Chapter 252: Palace Intrigues and Intimate Connections

Chapter 241: A Fine Lady

The rain in Qu Du had ceased, and it was time for Qi Zhuyin to return home. She met Hua Xiangyi at the palace gate, where their carriage waited nearby. However, she took out her Ziju hairpin, still dangling with a golden thread from her hair, as if it belonged there, concealing any signs of the general's distress—except for her bruised face.

Qi Wei raised his hand, signaling the carriage to follow them at a distance. Once Qi Zhuyin and Hua Xiangyi had walked a short way, he strolled behind them, neither too close nor too far away.

Warm breezes swept through the bustling marketplace, carrying the scents of sweat and fried foods, while the blooming spring flowers seemed to be veiled in a layer of greasy mist, making Qi Zhuyin feel stifled.

"Would you like some?" Qi Zhuyin asked Hua Xiangyi as they passed by a sugar figurine stall.

The stall stood by the road, with people and carriages passing by, stirring up dust. Hua Xiangyi, as the cherished pearl of the Hua family, seldom ventured out before arriving in Qu Du, having been pampered within the confines of her family's courtyard. Looking at Qi Zhuyin, she saw the latter take out a few remaining copper coins from her sleeve, lightly tapping them against her palm with a contented "ting," saying, "I have money."

Though the street was dimly lit, Qi Zhuyin's smile, tugging at her bruised lips, illuminated the area. Behind her, lanterns flickered to life one by one, casting a warm glow. She seemed like a teenage girl who had sneaked out to play, carefree and preoccupied only with the sweet treat.

Hua Xiangyi, clutching her handkerchief, lifted a finger and pointed at one of the sugar figures, saying softly, "I want that one."

She blushed at her own words, a subtle emotion tucked away in her brows. This was something she had never done before, something she would never have dared to do in the past.

Qi Zhuyin tossed the copper coin to the vendor and then handed the sugar figurine to Hua Xiangyi. She didn't care about being broke; after all, she had never had money, and it never stayed in her hands anyway.

Hua Xiangyi gingerly took the candy, examining it under the lantern light without revealing her emotions. She had once caught a glimpse of such sweets through the fleeting gap in the curtains of her palanquin, when servants carried them for her within the palace. Sugar was available there, and Empress Dowager used to have Aunt Liu Xiang prepare it for her often.

Qi Zhuyin rubbed her bruised cheek with her fingertip, studying her reflection in the water tank from the side, through several layers of shadows.

Qi Zhuyin was of noble birth, but Hua Xiangyi always felt that she didn't quite fit the part. She seemed more like a carefree traveler. In the half-year Hua Xiangyi had spent in Qidong, she had never seen Qi Zhuyin angry, as if nothing was worth provoking her ire.

"Does General come here often?" Hua Xiangyi asked.

"Everyone who dares to use tiger-skin coins can be found here. Nine times out of ten, I'm here to borrow," Qi Zhuyin replied, removing a pearl hairpin with a hint of regret. "That five-pearl piece was a reward from the court, and I've never dared sell it. If I'd known it would end up lost in the palace, I should have sold it earlier."

Hua Xiangyi began, "Our family's estates..."

But Qi Zhuyin interrupted, "Today, I want to tell you that from now on, you'll manage our family's estates and shops. Whether to lease or sell them is entirely up to you." Turning solemnly to face Hua Xiangyi, she said, "Let's have an honest conversation."

Qi Zhuyin didn't move their discussion to a teahouse; she loved the marketplace, and standing here was her declaration. She wasn't afraid of anyone's gaze.

"I owe you gratitude for the Eight Cities grain storehouse matter," Qi Zhuyin bowed slightly, her long hair cascading down her back. Straightening up again, she continued, "Otherwise, it could have been perilous."

Hua Xiangyi turned aside, declining the courtesy, and said, "Your efforts benefit Chen Zhi."

Qi Zhuyin looked at her and replied, "Pan Lin didn't mention it to me, but I still thank you personally."

