Yan Zhi’an’s ability was known throughout the realm. After entering officialdom, she presented a mine to the Imperial Court, earning the Sovereign’s high regard.
Xunqi had also heard of Yan Zhi’an’s fame—all of it from the Madwoman. The Madwoman had praised Yan Zhi’an many times over, admiring her ability. After all, the Yan family had produced only one person with such talent in a hundred years; Yan Zhi’an carried the family’s prosperity forward.
After Yan Zhi’an’s remark, Xunqi lazily leaned in. Her fair, rosy little face was stirring. Yan Zhi’an reached out to touch it and said with weight, “This matter requires talent.”
“I know.” Xunqi didn’t press it, nuzzling her mother’s palm with a dependent air, and said seriously, “The Yan family’s talent isn’t passed on to children, is it?”
Whatever skill Yan Zhi’an had, her children definitely wouldn’t inherit it.
Perhaps no one in this generation would inherit it.
At that, Yan Zhi’an was silent for a long time. Her grandfather hadn’t possessed it either, but her great-grandfather had known mineral prospecting.
One generation has it, two are lost, and by the fourth, they gaze at heaven. That was the Yan family’s rule.
But Xunqi said, “With gunpowder, you just need the formula. The Madwoman taught me many—there are various formulas. Anyone can learn this.”
Yan Zhi’an’s eyes stilled. The Waterside Pavilion was silent as water.
The bamboo branches inside were bathed in warm yellow light; the charcoal in the brazier crackled. Yan Zhi’an stroked the girl’s skin, musing over her words.
Xunqi—she looked honest, but her thoughts ran deep, and she knew better how to weigh benefits.
Wasn’t that just like the Female Emperor?
People’s hearts were as treacherous as ghosts. She needed Xunqi to cling to her, to trust her. In the future, with thousands of court officials around, how would Xunqi place her trust in her?
Her palm came to rest on the girl’s fine skin, smooth as a shelled egg. She smiled. “Then strive to break this rule.”
Confusion appeared in Xunqi’s moist eyes. Yan Zhi’an reached out and tapped her nose, her tone indulgent. “Try it.”
“Okay.” The girl cheered up at once, her heart warm.
Yan Zhi’an reached out, drew the girl into her arms, and patted her back. “Go to sleep. Tomorrow, you’ll do work for me.”
Those words lifted Xunqi out of the pit of “calligraphy practice.” She stood joyfully, gave her mother a proper salute, and led her maidservant back to her room.
Yan Zhi’an didn’t like staying up for the New Year either. Better to sleep. She also disliked staying up late—it harmed the skin. So after Xunqi left, she too went to bed.
Both slept soundly through the night.
In the morning, Yan Zhi’an received a list. The crab-crawl handwriting made it obvious who had written it. She called Wushuang over. “Assemble all of this within half a day.”
Wushuang accepted the order and left.
After she left, the children of the various branches came to pay New Year’s respects. A dozen or so children filed in chattering, calling out “Paternal Aunt” in unison.
Xunqi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Recalling what Seventeenth Miss had said, she couldn’t help taking a few extra looks, memorizing their features.
After they left, she pressed close to her mother and asked, “Which one did the Yan family want you to adopt?”
“It must have been that quick-tongued Seventeenth Miss who told you.” Yan Zhi’an sighed. “The Eldest Branch’s child, naturally.”
Yan Zhi’an’s life had long since slipped free of the family’s control. Wang Mingqing needed to prove herself to escape her family; Yan Zhi’an didn’t. Thus, she had never planned to marry. The Yan family thought she ought to adopt a child to teach mineral prospecting to, and they had selected a child from the Eldest Branch. In two more years, when she turned thirty, the adoption ceremony would be held.
Whether she adopted or not, she didn’t care. Would having a child change her own fate?
No. It was merely an insignificant matter.
Yan Zhi’an was utterly calm, not a ripple of emotion. She looked at Xunqi, and Xunqi quickly steadied her voice. “I don’t like them.”
Yan Zhi’an laughed for no apparent reason. Xunqi’s face flushed. “What are you laughing at?”
“That temper of yours.” Yan Zhi’an found it amusing. “I don’t like people who compete with me either. But…” She paused. “Things you dislike should stay in your heart, not come out of your mouth.”
“I know. But I had to tell you.” Xunqi insisted. “If I didn’t say it, you’d keep getting close to them. If I don’t speak, you won’t know. So I have to tell you.”
The girl’s lips were red, her teeth white, and her words landed with weight. Yan Zhi’an perked up—the reasoning was sound. She wasn’t a roundworm in Xunqi’s belly; if the girl didn’t speak, how could she know her mind?
“You’re right, Young Mistress Yan. Very good. I encourage you.” Yan Zhi’an lowered her head, unclasped the black jade pendant from her waist, and handed it over. “This pendant is one of a kind, and you are one of a kind in my heart. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Xunqi accepted the pendant with delight, turning it over in her palm, her smile sincere.
A single “one of a kind” had made her this happy. Yan Zhi’an sighed silently. The black jade pendants had originally been a pair; one had broken, so this one had become one of a kind.
A real cheat.
In the afternoon, Wushuang brought the items. Xunqi asked for a clean room, went in, and ordered no one to come near.
Yan Zhi’an had Wushuang guard the room—to rush in and pull her out if anything seemed wrong, and also to keep others out so Xunqi wouldn’t be disturbed.
While her little tail was working, Yan Zhi’an set about auditing the Yan family’s accounts.
On the first day of the New Year, every branch was merry—until the sudden news of the audit turned all their faces ashen.
Yan Zhi’an was not easy to deceive. Although she was far away in the capital, she kept a grip on every branch’s movements.
As a result, none of the branches could rest easy.
