Little Six felt a heavy weight in his heart. If he were to leave at such a time, he would feel like a despicable deserter.
"Do you think this is some kind of pleasure trip? You'll have to ride hard through the bitter cold of winter, and once you reach Qingzhou, you must return as quickly as possible with results—that’s if everything goes smoothly. If not, the waiting alone will be enough to drive you mad." Gu Yanxi spoke slowly, his tone less like reassurance and more like intimidation.
Surprisingly, Little Six felt more at ease hearing this and nodded, "I’ll make it as quick as possible."
"Convincing the Emperor to let you leave the capital will depend entirely on your own skills."
"His Majesty will agree. He’s desperate to bring in large sums of silver."
That was true. Hua Zhi chuckled, "Now it seems we’re all exploiting this weakness of his. Let’s hope it remains effective for a long time."
Just then, Ying Chun entered with several maids, carrying tea, fruits, pastries, and snacks, filling the table until it resembled a tea party. The cozy atmosphere made Hua Zhi relax completely.
Having been inside for a while, she finally felt warm and took off her cloak, handing it to Liu Xiang. "It’s the New Year—there’s no need for you all to rush around like spinning tops. When you have time, gather around the stove, eat, drink, and share some laughter. That’s what the New Year should be like."
The maids laughed in unison, their voices crisp as they agreed.
Little Six lowered his head and smiled too. What was family? This was it. Even the maids made him feel at ease. For him, his New Year was only just beginning.
From the third day of the New Year, the back-and-forth visits began. Hua Zhi went to the Qin family, and as soon as she saw the patriarch, she understood their stance.
Looking at his younger sister’s eldest granddaughter, the old man felt a pang of pity and gestured for her to sit closer. He teased lightly, "This year is likely to be full of storms and turmoil."
"Just storms—they’ll pass eventually," Hua Zhi replied with a soft smile. "Whether it’s the Hua family or the Qin family, we’re not saplings that can be blown away by a gust of wind."
"Well said. How is The Heir’s health?"
"He’s doing fine."
The old man suddenly laughed. "After the Hua family’s misfortune, when you stepped up to support the household, I tried for a long time to recall what you were like before. Strangely, I could hardly remember. Back then, your two younger sisters were the ones who brought fame to the Hua family. Very few in the capital had ever seen the eldest Hua daughter, and there were even rumors that you were unattractive. Yet you endured it all, paying no mind and living your life as usual. Your grandmother would shake her head whenever she spoke of it. Who would have thought that in the end, you would be the one with the most resilience?"
"I’m not as remarkable as you say. I was simply forced to move forward. My mother couldn’t bear the responsibility, so as her daughter, I had to shoulder some of it."
The old man shook his head, not arguing with her. A closer look at her actions over the past year revealed a carefully orchestrated plan. The people she chose to partner with in business might not hold much real power, but they were all well-established and of good character. She maintained an appropriate distance from scholars and students, positioning herself as a target to keep the Hua family in people’s minds without arousing resentment.
The Emperor valued her talent for making money, so she created The Seventh Division. Not only did she avert a crisis, but she also used it to gain an extra layer of protection. Thanks to this safeguard, she could sit here peacefully now, instead of being arrested and charged by an infuriated Emperor. Moreover, with the affection of The Heir, who led the Seven Constellation Bureau, she was no longer an ordinary figure. Even without the Hua name, no one would dare underestimate her.As a woman, to have reached this level of burgeoning influence is truly remarkable. Given more time, her achievements would likely have far surpassed this.
"Although the Qin family has declined in power, having been rooted in the capital for many years, we still have some connections. Should you ever need assistance, do not hesitate to ask."
"I won't stand on ceremony with you, Uncle. When the time comes that I must ask, I trust you will aid me."
"We share a common destiny, rest assured."
Hua Zhi rose and bowed solemnly. For the Qin family to offer such a promise clearly indicated they had made their choice.
"Might I ask where Aunt is? I should pay my respects."
"She returned to her maternal home on the second day of the month and has not yet come back. There's no need for such formalities among family." Old Master Qin changed the subject, and Hua Zhi naturally did not press further, following his lead.
With people waiting for her at home, Hua Zhi returned after lunch.
When she entered the room, Yan Xi and Little Six were deep in conversation. Upon seeing her, both faces broke into similar smiles, with Little Six appearing particularly excited.
"Has everyone taken their afternoon rest?"
"They sleep enough as it is these days." Gu Yanxi propped himself up slightly, his wounds concealed beneath his clothes. From the outside, one would never guess he was injured.
Hua Zhi tucked an extra quilt behind him to make him more comfortable and briefly recounted her visit to the Qin family.
Gu Yanxi watched her lips move, his mind wandering to the softness he remembered from their kiss. "The Qin family currently holds no real power, so their decline is inevitable. If they can successfully cultivate double-cropping rice and shift their position, things might improve."
"That won't happen until the latter half of the year at the earliest." Hua Zhi rose and walked to the desk, rolling up her sleeves to pour water and grind ink. She was quite confident about double-cropping rice—it was common practice in the southern regions in later times, so there was no reason it wouldn't work here.
Little Six followed her and took over the ink-grinding task, watching as Hua Jie spread out a large sheet of xuan paper to draw a relationship chart.
The most trustworthy families were the Zhu Family, Lu Family, and Sun Family—their backgrounds made betrayal impossible. Next came the discerning Qin Family, followed by the in-law Cai Family. The Jiang Family and General Zhou, with whom she had built business relationships, could also be relied upon. Other connections, however, remained too superficial.
Setting down her brush, Hua Zhi frowned. It might seem impressive at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was far from enough.
She still needed to weave that network. If she encountered unfavorable situations, having them subtly steer the court's discourse could potentially turn things in her favor.
It was time to vigorously pursue business.
But she needed to carefully consider what business to engage in and how to do it, ensuring the Emperor wouldn't view her as merely lining her own pockets.
"A Zhi?"
Hua Zhi snapped out of her thoughts, picked up the xuan paper, and brought it to the bedside for him to see.
"Clear and straightforward. The Seven Constellation Bureau should learn from this..." Gu Yanxi suddenly fell silent. Whether the Seven Constellation Bureau would remain under his control was still uncertain.
Hua Zhi pretended not to notice, leaning closer until their heads nearly touched. "With only these few families to rely on, it's far too few."
"You've already achieved much. After all, you've only been strategizing for a year at most—don't rush." Gu Yanxi sighed helplessly. "Can you name many others? As the Heir, I've been secluded for years, and the head of the Seven Constellation Bureau is an isolated minister. Aside from the Lu Family, I have almost no other connections. Compared to me, you're already in a much better position.""I don't feel happy about winning against you." Hua Zhi handed the rice paper to Little Six. "You should write this down too, it might come in handy someday."
Little Six obediently agreed, not mentioning that she had already recorded everything while Hua Zhi was writing. She truly wrote it all down again with genuine care.
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