Chapter 131: I Accept If There Are Ulterior Motives
"There's also Yang Qi who needs to be dealt with. As long as he remains the Hua family's son-in-law, he could potentially use the family's name to advance his own interests." Hua Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly. "How dare he strike someone from our Hua family and then try to leverage our influence! Who does he think he is?"
"I've heard vague rumors about this matter. Tell me exactly what happened."
"He forced my second aunt to return to her maiden home to help him make connections. He wanted to use the Hua family to meet some scholars and expand his influence for further advancement. When Second Aunt refused, he hit her."
Zhu Haocheng shook his head. Such crude behavior was truly disgraceful. Old Madam had just passed away, and he was already so impatient. No wonder Zhi Er had to take such a firm stance. However, "You still need to be careful about your methods. Don't ruin your reputation. As a young lady, how will you marry in the future?"
"I've long abandoned that thought." Hua Zhi didn't want to dwell on this topic and continued with their previous discussion. "I'll visit Second Aunt another day to sound her out about the possibility of divorce. Once they're divorced, Yang Qi will have no connection to the Hua family."
"It's better to destroy ten temples than break one marriage. Don't bring it up yourself, or you might end up with nothing but trouble and blame, despite your good intentions."
"Yes." Hua Zhi obediently agreed. "As for those few individuals, I have no better solution than to keep the Hua family in the public eye, so they'll think twice before taking action."
Zhu Haocheng nodded helplessly. He had discussed this with his father several times, and they both agreed this was indeed the most practical approach for now. As long as the Hua family remained under public scrutiny, those individuals would at least have to exercise some restraint and not go too far.
"They might still make some small moves. You need to stay vigilant."
"Yes, Zhi Er understands." This was a society where imperial power reigned supreme. Those individuals were forces she simply couldn't oppose—unless... she chose to align with one of them and do everything in her power to help him secure the Crown Prince's position.
But she was unwilling.
Every member of that family bore some responsibility for the Hua family's current predicament. While she lacked the power for revenge, the thought of helping them was something she couldn't bring herself to do until she could swallow her resentment.
"And then there's Lu Xiansheng." Zhu Haocheng looked at his niece. "What are your thoughts about him?"
"I owe him many favors and have received much help from him. The person behind him even saved my life. Uncle, I know what you're thinking and understand your concerns. But unless he chooses to leave himself, I cannot drive him away. If he truly has ulterior motives toward me, I accept it."
"Zhi Er..." Zhu Haocheng looked at her disapprovingly.
Hua Zhi lowered her head and smiled. "No one only receives without giving. I'm mentally prepared for that."
After realizing she didn't have to marry, the constraints of gender segregation no longer bound her as tightly. Even if she had to give up her body, she wouldn't feel much psychological barrier. In the world she came from, such things were all too common.
However, she didn't believe this was what Lu Xiansheng was after—the price he would have paid would be too high. In her view, this seemed more like he wanted to play the game of exchanging genuine feelings for genuine feelings.
She just didn't know if Lu Xiansheng himself realized what he was doing.
Zhu Haocheng still wore a disapproving expression but didn't say anything more. Zhi Er was no longer just his niece—she was now the head of the Hua family. He could no longer treat her simply as a junior.Gu Yanxi lay on the rooftop listening to the conversation in the study, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. Hua Zhi was far too clever not to realize he had ulterior motives, though... she had likely guessed wrong about his intentions.
But what did it matter? At least she distinguished him from others.
Their discussion lasted half a day. When Zhu Haocheng was about to leave, he couldn't resist adding a few more words, "There's no shame in retreating to a corner if you truly can't hold on. As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood. There are still long days ahead, and your father and the others might yet return. Don't stubbornly shoulder everything alone. If preserving the Hua family requires sacrificing you, what face would we, your grandfather, and the younger generation of the Hua family have to show you?"
Zhu Haocheng sighed. After this long conversation, he had come to understand that Zhi Er, who used to speak very little, actually possessed a fiery temperament. If pushed too far, she would likely become a formidable character who'd rather mutual destruction than suffer losses.
He couldn't decide whether he felt more pride or more worry in his heart.
Hua Zhi obediently agreed, her demeanor so meek and submissive that she appeared no different from any other young lady from prominent families.
Zhu Haocheng sighed again, mounted his horse, and gently nudged its sides to depart.
Outside the East Corner Gate, watching her uncle disappear down the alley, Hua Zhi turned back inside and asked her brother, "Did you understand everything?"
Hua Bolin answered honestly, "I need to think about it more."
"Then think more. Additionally, you must diligently study the Six Arts of gentlemen—they are your social credentials." Scholars of the Daqing Dynasty were far from weaklings. Those without illness or disability who traveled by carriage or sedan chair would be ridiculed. Even her father, a typical literatus, could draw a bow and perform elegant sword flourishes.
"Elder Sister, my teachers have been instructing me in all these."
"How about letting this humble one teach the Sixth Young Master archery?"
Hua Zhi looked up at the man standing under the corridor with his arms crossed, her expression unconsciously softening. "This has long been my wish, though I dared not request it."
Gu Yanxi adored Hua Zhi's expression at this moment, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he approached. "Then please prepare yourself, Sixth Young Master. I'm not as easygoing as Mr. Mu."
Hua Bolin straightened his posture. "I'm not afraid."
As long as it pleased his elder sister, he wasn't afraid at all!
Hua Zhi looked at Hua Bolin with eyes full of laughter, her joy seeming to overflow. Watching from the corner of his eye, Gu Yanxi grew more aware of Hua Bolin's importance in Hua Zhi's heart. He quietly elevated Hua Bolin's significance in his mind, contemplating how to treat him even better.
Good news arrived the very next day after the canned syrup fruits were delivered to Yunlai Tavern. A wealthy family sent orders for one hundred jars each of fleshy peaches and citrus, which were loaded onto carts and transported right before the tavern's main hall for all to see. Even those initially uninterested eventually sampled the products, leading to continuous purchases from various customers.
Hua Zhi didn't ponder whether this scene had been arranged by Bai Mingxia. She simply sent someone to deliver improved pastries along with their recipes to him, then dispatched a cartload of canned goods to Great Clumsy Temple for Master Banruo. She also sent some to the Zhu family and, naturally, didn't forget the two tutors.
Taking advantage of his privilege to enter the palace at will, Gu Yanxi wrapped two jars in his cloak and brought them to his grandmother. The Empress Dowager, who had poor teeth, particularly enjoyed them and subsequently sent servants to purchase more, distributing a jar to each consort in the rear palace.Gu Yanxi didn't know whether his grandmother was genuinely unaware that this product came from the Hua family or merely pretending ignorance, and he chose not to expose the truth.
During the bleak winter when even the imperial palace had limited access to fresh fruits, these canned goods were quickly embraced by everyone.
Through Gu Yanxi's arrangements, all canned goods purchased by the palace were supplied by Yunlai Restaurant. With the Bai family serving as a shield upfront, those who wanted to cause trouble had to think twice. After the news gradually spread, he directed people to shift their attention to Hua Zhi's shop. The transformation from having few visitors to being bustling with customers took merely a few days.
PS: My male lead is really forcing his presence to be noticed.
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