In the carriage, the Emperor turned the pages of the dossier in his hands with an expressionless face, feeling somewhat surprised that it had turned out to be a girl from the Bai Family.

During the more than a year he had spent at the Hua Family residence, he had seen Bai Mingxia several times. The Grand Preceptor had spoken of him with considerable praise as well, and so he had come to know that Bai Mingxia and the Hua Family’s Fourth Master were close friends — that when the Hua Family had been sent into exile, he had even traveled to Yinshan Pass to visit, and had offered much care and support to the Hua Family throughout that time. Even when his father and elder brothers had reproached him for it, he had not wavered — which was more than sufficient to speak for the caliber of his character.

He closed the dossier and raised his head. “If this minister’s memory serves correctly, the Bai Family contributed a very significant sum when military provisions were being raised.”

Laifu responded with an affirmative, “Although it was recorded under the Bai Family’s name, according to what this old servant knows, it was actually the Bai Family’s third son who put forward the funds.”

“If this minister recalls correctly, they divided the family.”

“And yet two Bai characters share the same stroke.” Laifu smiled. “Old Master Bai said it was to be recorded under the Bai Family’s name — what could the Third Young Master do but agree?”

The Emperor understood the ways of the great families all too clearly, and felt even more urgently that the present state of affairs needed to be changed as swiftly as possible. It was, of course, only right that the eldest legitimate son should head the family — but that gave no justification for crushing the other brothers beneath, leaving them without any path to advancement. If this continued, how many capable people would Huang Chao have left to rely upon?

“Have someone look into the current situations of those who passed the Suojing examinations.”

“This old servant obeys.”

His gaze dropped to the dossier for a moment, and a thought moved within the Emperor’s mind. If he were to send someone to the Grand Preceptor to be taught by her, might it be possible…

Almost immediately, he set the idea aside and simply gave the instruction: “Keep an eye on them.”

Laifu kept his eyes down, and dared not think further.

Hua Zhi stayed two days at Dazhuosi. Upon her return, the newly reconsecrated string of wrist beads found its way back onto her wrist. Whether it was the effect of her own heart or something more, ever since the severe illness she had endured, that light, floating sensation she had carried seemed to have disappeared entirely. She felt a steadiness now, as though her feet were firmly planted on solid ground.

She turned the beads between her fingers and, out of habit, pressed her left hand. Though it had not quite come to the point of being crippled, her left hand was still far less nimble than her right. She had been grateful beyond measure, countless times, that it had been her left hand that was injured — it had not left her unable to hold a brush, and she had not had to think about whether she could conceal it from the others.

Her hand grew warm. A large hand covered her smaller one, and a low, unhurried voice followed. “Is it uncomfortable again?”

Hua Zhi turned her hand and clasped his. She raised her head with a smile. “No, don’t worry. Old Master Yu said so himself, didn’t he? It will get better with time.”

But Old Master Yu had also said that full recovery was unlikely. Gu Yanxi spread her hand open in his palm and began massaging it with practiced ease. “In front of me, there is no need to endure or hold yourself back. I cannot feel the pain on your behalf, and I cannot suffer for you — but I can ease your discomfort, the way I am doing now.”

She looked at his lowered eyes and lashes for a long moment, and her voice grew softer still. “From now on, I will.”

Only then did Gu Yanxi smile. He changed the subject. “Is it appropriate to have left Xiaohan at Dazhuosi? Aren’t you worried he might think you’re leaving him behind?”

“How many people have you ever heard of who brought their students along with them when they married? If even that cannot quiet the unease in his heart, then he is all the more reason to receive a few days of guidance from Master Boruo.”

“A teacher who brought her students along to her own wedding — one would probably have to search all of history to find even one such person besides you.” Gu Yanxi raised his head, his eyes and expression full of warmth. “A few days there will be enough. In your presence, he can be at ease in his heart — and with time, that will pass.”

“It is a kind of affliction of the heart. But I cannot be the medicine that cures them of it.”

This meant both of them — and the one in the palace was the same, was he not? Gu Yanxi kept up his movements as he massaged the tendons in her hand, and understood everything with quiet clarity. Ah Zhi was too warm. They wanted to draw from that warmth and had, without realizing it, grown greedy — yet their stations meant they could not afford such greediness. Ah Zhi always thought things through with great care. How could she not see the hidden danger in this? Better to prevent it before it took a bad turn than to wait until things had already moved in the wrong direction.

“Xiaohan is perceptive. He will understand.”

Hua Zhi gave a slight shake of her head. There was no question of Xiaohan’s perceptiveness — yet some things could not simply be thought through by intelligence alone. She could only hope that Master Boruo would understand her intention and find the words to guide him.

“Tomorrow’s ceremony for returning to my family home — Grandmother is the one making the preparations. Go take a look afterward and see if anything is missing. It is her first time arranging something like this for me, and I am not sure whether she has thought of everything.”

