At lunchtime, the Crown Prince and Bailin came over together and, as they had done the past few days, ordered the servants to set up a meal there. Everyone else had long grown accustomed to this and went about their own business.

Hua Zhi’s injury was to her arm, so there was no need for her to stay in bed. She had never been the delicate type, and every day at mealtimes she would take her place at the table, keeping them company over her medicinal meals.

Gu Yanxi sat beside A’Zhi, watching her gaze drift over the various dishes, but he could only steel his heart and pretend not to notice. The medicinal meal recipe had been newly prescribed by Elder Yu, tailored to her injury and full of restrictions. Fearing it would interfere with the medicine’s potency, he had not dared let her eat anything else these past few days.

After the meal, the Crown Prince was in no hurry to leave. “The Grand Preceptor has fallen ill. The imperial physicians who returned from the palace say he has been unwell ever since that day at the palace, but with so much happening at court, he forced himself to carry on without letting it show. It was only when he truly could not hold on any longer that it came to light.”

“The Grand Preceptor is getting on in years, and that day was especially grueling.” Having faced a crisis side by side with him, Hua Zhi felt an inexplicable sense of camaraderie toward the Grand Preceptor. “He is a pillar of the court and cannot afford to falter. Your Highness might consider asking Elder Yu to pay him a visit.”

The Crown Prince had been thinking the very same thing. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, then went on to mention a few matters at court — weighty enough for a Grand Preceptor to offer guidance on, yet not so taxing as to exhaust her. This thoughtfulness had grown increasingly natural and unobtrusive. Yet though Hua Zhi’s energy was not what it had been, she was aware of everything she needed to be aware of — not only from what Yanxi had told her, but from what she could piece together herself.

The most pressing matter at court still revolved around the war, and where there was war, there could be no avoiding the question of provisions and military funding. The pressure on the Ministry of Finance was no less than that on the Ministry of War.

The room fell quiet. Hua Zhi rose and walked to the window, gazing out at the riot of blooming colors beyond as she gave her instructions. “Nian Qiu, go back to the house. Work with Ying Chun to gather every bit of silver the family can spare and deliver it to my maternal grandfather. Go over the accounts for the toy workshop as well, and arrange for a sum to be handed over to the Ministry of Finance first. The grain I had purchased on our behalf — all of it is to be turned over as well.”

“Yes, miss.”

Great Qing may have intended to swallow up the Yan Kingdom, but as a great nation, it could not afford to look too greedy in doing so. Even with the Yan ruler in hand, there would inevitably be a drawn-out back-and-forth of several hundred rounds before any terms could be settled. It was only unclear whether the Yan ruler had the spine for it. If he did not, all the better — the matter could not drag on beyond a month, and even if he did hold firm, the Bureau of Seven Lodgings would have its methods. All they needed to do was ensure the provisions for that period were fully stocked. And besides — the konjac was nearly ripe.

She could help with the food supply, but there was truly nothing she could do about manpower. Three conscriptions had already been carried out, and the Ministry of War was now preparing a fourth draft. With a population of forty million, Great Qing had precious few left once the elderly, the weak, women, and children were set aside — it simply could not sustain many more wars of attrition. Thinking on it, she decided that the absence of family planning in ancient times had been entirely reasonable. People were the foremost productive force.

She let out a sigh and raised her right hand to gently press against her left shoulder.

Word had a way of getting out. News that Hua Zhi had all but emptied the family savings she had accumulated over two years spread like wildfire through household after household. Before long, every family with ties to Hua Zhi made their own gesture of support. While none contributed as generously as she had, the sum of it all was not to be underestimated.

Once someone had set the example, every official — willing or not — was moved to act. Hua Zhi herself had not anticipated such a ripple effect, and when she heard of it, she laughed. It was the same everywhere, it seemed. Some things you did and received nothing for it in return — but fail to do them, and you would be remembered for that instead.

Ying Chun, who had taken Nian Qiu’s place in the palace, carried the medicinal tea to her young miss. “From what this servant knows, Young Master Bai contributed quite a substantial amount.”

