Zhao Jingyu grew increasingly resentful the more he thought about it. If he could present this silver through his own hands, wouldn't the credit be recorded under his name? Hadn't the Seven Constellation Bureau accumulated enough merits over the years? Yet they never seemed to gain any tangible benefits—better to let him reap the rewards instead.
Embodying the shameless conduct of officialdom, Lord Zhao approached two steps closer and said with an ingratiating smile, "You've worked hard these past days, Miss. Why not go ahead first? I'll have people help load the silver onto the ship and catch up later."
"No need for Lord Zhao's assistance." Hua Zhi toyed with the official seal and continued nonchalantly, "Besides the silver, I'll also be taking Lord Zhu and Lord Xu from the archives."
Having faced several rejections already, Zhao Jingyu had no intention of letting her have her way. He immediately retorted, "Zhu Ling serves as Tongpan of Jin Yang. Even if he has committed offenses, he should be dealt with by me, his superior. The archives also fall under Jin Yang's administration. Though the Seven Constellation Bureau holds immense power, it makes no sense for you to take people away right before their superior."
"I'm merely informing Lord Zhao, not negotiating." Hua Zhi adjusted her cloak and brushed past him. "I'll be returning to the capital now. Lord Zhao, please do as you wish."
"You're going too far, Miss!"
Hua Zhi turned back. "Oh? Shouldn't that be my line?"
The meaning was too clear to misunderstand. Zhao Jingyu didn't even bother pretending—in matters like these, there was no question of going too far. He declared righteously, "This is the Emperor's decree. Could it be that Miss has some dissatisfaction with His Majesty's edict?"
"My current actions represent the Seven Constellation Bureau. If Lord Zhao has any objections, you may submit a memorial." Hua Zhi countered firmly without backing down, then turned away for good. "I wish Lord Zhao success in all his endeavors."
Outside, Jin Yang's officials had all gathered. When she emerged, they bowed to her in unison. Though they might have held personal agendas and initially resented her, hoping she would leave soon, they had come to understand clearly from the beginning of these events: had she not stepped in to turn the tide, Jin Yang would have been beyond recognition. Moreover, while she had temporarily suspended their positions, she hadn't replaced them—all posts remained vacant. When the new chief administrator needed staff and wished to grant favors, he would inevitably reinstate them. This might very well be the escape route she left for them.
Now that she was leaving as they had wished, it didn't prevent them from feeling respect for Hua Zhi.
Truly capable people make others forget their gender—Hua Zhi was such a person.
Hua Zhi paused in surprise, then returned the courtesy. "I hope you will work together to restore Jin Yang to its former prosperity."
"We will remember your words, Miss."
After boarding the carriage, Hua Zhi lifted the window curtain, gazing at the city that had undergone turmoil and now moved with caution. She didn't know if it could ever recover, but with fewer schemers lurking in the shadows and less overt support for gambling dens, it would gradually regain some vitality. If only the people here could establish another pillar industry to shift their focus...
As she pondered, the clip-clop of horse hooves approached from afar, halting beside her carriage with a long whinny. Seeing the rider, Hua Zhi tapped the carriage compartment to signal a stop, then stepped out and descended.
Yu Weiwei dismounted, opening her mouth but finding no words.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Weiwei forced a smile. "I heard you were leaving, so I came to see you off.""The news spreads really fast." Hua Zhi looked at the girl before her. "Feeling the pressure? You've lost a lot of weight."
"I can still handle it." Yu Weiwei covered her eyes briefly before suddenly leaning against Hua Zhi's shoulder, choking up as she said, "I'm pregnant."
It took Hua Zhi a moment to process what "pregnant" meant. Her first reaction was, "You can't keep it."
Yu Weiwei lifted her head, eyes red and filled with tears, laying all her vulnerability and panic bare before Hua Zhi.
Hua Zhi signaled for the carriage to pull over, then led her inside, speaking softly and reasonably, "Everything else isn't a problem, but Weiwei, you were once poisoned. No one knows how much harm that poison might have done to the child before it's born. If we wait until after birth to discover the issues, it'll be too late. Rather than letting the child suffer through life later, it's better to..."
Hua Zhi couldn't finish the sentence. She felt like an executioner, but with knowledge from another lifetime, she knew all too well how devastating the outcome could likely be. During pregnancy, even medication must be taken with caution, let alone having been poisoned.
Yu Weiwei covered her face, laughing through her tears. "I... I want to keep it. I don't care what bloodline the other half comes from. With a child, I can live for it in the future and won't need to bring a man back just to have an heir..."
Hua Zhi held her close, gently patting her back. This girl, who had seemed carefree and spirited when they first met, was now in such agony. She was only seventeen, yet forced to grow up overnight. From then on, she no longer had the privilege of being willful.
"What's past is past. We must always look forward."
Yu Weiwei rubbed her face roughly, trying hard to calm her emotions. She had come to see the young lady off, not to complain. After taking several deep breaths, she finally managed to speak coherently, "My father said the situation you'll face after returning won't be easy. Will you suffer losses?"
"No, I have backing." Hua Zhi blinked. "Besides, by any measure, my contributions are greater. At worst, I won't be rewarded, but I won't be punished either."
"I don't know what the capital is like, but I know you've done great things and helped everyone in Jin Yang. Oh, and I read in storybooks that people can write a Ten Thousand People Petition to the Emperor. Would doing that help you? I'll ask my father to gather people and organize this..."
Hua Zhi quickly interrupted her, "No need, it hasn't come to that. I just need to report on my duties when I return. Other matters won't be handled by me—after all, I'm just a woman. Affairs of the official world aren't for women to take the lead in."
"You're more like an official than any of them," Yu Weiwei muttered, lowering her head to grasp Hua Zhi's hand. "Remember our agreement. You must come see me when you have the chance."
"I'll definitely come. Don't push yourself too hard. No matter how big the problem, it's nothing in the face of time. Once it passes, things will be fine."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Yu Weiwei rubbed her sore nose. "You... can I write to you?"
"Of course you can."
As they spoke, the sound of hoofbeats approached from outside and stopped beside the carriage. Peering out, she saw it was Zeng Xiangyan.
Yu Weiwei still held a grudge against the Zeng family. She stepped out of the carriage, bid Hua Zhi a heartfelt farewell, then turned her horse around and left without so much as a glance in Zeng Xiangyan's direction.Zeng Xiangyan felt a pang of sorrow seeing her like this, yet there was nothing to be done. The two families could never return to how they were before. If he was hated or resented, he could only bear it.
"This is a letter from Sister-in-law, entrusted to me for you." Handing over the letter, Zeng Xiangyan said, "Once this matter is resolved, if we can emerge unscathed, the Zeng family will leave Jin Yang altogether."
"Though Zeng Xianglin brought calamity upon the Zeng family, he has also fought desperately to protect you all. Moreover, for this silver contribution, the Zeng family has nearly exhausted its entire fortune. You should be able to remain unharmed."
Zeng Xiangyan bowed deeply. "We are indebted to your great kindness, Miss. Xiangyan thanks you on behalf of my family."
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