"Is it the Wei Family?" Hua Zhi was surprised, yet not entirely. Whenever princes contended for the throne, officials had to choose sides. Few had the confidence to remain neutral, and the Wei Family was certainly not among them.
Clearly, the Wei Family had sided with the Fourth Prince. Unfortunately, Lord Wei’s judgment was poor. Though he aimed for meritorious service for supporting the emperor, he was discarded as a pawn before the storm even began.
Indeed, what a perfect shield. Everyone in the capital knew of the discord between the Hua and Wei families. At the Pure Conversation Gathering, Hua Zhi had humiliated the Wei Family, so it was barely plausible that they would seek revenge against her.
But who said things had to unfold this way?
"Stand down. Let this matter rest here."
Chen Qing looked at the young mistress in confusion. "But the Wei Family…"
"Wei Jing, despite having lost the emperor’s favor, remains a high-ranking official. If I insist on pursuing this, once the emperor learns the truth, he will have no choice but to punish the Wei Family—both to appease me and to satisfy the court officials watching this matter. The court’s stance is inward-focused, but when facing external threats, they unite. If I, the daughter of a convicted criminal, force the court to suffer a loss, any goodwill they held toward me will vanish. This is an obvious trap."
Hua Zhi chuckled lightly. "Perhaps my aggressive demeanor over the past year has led them to believe I’ve lost my senses—that I’d recklessly seek vengeance without considering the consequences."
Chen Qing suddenly understood. He hadn’t considered this layer before, and a flicker of admiration crossed his eyes.
"Let this matter end here. Those who need to know already understand the truth, and our objective has been achieved."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi stood and took a few steps, leaning on the table for support. "Any news on the investigation into the wise men of the Chao Li Tribe?"
"Probably not so soon. If it were that easy to uncover, they wouldn’t have eluded the Seven Constellation Bureau for so many years."
True. Hua Zhi nodded. "Any unusual activity in Jin Yang?"
"The situation is highly favorable. The Peng Family’s newly opened gambling dens are packed with customers. The other side is growing anxious. Zheng Xing has met with Peng Fangming several times, reportedly using both persuasion and pressure. Our master has yet to agree."
"I plan to visit Jin Yang in a few days." Seeing Chen Qing’s startled expression, Hua Zhi smiled. "What? Can’t I go?"
"No, of course you can. The master will be very pleased to see you."
"Don’t inform him in advance."
"Yes, I understand."
Her wound ached faintly, with a hint of itchiness. Hua Zhi sat back down, sipped her tea, and pondered for a moment. "Steward Chen, I’d like to deploy your men for a task."
"Of course. Please give the order."
"The Flame Country has abundant grain, and I covet it greatly. I want to send a trade delegation to purchase supplies. As far as I know, trade between our two countries is permitted."
Chen Qing nodded. "Yes, even during past conflicts, trade was never banned. How much grain do you intend to purchase? I’ll determine the size of the delegation accordingly."
"As much as possible. Not just rice—buy large quantities of bran and wheat as well. Find a way to transport everything to the capital and store it secretly. No one must know." Recalling the tunnel warfare strategies she had once studied, Hua Zhi smiled. "We can take inspiration from my estate and make use of underground spaces. As long as we ensure moisture and water protection, storing the grain for a year or so shouldn’t be a problem."
"Young Mistress, you’re planning to…""Consider it my unnecessary worry, but making extra preparations never hurts." Hua Zhi glanced at Ying Chun, who handed over a key. "I have stockpiled a large amount of broken silver in a residence in the eastern part of the city. Use it to acquire necessary supplies—a merchant convoy should look the part."
Chen Qing accepted the key. He wasn’t foolish; he understood what the young lady intended. Over the past year, he had noticed more than once that she often prepared for the worst-case scenario. The most recent instance was their trip to the estate: though there had been no signs of trouble beforehand, she had made thorough preparations, enabling them to turn danger into safety when surrounded.
He believed in her words—making extra preparations never hurts. Besides, goods like grain would always find a use.
"When do you plan to depart?" he asked.
"You stay with Little Six. I will travel by boat. Once I arrive, Yan Xi will provide protection, and I will take Shaoyao with me. You need not worry."
Chen Qing disagreed. "But my orders are to accompany you."
"Little Six cannot afford any mishaps. He started later than his brothers, and his foundation is weak. This is the stage when he most needs support. I will speak to Yan Xi about this. You focus on staying here with peace of mind. Moreover, matters here require your oversight—I don’t trust anyone else with them."
"...Understood."
Five days later, Hua Zhi set off quietly from the capital with minimal luggage, accompanied only by Shaoyao and Bao Xia.
The Emperor, of course, was aware. He suddenly laughed and said to Lai Fu, "She truly knows how to adapt. She preserved the Fourth Prince’s dignity, created a rift between Wei Jing and the Fourth Prince, and earned praise from countless people. How did that stubborn old man Hua Yizheng raise such a shrewd one?"
Noting the Emperor’s good mood, Lai Fu chimed in playfully, "I suspect even Old Master Hua is puzzled—the young lady’s temperament really doesn’t seem like that of the Hua family."
The Emperor suddenly thought of Hua Jingyan, the man mentioned twice in the founding emperor’s final words. According to court records, Hua Jingyan was someone who defied convention, and Hua Zhi did resemble him in that regard.
However, her actions this time surprised him. Wasn’t she worried that by letting the Fourth Prince off lightly, there might be a next time? Wasn’t she afraid others would follow suit to assert authority over her?
As for the idea of her going to Yan Xi to complain, the Emperor dismissed it. Even though Yan Xi was in Jin Yang, he would surely be aware of events in the capital—there was no need for Hua Zhi to travel so far to report. Given her nature, she probably had no intention of relying on others to fight her battles. More likely, she was setting a trap somewhere, waiting for the Fourth Prince to stumble into it.
The Emperor had no intention of warning his son. After all, she wouldn’t take the Fourth Prince’s life—it would be good for him to learn a lesson. Acting so recklessly, unable to outmaneuver even a woman—how could he aspire to the throne?
A eunuch announced from outside, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince requests an audience."
"Little Six? Let him in."
"Yes."
Little Six entered carrying a basket. After paying respects, he handed the basket to Lai Fu.
The Emperor raised his eyebrows at the contents. "What is the meaning of this?"
"My mentor lent me the personnel who make Crisp Noodles and Dried Meat, along with a warehouse of flour and pork, and several chests of silver. She said that as a subject of Daqing, she wishes to contribute to the nation’s efforts."The Emperor remained silent for a long time, and Little Six also lowered his head in silence. He resented it—how could he not? One by one, all those close to him had left, leaving him alone in the capital. And the one who had caused this situation was none other than his own father. When he bid farewell to his master, only he himself knew how desperately he wanted to abandon his duties and follow along. He did not want to be left behind—not even a little.
Yet he still had to stay. His master had said that this was his battlefield.
PS: Starting from the next chapter, we'll address the matters on Jin Yang's side. I've tried several openings but none worked—I've been revising to death. I'll mull over it one more night and see if any new ideas come tomorrow. The further I write, the more I fear the story falling apart. I'm losing so much hair I'm almost bald...
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