"Has Zhi Er arrived?" Old Master Zhu's voice preceded his entrance.
The old madam rose to greet him, smiling at the newcomer. "You're back early today."
Hua Zhi performed a curtsy. "Your granddaughter pays respects to Grandfather."
"No need for formalities." Old Master Zhu took his seat at the head of the room. "How is your grandfather faring?"
"He's well enough, though he appears to have aged somewhat."
Old Master Zhu sighed deeply. How could one not be affected after experiencing such major events? Those in their positions might appear powerful and influential, yet each walked on thin ice. The Emperor's moods grew increasingly unpredictable, and no one could say who might be the next to fall from grace.
The Old Madam interjected with a smile, "Zhi Er has matters to discuss with you. Perhaps you could speak in the study?"
"That would be best."
This wasn't Hua Zhi's first visit to the Zhu family study. People naturally relax in familiar surroundings, and she was no exception.
"Some colleagues were speaking of you today."
"...I had thought all the officials were extremely busy."
"Hahaha! Busy as we are, there's always time for conversation." Old Master Zhu laughed heartily. "It's because you handled the Hua Yan situation so brilliantly. They didn't know you had gone north, and when the Feng family's sedan chair came twice without any response from you, they assumed you were powerless. Fortunately, you returned in time, otherwise..."
Old Master Zhu shook his head. Everyone knew rumors could drive people to their deaths, but as long as it didn't happen to one's own family, who really cared?
"Do you think Feng Changyu acted this way under the Feng family's instructions, or was it his own lustful impulse?"
"Both factors played a role. Feng Changyu's improper intentions were genuine, and the Feng family's behind-the-scenes instigation was equally true. I attempted to muddy the waters, but it proved largely ineffective. After all, Hua Yan wasn't an entirely innocent victim—her own intentions provided the opening the Feng family exploited."
This was the classic case of flies swarming around a cracked egg. Hua Yan had handed her vulnerabilities to the opposition—how could they not take advantage? Hua Zhi even regretted being too lenient with Hua Yan. Though she knew Hua Yan had chosen her own path to ruin, the fact that the punishment wasn't delivered by her own hand left her somewhat unsatisfied.
"However, you plugged that gap in time. Even if others wish to cause trouble, they'll have to find different methods. Just keep tight control over your family members and don't give anyone opportunities."
"Indeed. I've just asked Grandmother to help find suitable matches for my younger sisters. After all, the Hua family hasn't fallen completely—the girls' reputations remain intact. Aside from lacking adult males to uphold the household, we can't be considered completely destitute. In this vast capital, there must be some discerning families."
"No need to rush. Let your grandmother conduct a thorough search." The old master looked at his granddaughter, ultimately suppressing the question he wanted to ask. While other Hua daughters might marry, she likely couldn't—at least not for now.
Hua Zhi steered the conversation to serious matters. "Speaking of which, I haven't yet congratulated you, Minister."
Old Master Zhu waved dismissively. "Under normal circumstances, perhaps. But at this moment, a misstep could mean losing one's hard-earned reputation in old age."
"My visit today relates precisely to this matter." Hua Zhi chose her words carefully. "I've received news that the Emperor will personally appoint officials for disaster relief, with the Seven Constellation Bureau overseeing the entire process. You must keep strict watch over the silver leaving the Ministry of Revenue—don't let anyone exploit the chaos for personal gain. Once the silver leaves the ministry, even if problems arise later, you needn't worry. The blame cannot be shifted onto you then."The old man looked at her with a serious expression. "The Seven Constellation Bureau will oversee the entire process? Is this information accurate?"
"Accurate."
Having spent a lifetime in officialdom, the old man naturally wouldn't press for the source of this information. Knowing it was reliable was enough. If the Seven Constellation Bureau was indeed overseeing everything, all his previous worries would vanish.
The tension that had been building in him for days finally eased slightly. The old man let out a long sigh and said, "Every year, the south repairs its dikes, yet flooding persists. I've reviewed the records—the annual dike repair costs alone could feed all the southern people for a year. It might as well be thrown into the canal; at least we'd hear a splash."
"During my last trip south, I was delayed in Xiangyang due to rising waters. The locals there have grown numb—they don't even panic when the water rises five or six marks. Xiangyang has several dried-up river channels; clearing them could provide some relief. As for the funds, after being skimmed at every level, how much actually reaches the local areas? Even if it does, it's likely divided up, with little left for dike repairs."
The old man waved his hand. "Enough of that. What else do you know about the disaster relief efforts?"
"You must have heard about Zeng Xian."
"Of course. The Emperor himself declared that his case would be retried. As a former Ministry of Revenue official, I've been paying close attention."
"Zeng Xian's son, Zeng Han, has some connection to me." Hua Zhi briefly recounted the events at Yinshan Pass, emphasizing the tragedy of Zeng Xian's case. "So, when I heard you were promoted to Minister of Revenue, my first reaction wasn't joy but concern. That place is already a rotten den, and I feared you might get trapped in it."
The old man had heard about Zeng Xian before, but his granddaughter's account revealed far more than he knew. During his three years in the Ministry of Revenue, he hadn't been entirely blind to the nature of those around him. However, his close relationship with Hua Yizheng was well-known at court. Fang Hongzhi, who had only two daughters and a nephew raised under his care now in the Hanlin Academy, dared not push him too far despite being his superior. In return, the old man occasionally accepted minor favors to save face for Fang Hongzhi, maintaining a fragile peace.
After the Hua family's downfall, Fang Hongzhi grew bolder, relentlessly suppressing him over the past year. The old man could only barely defend himself, staying connected to the ministry without getting deeply involved, until Fang Hongzhi finally fell from power.
"I understand your concern, and I've been guarding against those risks. This time, I'll personally oversee the disaster relief to ensure no one has a chance to interfere."
This was precisely why Hua Zhi had come. Those who had stood by and benefited from Fang Hongzhi when Zeng Xian was wronged might not hesitate to set traps for her grandfather.
The Ministry of Revenue controlled the empire's finances and grain—everyone knew how lucrative the minister's position was. Her grandfather was now too prominent.
Finances and grain? Hua Zhi suddenly remembered something. After a moment's hesitation, she brought it up. "During my last trip south, I traveled with another person. I unintentionally suggested an idea to him: evacuate the people of Lingzhou County and sacrifice Lingzhou as a buffer when the flood comes to protect..."“Was this your idea?” Old Master Zhu interrupted her, his eyes showing a strange light. Everyone in the court knew that the once-in-decades disaster had been so easily avoided because the Seven Constellation Bureau had prepared in advance. The brilliant strategy of sacrificing the small city of Lingzhou to protect the larger cities had successfully reduced losses to the lowest in history. He had praised it highly at the time, but he never expected that the one who came up with the idea was actually Zhi Er?! Thinking back to what she had just mentioned, did that mean Zhi Er had formed connections with the Seven Constellation Bureau?
“That’s not what I came to discuss with you,” Hua Zhi evaded the main point. “Now, the Emperor is intent on leaving a legacy and wants to excavate a grand canal starting from Lingzhou. Although the plan has been suppressed for certain reasons, it could be brought up again at any moment. You control the entire treasury of Daqing—you’ll undoubtedly be the first one approached. You absolutely must not agree to it.”
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