Blossom in Adversity

C90. The Overall Situation.

Chapter 90: The Overall Situation

Hua Zhi slept deeply and woke up late in the afternoon the next day, feeling completely disoriented.

"Huahua, you're awake." Shao Yao pounced on her with a look of grievance. She had been scared by Yan-ge so many times already. Huahua was just sleeping!

As her thoughts slowly returned, Hua Zhi sat up and looked out the window, seeing the bright white snow outside, indicating that it was already late morning.

"What time is it?"

"The hour of Shen has passed. Are you hungry? Get up. There's hot water in the room for you to freshen up. I'll go get the food."

Watching her energetically run to the door, open it, and then come back to grab her hat, Hua Zhi smiled and leaned against the head of the bed lazily. She had slept for so long that her body felt weak.

After eating more than usual, Hua Zhi finally felt some strength returning to her body.

Gu Yanxi entered, carrying a teapot and serving the tea he had brought from Wu Yong the night before. Hua Zhi had a discerning palate and could tell good from bad as soon as it touched her lips. She didn't ask where it came from and poured herself another cup after finishing the first, taking the initiative.

Gu Yanxi smiled softly as he watched her. "Fourth Master has gone to the yamen. Before he left, he said that the people from the Huas should rest during the day. Today, he will try to find a way to bring your father home early. In a couple of days, it will be a rest day, and then everyone can talk properly."

Hua Zhi nodded in understanding. Looking at Mr. Lu, who always remained calm and composed, she asked, "Mr. Lu seems to be very familiar with this place."

"I've been here before. If the young lady has any questions, feel free to ask me. I will answer as much as I can."

"I am concerned about how to prevent my family from suffering. Does Mr. Lu has a solution?"

Gu Yanxi met Huazhi's unwavering gaze. "The young lady is worrying too much. Before you arrived, the Huas had not suffered. In the short time since your arrival, several people have been given light and simple tasks. As a man, if they still need a younger generation like you to protect them, where does that leave their pride?"

Hua Zhi was speechless. Yes, they didn't need her to protect them, the women of the Hua family. Before the collapse of the Hua family, they supported the family for fifteen years in prosperity and stability.

Hua Zhi got up and bowed to Gu Yanxi. "Thank you, Mr. Lu, for your guidance. I was misguided."

Gu Yanxi helped her up. "There's no need for that. The young lady is also looking out for her family."

After sitting down again and drinking some tea, Hua Zhi asked another question. "Is Yingshan Pass safe?"

"What the young lady really wants to know is whether there are signs of border incursions by the ethnic groups outside the pass, right?" Seeing Hua Zhi nod, Gu Yanxi smiled. "The north is fine, but the east is not very stable."

'Fine' didn't necessarily mean completely safe, and as for the east...

Hua Zhi thought back to her childhood, when her grandfather personally taught her to read and write. He made her study history books, taught her about geography and customs, and made her aware that there was more to the world beyond the skies of the inner chambers, beyond the Kingdom of Daqing. There was the vast expanse beyond the pass, where the country wasn't prosperous and the people weren't well-off. The thriving Kingdom of Daqing was like a piece of fat meat in their eyes.

In addition to the powerful nomadic tribes who lived near water, there were two other countries beyond the pass: Yan in the south and the former imperial country of Chao Li who had been expelled beyond the pass by Daqing.

The Chao Li people, originally from beyond the pass, had ruled over the central plains for nearly a century. During that time, they nearly destroyed the foundation of the central plains, cutting off the transmission of the splendid culture of the central plains. Countless classic ancient books were burned, and to control the central plains, the scholars were ostracized. It was a dark time, and it took many years for Daqing to restore vitality to the central plains.

Now, the borders of Daqing and Chao Li, situated east of Daqing, were often tense. The strongest military forces of Daqing had been stationed at the eastern pass for over a hundred years, and the commanding officers there were not ordinary people. Regardless of who sat on the throne, they understood this very well.

Grandfather had once taught in the Imperial Study, telling her that the first lesson all members of the royal family received upon entering the Study was not the study of the saints, but a thorough understanding of the history of the previous dynasties. This was an ironclad rule set by the founding Emperor.

In the 170 years of the Kingdom of Daqing, not all emperors were talented and wise, but no matter how incompetent they were, there had never been any confusion in the appointments at the Eastern Pass.

That hundred years was a painful period for all the people of the Central Plains.

Hua Zhi was well aware of the threat that Chao Li posed to the Daqing Dynasty. However, she was more concerned about the overly quiet Southern land. She had read all the books about Yan.

Dipping her finger in the tea water, Hua Zhi used the table to draw various shapes - pentagon, triangle, square, rectangle, and a circle in the center. Gu Yanxi instantly understood the pattern and moved behind Hua Zhi.

Unfazed, Hua Zhi continued drawing shapes on the table, some connected and some clustered together until the table was full.

Then she wiped the table, smudging the water into a mess.

Gu Yanxi had understood her message. He did not sit back down, instead, he stood by the window and watched the people passing by outside.

Not just him, the entire court was on guard against the North and the East, even the western tribe was vigilant. No one had ever considered what trouble might arise from the South. Yan had been too well-behaved for too long. The last conflict between Yan and Daqing had occurred forty years ago, and in recent years, the two countries had developed a sort of an alliance.

"In recent years, I have read many books, and my grandfather has never hesitated to tell me about court matters. I find Yan to be very interesting."

Hua Zhi straightened her sleeve as if she were discussing nothing more than the weather. "For the past fifteen years, Yan has been using grain to build goodwill between our countries. No, including this year, it's been sixteen years. Every time, the emperor's return gifts far exceed the value of the grain given, and as long as their requests are not unreasonable, it is always granted them. For example, when a small iron mine was discovered on the borderlands, the Emperor generously gave it to them."

Gu Yanxi turned around. "It's a very small mine. Even mines privately owned by the influential are larger. The output is not enough to produce many weapons. They claim to use it to make farm tools and cultivate fields."

"If it can't make many weapons, what about arrows?" Hua Zhi stood up and faced him directly. "Yan produces an abundance of bamboo, with a variety of high-quality types suitable for making bows and arrows. The only drawback is that the arrowheads are slightly less hard, lacking in lethality."

Hua Zhi's smile was serene. "Yan can grow three seasons of grain in a year, exchanging cheap grain for iron ore. The trade is so profitable that it makes me tempted."

Gu Yanxi knew he should immediately report this matter and minimize any potential crisis. However, as he looked at Hua Zhi, his mind was not on practical matters at all. His mind and eyes were full of crazy thoughts. All he could think of was this extraordinary woman, should belong to him in life and death, even if it meant burying her in the same grave as him!