“Young Master Bai — Elder Bai Mingxia?”

“Yes. Yesterday, Young Master Bai sent his steward over to settle the previous accounts. He and this servant are fairly well acquainted, and he mentioned quietly that the Bai Family afterward called Young Master Bai home and gave him quite a severe scolding.”

Hua Zhi let out a cold laugh. The head of the household had such limited foresight — the decline of the Bai Family was plain to see. She only wondered how they would manage to go crawling back to Elder Bai when the time came. Though Elder Bai was no pushover anymore, that much was certain.

Things did not stop there. After that came the wealthy families, and then ordinary households, each contributing what they could. By what seemed the whole city’s combined effort, an enormous sum had been gathered, relieving the Ministry of Finance of no small burden.

Though the war had not yet ceased, the hearts of the people were steady — and that was the best possible state of things.

Nor did the war drag on much longer. First came word of victory from the west — the former leader of the Li Kingdom had reclaimed its lost territory and driven the enemy back home, their momentum spent. And then, within days, a great triumph arrived from the north.

“I had my men raid the grassland tribes’ home base. Their chieftain is now dead, and his young son is only three years old — there will be chaos aplenty.” Meeting A’Zhi’s sparkling gaze, Gu Yanxi smiled. “Caught between two flanks, they retreated with barely half their men. Without thirty to fifty years of recovery, they cannot regroup.”

“Is it over, then?”

Gu Yanxi nodded. “It’s over.”

Hua Zhi seized his hand. “You can come back now, can’t you?”

“Yes. I can come back.”

A wave of dizziness swept through Hua Zhi’s mind. She had lived to see it!

Drawing her into his arms, Gu Yanxi pressed a kiss to her ear. “The court officials wish to take this auspicious occasion to hold the enthronement ceremony — in three days’ time.”

“So soon? Will everything be ready in time?”

“The Ministry of Rites has long since made preparations.”

Of course — the late Emperor had been gone for so long already. The Ministry of Rites had surely been proceeding in an orderly fashion all this while. Hua Zhi tilted her head up and asked, “Will I need to leave the palace?”

“No. You are the Crown Prince’s Grand Preceptor — you are required to be present.” Beneath his hands, her frame felt so thin it was almost sharp. Whether it was his imagination or not, Gu Yanxi could barely sense any warmth from A’Zhi’s body, and the realization made his heart clench with unease.

Hua Zhi smiled quietly. A young king ascending the throne — it was a moment that would be written into history, and she hoped to witness it with her own eyes.

“The Empress Dowager intends to replace all the palace attendants. After the Crown Prince’s enthronement, she plans to open the palace gates widely to recruit maids, and once they have been properly trained and found suitable, the previous staff will all be released.”

“That’s one way to handle it.” Hua Zhi gave a small nod, then furrowed her brow. “His Highness is only twelve. It would be best if certain types of people were kept well away from him for now. Beauty and indulgence may have their pleasures, but it is far too early for that.”

“The Empress Dowager is keeping a watchful eye. She will not allow anyone to take advantage.”

“Then that is well.” Her voice gradually faded. Gu Yanxi’s heart leapt and he quickly looked down — sure enough, A’Zhi had slipped suddenly into sleep.

He pressed his lips together, looking at that face with its hollowed cheeks, at a loss for what to do. Her body was recovering, and yet anyone could see she was not well. Elder Yu had said the tension had been wound too tight for too long — she was on the very edge of snapping — and that anything they did would only hasten the process. That was why he felt so utterly helpless.

He had not once spoken to the Crown Prince about bringing the Hua Family back, fearing that the moment they returned, A’Zhi would release that last held breath, and that would make things far worse. Yet now the crisis at Yinshan Pass had been resolved, and the Hua Family had played no small part in holding it — half the credit was theirs. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne and issued an imperial decree, the Hua Family could return to the capital with their honor fully restored. If by that time A’Zhi’s condition had still not improved…

Gu Yanxi did not dare let his thoughts go any further.