One matter after another, and by the time it was all done it was already noon.
After quickly eating her fill, Hua Zhi went to the rear courtyard of the yamen where Zhu Ling was lodged. The matter of Zhu Fang could not be called her responsibility, yet in both reason and feeling she had to make this visit.
Zhu Ling’s expression was complicated when he saw her. He had not anticipated his daughter’s injuries going this far, and to make it worse, he had no ground to stand on — Fang’er should never have struck first.
“I am sorry for what happened to your daughter.”
He let out a breath and shook his head. “Given her identity, things were never going to be easy for her. This does not make them much worse.”
“I would like to offer my apologies to Miss Zhu in person.”
“There is no need for that. The fact that the First Young Lady has come at all shows great consideration. I will explain the reasoning to her myself.”
“Very well, then. I leave it in your hands, Magistrate Zhu.” Hua Zhi considered briefly and did not press further. From what she had heard before, Zhu Fang had something of a spoiled and willful streak. Going to speak with her now would only be adding fuel to the fire — and if it taught the girl one more measure of a lesson, so much the better.
Leaving Zhu Ling’s quarters, Hua Zhi pressed the back of her neck. “Where is General Lu?”
“This subordinate had a room arranged for his rest.”
Calculating the time, Hua Zhi decided against disturbing him just yet. “Let’s go and have a look outside.”
But the person she had intended not to disturb appeared in the front courtyard all the same. Lu Peiyu gave a bow from across the way. “First Young Lady heading out?”
Hua Zhi returned the courtesy with a bow. “I was thinking of going to see how things stand beyond the walls. Why has the General not been resting?”
“I was just about to take a stroll to aid digestion. Shall we go together?”
Hua Zhi agreed, indifferent either way, and since they were going, she dismissed the idea of a carriage and had a horse brought for her instead.
Watching her swing into the saddle, Lu Peiyu could tell at once that she was no novice, and his curiosity grew. He had encountered the daughters of the Hua Family before — young ladies of impeccable bearing without a single fault. This young woman had the refinement of the Hua Family, yet what she knew was nothing a young lady of good family ought to know. He wondered how she had come to be the way she was.
The empty streets stretched wide and open, the clatter of hooves breaking the quiet.
On either side, houses stood in staggered rows. A broad main street ran through the city. The Lotus River flowed and murmured. To the east, a vast marketplace — all of this still faintly recalled the splendor Jinyang had held as a little capital. Yet look more closely and the signs of decay were plain to see.
The houses had gone a long while without repair. Green moss clung conspicuously to the steps of the shop fronts. The marketplace was run-down. Even the Lotus River no longer ran as clear as it once had. A city’s decline always begins to show itself in exactly these things.
Their small party of riders reined in not far from the marketplace. Around it, a scattering of people squatted or stood about, with others still emerging from inside.
Jia Yang went over for a moment, then returned. “They have summoned the ward headmen and the village headmen and clan elders to come and identify people. Those whose identities have been confirmed are allowed to come out. Every half-hour, government soldiers will escort a group out of the city. Over half of those inside have already been cleared. By the look of it, this subordinate believes they should be able to clear it entirely today.”
Hua Zhi gave a slight nod. A workable plan produced this quickly was no small accomplishment. The thing was, people who entered government service all knew how to get things done — it was merely a question of whether they were willing to put their hearts into it.
They made another circuit through the residential quarters, coming across several groups going house to house asking questions and taking notes. Though there was inevitably something of an official’s airs about it, at least it could be called an adequate effort at settling the people’s hearts.
“What is it the First Young Lady hopes to see?” Lu Peiyu asked curiously, after following along for the full circuit.
“I am simply looking for reassurance.” Hua Zhi gave a light press of her heels to her horse and turned back toward the yamen. “If I do not see it with my own eyes, I keep worrying something else will go wrong. Yanxi entrusted this to me, and I must honor that trust.”
