Chapter 363: Don't Let Your Guard Down

"Zhi'er's here?" Old Master Zhu, the seasoned patriarch, made his presence known before his words even reached the room.

The old madam quickly got to her feet, greeting him with a warm smile. "Back early today, I see."

Hua Zhi immediately knelt. "Zhi'er pays her respects to her grandfather."

"Save the formalities," Old Master Zhu said as he settled into the chair at the head of the table. "How's your grandfather doing?"

"He's fine, though getting on in years."

A sigh escaped Old Master Zhu's lips. After everything that had happened, how could the old man not feel the weight of it all? They might hold high positions, but the truth was, they were all walking a tightrope. With the Emperor's unpredictable shifts in mood, no one could really say who might be next in line to fall out of favor.

The old madam, ever the practical one, interrupted with a smile. "Zhi'er has something she wants to discuss with you. Why don't you both head to the study?"

"Alright."

Hua Zhi had been to the Zhu family's study countless times, so the familiarity of the space put her at ease. In a way, it felt like a place where everyone could let their guard down, just for a moment.

"By the way, some of my colleagues were talking about you today," Old Master Zhu casually remarked.

"...I thought you were all busy?"

"Haha, there's always time for a little gossip," the old man chuckled. "They were impressed by how you handled the whole Hua Yan situation. They didn't know how to react after you didn't rise to the bait during those little stunts with the Feng family's sedan chairs. Lucky for you, you got back in time. Otherwise..."

Old Master Zhu shook his head knowingly. People were all too aware of how dangerous rumors could be, yet it was often only when it came to one's own doorstep that anyone cared.

"So, do you think Feng Changyu was acting on the orders of the Feng family, or was it all him?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Both," Hua Zhi responded, a thoughtful pause in her words. "Feng Changyu had his own agenda, sure, but the Feng family played a part, pushing him along the way. They tried to stir things up, but in the end, it didn't have much of an impact. Hua Yan wasn't exactly blameless in this either; she gave them the chance."

It was like flies not bothering with eggs that were still intact-if Hua Yan handed them the tools, why wouldn't they use them?

Hua Zhi couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for being too soft on Hua Yan. Despite knowing full well that Hua Yan had chosen a self-destructive path, she still couldn't shake the discomfort of being the one to administer punishment.

"Well, you did manage to put an end to it before it got out of hand. And if anyone tries to stir trouble again, they'll have to come up with something else. Just make sure you keep a closer eye on things at home so no one finds an opening."

"Right, I even asked grandmother to help find suitable matches for my sisters. The Hua family hasn't hit rock bottom yet. The girls' reputations are still intact, and even though we don't have any adult males in the family, it's not a total disaster. There must be some families in this vast capital with good judgment who would consider them."

"Don't rush it, let your grandmother take her time." The old patriarch glanced at his granddaughter, holding back a question that was nagging at him. Perhaps, for now, all the Hua girls could marry-except for one.

Changing the subject, Hua Zhi said, "I haven't congratulated you yet, Lord Zhu."

Old Master Zhu waved her off. "Now's not the time for congratulations. One wrong move right now, and it could ruin everything."

Hua Zhi, carefully weighing her words, replied, "I actually came to see you about something else. I've gotten word that the Emperor himself will be assigning someone to oversee disaster relief, with the Seven Stars Bureau managing the entire operation. Once the silver leaves the Ministry of Revenue, you need to keep a close watch on it. Don't let anyone take advantage of the chaos. Even if problems arise after the silver leaves the Ministry, don't worry-the blame won't land on you."

Old Master Zhu fixed her with a serious gaze. "The Seven Stars Bureau will oversee the entire process? Is this information reliable?"

"Yes."

Having spent a lifetime navigating the murky waters of officialdom, Old Master Zhu didn't bother to ask where this information had come from. As long as it was reliable, that was all that mattered. If the Seven Stars Bureau was really in charge of overseeing things, then all his previous concerns would be wiped away in an instant.

With the weight in his chest finally lifting, Old Master Zhu let out a deep, relieved sigh. "The south floods every year, no matter how many times they fix the embankments. I checked the records myself. The amount of silver spent on repairs each year could feed everyone in the south for an entire year. Maybe they should just give up on the canal altogether-at least that way, the money wouldn't be wasted."

