The two guards of the Sixth Prince closely followed him. Only after the group had gone far did Hua Zhi turn back to look at the other two guards. "One of you should follow them discreetly. If any situation arises, don’t worry about anything else—just make sure to protect him first."
These two were not from the Seven Constellation Bureau but were Gu Yanxi’s men. The taller one was named Yu Tao, and the other was Wang Cheng. Before they set out, they had been thoroughly instructed, so without hesitation, Wang Cheng acknowledged the order and followed.
Letting the Sixth Prince out of her sight was not without worry for Hua Zhi. However, she hadn’t brought him out just to enjoy the mountains and waters. She hoped he would look deeper into the lives of those vastly different from his own, to see things a prince would never normally have the chance to witness.
On a personal note, she also wished for this obedient child to have a unique experience before he was burdened with heavy responsibilities—free from the constraints of his status and the complexities of adult minds. This was a privilege only available in childhood; once grown, simplicity became an unattainable luxury.
After all, everyone inevitably grows into the person they least liked as a child.
Just like her.
Hua Zhi’s mood suddenly sank.
Shaoyao was most sensitive to emotions. She shooed Bao Xia aside and nestled close to Hua Hua to comfort her. "Hua Hua, don’t worry. I gave Little Six plenty of useful things. No matter how far he goes, I can always find him."
Thinking of the items Shaoyao had given her, Hua Zhi felt somewhat reassured. With guards following, Little Six’s cleverness, and Shaoyao’s provisions, nothing should go wrong.
Pulling Shaoyao to lie on her lap, Hua Zhi looked down into her clear eyes. "What I need to do tomorrow might be a bit dull. You don’t have to follow me—go have fun on your own."
Shaoyao did find it boring, and after a moment’s thought, she decided not to force herself. "Then I’ll visit the local pharmacy tomorrow. My master said the people here are quite skilled in treating rheumatism."
"Alright, I’ll have Xu Ying accompany you. You’re not good at handling trivial matters, so with him around, you won’t need to bother with those."
Shaoyao agreed cheerfully. She loved being cared for by Hua Hua this way, even if the things Hua Hua mentioned weren’t really problems for her.
Hua Zhi stroked Shaoyao’s uneven face and smiled, keeping her deeper reasons to herself. Although women held little status in the capital, the north was generally better than the south in this regard. In the south, especially here in Jingzhou, women were often treated like beasts of burden.
It might seem she had encountered decent treatment, but without the tall, imposing guards following her, even Xia Jiang might not have given her a second glance. It was her imposing demeanor that had initially intimidated them.
Shaoyao was a female doctor, and in Jingzhou, a woman practicing medicine was likely even more unthinkable. Hua Zhi didn’t want Shaoyao to be bullied in places she couldn’t see.
The next day, when Xia Jiang saw Hua Zhi again, she had only two people with her. He didn’t ask further. Confirming that she hadn’t contacted anyone from other shipping companies the previous day, his enthusiasm for her grew even stronger. The young lady’s attitude showed she was sincere in discussing business, not just comparing options from multiple companies. He appreciated such sincerity and was willing to make concessions during negotiations.With both parties willing, the negotiation proceeded smoothly, and the terms were quickly settled. While waiting for the intermediary, Hua Zhi inquired about An Tai Fishing Firm.
"An Tai? You have excellent judgment, Miss. That was one of the firms I intended to recommend." Xia Jiang was in high spirits after closing the deal. This young lady was truly generous, committing to a two-year contract at once. In their line of work, having such a long-term deal as support meant they could endure even the toughest times, no matter how formidable the Zheng family might be.
Personally, securing this deal made his succession to the Xia family almost certain, so he was more than willing to share additional information.
"The owner of An Tai is surnamed Wu, named Wu Zheng. His family used to run a security agency but later switched trades for reasons unknown. Because of this background, he conducts himself with integrity and fairness, never arbitrarily driving down prices. Small-scale fishermen prefer to sell their catch to him. He’s quite well-known even here in Zhenyang, and many households favor buying fish from his firm. According to our steward, the fish from An Tai Fishing Firm are noticeably fresher than those from others."
"You speak very highly of them, Young Master."
"Haha, I’d be delighted to work with him too. It would make things much more straightforward."
That was indeed true. Hua Zhi nodded but refrained from immediately committing to a partnership with An Tai. Hearing was not as reliable as seeing; she needed to verify things for herself.
Seizing the opportunity, Xia Jiang stole another glance at her. Appreciating beauty was a universal trait, and he was no exception. "However, the situation there is more complicated than here. If you do go, Miss, you’ll need to be cautious."
Hua Zhi looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Under her gaze, Xia Jiang, who had initially intended to say no more, found himself continuing, "There’s an old fishing firm over there called Yu Shun, known for its aggressive tactics. An Tai has only managed to maintain a balance by partnering with another fishing firm. Your deal is substantial, Miss, and it might attract envy."
"How is the quality of their goods?"
Xia Jiang replied meaningfully, "Our family has never purchased from them."
Not buying was telling enough. Hua Zhi nodded slightly. "Thank you for your honesty, Young Master."
"As I said before, I hope to work with someone reasonable. Otherwise, it would be troublesome for our trading firm as well."
"You are a sensible man, Young Master."
The intermediary entered, accompanied by the steward. Hua Zhi ended the conversation and prepared to focus on finalizing the contract.
With the deal settled, Hua Zhi politely declined Xia Jiang’s invitation. As soon as she boarded the carriage, she drank several cups of water in succession, finally relieving her sore throat.
Bao Xia had her young mistress lie down with her head on her lap and gently massaged her temples. Just as Hua Zhi was beginning to relax, Yu Tao’s voice came from outside, "Miss, we have a tail behind us."
Hua Zhi opened her eyes, her brow furrowing slightly. Xia Jiang was a smart man; now that the deal was finalized, it was unlikely he would send someone to follow her. "Is it the same person as yesterday?"
"No, I noticed him outside the trading firm earlier. He probably isn’t from there."
Hua Zhi reflected on her actions since arriving in Zhenyang. Aside from the obvious fact that she was an outsider, she hadn’t done anything else to draw attention.
"Once we return to the inn, follow him and find out who he is."
Yu Tao hesitated before agreeing. With their manpower already spread thin, if he left, the young mistress would be left unguarded. Only because the inn seemed relatively safe did he dare to comply.Upon returning to the inn, the main hall fell silent as usual at the arrival of the mistress and her maid. Numerous gazes, both overt and covert, settled upon Hua Zhi, who didn't so much as glance sideways and proceeded directly to the second floor. Yet no one approached her.
People have always been curious about novel individuals and situations, especially when it came to a woman who defied their conventional understanding. They were too accustomed to timid, subservient women; someone like Hua Zhi, who refused to even look at them directly, was like a stimulant—everyone wanted a taste.
PS: I'm ill, not that I want to be. At least I didn't break my promise.
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