Hua Zhi smiled faintly with a hint of irony. "The Emperor may well be aware, but compared to his legacy, the suffering of the people means nothing to him."
"Choose your words carefully," Zhu Bowen cautioned mildly. "Since the Emperor has brought this matter to court, he is determined to act. I fear even the salt merchants won’t be able to stall him."
"Every moment we delay counts. The salt merchants have been entrenched for years, their networks spread throughout the court. It won’t be easy for the Emperor to eliminate them. I’ll use another venture to divert his attention—that should buy us some time. If the double-cropping rice succeeds, we might even have a legitimate reason to delay until next year."
"How likely is it that the double-cropping rice will succeed?"
"It’s quite feasible. The south is different from the north—the soil doesn’t freeze as hard, thaws faster, and cold weather arrives later. The chances of success are high. For Daqing, grain is paramount. With ample grain, soldiers can be well-fed. Even if we dig canals, the people must eat. They can’t survive on thin porridge without grain, nor can we exhaust them all on canal construction. Daqing has only forty million people—we can’t afford such waste."
Zhu Bowen nodded slightly. It all made sense. Any ruler with a shred of reason should see it.
Hua Zhi hesitated, unsure whether to continue. As a commoner, she had no right to opine on many matters, but in her grandfather’s presence, she felt less restrained. After a pause, she ventured, "Could we liaise with the Ministry of War to disallow monetary substitutions for military service this year? If the border situation worsens and war breaks out, conscription will be impossible once canal construction begins."
Zhu Bowen sighed wryly and shook his head. "I can only try to negotiate with Minister Chen. Whether it succeeds is uncertain—there are other complexities involved."
Wasn’t it about who controlled the substitution fees? Hua Zhi understood. Where there are people, there are interests. She had long abandoned the naive belief in loyalty or selflessness—such dreams belonged to her past life.
But without the nation, what use is personal gain? The Chao Li Tribe has always treated outsiders like livestock—do they not know this?
They grasp the grand principles, perhaps better than she does, yet they cling to hope. With the Seven Constellation Bureau shielding them, they assume it will resolve everything eventually. They forget the Bureau’s limited manpower and countless crises to address.
So, what is the purpose of the Seven Constellation Bureau? They bear the brunt of dirty, exhausting work, only to be distrusted, watched, and feared. Wouldn’t it be easier to shed that skin and live freely?
Thinking of Yan Xi, still recovering from injuries yet braving the harsh winter on missions, Hua Zhi seethed. The Emperor’s loud proclamations of valuing him were mere lip service for public ears. To her, it was plain: Yan Xi was useful, so sweet words kept him harnessed like a beast.
Restless, Hua Zhi remembered she was in the presence of an elder. She lifted her teacup to mask her agitation, quietly swallowing her frustration.Zhu Bowen, seasoned and perceptive, had sensed something amiss. His purpose today was to give a heads-up about the Emperor’s likely summons, and having achieved that, he steered clear of further unpleasant topics. Instead, he remarked, “Before I came, your grandmother asked me to inquire whether any of the families previously introduced to you have caught your eye. She’d like to start making arrangements sooner rather than later, lest someone else snatches them up.”
“There certainly are,” Hua Zhi replied with a smile. “Please tell Grandmother that the Yuan and Yu families seem promising. Would she kindly assess which one might suit my second sister better? As for the other family, perhaps she could see if any of my other sisters would be a good match.”
It was rather unusual for an unmarried young woman to concern herself with others’ marriages, yet Hua Zhi shouldered the family’s responsibilities as if it were the most natural thing—and everyone else seemed to think so too. Zhu Bowen felt a pang in his heart, hardened as it was by life’s trials. “Make time to think about your own matters too,” he urged gently. “Don’t just focus on others.”
Hua Zhi chuckled. “My own affairs are hardly within my control. Besides, I’ve no desire to marry into the imperial family and be bound by all those rigid rules. Out here, I can live as I please.”
The elder Zhu frowned at the mention of royal matters. “What does the Heir say?”
“He wishes to formalize an engagement, but I disagree. We must still consider the Emperor’s dignity. None of us are truly free agents, unburdened by ties.”
“You’ve had it hard.”
“Not really. I’m quite content as things are. For me, mutual understanding and affection matter more than a marriage contract.” Moreover, she was only seventeen—in terms of physical age, at least. Hua Zhi felt she’d gained a considerable advantage; not everyone got to relive their teenage years, though neither of her adolescences had been easy.
The next day, Lai Fu arrived as scheduled, accompanied by heavy snow.
Hua Zhi was already prepared and boarded the carriage without keeping Lai Fu waiting. Shaoyao joined her on the journey. Most were aware of her identity and her favor in the palace, so no one dared comment.
Other guards accompanied them as well. Lai Fu, cautious, avoided prolonged contact with Hua Zhi but managed to sneak her a meaningful glance. Hua Zhi understood implicitly: the palace housed an Emperor who disliked her and a Haoyue who viewed her with disdain. This visit wouldn’t be smooth, but it likely wasn’t intended to cause her trouble either.
The Emperor received Hua Zhi in the warm chamber. She wasn’t surprised to see Haoyue there.
“Hua Zhi pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Shaoyao, as usual, performed a military salute.
“Rise, both of you.”
The Emperor seemed somewhat lethargic. Shaoyao instinctively stepped forward to take his pulse, and Hua Zhi took the opportunity to observe him openly. His complexion… appeared slightly improved.
The Emperor seemed taken aback by Shaoyao’s gesture but then smiled, patting her hand with his other one. Shaoyao rolled her eyes dramatically.
Haoyue laughed from the side. “Our Shaoyao is truly unpretentious.”
“I’d take that as an insult,” Shaoyao retorted before half-closing her eyes to concentrate on the pulse. Haoyue bit back a reply, not daring to interrupt the physician’s examination in the Emperor’s presence, though her smile remained unwavering.
“Your Majesty, you know me—I either speak the truth or stay silent. Do you wish to hear the truth?” Shaoyao withdrew her hand and asked.
The Emperor rotated his wrist, his expression inscrutable. “When have I ever refused to listen to you?”Haoyue pointed at the other Haoyue, "Before she entered the palace, Your Majesty's health was improving. After she entered the palace, your condition has been deteriorating day by day. I will speak with the Empress Dowager and have her confine Haoyue."
Haoyue never expected her to say such words and immediately changed countenance, forgetting the dignified demeanor she always maintained. "What nonsense! How could I possibly harm the Emperor? What benefit would that bring me? Clearly..."
Haoyue abruptly stopped speaking.
The Emperor then asked, "Clearly what? Finish your sentence."
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