The happiest person to learn that Hua Zhi wasn't going was Little Six. To him, the Hua family only felt like home when Sister Hua was there.
For Hua Zhi, however, this meant suddenly having large stretches of free time, leaving her momentarily unsure how to spend it.
After spending half a day with her mother and listening to her maids report on business matters, the day was still far from over. Hua Zhi reflected on how she had lived her first fifteen years but could no longer recall how those days had passed. Truly, different environments brought different states of mind.
Of course, she wasn't truly idle. The Emperor would have been delighted if she could conjure gold and silver mountains overnight—she simply had no intention of exerting herself. Why should she give her all for someone who wanted her dead? Planning for herself, however, was another matter.
After staying in the rear courtyard for a day, she attended the clan school the next morning to resume classes that had been interrupted for some time, then retreated back into her study.
The matter in Yuzhou had been delayed repeatedly. Even if she couldn't go alone, she could at least make some preparations...
Wait!
Why couldn't she go alone? Who said she couldn't? Hadn't she traveled south before on a whim? Yuzhou was only three days from the capital, whereas her previous trip to Zhenyang had taken nearly half a month.
Hua Zhi groaned and thumped her head heavily on the desk. She used to think the saying "love makes people weak" was an excuse used by those already weak, but now she understood. Though Yan Xi had never demanded anything of her, she had unconsciously placed herself in a position of needing protection, forgetting that she had weathered storms alone this past year.
She had actually started seeing herself as weak. How absurd. Most women are defeated by emotions—there was truth in that saying.
Taking a deep breath, Hua Zhi told herself: emotions aside, she couldn't heap all her burdens on Yan Xi. If she did, how would she differ from those women who used men to get what they wanted?
First and foremost, she was an independent person—Hua Zhi.
She wasn't some dodder vine, incapable of standing on her own. She and Yan Xi should support each other, not have her rely solely on him, becoming a burden without even realizing it.
Her previously relaxed nerves tensed again as she dismissed all thoughts of leisure and focused entirely on Yuzhou.
Unfolding the topographic map, Hua Zhi studied Jin Yang, the prefectural city of Yuzhou. The Chao Li Tribe's exposure had begun in Yuzhou, and subsequent incidents repeatedly involved the region, which was why Yan Xi suspected the tribe's hidden stronghold in Daqing was located there.
Yuzhou was close to the capital, and Jin Yang had once been called "Little Capital," evident in its bustle and prosperity. Rooting out their traces in such a vast place was difficult, so even the Seven Constellation Bureau could only narrow down the search area repeatedly.
Engage in business?
They would surely have no patience for small ventures. What brought quick money? Nothing but prostitution, gambling, and drugs—though drugs weren't available here, prostitution and gambling were both possibilities. Where there was light, there was darkness; the two coexisted and could never be fully eradicated. Such businesses undoubtedly had official protection—exactly what the Chao Li Tribe needed for cover.
If that were truly the case...
Hua Zhi frowned. She had no desire to engage in shady dealings. So what kind of business could she run to connect with them without raising suspicion?Businesses related to gambling dens don't seem to be any cleaner than gambling itself. If they were to build their venture around gambling, Hua Zhi felt quite confident recalling the myriad of sophisticated gambling methods from later generations. However, if they were to take this path, she couldn't personally intervene, nor could it be connected to her in any way. The Hua family's century-old reputation for integrity must not be destroyed by her hands.
Liu Xiang quietly replaced the tea, and Hua Zhi held the cup in her palms to warm them, continuing to untangle threads from the messy situation.
This was just one possibility—the other party might not actually be taking this route. She needed to consider other business ventures, but deciding what to do would require a trip to Jin Yang first to survey the market.
"Liu Xiang, please invite Mr. Wang here."
"Yes."
Wang Rong was in the front courtyard and arrived quickly.
"I need to go to Yuzhou in two days. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to accompany me, Mr. Wang."
Wang Rong hadn't expected the young mistress to travel far so soon after the Heir's departure. He tactfully advised, "It looks like it's about to snow. If we get stranded on the road, we might face difficulties."
Pretending not to catch his underlying meaning, Hua Zhi made the decision directly: "The freshly fallen snow won't be too heavy. Rather than waiting two days, we'll leave tomorrow."
Wang Rong had no choice but to agree. After leaving the room, he immediately went to report to Chen Qing.
Chen Qing naturally knew what business the young mistress had in Yuzhou. After some thought, he said, "You stay and guard the Hua family. I'll have Jia Yang and Yu Mu accompany the young mistress."
"Isn't two people insufficient?"
"Two openly, but I'll arrange several more in secret." If he weren't needed to manage affairs in the capital, Chen Qing would have wanted to go personally. The young mistress never had a smooth journey whenever she traveled, and he was truly uneasy, fearing she might suffer some disadvantage while the Heir was away. After all, there wasn't another Hua Zhi in this world who could make the Heir care so deeply.
Upon hearing that Sister Hua was going to Yuzhou, Little Six immediately expressed his desire to follow, justifying it convincingly: "Staying by Sister Hua's side is more useful than reading books at home for a year or two."
Hua Zhi thought it over and agreed. Little Six wasn't a scholar—understanding worldly affairs was more useful to him than studying. With everything that needed selling in the capital already sold and deserved merits obtained, his temporary absence wouldn't have much impact.
However, she added, "I can go anywhere, but you need to find a good reason to convince that one first."
Hua Zhi pointed upward, her meaning clear.
Little Six nodded, "I'll return to the palace right away. But if Father asks about you, Sister Hua..."
"Just tell him I'm going for business."
"Alright."Little Six quickly thought of a reason: Sister Hua was now practically his half-teacher—surely his father wouldn't stop him from learning beside his teacher."
The Emperor indeed had no intention of stopping. He was more interested in what business Hua Zhi planned to conduct that couldn't be done in the capital and required traveling to Yuzhou.
Little Six kept his head lowered and pleaded ignorance to all questions, so the Emperor dismissed him. To Lai Fu, he said, "Send people to follow them."
"Yes."
Haoyue, who had been quietly peeling oranges nearby, offered a perfectly peeled and cleaned orange segment to the Emperor's lips, casually remarking, "I've heard the name Hua Zhi mentioned several times since I entered the palace. She sounds quite capable."
"Capable?" The Emperor snorted lightly. "If her abilities weren't exactly useful to me, I would have taken her life long ago.""
Haoyue lowered her gaze and continued peeling the orange, saying, "If she can be of use to you, her abilities must be considerable. Why do you seem to dislike her?""Hah, my nephew would rather turn against me for her sake, and I'm supposed to thank her?"
Haoyue's orange-peeling fingers paused almost imperceptibly before resuming their motion. She lowered her gaze to conceal the grief and indignation within.
It was actually true—just as the Fourth Prince had said, while coaxing her along, he had been carrying on an affair with Hua Zhi!
How foolish she had been to think he treated her differently from others. Had she not trusted him, she would never have followed him to the capital, much less ended up entering the palace as a consort!
Gu Yanxi! Hua Zhi!
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