Hua Zhi was taken aback. The Grand Empress Dowager… was preparing her visit to the family home? That was quite a level of distinction.

Gu Yanxi laughed at her expression and reached out to touch her cheek lightly. “These ordinary things that are so commonplace in any ordinary household — for Grandmother they are a rarity. You have given her such an opportunity: let her be an ordinary person for once. Don’t think of her in terms of that title — as long as tomorrow there are no missteps in propriety, that is enough.”

“All right — I will ask Nanny Su to go and look things over.” Hua Zhi nuzzled against his palm. “I can see that Grandmother has no wish to return to the palace. Mention it to His Majesty — unless it is an occasion where the Grand Empress Dowager absolutely must appear, let her stay away from the palace. She was confined there for most of her life. Enough is enough.”

Gu Yanxi smiled and agreed. He knew that Ah Zhi was, in truth, fulfilling a promise he had once made.

The Hua Family’s eldest daughter was returning home to visit — the entire household had been preparing since early morning, each member attending to their respective tasks with great care.

Zhu Shi shooed away the maids and personally helped her husband straighten his robe and cap, her voice carrying a worry she could not quite conceal. “Though the Prince’s residence has no in-laws for Zhi’er to wait upon, there is still the Grand Empress Dowager presiding over the household there. The rules and expectations must be even stricter. I cannot help but wonder how Zhi’er has been these past few days.”

Hua Pingyu was equally worried at heart, though the words he spoke seemed aimed as much at convincing himself as at comforting his wife. “She has managed even the complexities of court — what trouble could the inner household possibly give her? Our daughter is not an ordinary woman. When she comes back, do not ask anything unnecessary.”

“Would I not know my own daughter’s abilities? When you and the others were away, Zhi’er managed the entire Hua household with perfect order — not a single disturbance in the inner quarters.” Zhu Shi shot him a reproachful glance. “It is just that… that is still not her own home. This is the imperial family. Zhi’er has married the Regent Prince — second only to the Emperor himself.”

Hua Pingyu was quiet for a moment. “The Hua Family is not a household that anyone can simply bully as they please.”

Zhu Shi’s eyes reddened. The Hua Family was no ordinary household — yet before the imperial family, what could they do?

He patted his wife’s hand, which was overcome with sorrow, and in the end Hua Pingyu did not speak the words all the way through. Some things could be known between the two of them in their hearts, but could not be given voice. Not to mention that, for the present at least, the Regent Prince appeared to be genuinely devoted to Zhi’er — and even if the two ever did come to a real rift, how could he dare to do anything to harm Zhi’er?

Zhi’er was the current dynasty’s Grand Preceptor — a first-rank official by full and rightful appointment. She needed no one to serve as her backing. She herself was her own backing. In this, no other woman could hold a candle to her — and moreover, the present Emperor held Zhi’er in such high regard.

Setting all these external factors aside, when had Zhi’er herself ever been easily dealt with?

Hua Pingyu let out a long, heavy breath. But to be a parent was to be a parent — and knowing all of this still could not bring true peace of mind.

They did not begin to feel their anxiety ease until they saw their daughter in person: her expression was composed and serene, and the Regent Prince’s gaze never wandered far from her. As long as the two of them were well together, everything else could be spoken of.

With the form of address changed and the full ceremony of greeting observed, the Hua Family’s manner toward the Regent Prince shifted perceptibly — more warmth, less formality. The room was filled with the bright laughter of many voices, and Gu Yanxi found the smile on his face impossible to contain. “Has Ah Zhi’s courtyard been readied?”

Hua Pingyu maintained the dignity of a father-in-law, nodding with measured composure. “But of course. Whenever Zhi’er comes home, there will always be a place for her to rest.”

“I am afraid Father has misunderstood.” Gu Yanxi leaned forward slightly. “Before, that was Ah Zhi’s maiden chamber — naturally there would have been no place for this son-in-law there. But now that we will be coming and going frequently, Father surely cannot mean to keep Ah Zhi and send this son-in-law away.”

Everyone present was more than clever enough to hear the unspoken meaning in those words.

Hua Yizheng laughed at once. “Of course it has been readied. The Prince may put his mind at ease.”

“Excellent.” Gu Yanxi looked at Ah Zhi, who was surprised but kept her expression unchanged. “When we left this morning, I told Grandmother I would be staying at my wife’s family home tonight. There is no need for you to rush in making preparations to return.”

A warmth stirred in Hua Zhi’s heart, and the cool composure in her eyes thawed at once into something warm. “Is that appropriate?”

“Entirely. I have been something of a live-in son-in-law here for quite some days now — what would be wrong with spending a night?”

Nothing could be more right. Hua Zhi smiled, and the sweetness that showed through could not be helped. The two of them looked at each other, and everyone in the Hua Family who could see it felt another measure of relief settle into their hearts.

PS: The story between the two of them comes to a pause here for now — what follows will focus on the supporting characters.