In a residence in the northern part of Jin Yang City, Gu Yanxi finished reading the letter and opened the box that had been delivered along with it. The White Jade Mahjong felt smooth and pleasant to the touch. Such a novel item would likely be well-received in Jin Yang City.
He closed the lid of the box with a heavy thud, his expression darkening. It would be better if it weren’t welcomed.
“Summon Wang Hai.”
Before long, Wang Hai pushed the door open and entered. “Master.”
“Deliver this box of Mahjong to Peng Fangming. Teach them the rules as well. And... it’s time to start preparing.”
“Yes.”
The room fell into silence once more—a silence so profound that even Gu Yanxi, who was accustomed to quiet, found it unbearable. It was then that he realized he had lost much of his former patience. He had, without being taught, learned to yearn. His mind and heart were now occupied by someone, thoughts of her surfacing frequently. He wondered if she was well, if she had fallen ill, what astonishing things she might have done lately. He worried that the Emperor might trouble her, feared that she might suffer setbacks in places unknown to him...
He... wanted to return to the capital.
He wanted to return to where A Zhi was.
Far away in the capital, Hua Zhi suddenly pressed a hand to her chest. How strange—she had never suffered from heart palpitations before. What could this sudden discomfort mean? Had something happened to Yanxi?
“What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
Hua Zhi shook her head with a faint smile, suppressing her thoughts. Today, she was meeting with Madam Sun to discuss matters. Now was not the time to dwell on such things. Later, she would ask Chen Qing about the progress in Jin Yang.
Gritting her teeth subtly, Hua Zhi steadied herself and said, “Why do you, like everyone else, call me ‘Eldest Miss’? It’s embarrassing.”
“I think it’s quite fitting. Whether young or old, man or woman, everyone addresses you this way. It’s a remarkable acknowledgment.” Madam Sun’s well-maintained face wore a warm smile. She genuinely felt that this young woman had brought honor to their gender. From Hua Zhi, she had also come to realize that while societal norms and laws were ever-present, they did not necessarily bind those with true capability. People inherently revered strength—it was an innate trait.
It was a pity she had realized this too late. Over the years, her once-fiery temperament had been tempered, and she had become a composed matriarch, no different from the countless women confined to inner households.
Sighing inwardly, Madam Sun turned to the matter at hand. “Any news from Qingzhou?”
“I received a letter from Berlin after the New Year, saying progress is promising. However, it hasn’t yet met my requirements, so I dare not present it.”
“So, Little Six will return soon?”
“That should be the case.”
Madam Sun breathed a sigh of relief. “To be honest, every time Little Six leaves the capital, I feel uneasy. Even if he were right under my nose, I might not be able to protect him fully, but at least I’d feel somewhat reassured.”
“Rest assured, Little Six’s safety is our top priority as well. The Sun family’s people are in plain sight, while Yanxi’s men operate in the shadows, ensuring his protection to the greatest extent.” Hua Zhi rose and sat beside Madam Sun, lowering her voice. “I prefer to plan for the worst. For us now, having a retreat is most crucial.”
Hua Zhi bowed her head, cradling the teacup and turning it in her hands. “Let me be frank with you. Before the New Year, I secretly sent people to the Xuzhou shipyard to commission a ship—one capable of sailing the seas. So, water transport must remain in the hands of our own people—those we can trust absolutely.”Xuzhou? Madam Sun's heart brightened—yes, Xuzhou was the Lu family's stronghold. Just as the Sun family and Little Six were inextricably bound together on the same boat, so were the Duke of An and The Heir. And now that The Heir stood on Little Six's side, this escape route was for all of them!
This girl from the Hua family was already preparing for another outcome for Little Six.
"Yesterday I received a letter from my husband. He said he harbors no ill will toward tigers, yet must guard against their intent to harm. Guarding the Shou'ai Pass for years, he cannot return home nor see his family. He fears not dying for his country—what he fears is Little Six losing support after his death, and our grandmother and grandson being bullied. Even someone as stubborn and rigid as him is now thinking of finding us an escape route. I dare not imagine how deeply disappointed he must be in the person sitting on that throne all these years."
Lowering her head to sip tea, Madam Sun suppressed a sob. When she looked up, her eyes were red-rimmed. "My husband sent a troop of personal guards back. They haven't entered the city—he asked me to consult you on how best to deploy them."
"Without appearing in the capital? How many exactly?"
"One hundred total, stationed at my estate outside the city. They arrived in separate groups—no one knows." Madam Sun looked at her meaningfully. "They've served my husband for a long time, trained personally by him. Far superior to ordinary soldiers."
Countless thoughts flashed through Hua Zhi's mind. A hundred skilled fighters could accomplish much. Yet ultimately, she made no decision, instead returning the question: "What had the Sun family originally planned for them?"
"These were men my husband trained for Little Six. We initially thought to have them follow Little Six. I suppose the young lady has better arrangements in mind?"
"I hope these men remain in the shadows, unseen."
Madam Sun raised an eyebrow. "Like the Emperor's shadow guards?"
"Similar. We need to keep some cards hidden."
"Makes sense. We'll follow your suggestion—let them disappear into the shadows."
After seeing Madam Sun off, Hua Zhi emerged from the food shop unhurried.
The weather was splendid today, the sun hanging high. Though black, unmelted snow remained along the roadsides and everything was too damp for comfortable footing, both Green Moss Alley and Oriole Cloud Alley were packed with crowds. Just watching them made winter seem nearly over, giving hope that spring would soon arrive.
Sitting in her carriage watching the scene, Hua Zhi felt less cold.
"Just endure this period," she thought. "Endure until the weather warms and I won't feel so miserable. Endure until Little Six is established, and I'll have survived the hardest part."
She dreamed of returning to her former leisurely days.
Though she hadn't dreamed in ages—with barely enough time to sleep, where would she find time to dream?
"I thought this carriage looked like yours." The voice came as Zhu Ziwen approached, catching his cousin's uncharacteristically languid expression before she could conceal it. His usually efficient cousin actually had this side?
Hua Zhi quickly sat up to disembark, but Zhu Ziwen stopped her. "It's filthy—don't come down."
"Cousin, what brings you here?" Hua Zhi didn't insist, merely shifting outward slightly. Flecks of sunlight fell upon her, making the fine hairs on her face visible and her complexion appear even fairer and more lovely."I came with my classmates to buy some snacks." Zhu Ziwen lowered the curtain and said to his classmates behind him: "I happened to run into my cousin. Let me have a word with her first. You go ahead and do the shopping - I'll catch up with you later."
The four scholars exchanged glances, all looking somewhat excited. One of them asked in a hushed voice, "Is that the eldest daughter of the Hua family?"
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