No one here was truly beyond redemption, yet under imperial decree, half their lives had been spent in this place. Even those who had at first felt resentment and unwillingness had, over time, been ground down to numbness. They had once placed hope in their families, in their loved ones — yet year after year, how many still remembered them?

They all knew how the Hua Family had come to be convicted, and all knew that only women and young children remained at home in the capital. In a place that devoured people as the capital did, merely surviving was already a blessing. And yet here was a woman who had traveled a thousand miles to appear before them. The shock she caused was easy to imagine.

Hua Pingyang gripped his niece firmly by the shoulder, then turned and went to the main building. On a day like this, even if it meant offending a superior, he would get his father the rest of the afternoon off.

Hua Zhi unclasped her outer cloak and draped it over her grandfather’s shoulders, then firmly tied it closed. The vivid red collar framing that aged face was perhaps an odd combination, yet every person present seemed to have been struck mute — not a single one said a word.

Gu Yanxi quietly removed his own cloak and placed it over Hua Zhi’s shoulders. He was considerably taller than her, and the hem dragged all the way to the ground.

Before Hua Zhi could refuse, Shao Yao was already stepping forward to fasten it for her, just as Hua Zhi herself had so forcefully done for her grandfather, then drew the hood up over her head.

Hua Zhi touched the pure white fur trim at her neck and did not protest.

Hua Yi narrowed his eyes, studying Gu Yanxi. What manner of person was this — someone who so plainly did not belong beneath anyone — and how had he come to be connected with Zhi’er?

Noticing her grandfather’s gaze, Hua Zhi held Shao Yao’s hand and quietly made an introduction. “Grandfather, this is my dear friend Shao Yao. Shao Yao, let grandfather have a look.”

Shao Yao obediently lifted the brim of her hat, revealing the face beneath — covered in crisscrossing scars. She was a little guileless, and did not think to lower it again right away. Hua Zhi raised her hand and drew Shao Yao’s down.

Hua Yi understood his granddaughter’s meaning at once. “I understand. No one will behave discourteously.”

Listening, Gu Yanxi felt all the more that Hua Zhi treated Shao Yao with great care and consideration — even thinking of this. She was more attentive to Shao Yao than he, her own elder brother, had ever been.

Hua Zhi stepped aside slightly. “This is Master Lu. He is currently responsible for training the younger brothers in physical conditioning. The household guards also train with him.”

Gu Yanxi met Hua Yi’s gaze with a steady expression and offered the salute of the jianghu. “This one is Lu Yanxi. Greetings, Old Master.”

A martial arts instructor for the Hua Family? Hua Yi gave him a nod. “You have taken trouble on our behalf, Master Lu.”

“I would not presume. The fee the eldest young miss pays me is not low.”

His gaze was reasonably clear and direct — he did not seem to be a dishonorable person. Only Hua Yi did not know where Zhi’er had found such a man.

Hua Pingyang came striding out of the main building, his face full of smiles. “Father, we are going back.”

Hua Yi nodded, then turned and bowed toward the main building.

Hua Zhi likewise turned in that direction and gave a bow of courtesy, then assisted her grandfather and walked out.

Since the founding of the Da Qing dynasty, Yinshan Pass had served as a place of exile. By now there was a complete and well-established set of rules here, and silver was particularly effective.

The quarters assigned to convicts were naturally nothing fine. The very first thing Hua Pingyang had done upon arriving was to grease the right palms and lease a proper residence, settling the entire family inside. It was crowded, but the conditions were far better, and moreover, the whole family was together.

Hua Zhi had grown up in wealth and comfort from birth. Even after moving to the residence in the south quarter of the city, that house had its pavilions, towers, little bridges, and flowing water. What lay before her now could not compare even to the farmhouse she had converted into a workshop. She did not know how her fastidious grandfather had managed to adjust.

Suppressing the ache in her heart, she helped her grandfather sit down in the sparse main hall. Hua Zhi formally paid her respects again to her grandfather, her father, and her fourth uncle — pressing each bow to the ground in earnest.

When it came to Hua Pingyang’s turn, he had barely let her finish the first bow before pulling her back up. “All right, all right — the intention is there, that’s enough.”

