The scholar swiftly boarded the carriage and knelt to one side, bowing his head as he respectfully placed the basket within easy reach of the person opposite. "Your Majesty, this is what the Hua family has provided."
No one had expected the Emperor to come here. He lifted the window curtain and gazed toward the Hua family's entrance. "No other message?"
"Correct. Hua Baiyu is overseeing this matter. Beyond the initial remarks, there was nothing further."
The residences in the southern part of the city were not poor by any means, but that depended on what one compared them to. The Emperor had visited the Hua family in Hualin Alley, and compared to that, this place seemed rather shabby. Yet for a family that had been confiscated and exiled, this was already remarkably decent.
The Emperor suddenly smiled. His curiosity about that eldest young lady grew stronger. He had initially thought she would appear today, but instead she had sent a child to take charge. Such an approach was truly unconventional.
Lai Fu dared not raise his eyes, his palms already damp with sweat. The Emperor had originally tasked him with monitoring the situation but had abruptly changed his mind to see it for himself. Lai Fu didn't know if the Emperor had lost trust in him, and this made him deeply uneasy.
If he lost the Emperor's trust, only death awaited him.
"Open it and let me see."
Lai Fu instantly snapped back to attention, steadying his hands as he removed the oil paper covering the basket, revealing three blue-patterned porcelain jars on white bases.
Glancing up at the Emperor, Lai Fu opened each jar in sequence from left to right, then lifted the first one for the Emperor to inspect.
The Emperor glanced inside, fished out a piece of fried dough, and examined it thoroughly. He broke it apart with force, sniffed it, and brought it to his lips to take a bite.
"Your Majesty!" the scholar and Lai Fu cried out in unison. Lai Fu extended both hands. "Your Majesty, please allow this old servant to taste it first."
Ignoring them both, the Emperor took a small bite. Crispy, fragrant—hm, not bad. He took another bite.
Lai Fu's heart pounded so fiercely he felt it might leap from his throat!
The Emperor, however, chuckled. "Even if she wanted to poison me, she wouldn't use so many scholars as collateral."
"Your Majesty is wise."
The Emperor offered no response, returning the fried dough to the jar.
Lai Fu set the jar down and lifted the second one.
The Emperor retrieved a piece of Dried Meat. "If I recall correctly, the Hua family should still be in mourning."
"Yes," the scholar replied. "This subordinate has verified that although the Hua family prepared this Dried Meat, no one has broken the abstinence. Even the eldest young lady of the Hua family only chewed and spat it out to confirm its quality."
After a pause, the scholar added, "This subordinate inquired carefully—the Hua family has not consumed any meat for nearly a year."
The Emperor seemed not to hear, tearing off a piece of the Dried Meat and placing it in his mouth. Slowly, piece by piece, he finished the entire portion without realizing it, even feeling a lingering desire for more.
Still, the Emperor's self-control was commendable. His gaze shifted to the third jar.
The scholar glanced over and hurriedly explained, "This one I know—it's Fruit preserves devised by the eldest young lady of the Hua family. They were once sold at Yunlai Tavern and became quite popular for a time."
As it was inconvenient to eat at the moment, the Emperor merely gave it a long look before turning away, lifting the window curtain once more to gaze outside.The line had shortened, but the number of people hadn't decreased. Many scholars holding baskets or having servants carry them for them lingered, intentionally or unintentionally glancing toward the Hua family's main gate. They all guessed that the Eldest Miss was behind that door, yet no one dared to act presumptuously. While hoping, they also felt a faint disappointment—they had expected the Eldest Miss to appear today.
As the line gradually dwindled until the last person received a basket, the Eldest Miss still hadn't shown herself. Only then did everyone realize she truly had no intention of appearing today, and they dispersed in small groups.
Hua Baiyu, however, didn't rush back inside. He remained waiting behind the table for any possible latecomers. Elder Sister had instructed him to wait for half a day.
Noticing a carriage departing in the distance, he paid it no mind and turned to his younger brothers. "No need for everyone to wait here anymore. Those eight years and older can stay; the rest should go rest."
No one insisted on staying. After all this time, most of them had little strength left, especially Zeng Han. Being the youngest and with the weakest constitution, his legs were trembling, yet he stubbornly refused to show any weakness. It wasn't until he could barely walk steadily that others noticed, and two older children supported him on either side as they headed inside.
In the courtyard, the same number of people who had gone out earlier remained. Hua Zhi's gentle gaze swept over each of them, lingering a moment longer on Xiao Han, though she didn't approach. Softly, she said, "You've all worked hard. Go eat something and rest properly."
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Zeng Han was still being supported. After the incident with the Wei Family, everyone had accepted Zeng Han, who stood with them on the same side. Today's shared experience further solidified their bond, and unconsciously, they had come to regard him as part of the family, instinctively giving him extra care due to his young age.
Hua Zhi was pleased with this outcome. Affection grows through shared experiences, and it would only improve with time.
"Go inform Baiyu to have them take turns coming in for some food."
Steward Xu hurried off personally to deliver the message, while Li De directed others to tidy up the remaining baskets in the courtyard.
"Everyone may disperse. There won't be many more people coming later."
Chen Momo, knowing the Eldest Miss was open to suggestions, hesitated before asking, "Eldest Miss, will we not be making those items anymore?"
"Not for now. If we treat this as a business venture, relying solely on you all won't be enough. We'd need to establish a workshop, but currently, I must prioritize the seafood side. I haven't decided whether to pursue this yet."
Chen Momo felt somewhat disappointed. She and the others were Old Madam's people, and the Eldest Miss had kindly taken them under her wing. However, the Eldest Miss already had capable helpers she trusted, leaving them with little to do all day. They had hoped that continuing this work would allow them to contribute rather than idly eat without laboring. Ah!
Hua Zhi quickly grasped her thoughts, but she truly had no immediate plans to expand this venture. Lack of manpower was one reason; another was that the target customers for these items were quite specific—merchants, escort agencies, travelers, and others who frequently journeyed outdoors. The market was neither large nor small, and there were many alternatives available, making it less appealing to her.
In truth, these items had an ideal outlet, but that decision wasn't hers to make. She had no desire to let others profit easily, especially since the one in charge wasn't Yan Xi. Thus, she saw no need to scheme for it.However, these elderly servants had been with my grandmother for decades, and having them spend their days on trivial matters was truly a waste. After some thought, Hua Zhi said, "I wonder if you would be willing to take charge and manage some affairs for me."
Chen Momo's eyes lit up. "Young Miss, just give the order."
"The seafood shop is about to open, and I need someone to oversee the seafood for me. However, the tasks are tedious, the varieties are numerous, and there are many details to pay attention to. I'm just worried, Chen Momo..."
"This servant will go!" After speaking, Chen Momo realized she had interrupted the young miss and quickly bowed to apologize.
Hua Zhi gestured for her to rise. "I will list out the key points to pay attention to. You must commit them to memory carefully."
"Yes, this servant will definitely keep a close watch for you."
PS: Some are still asking about the Weibo name: Author Kong Liu on Migu.
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