, it was originally held entirely by the Chaoli tribe, and now that all their people there are dead, it should be possible to conceal a portion there. Then there are all of Jinyang’s noble households — whatever they swallowed, they will give back in equal measure in exchange for being spared. That alone will amount to an enormous sum, and working a little arrangement into it will not be difficult.”

Then a thought brightened Hua Zhi’s mind without warning — who said the task of presenting the silver to the capital had to be handed off to someone else? Could she not simply carry it with her on the way back?

She would begin the accounting first thing tomorrow. She had ten days — that was more than enough.

If that were the case, making the arrangements to extract a portion would be far easier. This was not a confiscation where every item had to be formally itemized. The silver surrendered by the noble households was, by its very nature, something that could not be brought into the open and spoken of plainly. She would leave no written record of any kind. With all parties keeping silent, who could ever know how much had been set aside?

The more she thought about it, the more right it seemed. Hua Zhi felt her energy returning in full, and she continued, “Either the silver is moved away, or it is hidden here. Is there a way?”

Even as his mistress spoke and thought aloud, Jia Yang’s mind had already been turning. The Qisu Division had stood apart from the court and above all departments for many years — they had certain channels of their own. But Jinyang’s current situation was unusual. Inside the city, the noble households — freshly stripped of a layer of their skin — were watching with sharp eyes. Outside, the Qingye Battalion kept its guard. With so many people and so many ears, concealing things completely would not be easy.

Though not impossible.

“This subordinate will need a little time. I may also need General Lu’s cooperation.”

“I will negotiate with General Lu. Move quickly — this must be resolved before anyone arrives from the capital to take over.”

“Understood.” Jia Yang lifted his gaze slightly. Even in the dim light, the exhaustion on the young mistress’s face was plain to see. Something of this magnitude had unfolded in Jinyang without a single incident of disorder — not everyone had the ability to manage matters to that degree. From dawn until now, her body and mind alike had surely been pushed to the very limit.

Jia Yang quietly set aside all the other matters he had intended to report. None of it would cause the sky to fall tonight. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

He was about to take his leave when he heard her voice again. “One moment.”

Hua Zhi handed him two letters. “Send these back to the capital as soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

That day and night had been extraordinarily long. Hua Zhi did not even know at what point she had fallen asleep. One moment she was washing her feet; the next, she opened her eyes to find light already coming through the window.

She rubbed her heavy head and lay there thinking through the day’s tasks. Peng Fangming, in his desire for reassurance, would certainly come seeking an audience. Someone needed to visit the Yu household on Bao Xia’s behalf. Having kept the young scions and daughters of all the noble families confined at the horse ranch for a full night, their families would be restless — without Lv Xinming needing to do much persuading, they would likely come on their own. The city’s residents could not be kept locked in indefinitely — those who lived within the city walls could manage, but those whose homes were outside the city could not be left to spend another night outside. Today they all had to be allowed to return, and she also needed to think carefully about how to reassure the people…

Hua Zhi felt her head ache even more.

Bao Xia lifted the bed curtain with light hands, entirely unsurprised to find her mistress already awake. She stepped forward to help her up and began fussing attentively about her.

The congee had been simmered to a thick, smooth consistency, and the soup was rich and fragrant — both had clearly been cooking for a long time. Hua Zhi ate every last drop, taking that care and devotion along with the food. “Have some more yourself. In a little while, I need you to go to the Yu household and pass along a few words for me.”

Bao Xia was reluctant. “My Lady, if you send me away again, there will be no one left to attend you.”

“Go quickly and come straight back. It is not far at all — I am not asking you to go and never return.” She pressed a finger to Bao Xia’s forehead and gestured for her to finish the remaining half pot of congee, then rose and stepped out of the room herself.

Sure enough, Jia Yang was already waiting outside.

“Young Mistress, Peng Fangming is requesting an audience.”

“There is no hurry.” Hua Zhi raised her voice and called out, “Adjutant Liu.”

Liu Zheng came jogging over from a short distance away. “This subordinate is here.”

“Send someone to the horse ranch. Have General Lu keep those young masters and ladies confined until noon before releasing them, and invite General Lu to enter the city at the same time.”

“Understood.”

The freshly-finished Bao Xia caught up and fell into step behind her. Hua Zhi passed her own handkerchief to Bao Xia to wipe her mouth and walked ahead, leading the way.

With the two of them sent off to their tasks, Hua Zhi received Peng Fangming in the main room.

“This one, Peng Fangming, pays his respects to the young mistress.”

Hua Zhi settled into the seat at the head of the room. “You know who I am?”

“Yes. Adjutant Yu gave instructions when he visited the Peng household yesterday.”

That saved her the trouble of explaining. Hua Zhi nodded. “What brings you here?”

Peng Fangming’s manner remained respectful. “Adjutant Yu has instructed that the Peng Family place itself fully at the young mistress’s disposal in managing the affairs of Jinyang. Please give your orders.”

The affairs of Jinyang ought to be handled by the people of Jinyang. Hua Zhi thought for a moment, then said, “Jinyang is nearly at a standstill at present. I would ask the Peng Family to exert its influence from multiple directions and keep Jinyang’s basic functions running until the restrictions are lifted.”

An inward jolt ran through Peng Fangming. This was…

“If Young Master Peng finds this difficult, I will simply think of another way. There is no need to push yourself.”

Recalling the words his father had pressed upon him as he left home, Peng Fangming gritted his teeth. “The Peng Family obeys the young mistress’s instructions.”

“The Peng Family’s contributions will not be overlooked by anyone. On that point, Young Master Peng may rest fully at ease.”

That was precisely the one assurance the Peng Family needed. Peng Fangming’s expression lightened at once. He made a full bow and said, “We are merely fulfilling our duty. We would not dare speak of contributions.”

Hua Zhi raised her teacup in the gesture of dismissal. Among Jinyang’s noble families, all of them were in a state of anxiety and dread. The only one who had truly kept its hands clean was the Peng Family. Stepping forward at a time like this was hardly the ideal moment — yet since they were unwilling to let the opportunity pass, she would give them what they sought. As for whatever consequences followed, that was no concern of hers.

Turning the thought over in her mind, she drank half a cup of tea, then looked up. “Attendant.”

Li He came in from outside. “What does the young mistress require?”

“Go and convey a message to Magistrate Zhu — until the capital sends someone to take over, the administration of Jinyang remains his responsibility.”

“Understood.”

Hua Zhi turned to Jia Yang. “Has Qi Qiu been interrogated?”

“He has. This subordinate questioned him through the night.” Jia Yang had long since prepared his report. “His maternal family is in Yanzhou, and very few of them remain. His parents in Jinyang are not his true parents. Before coming to Jinyang, he lived his whole life in Linhu in Yanzhou — a place close to Yuyi. He went there once to seek out his origins. He confirmed that he has seen the Sage, and says the Sage has a fair complexion with no beard, looks somewhat more like a person of Daqing, and appears to be around forty years old.”

“That does not add up. If the Chaoli tribe has only one Sage, he cannot possibly be only around forty.” Hua Zhi frowned. “What else did he say?”

Jia Yang shook his head. “He said the same things over and over. I doubt there is anything else to be gotten from him.”

The Chaoli tribe had clearly been quite guarded with people like these. No wonder Zhu Ling had been eager to abandon the shadows and come into the light.