Chapter 372: Variables

Hua Zhi felt a sudden clarity wash over her, as if the turmoil in her heart had been swept away by the news. Sure, she'd always known Yanxi was held in high regard, but hearing whispers of him being molded for something more—something bigger—was a revelation on a whole new level.

“Doesn’t the prince feel... envious?” she asked, testing the waters.

Gu Yanxi’s lips curled into a cold, knowing smirk. “Only Lai Fu knows the full scope of things. People might suspect, but who’d dare question the emperor outright? As for me,” he paused, his tone sharp, “the royal family’s always been wary of the Seven Stars Bureau. They see the mask, and they scatter like startled birds.”

And why wouldn’t they? Hua Zhi thought. The Bureau’s very existence was a blade dangling over the heads of the prince and his consorts—a constant, silent threat. She could see why they’d be unnerved, but that didn’t stop her from cutting to the heart of the matter.

“Will you take that position?” she asked bluntly.

“No.” The answer came fast, crisp, and final. “Look at the imperial uncle—has his life ever looked enviable to you? Sure, the prince might drool over the title, but the officials? They’d spend their lives blinding him, silencing him, keeping him locked up in a gilded cage. Every move would be watched, every word measured. You’d have to sleep with one eye open, year after year, until the paranoia eats you alive. Where’s the appeal in that?”

Hua Zhi lowered her gaze, her thoughts swirling. The man before her, dressed in his usual dark attire, seemed to embody the very storm that was their reality. She gently pushed him back, and Yanxi, ever intuitive, understood. He shifted away, choosing a spot just close enough but distant enough.

Some things were better left unsaid.

Sensing the weight of their conversation, Hua Zhi pivoted. “Any news from Hao Yue?”

Yanxi’s eyes lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary, his voice steady but carrying a faint undercurrent of something unreadable. “The Hua family’s male line has been wiped out. The women and children are barely surviving, hidden in a corner of Yujing under the Zhu family’s protection. The nation’s scholars are furious. Hao Yue says this autumn will bring a reckoning—students will rise, demanding justice for your family. And,” his voice sharpened slightly, “it’ll be the nail in the coffin for the second prince. He’ll lose any chance he ever had.”

Indeed!

Hua Zhi tightened her fists, her gaze sharp and icy. If it weren’t for her connection with Yan Xi—if they hadn’t faced the trials of Yingshan Pass together, if not for her own resolve and Yan Xi’s perfectly timed intervention—her family would have been wiped out, plain and simple.

“Ah Zhi.”

She lifted her eyes to meet his.

“She doesn’t know who you are,” Gu Yanxi said with a wry smile. “Chen Qing may have led her, but she still hasn’t pieced it together. She lumps you in with the rest of the Hua women. If her so-called foresight is real, then you, Ah Zhi, are the anomaly. Either an oversight in her vision—or the wildcard.”

The wildcard of the entire Daqing Dynasty.

“If being the wildcard means keeping the Hua family safe, then I’ll gladly take the role,” Hua Zhi said, her voice steady. She was ready to step into that light, to be the game-changer Daqing needed, so long as it kept her out of the crossfire in these turbulent times. “What do you think about the upcoming autumn exams?”

Gu Yanxi’s expression showed he’d already been mulling it over. “Wenzi has kept his moves against the Hua family subtle, but during the autumn exams, when all the scholars gather, any small provocation could snowball into a crisis for your family. I’ll be watching closely to make sure no one stirs the pot. Also, as is tradition, many scholars will likely send congratulatory letters to the Hua family, even though there are no male members participating this year. It could be out of respect—or something else entirely. Have you thought about how to handle that?”

Hua Zhi paused, weighing her response. “What’s the Emperor’s current stance toward the Hua family?”

“Suppression,” Gu Yanxi said bluntly.

She gave a small, knowing nod. “Exactly what I expected. But if I collaborate with some of the scholars in trade or business, it could create a buffer. Even if the Emperor wants to suppress us, he’d have fewer justifications to act openly.”

Gu Yanxi paused, caught off guard for a moment. He knew Hua Zhi well enough to be certain of one thing: she wasn’t the type to exploit students for personal gain. So, what exactly was she up to?

“If the Hua family stays respectful, holds no grudges against the court, and doesn’t tear itself apart from within, then what’s left to provoke them?” Hua Zhi’s smirk was sharp, a clear sign she already had something brewing in that clever mind of hers.

