Hua Zhi suddenly remembered something. "Yan Xi, do you have anyone under your command who is skilled at imitating handwriting?"
"Yes, do you need one?"
"Given how deeply affectionate Grandfather and Grandmother are, if I were to go to Yinshan Pass, Grandmother would surely have left some written words for him."
Gu Yanxi immediately understood. "I'll bring someone tomorrow."
"It would be better to minimize male visitors to the Hua family. I'll write a letter and include one of Grandmother's handwritten notes. Have your person copy Grandmother's handwriting and bring it to me."
"That works."
Hua Zhi immediately turned and went to the study. After pondering for a moment and mentally drafting the letter, she swiftly wrote it out. She then took another letter from the cabinet and handed both to Gu Yanxi. "It needs to be very convincing, so Grandfather won't become suspicious."
"Don't worry, his skills are so refined they can pass for the real thing."
Hua Zhi suddenly smiled. "You really have all sorts of people under your command."
Gu Yanxi couldn't tear his gaze away from the smile at the corner of her lips. "They were recruited by the Seven Constellation Bureau when they were no older than seven, some as young as four. Over such a long time, they naturally learn various skills. Their instructors are selected from previous generations of the Seven Constellation Bureau—they know best how to train them."
Hua Zhi deeply agreed. They were essentially their former selves, so they naturally understood the most effective ways to teach. The Seven Constellation Bureau hadn't endured for so many years without reason.
"Tomorrow, when you go to the estate, take Shaoyao with you."
"Alright, I'll also bring Little Six and Berlin."
Gu Yanxi restrained himself from touching A Zhi's face. He knew he should keep his feelings in check and act with propriety, but once he had crossed that line, it became incredibly difficult to hold back. He constantly wanted to be closer to her, even closer, wishing he could perform magic to make her invisible to others and keep her by his side at all times.
After being stared at for so long, Hua Zhi also felt somewhat uneasy. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she said softly, "You should go back. It's getting late."
"Alright."
You say "alright," but why aren't you leaving? Hua Zhi looked at the man standing before her, who seemed to be silently pleading, and helplessly reached out to hook her finger with his. If anyone found out, they'd probably want to drown her in a pig cage, Hua Zhi thought.
Her finger was immediately gripped tightly. Hua Zhi gave it a gentle shake. "Go back and rest early."
"You too." Finally satisfied, Gu Yanxi left. Su Momo entered carrying a lantern, looking as if she had something to say but was holding back.
How could Hua Zhi not understand her concerns? Stepping out of the study and gazing at her shadow on the ground, she said, "The things you consider as important as life itself mean little to me."
"How can matters concerning a woman's reputation not be important?" Seeing that the young lady had broached the subject, Su Momo voiced her worries. "If his feelings are genuine, that's one thing, but what if he's merely toying with you for the moment?"
"So what? If his feelings are true, then we are mutually devoted. If I've misjudged him, it would merely be an unpleasant episode in my life. Nothing is more powerful than time—whether love or resentment, they pale in comparison to its passage."
Her voice gradually faded into the distance. Wang Rong stood breathlessly beside his leader, secretly impressed. No wonder she was the young lady who could make the leader bow his head. With such formidable resolve, she was far beyond any ordinary woman.Gu Yanxi had originally intended to wait until A Zhi returned to the inner courtyard before leaving, but he never expected to overhear such words. Strangely, he wasn’t the least bit surprised—this was A Zhi, after all. She excelled at business, yet she would never treat emotions as transactions, weighing gains and losses like goods on a scale. If she liked someone, she simply did; if she lost something, she accepted it. Her straightforwardness defied description, yet it resonated deeply with him—and he absolutely did not want anyone else to discover how special she was.
He needed to quickly devise a plan to bring the Hua family back, then formally propose marriage, making A Zhi completely his.
Early the next morning, Hua Zhi went to the Zhu family’s residence. Since it wasn’t a rest day, the men of the Zhu family were not at home. She discussed her plans with her maternal grandmother, spent some time bonding with her cousins, and then left.
She headed straight for the city gates, having arranged to meet Shaoyao and the children from her household there earlier that morning.
She was a bit surprised to see Suian. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the academy?”
“I asked for leave from the teacher.” Moreover, it was a long leave. Yang Suian glanced at Berlin but didn’t elaborate.
Hua Zhi was an open-minded guardian. As long as the children in her household didn’t cross her bottom line, she allowed them their freedom.
“Let’s go. We need to return before the city gates close.”
It had been nearly a year since Hua Zhi last visited this place. Even before entering the courtyard, she could feel its vitality.
Xu Jie had stayed here ever since returning from escorting the goods. He was extremely dedicated to the new variety, constantly observing its shelf life. Hearing that the young lady had arrived, he rushed over to greet her, bowing deeply. “This humble servant pays his respects to the young lady.”
“What’s this for? Rise quickly.” Hua Zhi gestured for him to stand and excused the others from formal greetings as well.
Noticing Liu Jiang among them, Hua Zhi turned and said, “Liu Juan, I’m giving you half a day off. Go home and visit your family.”
“This maid thanks the young lady for her thoughtfulness.” Liu Juan was filled with gratitude. She usually accompanied Fu Dong, but the young lady had remembered her and kept her by her side today.
Liu Jiang also spotted his sister. The siblings had last seen each other during the New Year. Seeing his fair and clean sister now, he was overwhelmed with emotion. After bowing deeply to the young lady, he hurried to his sister’s side, pulled her away, and ran off—he had so many questions to ask.
Seeing them like this lifted Hua Zhi’s spirits. She turned to the younger ones and said, “You may go and play on your own. Just return in an hour and a half.”
Berlin had been here before and suggested, “Shall we race?”
Yang Suian and Little Six had no objections. The three of them spurred their horses and galloped away. Shaoyao, however, had no interest in joining them—she was more interested in eating lychees.
Hua Zhi lifted the hem of her skirt as she walked inside, teasing Xu Jie, “You’ve gotten so dark. Will Steward Xu even recognize you when you return?”
Xu Jie chuckled. “My father says the only thing visible on me now is my white teeth.”
Hua Zhi laughed. “Are they all stored in the underground cellar?”
“Yes, I’ve been checking them carefully every day. Storing lychees in the ice cellar does preserve them quite well. It’s been six days now, and they look almost the same as when they were unloaded from the ship. They’re not as delicate as fleshy peaches, which can’t handle the cold.”
“That’s good.”
When descending into the underground cellar, Hua Zhi draped a thick cloak over her shoulders. The sight of the lychees piled up like a small mountain filled her with a sense of satisfaction. She picked a few to taste—small pits, thick flesh, and a sweet flavor. Not bad.
Bao Xia brought another heavy cloak and draped it over her. “Young lady, you shouldn’t stay here for long.”
“I know. Xu Jie, fill a basket and bring it up.”
“Yes.”The workshop was staffed with experienced hands. Hua Zhi directed them to peel the shells, use a chopstick to poke out the pits, rinse them in salt water, and then place them into boiling water with rock sugar added.
"Cook until all the lychees float to the surface. We're short on time today, but in proper preparation, they should be soaked in salt water for about a quarter of an hour before boiling."
Liu Qi, who managed the workshop, noted all these instructions meticulously.
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