Chapter 328 - A Storm Brews in the Capital

The sand table stood still, a silent witness, untouched.

Wu Yong’s gaze lingered as Shao Yao effortlessly hoisted Hua Zhi—chair and all—over the threshold. A wry smirk tugged at his lips. “Young lady,” he drawled, the edge in his voice a mix of intrigue and challenge, “care for a game?”

Hua Zhi didn’t bother to hide her disinterest, shaking her head with casual defiance. “Play with Shao Yao. She’s got the upper hand when it comes to combat.”

Shao Yao, ever the contrarian, snorted at the flattery. “Don’t make me laugh. I’ve never managed to beat you.”

Hua Zhi’s lips curled into a mischievous grin as her hand shot up, pinching Shao Yao’s cheek with playful audacity. “Fine, then. Be a good sport and take me back to my room first.”

Shao Yao batted her away with a grumble, muttering under her breath.

Wu Yong, ignoring their banter, turned his attention to Hua Yizheng. “Elder, your teachings have clearly borne fruit.”

The old man shook his head with quiet amusement. “Don’t give me credit I haven’t earned. I had no hand in this.”

Ever the skeptic, Wu Yong took the comment as false humility, offering a respectful nod before striding toward the sand table. His thoughts on strategy were quickly interrupted by the appearance of the “plain girl” stepping out from within.

Inside the room, Zeng Han sat perched on a small stool, engrossed in a book.

Hua Zhi, sharp-eyed and sharper-tongued, beckoned him over and thrust a set of writing materials into his hands, along with several elegant calligraphy samples. “These are Grandfather’s. You’ve got to do more than recognize the characters; you need to practice until they’re second nature.”

Zeng Han accepted the materials but bypassed the samples with a stubbornness that caught Hua Zhi’s attention. “I want yours,” he said, voice steady and unyielding.

Hua Zhi arched a brow, her tone cutting and laced with irony. “My handwriting? Stingy, rigid, and hardly worth emulating. Grandfather’s style is sought after in the capital—people would pay a fortune for it. And here you are, turning your nose up at the treasure in front of you.”

She tapped the samples against his cheek with a teasing reprimand, then seized his small hand, releasing it just as quickly.

With a subtle nudge, she pushed her wheelchair toward the desk, though Zeng Han was already ahead of her. The boy quietly moved the wheelchair forward, his small frame determined but impassive.

Hua Zhi didn’t look back, her words laced with a blend of ambition and gentle provocation. “Mark my words. Learn to write well, and one day you might establish your own legacy. It’s a skill worth far more than you realize.”

Zeng Han murmured an acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. His fixation on Hua Zhi’s writing wasn’t about artistry or skill. It was something more primal—a tether to the only person who felt real in his disjointed world.

Hua Zhi didn't force him to do anything specific. It was good for a person to grow according to their own nature. She only needed to guide him appropriately to keep him on the right track.

Touching his head, Hua Zhi spread out the paper. The child seemed to have done this task before and skillfully started grinding ink.

What Hua Zhi wanted to do was to transcribe as many military strategy books as she could remember.

She had never imagined that talent ran so deep in her family. Even the younger generation, to whom she'd given little thought, held unexpected potential. It was selfish, perhaps even naive, for her to dream of liberating her brothers from their backbreaking toil. But surely, wielding a pen or perfecting their aim with a bow was far more purposeful than sweating over menial labor.

Her hopes lay squarely on the shoulders of two Hua generations. The Hua family wasn’t just a lineage of scholars versed in dusty tomes of history and literature; their brilliance stretched far beyond that.

Take her father, for instance. His mastery of arithmetic was more than mere skill—it was an art form. She had watched him calculate calendars with a precision she couldn’t begin to grasp, solving complexities as easily as breathing. And then there was her enigmatic second uncle, a man of few words but immense intellect. His insights into military strategy and formations were nothing short of genius. She had pored over his annotated texts—dense, detailed, and razor-sharp. So far, his theories had remained just that, theories. But now? Now there was an opening, a chance to bring those strategies to life.

If even four of the fifty-four men could carve out a name for themselves in the military ranks, the Hua family’s legacy would be cemented in history.

Still, those grand ambitions were not hers to bear. Her role was simpler, yet pivotal: to transcribe the strategies and provide a clear path for her brothers. Let them take those plans and forge a future. Her hands might hold the ink and brush, but their actions would wield the real power.

*

On that fateful day, Gu Yanxi returned to the capital, cutting through its winter air like a blade. His arrival was unannounced, yet deliberate, as he made his way directly to the Seven Stars Bureau. Inside, Chen Qing and Qu Qi awaited him, their postures sharp, their gazes steady.

“Leader,” Qu Qi greeted, presenting a long, lacquered box with the solemnity of a supplicant before a god.