Hua Xiangyi felt as if Qi Zhuyin's gaze could melt even a sugar figurine.

"But I'll be blunt. You told me about the granaries in Eight Cities—did you have something for me to do?" Qi Zhuyin was straightforward, completely unaware of the need for subtlety.

Miss Hua San was quite an enigma.

After much pondering, Qi Zhuyin still couldn't fathom why Hua Xiangyi had disclosed the granary information. If not for her hints in the palace, the outcome of the game would still be uncertain.

With her fair neck tilted, Hua Xiangyi gazed at the sugar figurines amidst the bustling crowd and said, "General, there's no need for you to do anything for me. General… just focus on the battle at the Border Sands."

Qi Zhuyin stared intently at Hua Xiangyi. Suddenly, she propped herself up on her knees and leaned over to study Hua Xiangyi's expression, puzzled. "That's all?"

Startled by Qi Zhuyin's sudden move, reminiscent of when she lifted the veil during their previous encounter, Hua Xiangyi had no chance to prepare.

"You helped Yao Wenyu escape in Qudu…" Qi Zhuyin seemed to have awoken from a reverie, finding Hua Xiangyi's scent pleasing, just as she had expected. Lost in thought, Qi Zhuyin snapped back to reality to find Hua Xiangyi still calmly holding the sugar figurine, waiting for her to continue.

"...And then you mentioned the granary," Qi Zhuyin concealed her earlier distraction, "Was it because of marrying my father?"

Hua Xiangyi replied, "It was Chen Zhi who saved Yuan Zhuo."

Qi Zhuyin shook her head, stating firmly, "It was you."

Time and again, Hua Xiangyi had credited others for her deeds. It seemed she couldn't acknowledge that the boundary blocking her was the Empress Dowager's affection. The remaining daylight on the streets faded, replaced by lanterns that shimmered like fallen stars. The scent of fried sweets dissipated slightly, but the heat in the marketplace remained oppressive. Hua Xiangyi stood out like an alien there.

"Hailing from Xiande era, my aunt would occasionally set tasks for me, especially during spring plowing," Hua Xiangyi lowered the candy figurine, as if manipulating shadows of the past. She continued, "In truth, those were accounts for the Eight Cities. The more I calculated, the clearer the picture became. In Xiande, I advised my aunt to let Jiang Qingshan pass, but they believed he could manage the Thirteen Cities alone. That year, Central Bo was plagued with famine. In the following years, the Six Provinces suffered from the grains distributed by the Eight Cities, weakening their vitality, and too many lives were lost," she lifted her head gently, "More than when Biansha City was razed."

Hua Xiangyi lived within the depths of the palace, dressed in finery, feasting on delicacies, and sleeping on silk. Beyond the vermilion walls, others wore rags, ate meager meals, and slept on dewy ground. She stood alongside the Empress Dowager on the western terrace, blinded by the illusion of prosperity. Yet, she soon realized that they had no intention to cease their actions. Hai Liangyi's tragic end in Mingli Hall didn't prompt the Empress Dowager to change.

Hua Xiangyi said, "I want my aunt to stop."

The people were the river that bore the boat of power, the foundation. The Empress Dowager still relied on the Eight Camps to suppress rumors, defying the will of heaven. The rise and fall of the dynasty did not solely rest on the king; what the world needed was an emperor with compassion for the hardships of the people.

"I am confined within these chambers, my abilities limited. Whether facing Yuan Zhuo or Chen Zhi, I can do little," Hua Xiangyi paused, turning to Qi Zhuyin and bowing respectfully, "General, you have conquered Qidu and battled on the battlefield. If you can repel the Twelve Tribes of Biansha, your merit would be boundless. Therefore, I wish for the General to leave Qidu alive."

Receiving this gesture, Qi Zhuyin seemed to finally recognize who Hua Xiangyi was.

"You are an admirable woman," Qi Zhuyin paused for a moment, "I shall repay your kindness with my military merits."