Gu Yanxi’s lips twitched slightly, almost into a smile, but he held back. There was no need to prod further—Hua Zhi’s methods might seem blunt, even a little rough around the edges, but they had a way of cutting straight to the heart of a problem. And more often than not, they worked.

“Oh, by the way,” Hua Zhi added casually, as though it was an afterthought, “I’ve set aside a twenty percent cut of the seafood business profits for you.”

Gu Yanxi’s brows knit together. He was about to refuse when Hua Zhi interrupted him with a raised hand. “Hold on. I still need to use your name for the operations in Zhenyang. You’ll probably have to send someone trustworthy to manage things there. Also…” She glanced at him, half-serious, half-amused. “I need you to make some ice for me. It’s way hotter there than up north, and the ships can’t function properly without it.”

Gu Yanxi shook his head slightly. “Even so, there’s no need to give me a cut of the profits. Your ice-making method is practically a self-sustaining venture at this point. Besides, the amount you’ve earned for me this year isn’t exactly small change.”

Hua Zhi tilted her head, her voice soft but firm. “Yanxi, I don’t want to take advantage of you. If I do ask for your help, it’s only in ways that leave you better off. That way, I can sleep at night without feeling like I owe you—or worse, like I’m beneath you.” She reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes meeting his with a sincerity that was impossible to ignore. “I want us to stand as equals. I want to always face you with honesty, without guilt or regret.”

Gu Yanxi sighed, a faint smile finally breaking through. “Alright, I’ll go along with it.”

He didn’t add the rest aloud, though it echoed in his heart: I’ll go along with whatever you want. In the end, everything I have is already yours.

As the evening sky deepened into dusk, Gu Yanxi knew it was time to head out. Hua Zhi, ever thoughtful, recalled that she had recently dried some mushroom powder and had pickled some vegetables. She quickly went to grab them and asked Ying Chun to pack them up for him to take back. There was no need for her to say it outright; Gu Yanxi understood right away that these were meant for his grandmother.

Hua Zhi had always been kind and considerate with those she cared about, especially the elderly and children, treating them with an extra layer of warmth.

*

The next morning, Hua Zhi set off to meet Fu Dong.

"I need you to make some jerky," she said casually. "Lan Qiao’s never done it before, so when you have the time, show her how. Make a big batch—don’t worry about leftovers. Jerky is one of those things that can always be sold."

Fu Dong hesitated, biting her lip before responding softly, "The Shi Zai is slowly being handed over to me. I’ll take care of the jerky production myself."

"That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. As long as you’re in charge, I can rest easy. But listen, Fu Dong, you need to start learning to let go, just like I’ve had to let go with all of you. Don’t worry that someone might mess it up. I’ve always made room for mistakes, haven’t I? In the end, you’ll be the one overseeing everything."

Fu Dong blushed, nodding in agreement. Hua Zhi’s words made her think back to the early days when everyone was unsure and hesitant. Now, though, each of them was managing a substantial piece of the business independently. That was all thanks to Hua Zhi’s willingness to delegate. Fu Dong realized she needed to learn from her—after all, if something went wrong, she could always redo it.

"In addition to the jerky, we need to fry some noodles," Hua Zhi added, casually changing the subject.

Frying noodles wasn’t exactly a complex task—it was just the simple act of preparing instant noodles. Hua Zhi used to make them occasionally when a craving hit, and surprisingly, the maids enjoyed them. But since her mourning period, she hadn’t made them once. Now, just mentioning it made her feel a bit hungry. She was already looking forward to indulging in a hearty meal once the mourning period was finally over.

"Make plenty—now that the weather’s cooling down," she instructed.

"Of course," Fu Dong replied, nodding.

Hua Zhi paused for a moment, then added, "The pickled vegetables might run out soon. We’ll need to make more this year."

This was right up Fu Dong’s alley. Her calm and gentle voice revealed she’d already thought it through. "I’m on it. I’ve already talked to Ying Chun. She’s getting more large jars, and since space is tight at home, I’m planning to reserve an area at the mushroom farm specifically for pickling. They’re really popular at Shi Zai right now, and if we want to introduce them to the seafood side as well, we’ll run out fast if we don’t ramp up production."

"You’ve got a solid plan in mind," Hua Zhi said approvingly.

"Thank you," Fu Dong replied, her gratitude evident in her voice.