Gu Yanxi accepted it, his fingers brushing the box’s surface before placing it gently on the table. His voice, smooth yet edged with purpose, broke the silence. “Is Second Brother restless?”

Qu Qi’s nod was measured. “Very. Yingshan Pass has gone silent for too long. He must suspect something’s stirring. He’s been moving cautiously, meeting all sorts—civil officials, military commanders—every name on the list you gave.”

Gu Yanxi’s knuckles tapped the box in a rhythm that hinted at thought, or perhaps calculated impatience. “And beyond that?”

“He’s been visiting the Fifth Prince often these days, cozying up to him, worming his way into trust. It’s clear he’s hunting for a scapegoat.”

Gu Yanxi’s lips curved into a cold, predatory smile. “Predictable. Continue.”

Qu Qi leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “The Tong family sent a girl to Concubine Hui. Word is the Emperor’s utterly besotted—visiting her chambers night after night. Eunuch Lai Fu claims she’s mastered some... unorthodox techniques that have the Emperor thoroughly enthralled.”

“And Physician Yu?”

“Unmoved, as always. He said he’s a doctor, not a moralist, and the Emperor can summon him when he inevitably falls ill.”

Gu Yanxi chuckled darkly; that was precisely the kind of detached practicality Physician Yu was known for. Shifting his gaze, he addressed Chen Qing. “Your end of the rope?”

Chen Qing’s tone carried a chill that matched his leader’s demeanor. “As per your instructions, we’ve identified everyone the Second Prince has detained. They’re ready to be pulled out of his grasp the moment you give the word.”

“And the Zeng Xian case?”

“Handled.” There was steel in Chen Qing’s eyes. “The true benefactor of the seven thousand two hundred taels of silver was never Zeng Xian. The bulk of it lined the Second Prince’s coffers, with a slice diverted to Fang Hongzhi—the Minister of Revenue. Fang owes his entire career to the Tong family. Without their early patronage, he’d still be a minor clerk scribbling petitions.”

Gu Yanxi’s gaze drifted to the map pinned to the wall, his attention drawn to the marker at Yingshan Pass. “Zhu Bowen was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue three years ago, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Chen Qing confirmed. His voice, though factual, carried a whisper of intrigue. “Minister Zhu’s connection is maternal—he’s the young lady’s grandfather. But the scandal back then didn’t touch him.”

Gu Yanxi’s fingers grazed the map as he considered the weight of each move in this intricate game of power and betrayal. His thoughts, however, were anything but idle. Plans were already forming behind those sharp eyes, plans that would cut deeper than any blade.

Gu Yanxi naturally knew this. After Fang Hongzhi fell from grace, Zhu Bowen was likely to rise. He had a good impression of Zhu Bowen. Not everyone could risk the Emperor's anger to protect the family of a friend who was in trouble, like Zhu Bowen did. Such officials were more reliable.

As for the Emperor, Gu Yanxi lowered his gaze. Although the Emperor feared the Hua family, he strangely had a fondness for those who protected the Hua family. The frequent accolades given to Zhu Bowen indicated this, as he received more rewards than others.

"Have all the matters been confirmed with solid evidence?"

"Yes." Chen Qing held a wooden tray containing documents, memorials, and so on in his hands.

Gu Yanxi placed the package he had brought back on top and carefully checked it. He then put on a mask. "Notify the Scribe Office to apprehend the Second Prince and bring him to the Haixin Palace."

"Understood."

As they walked out of the door, Gu Yanxi saw Eunuch Lai Fu running towards them. In just a short time, he seemed to have aged a bit.

Eunuch Lai Fu bowed deeply, "You have returned. The Emperor has just received news and immediately ordered me to come and fetch you."

As they walked side by side, Eunuch Lai Fu leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “That girl from Concubine Hui’s side… her background might not be as clean as it seems. This old servant suspects she’s versed in certain, shall we say, techniques straight out of the brothel playbook. Ever since the earlier incident, His Majesty appears... well, let’s just say he’s taking quite a shine to her.”

Gu Yanxi came to an abrupt halt, his sharp gaze slicing through the eunuch’s words. “Isn’t she supposed to be from the Tong family’s main line?”

Qu Qi, who had been trailing slightly behind, stiffened and cast a quick glance over. During the night, he’d seen nothing out of place, nor had the ever-vigilant Seven Stars Bureau flagged anything suspicious.

“She carries the Tong name, and Madam Tong herself arranged for her to enter the palace,” Lai Fu explained with a measured tone. “I’ve seen her twice while serving His Majesty. She carries herself flawlessly, not a hair out of place. But there’s something… off. Only after hearing about her methods did the pieces start falling into place.”

Gu Yanxi’s lips curled into a cold smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Investigate.”

From the shadows, a figure melted away, vanishing into the folds of the night.