Hua Bolin shook his head. He didn't want the Hua family to face trouble, but neither could he be cruel enough to let someone die. "Even Elder Sister can't resolve this trouble?"
"That's right."
After pondering carefully for a moment, Hua Bolin asked, "Could A Jian stay indoors without coming out? He could wear my clothes, I'd share half my meals with him, and I'd find an excuse to move into Elder Sister's courtyard. That way no one would know he exists."
How naive. Yet Hua Zhi smiled. If one day Berlin severed all attachments to become immensely powerful, she thought she wouldn't recognize him. Her younger brother could be excessively kind, even allowed to be weak, but he must never become heartless. Having experienced it herself, she deeply detested such traits.
"Very well, we'll do as you say."
Hua Bolin jumped up. "I'll go move some things over. Don't worry, Elder Sister, I'll take good care of A Jian."
"There's no hurry." Hua Zhi spoke softly, "Starting tomorrow, your elder sister needs to focus on one matter. You'll have to take over teaching at the Clan school."
Having served as a young teacher before, Hua Bolin accepted readily, though he asked one more question, "Is Elder Sister busy with that new shop?"
"Du Cheng is handling that matter. I only need to check on the progress occasionally. I have something else to attend to." Hua Zhi consciously involved Bolin more in family affairs and explained in detail, "There's a manor east of the city walls that I want to put to use."
"Another workshop?"
"You could call it that. I've already had some preparations made there. Berlin, you must remember - in a clan, the main branch should naturally be stronger than the collateral branches to maintain authority, but having one dominant branch isn't good either. The collateral branches aren't necessarily lacking in capable people. If used well, they become your support. Those who are disobedient, when subdued and controlled, will become more loyal to you than the obedient ones. A single chopstick breaks easily, but a bundle of chopsticks might break the hands of those with ill intentions."
"Yes, Elder Sister, I'll remember." Hua Bolin listened with utmost seriousness. "Is Elder Sister planning to utilize people from the collateral branches?"
"Given our current situation, who is there for me to use? The household is full of women. I just need to earn substantial silver to ensure their comfortable living, and they'll obey. However, I must make them understand how hard it is to earn money. I won't create a situation where kindness is taken for granted and leads to resentment."
Hua Bolin thought for a moment and understood. "Elder Sister plans to involve the collateral branches in your next undertaking and have them provide people."
"Correct." Hua Zhi took a sip of tea. "We can't spare many people from the main family anymore. The newly purchased servants can't be used until they're properly trained, so we can only draw people from the collateral branches."
"Can we trust people from the collateral branches?"
"That's not important." Hua Zhi pointed to her head, revealing rare self-satisfaction. "All the important things are here. What can they do?"
Hua Bolin looked at his elder sister with deep admiration, feeling strongly that he still had much to learn. How could his elder sister be so remarkable? She's truly capable! No one can compare!
Hua Zhi patted his head like one would pat a puppy, only remembering afterward that she had decided to treat him as an adult. Yet the current atmosphere felt so much like their sibling interactions over the past years.
Whenever Berlin looked at her with such eyes, it made her heart ache with tenderness, making her want to teach him everything she knew so he would have more means to establish himself in the world."It's getting late, go pack your things and come over. Be good and get along with A Jian."
"Yes." Hua Bolin paused at the doorway and turned back. "Elder Sister, did you save A Jian because someone was bullying him?"
Though there was a slight discrepancy from the truth, Hua Zhi still nodded. She didn't mind building a positive image of herself in Berlin's mind.
Sure enough, Hua Bolin immediately beamed with shared pride and skipped out of the room with light steps.
Hua Zhi felt quite pleased. Though the day had been full of emotional ups and downs, it had ultimately ended well.
As the hour grew late, A Jian had just finished freshening up and was about to slowly lie down when he saw Hua Bolin enter the room carrying two large bundles. He quickly sat up straight, looking at him in surprise.
"I spoke with Elder Sister. From now on, I'll sleep with you. You can wear my clothes, and I'll share my meals with you. That way no one will know you're here."
But hadn't Sister Hua already arranged all this? Being more perceptive than Berlin in such matters, A Jian didn't point this out and moved to get off the bed to help him unpack.
"Don't move. I told Elder Sister I'd take good care of you." Hua Bolin strode forward in a few large steps, helped him back to bed and settled him down, his movements quite practiced.
This overwhelming kindness left A Jian feeling almost breathless. He took a few quiet deep breaths as a genuine smile welled up from his heart. Things he never received as a prince were now effortlessly given to him as a person of unknown status. He wanted to make a lighthearted remark, but found his nose inexplicably tingling with emotion.
The two squeezed into one quilt, sleeping head-to-toe. This intimacy made A Jian somewhat uncomfortable, yet he felt more joy than discomfort. This was the closest he'd ever been to another person, and this closeness came from someone he'd met just two hours ago. How incredible, yet it was truly happening to him.
Hua Bolin used to be unaccustomed to sharing a bed too, but over recent months younger brothers often crawled into his quilt, so he'd grown quite used to it. He could clearly sense A Jian's unease. From A Jian's speech and demeanor, it was evident his background was anything but simple, likely involving some grudges. That must be why Elder Sister hadn't explained things clearly to him.
He believed Elder Sister must have compelling reasons for taking the risk to save A Jian. Most likely, A Jian had prior connections with the Hua family. Knowing Elder Sister's character, she wouldn't do anything that might bring trouble to the Hua family without good reason.
In the darkness, all trace of childish innocence vanished from Hua Bolin's expression. This child, taught personally by Hua Zhi, had grown beyond everyone's expectations—including Hua Zhi's own.
The early March weather had warmed slightly, and sunlight finally carried some warmth when it fell on one's skin.
Standing under the corridor eaves, Hua Zhi squinted up at the sky before turning to give instructions: "Invite the three grandaunts to the west courtyard."
Ying Chun, Bao Xia, and Nian Qiu each went to deliver the invitation to one household, while Liu Xiang stepped forward with Chunxiang, ready to receive further orders.
"Also send someone to invite the Fourth Household Madam and Second Aunt. Steward Xu should come listen as well."
Chunxiang curtseyed and departed.
As she walked out of the courtyard, Hua Zhi saw Lu Xiansheng standing in the sunlight dressed in martial attire, the light lending him a vibrant vitality.Hua Zhi had encountered many men, but few were as masculine as Gu Yanxi. His masculinity wasn't the kind honed in gyms; rather, it was an innate blend of nobility and self-assurance, as if no one in this world could make him bow his head. The despondency he showed yesterday was likely a rare occurrence in his life.
Though these chaotic thoughts swirled in her mind, not a trace showed on her face. She curtsied slightly before turning to walk toward the moon gate.
Gu Yanxi watched her figure until it disappeared from sight, feeling pleased that her attitude toward him remained no different from usual.
This was good. He was in no hurry.
PS: Ladies, remember one thing—any character I emphasize in writing will never be a mere extra. This is something I learned while writing scripts: if a character serves no future purpose, there's no need for them to appear at all. Double update today, don't miss it.
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