“Have you ever considered that no matter how well you do here, you are ultimately stitching a bridal gown for someone else? And whoever takes over may well overturn everything you have put in place?”
She had considered it. How could she not have? She had even thought that the person sent might be a political enemy of the Hua Family. But a place falling into disorder under her watch was a different matter from it falling into disorder under someone else’s. She could only govern her own conduct. As for how the one who came after would handle things — whether Jinyang would prosper or decline in their hands — that truly lay beyond her reach.
Such thoughts were not something she needed to share with others. She said only, “If it is to be a bridal gown, it ought to be beautiful. I can only hope this gown will remain bright and resplendent.”
Bright and resplendent. Lu Peiyu smiled with a knowing depth. In the eyes of those in the capital, Jinyang was nothing but a ripe and tender peach, full of juice — well worth sinking one’s teeth into. Whoever scrambled hardest to claim it would need to wrestle bitterly for the prize. Yet once they had it in hand, they would find it was a rotten peach after all. Given the state of Jinyang now, the average person would find little room to distinguish themselves — they might well end up bogged down and ruined here. He would wait and see which poor soul ended up with the misfortune of being posted here.
Back at the yamen, Hua Zhi handed her reins to a servant and turned to Lu Peiyu. “Will the General please step aside? I have something I wish to discuss.”
Lu Peiyu was not surprised. He extended a hand to invite her to lead the way.
The two of them went directly to Zhu Ling’s study. Zhu Ling was writing something; when he saw them enter, he rose at once to greet them.
“May I trouble you for a look at the topographic map?”
Zhu Ling brought the map out, and was about to clear a space on the writing desk when he heard the First Young Lady say, “Put it on the floor — it’s easier.”
On the floor, all sides were visible without everyone having to crowd together — easier indeed. Zhu Ling set it in an open area and was about to take his leave when she said, “Never mind, stay and listen. You may even be able to offer some suggestions.”
“Yes.”
Lu Peiyu’s gaze moved between the two of them, one brow lifting slightly, though he asked no questions.
“Jia Yang, tell us your thinking.”
“Yes.”
Zhu Ling listened in complete bafflement; Lu Peiyu, however, began to understand. He immediately set aside all the peripheral thoughts that had been circling in his mind and shifted his position to look at the map.
“The water route from the capital to Jinyang is more convenient, and so the two cities have always communicated primarily by boat. This subordinate’s plan is to travel the overland route — and with sufficient justification.” Jia Yang pressed his finger to the spot on the map marking the horse enclosure. “The horses there are fine horses — in quality of breed and appearance superior to anything in the capital. Using animals like these purely for racing is a terrible waste. They ought to be sent to the imperial stud farm, where they can be put to proper use. With that justification, our convoy being somewhat larger would not seem out of place.”
“Your intention is to conceal the silver within this convoy? But if you are both returning to the capital, why not take the water route? The quantity of silver is not small. Concealing it will be difficult.”
“This batch of silver cannot go by water. An experienced eye can read how deep a ship rides in the water, and horses, for the most part, suffer terribly at sea — they frequently fall ill after a voyage and sometimes never recover. Jinyang is not so far from the capital that the land route would be unreasonable; it is the better fit for the animals.”
That was right — Hua Zhi rubbed her brow, catching her own oversight. She had not thought of that. A ship laden with silver would reveal its approximate load to any practiced observer just by its draft. To have done it that way would have exposed them at once.
“This subordinate’s thinking is: the silver and the horses would be escorted overland to the capital by your people, while the rest of the silver to be turned over to the court would travel with you and the Seven Lodges Bureau by boat. What do you think?”
Hua Zhi considered. “We leave before the others arrive?”
“Yes.”
“All right. See to the arrangements carefully — not a word of this must leak.”
Jia Yang bowed in acknowledgment.
Zhu Ling had pieced it together now. The First Young Lady intended to quietly pocket a portion of the silver on the side? That sat rather oddly against the manner she had presented throughout all of this.