The warm meal finally soothed the clawing hunger in her stomach. Hua Zhi inwardly mocked herself—she was fortunate to have been born into the affluent Hua family; had she been born into a poor household, she wouldn't have known how to cope.
Seeing her exhausted expression, Yu Mu said softly, "Jin Yang is now fully under our control. Why not rest for a while?"
Hua Zhi shook her head. She was only afraid that time was insufficient, that her arrangements weren't meticulous enough and would hold Yan Xi back. How could she afford to slack off and rest at such a moment?
Still, sitting still after eating did make her drowsy. Hua Zhi stood up and stepped outside. The cold wind blew away most of her sleepiness, instantly refreshing and clearing her mind.
"Where is Zhu Ling?"
"I tied him up and left him in the room next door. He has been operating in Jin Yang for many years—I can only feel at ease keeping him under close watch."
"Take me to him." Whether from historical records or generations of tales about the Chao Li Tribe, this ethnic group had been mythologized. She wanted to meet him face-to-face and see what made them so extraordinary.
However, upon seeing Zhu Ling—who was of average height and looked no different from the people of Daqing—Hua Zhi realized she had been presumptuous. Zhu Ling was not of pure Chao Li descent; it was precisely because his appearance resembled his maternal lineage that he had been groomed to serve as an insider.
Though bound, Zhu Ling did not struggle. He sat on the floor leaning against a pillar, maintaining a composed demeanor. He did not move even when several people entered.
Bao Xia dragged a chair over and helped her young lady sit down, eyeing the restrained man warily. The day's events had taught her not to let her guard down.
After studying him for a moment, Hua Zhi asked, "Zhu Ling, is your maternal lineage from Daqing, like Yuan Shifang?"
Zhu Ling snorted mockingly. "You know who I am, yet I don't know who you are. Isn't that rather unfair?"
"I am Hua Zhi, granddaughter of Hua Yizheng."
"The former Head of the Hanlin Academy, Old Master Hua?"
Hua Zhi pretended not to notice the underlying implications in his words, her expression unchanged. It was clear that Zhu Ling was not an easy person to deal with. She had almost given up on extracting any useful information from him when he unexpectedly replied, "That's right. My maternal lineage is from Daqing."
"Oh? I'm curious—why do people like you, who are half-Daqing by blood, ultimately choose to side with the Chao Li Tribe? You were born and raised in Daqing, consuming its food, drinking its water, using its resources. Why then do you end up aligning with the Chao Li Tribe?"
Zhu Ling gazed at the ceiling, remaining silent for a moment before answering, "It's simple. Because even if we chose Daqing, we would have no path to survival. The Chao Li Tribe does not tolerate disobedience, and Daqing cannot accept those of us with half-Chao Li blood. Once our identities are exposed, the common people would stone us to death. Given the choice, who would willingly choose death?"
"How can you be sure the Chao Li Tribe will tolerate you even if they conquer the world?"
"We've actually discussed this question," Zhu Ling said with a laugh. "Yuan Shifang said that if we live to see that day, we will surely survive. The Chao Li Kingdom was destroyed because they were too extreme in their actions. If they wish to rebuild their nation, they will inevitably need experienced and intelligent people like us to stabilize the situation and prevent history from repeating itself."Hua Zhi could no longer find words to speak. How helpless, how innocent—they could not choose their origins, nor could they determine their future. They were merely pushed forward by others. To Daqing, they were unforgivable villains, yet to themselves, they were merely struggling to survive.
They had only this one choice.
National righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety—none of these concerned them, for they were neither of the Chao Li Tribe nor Daqing. They leaned on both sides yet were acknowledged by neither. They didn’t even have an object for their loyalty or righteousness.
A sudden impulse surged in Hua Zhi’s heart. “What if I could let you live openly and honorably?”
Zhu Ling was stunned, then shook his head. “You don’t need to set such a trap for me. Ask whatever you want. Yuan Shifang is probably dead. I don’t have his unyielding spirit. As long as you promise to end me swiftly once I’ve outlived my usefulness, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“It’s not a trap.” After the impulse passed, countless thoughts raced through Hua Zhi’s mind. Wasn’t this feasible? Daqing was vast and expansive—what harm was there in allocating a piece of land for them? As for the ensuing issues, couldn’t they simply govern them like ordinary citizens? Some matters seem overwhelmingly difficult and complex in thought, but in practice, they might not be so.
Zhu Ling instinctively tried to stand up, only to be jerked back as he remembered his hands and feet were still bound.
“Untie him.”
Without a word, Yu Mu obeyed and stepped forward. Not only did he untie the man, but he also kicked a chair over, signaling for him to sit. However, Yu Mu did not return to his original position; instead, he stood guard beside Hua Zhi.
Zhu Ling did not want to appear overly eager. After sitting down, he took a moment to compose himself before saying, “You say it’s not a trap. How can you guarantee your words are true?”
Hua Zhi produced the seal of the Seven Constellation Bureau. “With this.”
Zhu Ling recognized the seal, but— “Since when has the Seven Constellation Bureau had a female official?”
“The leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau is my betrothed.”
For any other woman, the title of “betrothed” might not carry much weight. But to entrust her with the seal at such a time was equivalent to handing over the entire city of Jin Yang to her. This was no mere trust; it demonstrated that this woman’s capabilities were substantial enough to bear such a responsibility.
The words of such a person carried far more weight than those of an ordinary individual.
“If I agree, what will you do?”
“From this day forward, you will be citizens of Daqing. You will have a nation to pledge loyalty to, compatriots willing to shelter you, your own fields, and a genuine household registration that belongs to you. No one will ever be able to threaten you because of your identity. You won’t wake from nightmares in fear, nor live in constant anxiety. You can live in peace, just like all the other citizens of Daqing.”
Hua Zhi’s resolute words struck Zhu Ling’s heart one by one. The dreams he had secretly harbored for half his life were now laid out before him—even more than he had ever dared to hope for. So much more that he could scarcely believe it. He feared it was nothing but a delusion.
Hua Zhi lowered her gaze and added another bargaining chip. “I am the Sixth Prince’s tutor. As long as he ultimately ascends to the throne, what you hope for is not difficult to achieve. Of course, the premise is that we all survive the Chao Li Tribe’s invasion. Only then can I fulfill my promise.”"What if the one who ultimately ascends the throne isn't the Sixth Prince?"
"Such a thing will not happen." Hua Zhi looked up, her expression calm as still water, yet her eyes clearly held turbulent waves. If it truly came to that, she would employ extraordinary means to turn the impossible into reality.
Zhu Ling understood the unspoken implications in her words. Precisely because he understood, his unsettled heart finally found peace. Who would willingly choose death when they could live? Especially when living in such an agreeable manner.
Zhu Ling rose and made a deep bow. "All I've ever sought in this life is exactly this. From now on, I shall follow your commands without question."
PS: Merry Christmas Eve. May everyone stay safe and well.
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