"I was in Xiangyang last time because of the rising water, and the people there were completely numb to it. Even when the water reached dangerous levels, they just carried on as if it was nothing. There are a few old, dried-up riverbeds in Xiangyang; reopening them might offer some relief. But how much of the money even gets to where it's supposed to go after it's passed through so many hands? And even if it does, it's likely to get split up before it reaches the right place. With all that happening, who would bother fixing embankments?"

He waved his hand dismissively, as though brushing the matter aside. "Enough of that. What else do you know about the disaster relief efforts?"

Hua Zhi replied, "You must've heard of Zeng Xian, right?"

"Of course. The Emperor himself ordered a retrial of his case. He was an official in the Ministry of Revenue, after all. I've been keeping a close eye on it," Old Master Zhu answered.

Hua Zhi nodded. "Zeng Xian's son, Zeng Han, and I are somewhat acquainted. I was involved in the events at Yingshan Pass, and it was there I came to understand the full extent of Zeng Xian's tragedy. When I heard you were appointed Minister of Revenue, I wasn't exactly thrilled. To be honest, I was worried. That place is so corrupt, I feared you'd get caught up in it."

Old Master Zhu had already heard about Zeng Xian's case, but Hua Zhi's additional details painted a much clearer picture. After three years in the Ministry of Revenue, Zhu wasn't entirely blind to the nature of the officials around him. Still, his close ties with Hua Yizheng were well-known throughout the court, and he trusted Hua Zhi's insights.

After Fang Hongzhi, the former minister, had only two daughters and a nephew who lived with him and had joined the prestigious Hanlin Academy, he was in a somewhat awkward position. Despite his higher rank, he couldn't push his weight around too much, especially with the respect Old Master Zhu had shown him over the years, offering him various perks to keep their relationship smooth. So, there had been this unspoken balance between them, even though Fang Hongzhi had the upper hand.

But that was before the Hua family's downfall. Once they lost their footing, Fang Hongzhi's grip on things loosened, and for the past year, he had been making life difficult for Old Master Zhu, pressing down on him at every opportunity. Zhu had barely managed to keep his head above water, remaining involved in the ministry without getting too close to any drama. Then, just as he was bracing for whatever came next, Fang Hongzhi was ousted from power.

"I get where you're coming from," the old man said, his voice steady but a little resigned. "I'm also keeping an eye on those people. I'll personally take charge of this relief effort, and I won't let them use this situation to their advantage."

This was precisely why Hua Zhi had sought him out. She knew that those same officials, who had once taken bribes from Fang Hongzhi and had stood by while Zeng Xian faced ruin, might be plotting something against her grandfather. Her fear wasn't misplaced-they were the kind of people who wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of his position if given the chance.

The Ministry of Revenue controlled the country's finances, and the role of the minister was one of immense power and wealth. Her grandfather, too well-known and too high-profile, had become a prime target.

Then, an idea popped into Hua Zhi's mind. She hesitated for a second, then spoke up: "When I was traveling south, I was with someone else. I casually suggested an idea to him-about relocating the people of Lingzhou County and sacrificing the city to save others when the flood came..."

"You came up with that idea?" Old Master Zhu interjected, his eyes widening in surprise.

Everyone at court knew that the recent catastrophe, a once-in-a-lifetime disaster, had been averted thanks to the Seven Stars Bureau's swift and well-thought-out preparations. Sacrificing the small city of Lingzhou in order to protect the larger cities was a move that, in hindsight, seemed nothing short of genius. It minimized overall losses and kept things from spiraling out of control.

He had, of course, praised that decision extensively, but what he hadn't anticipated was that Hua Zhi had been the mastermind behind it. And now, as he listened to her express concerns about the Ministry of Revenue, it was becoming clear that Hua Zhi had more than just casual ties with the Seven Stars Bureau.

"That's not what I came to talk about," Hua Zhi quickly deflected the topic. "The Emperor is eager to leave behind a legacy, and he's set his sights on digging a grand canal starting from Lingzhou. The plan's been put on hold for now, but don't be fooled-it could easily be revived at any time. And since you're the one in control of the nation's finances, they'll be looking to you first. Whatever you do, don't agree to it."

---TN: I've wrapped up all the translation work for today. Time to call it a day!