Yan Zhi’an examined the year’s account ledger. It would have been better not to look—seeing the enormous sum, she couldn’t catch her breath for a long while.
She asked Old Master, “The combined expenses of every branch exceed even the Female Emperor’s palace. What have you all been doing?”
“The Female Emperor is one person; the Yan family has over a hundred. Naturally it’s more.” Old Master was dismissive. “The Yan family can afford it. Why make such a fuss?”
Let alone one Yan family—even ten more could be supported.
Yan Zhi’an pressed her forehead and tossed the ledger back to Old Master, sweeping off with a single parting line: “Starting tomorrow, the Yan family’s expenses are cut in half.”
The sky collapsed over every branch of the Yan family.
Xunqi knew nothing of these matters. She stayed in her room for seven days, turning out a batch of jars and bottles, packing them into a box, and presenting them to Yan Zhi’an.
Yan Zhi’an regarded it with respect. Taking Xunqi’s hand, she said, “I’m taking you out on a trip. Quietly. Go pack.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Xunqi immediately went back to her room and packed. Yan Zhi’an immediately arranged for a carriage and ordered Wushuang to accompany them.
The “mother and daughter” departed quietly. The carriage drove out of Jinling City, and as luck would have it, three li outside the city, they met the Yuan family’s carriage.
“Left Prime Minister.” Yuan Fusheng descended from her carriage and saluted. Standing in the bleak, killing cold of winter, robed in ink-wash with wide sleeves, she raised her hands toward the occupant of the carriage.
Yan Zhi’an sighed. Xunqi, at her side, lifted the carriage curtain and smiled at Yuan Fusheng. “Headmaster Yuan, Happy New Year.”
“Young Mistress Yan, may your New Year be joyful.” Yuan Fusheng saluted again. Xunqi immediately climbed down from the carriage, and inside, Yan Zhi’an rolled her eyes. “Pervert.”
She throws herself at anyone pretty…
Xunqi, outside the carriage, didn’t hear that. She raised her hands in salute to Headmaster Yuan and looked at her with wide eyes. Yuan Fusheng gazed at the bright-eyed, lively girl before her and reached out to pat her cheek in a friendly manner. “Young Mistress, where are you headed?”
“Can’t say.” Xunqi shook her head.
Those two words piqued Yuan Fusheng’s interest. She took the girl’s hand and looked at the person in the carriage. “Going mineral prospecting?”
“Who told you I’m going mineral prospecting?” Yan Zhi’an raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to enjoy the mountain scenery.”
Yuan Fusheng smiled faintly. “May I join you?”
Her smile appeared sincere, but in Yan Zhi’an’s eyes, it was a naked threat. Yan Zhi’an looked at her with a smile. “Headmaster Yuan, may I refuse?”
Headmaster Yuan: “No!”
“Then aren’t you coming aboard?” Yan Zhi’an was thoroughly powerless. She called to Xunqi, “Silly Miss, get in the carriage.”
Xunqi immediately pulled her hand free from Yuan Fusheng’s and saluted her. “Academy Head, I’ll get on first.”
Xunqi scrambled up into the carriage. The moment she was inside, Yan Zhi’an grabbed her ear. “Why are you fawning over her? You throw yourself at anyone pretty—is it that you’ve never seen a woman before, or is your mother just not good-looking enough?”
Outside the carriage, Yuan Fusheng heard the last line and covered her face with a laugh.
But right after Yan Zhi’an spoke, Xunqi covered her mouth. “Mother, if you say things like that, she’ll hear. She’ll think I like her.”
At this, Yuan Fusheng laughed until she couldn’t stand straight.
Yan Zhi’an’s languid, alluring voice drifted out again. She said, “Your Headmaster Yuan likes women.”
Yuan Fusheng: “…” This person truly had no manners.
Xunqi, inside the carriage, was dumbfounded. “Isn’t she a woman? How can she like women?”
Hearing that, Yuan Fusheng couldn’t help but board the carriage. Seeing her shamelessly climb in, Yan Zhi’an couldn’t help pulling the girl over and seating her firmly beside herself, away from the old fox.
The three settled in, and the carriage moved on. Xunqi’s gaze toward Yuan Fusheng had changed—not disgust, not fear, but curiosity. The Madwoman had taught so many things, but never this.
The Madwoman had said opposites attract; she’d never said same attracts same. She thought for a moment, then stole another glance at Yuan Fusheng. That was when Yuan Fusheng caught her. “Young Mistress, do you think I’ve violated the proper order?”
“No.” Xunqi shook her head. She didn’t have that level of insight.
Yuan Fusheng sat upright, puzzled. “Then why were you looking at me?”
“Academy Head, I was thinking—you are so beautiful. If the person you like isn’t as beautiful as you, wouldn’t she be ashamed?” Xunqi was utterly candid, her big, moist eyes glued to Yuan Fusheng.
Yan Zhi’an, silent at the side, closed her eyes helplessly. This child was far too naive. The person Headmaster Yuan likes is right in front of you.
Yuan Fusheng glanced at Yan Zhi’an and smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Xunqi was even more confused.
Then, suddenly, Yan Zhi’an took her hand and smiled sweetly. “Young Mistress, between Headmaster Yuan and me, who do you think is more beautiful?”
Xunqi’s eyes flew open, her little face full of shock. “Why are you digging a pit for me to fall into?”
Yan Zhi’an patted her face with feigned affection, glanced at Yuan Fusheng, and curled her red lips into a faintly cold smile. It’s not that I’m digging a pit—it’s that you’re a fool.
She climbed into your carriage without invitation—she clearly has a motive. Can’t you see it?
Xunqi shut her mouth like a mute. But Yan Zhi’an urged her, “Go on, say it.”
