Having slept too much during the day, Hua Zhi found herself wide awake at night, yet Gu Yanxi couldn't stay for long.
Watching his figure vanish into the darkness, Hua Zhi turned back and saw her maidservants with complicated expressions. She lightly flicked each of their foreheads. "Haven't you known about this for a while? Why such expressions?"
"Your courage is truly remarkable. If outsiders found out, it would be disastrous—even if our own family discovered it, the consequences would be severe."
"What kind of consequences? Forcing me to relinquish control of the household? I'd be willing, but would they dare take it?" Hua Zhi entered the room, speaking even more freely. She truly wasn't afraid. When she was willing to play the obedient granddaughter, she didn't mind others' schemes—to her, it was just watching an entertaining play. But that didn't mean she would tolerate anyone trying to dominate her. During her years in the Hua family, though she appeared unremarkable and was overlooked by her sisters, no one had ever taken advantage of her—they just never realized it.
Moreover, given the Hua family's current circumstances, they relied heavily on her. Even if they discovered her relationship with Yanxi, they would at most gossip behind her back. People inherently have a tendency to bully the weak and fear the strong—this manifests in countless ways.
Forced by societal norms to keep her relationship hidden, Hua Zhi felt somewhat resentful.
"And some things they might already know—they just don't voice them." Hua Zhi took a sip of tea and looked up at Ying Chun. "Has Berlin written?"
"Yes, delivered by Mr. Wang." Ying Chun hurried to the bedside and retrieved three letters from the cabinet. Judging by the handwriting, each of the three younger ones had written one. Hua Zhi couldn't help but laugh. Why not put them in one envelope? Did they have secrets they couldn't share with the other two?
Thinking this, Hua Zhi opened the letters one by one. The earlier sternness in her expression vanished, replaced by a gentle softness.
Each of the three had a distinct style. Berlin was the most lively, his words leaping energetically across the page as if he wanted to record everything he'd seen on his journey, interspersed with his own opinions. He'd filled a full ten pages, making the envelope bulge.
Sui'an was the most meticulous, treating his travels with scholarly seriousness. His wording was restrained, and he even posed some questions at the end—as if viewing her as his teacher.
Little Six was the most solemn. It was as if he had been given a growth accelerator, shedding his childish mindset in a short time. Being a prince, he naturally stood at a higher vantage point, viewing things from above. Comparing what he saw and heard in the capital with what he had learned from books and his tutors, his doubts, confusions, and frustrations were all conveyed in his words.
Hua Zhi replied to Berlin first. She didn't suppress his nature or force him to become a certain type of person—she simply offered some words of encouragement. The child was clever and would find his own path in time. At just eleven years old, he had plenty of time ahead.
To Sui'an, she answered his questions and added a few words of affirmation—that was all he needed. What he lacked was confidence.
Little Six's letter was the most challenging to reply to. Hua Zhi pondered each word carefully, aiming to guide him toward more positive perspectives, resolve his doubts, explain that "water too clear breeds no fish," and convey the necessity of tolerating capable officials even if they were corrupt. Replying to his letter alone took far more time than the other two combined.Hua Zhi, however, was extremely patient. These were children who had grown up right under her watch, so they naturally felt different to her.
She placed the three letters into separate envelopes, planning to hand them over to Wang Rong the next day. No channel was as secure as the Seven Constellation Bureau. Although she hadn’t written anything that couldn’t be seen by others, it was still best if the letter she wrote to Little Six didn’t fall into the wrong hands.
After taking a sip of tea, Hua Zhi finally found the time to ask about other matters. "How are things at Oriole Cloud Alley?"
"As you instructed, the shopfront by the river has been demolished. The shop has been renovated to look exactly like the one in Green Moss Alley. It’s been ready for over ten days now. Since you returned a bit later, it hasn’t opened yet."
"Have their skills been properly honed?"
"Yes, they’ve already passed Fu Dong’s inspection."
"Then there’s no issue. There’s no need to pick an auspicious day—just avoid any inauspicious dates. Open as soon as possible."
"Yes."
Early the next morning, Hua Zhi went out with her maids. She wanted to see what the seafood restaurant they had built from scratch looked like.
The location wasn’t far from the food studio, just across the street. Taking a shortcut, it took less than a quarter of an hour to walk there. Fu Dong, having received the news earlier, was already waiting there. When the carriage stopped, she hurried forward to assist the young lady in alighting.
Supported by Fu Dong, Hua Zhi looked up and surveyed the bustling street. Although it wasn’t the main street, its proximity to the southern city gate meant it was lined with shops, mostly inns and taverns. It was a suitable location for the seafood restaurant.
The food studio emphasized elegance, aiming to draw money from the pockets of noble families. Without a reservation, there was no chance of getting a seat. At some point, noble families had grown accustomed to holding meetings there, indicating that its positioning had been very successful.
For the seafood business, however, Hua Zhi planned to target the mid-range market, extracting silver from the wealthy but not overly extravagant households. Naturally, the establishment couldn’t be too high-end, and this location was well-suited for that purpose.
Turning around, she entered the shop. The first thing that caught her eye was a screen with a fresh, intricate design, complemented by potted green plants that separated the tables, providing a degree of privacy. Even if someone were to eat crabs with their hands, they wouldn’t have to worry about being seen and losing face.
To the left was the counter, which was still empty for the time being. The staircase to the second floor was on the same side as the counter, with the counter positioned directly beneath it—a clever use of space.
The second floor felt more spacious than the first. Without the obstructing screens, it was divided into cubicles. As long as no one stood up, they couldn’t see each other. The area was similarly decorated with lush greenery. There were also several private rooms on the second floor, curtained off but without tightly sealed doors.
The group then proceeded to the kitchen. In the courtyard leading to the kitchen, several glass cabinets without tops had been neatly arranged against the wall. Once the ships arrived, samples of seafood would be displayed here for customers to choose from.
Inside the kitchen, the stoves were neatly arranged, and most of the necessary items were already in place. After a quick look, Hua Zhi stepped out. "It feels quite spacious. Leave the second floor as it is. Remove a few tables from the first floor and space them out a bit more—it looks too crowded right now. As for the kitchen, Fu Dong, you can decide what else is needed and make the arrangements yourself. For other details, discuss and refine them further. The ships likely won’t arrive until early September, so there’s still time."
"Yes." The maids exchanged glances, visibly relieved. Although the young lady delegated authority easily, they were always anxious about not meeting her expectations. These past few days, they hadn’t even been able to sleep soundly.
"How are things at the food studio?"Fu Dong was naturally the most suitable person to deliver this message. Although she had already taken on many responsibilities, she seemed unchanged—still shy and soft-spoken, still only attentive to the young lady and food, still preferring to keep her head lowered. "Business is thriving. Reservations are fully booked for the next two months, with most guests opting for the mushroom banquet."
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