Chapter 209: Breaking into the Old Mansion at Night
Unable to sit still, Shaoyao grew impatient with their leisurely conversation and went off to find Little Six instead.
Amidst the curling steam, Hua Zhi looked up, her eyes brimming with unmistakable amusement. "How do you think Yang Qi will convince Yang Zheng that he actually wrote the divorce papers?"
"Yang Zheng will ultimately believe him—after all, lying about this would do Yang Qi no good—but he’ll remain skeptical. Those in high positions are seldom free of suspicion."
"Let him doubt all he wants. He can’t very well come to me and ask whether Yang Qi truly wrote the divorce papers."
Gu Yanxi adored this almost audacious side of A Zhi. "Yang Qi won’t take such a loss lying down—he’s bound to retaliate."
"I recall you telling me that Wang Rong is very precise in his methods, leaving no traces behind."
"Of course. Wang Rong started out in the interrogation division—he’s a master of those techniques."
"Then whatever Yang Qi does, what does it have to do with me? To convict someone, you need evidence. Does he have any? If he tries to use my aunt’s refusal to return to the Yang family as leverage..." Hua Zhi blinked, her eyes twinkling with cunning. "Everyone in the capital knows he beat my aunt black and blue. The Hua family is simply protecting our own—keeping her from going back to be abused. What can anyone say to that?"
So she had accounted for every possibility. A smile flickered in Gu Yanxi’s eyes—this was a woman fully capable of safeguarding herself.
After leaving the Hua family, Gu Yanxi did not head to the palace but instead made his way toward the northern part of the city.
Hualin Alley, now home to only one household, had clearly grown more desolate. Gu Yanxi gazed up at the Hua family’s gate plaque, recalling the chaos of the day it was raided. A belated ache gripped his heart—if only he had met A Zhi earlier, if only he had known then how deeply one could love another, he would never have allowed the Hua family to suffer such a calamity.
But as A Zhi had said, if the Hua family had remained unscathed, she would likely have become a bride of the Shen Family this past May. The thought made him acknowledge, darkly, that the family’s misfortune had, in a way, worked in his favor.
Pushing this shadowy reflection deep into his heart, Gu Yanxi ignored the official seals and leaped over the wall. Drawing on his knowledge of the capital’s residential layouts and customary living arrangements, he soon located Hua Zhi’s courtyard.
The yard was somewhat untidy, but the interior of the house was unexpectedly orderly. A layer of dust coated the furniture, as if the owner had merely gone on a long journey and not yet returned.
Gu Yanxi drank in the sight of the place where A Zhi had lived for so many years, imagining her reading, laughing, painting, or experimenting with recipes alongside Fu Dong within these walls. No matter the circumstances, she always knew how to live well.
In the peaceful days before the Hua family’s upheaval, she must have truly been the sheltered eldest daughter of the house, oblivious to the world outside.
His eyes swept the room, but he refrained from intruding upon A Zhi’s private belongings. Instead, he picked up a forgotten handkerchief from the bed and tucked it into his robe. Noticing a wooden chessboard on the cabinet, its edges worn smooth with use, he walked over, ran his fingers over it for a moment, and then found the chess box to examine. A few pieces seemed to be missing, but he thought A Zhi would surely delight in having such a memento back in her hands.
After lingering in the room a while longer, Gu Yanxi took the items and stepped out, heading to the side chamber on the right.
This room faced the sun, and tea needed to be stored in a dry place—it was likely kept there.
As expected, he soon found the tea leaves inside a tightly sealed large jar. A quick glance around revealed six such jars in total.He lightly clapped his hands twice, and two people entered from outside. He took the lead in carrying out two items, and the other two understood his intention, moving the remaining four out as well.
Just as he was about to leave, he remembered something and went to the left side room. He had followed Fu Dong to fetch things before and roughly knew her storage habits.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered the side room, he was greeted by a mix of scents, with a particularly strong sour note.
Removing the stone from the large jar, the tangy and spicy aroma of kimchi wafted out. Just the smell told him it was well-made, and he couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. He fished out half a cabbage, tore off a small piece, and tasted it. Excellent—not only was it unspoiled, but the flavor was superb.
His uncle, the emperor, had been having a poor appetite lately and often needed this dish to finish a bowl of rice. His grandmother was also quite fond of it. He felt awkward constantly asking A Zhi for more, but with these jars, he could make his request more easily.
Fearing the flavors might escape, he decided not to open the other jars to check their contents. Instead, he called for people to move them all.
He was being a bit mischievous, placing the items directly in the front courtyard's side room without any prior notice. Lan Qiao, the maid who had taken over Fu Dong's role as head cook, entered early to fetch supplies and was startled by the sudden appearance of so many extra items. Fortunately, having served Hua Zhi for many years, she had some courage. She kept quiet about it and hurried to the rear courtyard to report the matter to her young lady.
After clarifying what had been added, Hua Zhi had a rough idea of the situation. She calmly reassured, "It's fine. Use whatever you can."
Lan Qiao, after all, had been with Hua Zhi for years. Once her mind settled, she gradually pieced things together. Those large jars and vats looked all too familiar, making it impossible for her not to speculate. But no matter how much she wondered, she couldn't voice her thoughts!
She acknowledged the instruction and went back to open one of the jars. Finding pickled cowpeas inside, she was overjoyed. She took some out, finely chopped them, and mixed them—perfect for complementing porridge. The taste was far superior to their newly made batches.
Hua Zhi went to the side room, gently touching the jars and vats that had been used for years. A slight smile curled at the corners of her lips, her mood greatly lifted.
Ying Chun expressed some concern, "Young lady, isn't this inappropriate? If others find out..."
"Are the words 'Hua Family Old Residence' carved on them? Such bulky items—how could I have moved them here myself?" Hua Zhi brushed off the responsibility entirely. She hadn't even admitted to dealing with Yang Qi, so why would she claim ownership of things she hadn't brought?
Ying Chun suddenly turned her head and called out, "Lu Xiansheng."
Hua Zhi turned around, patting the large jar. "What made you think to bring this here too?"
"Naturally, I have a request. Share some with me—my grandmother and uncle both love this."
"One would think it contained some rare delicacy," Hua Zhi chuckled. "Bao Xia, pack some for Fu Dong—she'll be delighted. Also, prepare a portion for Lu Xiansheng, but make it a small one."
Bao Xia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and agreed.
Once outside, Hua Zhi explained, "This tends to lose its flavor if stored too long. After you take it back, keep it chilled with some ice. It'll last a few days without issue, but it tastes better stored in the large jar. You can come by every few days to get more."
Gu Yanxi responded softly in agreement. He understood better than anyone that A Zhi's explanation was proof she held him in her heart. For those she didn't care about, she wouldn't waste a single word, no matter what they thought."Speaking of this, it reminds me that when we go north this year, we can teach this method to the servants there and have them make some. Even if not for daily consumption, it would be excellent as a side dish. And as for tea, Grandfather loves it, but it's too fragile and can't withstand such a long journey. We need to figure out a way to bring some for him."
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