Dongzi and the others also bowed to the ground in a row. Hua Yi, gratified to the depths of his elderly heart, stroked his beard. Not even the relentless coughing could disturb his good spirits at this moment.

But Hua Zhi could not let it pass. The moment Dongzi and the others rose, she wasted no time. “I heard from Chen Shan that grandfather has been coughing all along. What does the physician say?”

Hua Yi flicked a light glance toward Hua Pingyang, who looked as though he was about to speak. “It’s only that I haven’t adapted to the climate here. Nothing to be concerned about.”

Hua Zhi did not believe it. Coming from another time and place, she knew full well that a prolonged cough could develop into a serious illness — something like the lung consumption that in this era had no cure.

“Shao Yao, have a look at grandfather.” Having entrusted this to Shao Yao, Hua Zhi turned to face the several people who were looking on in surprise. “Shao Yao is a physician, and a very skilled one.”

Hua Yi cheerfully placed his left hand on the armrest of the chair. “Then please trouble yourself.”

Shao Yao broke into a warm smile. Hua Zhi’s grandfather really was different from everyone else — she was already rather fond of him.

After a careful examination, Shao Yao’s brow furrowed slightly. “Has the Old Master had a fever?”

Hua Pingyang could see that although this physician was a young woman, if she had earned Zhi’er’s trust she genuinely had skill. Without waiting for his father to speak first — and heedless of his father’s warning glance — he answered ahead of him: “There has been an off-and-on low fever throughout. A few doses of medicine bring it down somewhat, but it has never fully cleared. Does the physician know why?”

“When you cough, is there phlegm?”

“There is phlegm.”

“Is there blood in the phlegm?”

Hua Pingyang looked toward his father, thought carefully, and shook his head. “There shouldn’t be.”

Shao Yao’s tone grew serious. “Please open your mouth and let me take a look, Old Master.”

By now Hua Yi was quite certain this young woman truly had ability, and so he paid full attention and cooperated. He had no desire to go on dragging this ailing body around, letting his children and grandchildren worry on his behalf.

After a thorough examination — observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking — all those in the room fixed their burning gazes on Shao Yao, hoping she could give a clear assessment. For some time now they had heard nothing from the physicians but vague and evasive words.

“Deficiency of lung yin, with internally generated deficiency-heat. Prolonged coughing has weakened the vital energy. If this drags on much longer, I’m afraid it will develop into a condition that is difficult to fully cure.”

Hua Zhi’s heart eased somewhat. “It can still be treated in time, can’t it?”

“Of course. Hua Zhi, you must trust me.”

From her voice alone, Hua Zhi could tell Shao Yao was smiling. With her right hand she pressed the acupoint between her left thumb and forefinger, breathing in slowly and exhaling gently, quietly calming her heart, which had been racing too fast.

Hua Pingyu and Hua Pingyang both let out a breath of relief as well. The old father’s illness had been a weight pressing down on their hearts, and at last some of that weight had been lifted.

Hua Pingyang suddenly remembered something he had overlooked. “Father, shall we notify Second Brother and Third Brother to come back?”

“No need. If all the Hua Family members rest at the same time, it will draw too much attention.”

Hua Pingyang nodded and let the matter rest.

Gu Yanxi, who had been silent for some time, now stepped forward. “Eldest Young Miss, this one will go ahead and arrange our lodgings.”

Hua Zhi rose and made to remove the cloak, but Gu Yanxi would not allow it. There was not even a brazier in the room — without something warm to wear, she would certainly fall ill. He called out to Shao Yao, and Shao Yao had no choice but to follow him out.

Once the two had moved away, Hua Yi asked, seemingly without particular interest, “Are Master Lu and the physician acquainted?”

“Yes. Your granddaughter first came to know Shao Yao, and later, when Shao Yao learned that I was looking for a martial arts instructor, she recommended Master Lu. Shao Yao’s nature is simple and pure — anyone she recommends, I can extend a measure of additional trust.”

So that was how it was. Hua Yi had read countless people in his years, and he had taken Shao Yao’s measure clearly enough. By extension, his impression of Gu Yanxi improved as well.

PS: These two chapters together form something of a minor climax — reading them consecutively will feel much better. My heart goes out to those of you who wait for updates. My heart also goes out to myself — off to write the next chapter, and the outline still hasn’t had a single word written for it!