Everyone except Hua Zhi seemed to be constantly busy, barely touching the ground with their feet. Shaoyao could only be seen briefly each morning, spending the rest of the day outside wearing her Veiled Hat. Though visibly exhausted, she bore it all without complaint, still appearing affectionate and charming whenever she saw Hua Hua. Yet, she was noticeably thinning.
Early in the morning, Hua Zhi had been in the kitchen with Bao Xia, preparing appetizing snacks and cooling treats to beat the heat.
"The mung beans need to be crushed a bit more. Once they’ve cooled enough, take them out and chill them in the ice basin." Hua Zhi turned at the sound of footsteps and, seeing it was Jiang Huanran, quickened her instructions. "Brew a larger batch in the morning and chill it. At noon, have Xu Ying deliver it along with the rest."
"Yes, I understand, Miss. Please go and rest—the kitchen is too hot."
Hua Zhi nodded and walked toward Jiang Huanran. "Are you feeling better, Young Master Jiang?"
"Much better." Though Jiang Huanran had lost a great deal of weight, his laughter remained hearty. "You must believe me, Miss—I’m not usually this sickly."
"You’ve suffered because of me."
"Please don’t say that. I consider it an honor."
In modern times, Jiang Huanran would have been the type of young master who talked a big game but had his own principles—likely fond of games of mutual consent but never one to force anything. Flirtatious but not vulgar, Hua Zhi didn’t dislike such people. After spending time with him, she even felt he was worth befriending. However, in this world where men and women were expected to keep their distance, they probably couldn’t become friends.
The two entered the main hall one after the other. Jiang Huanran’s eyes immediately fell on the sand table occupying a large portion of the room. With just one glance, he set aside his usual frivolity and walked toward it. After studying it for a moment, he picked up the Topographic map beside the sand table to compare.
Hua Zhi didn’t stop him. Instead, she picked up the book she had been reading earlier. Knowing they would be staying here for a few days, she had asked Bo Fan to help find some books. Unexpectedly, it was Xu Yangjun who eventually delivered them. The books were a mix of new and old, with some of the older ones bearing annotations. Having seen Xu Yangjun’s handwriting before, Hua Zhi recognized it as his. She understood that these were likely his personal collection. For a scholar, such items were treasures, and she couldn’t fathom why he would part with them. Was he trying to curry favor? It didn’t seem so.
Unable to figure it out, Hua Zhi decided not to dwell on it. She simply made a mental note to repay the favor someday.
"Miss, I’d like to know whose work this is."
Hua Zhi looked up from her book and saw Jiang Huanran’s serious expression. Ah, the scions of noble families—no matter how unambitious they might seem, their knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people. They were truly born with a head start in life.
Setting her book down, Hua Zhi approached the sand table. "Is it so important who made it?"
More important than the creator was the existence of the sand table itself. It could simulate the mountains and rivers of the Daqing Dynasty. If they could gather intelligence on enemy nations, wouldn’t it be possible to recreate their territories on this sand table as well?
The mere thought made Jiang Huanran’s heart race and his blood boil. The Daqing Dynasty’s borders were far from secure!
His eyes burning with intensity, Jiang Huanran looked at Hua Zhi. "This is your work."
It wasn’t a question but a statement. Hua Zhi didn’t confirm or deny it, simply saying, "We’ll likely be staying here for a few more days. If you’re in a hurry to return, Young Master Jiang, you may leave ahead of us.""I'm not in a hurry, not at all. I'll keep you company as long as you wish to stay here, Miss..."
"That won't be necessary. Miss has me for company." Hua Zhi was taken aback, turning to look at the doorway where her eyes gradually lit up with delight.
Gu Yanxi entered from outside, clad in black travel-worn clothes. While speaking to Jiang Huanran, his gaze remained fixed unwaveringly on A Zhi. "A Zhi has troubled Young Master Jiang. Since you're still unwell, please return to your room to rest. Escort Young Master Jiang back to his quarters."
Yu Tao stepped forward and half-coercively began leading him out. Jiang Huanran resisted with all his might, unwilling to leave. "Who are you? What right do you have to treat me this way..."
Yu Tao simply covered his mouth and swiftly removed him from the room, ignoring Jiang Huanran's struggles.
With the irrelevant person gone from the room, perhaps because they hadn't seen each other for so long, Hua Zhi inexplicably felt somewhat awkward, as if her body had been immobilized and she couldn't move a step. "Why... have you come so suddenly?"
Gu Yanxi approached and gently drew her into his embrace. These past days he had missed her so intensely he wished he could press her into his very being, but A Zhi was injured.
She had gotten hurt again!
The first time he had arrived a step too late, the second time he had sent people to accompany her yet they still failed to protect her. He had been careless. Next time, no matter where she went, he would follow personally. No matter where!
After calming the overwhelming longing in his heart, Gu Yanxi finally replied, "While in Jiangling, Shaoyao contacted the local agents of the Seven Constellation Bureau to send me a message. Knowing you were injured, how could I remain seated? I made arrangements for matters in the capital and came immediately. Along the way I received several of your letters, so I knew you were here."
So that was it. Hua Zhi leaned against the man's broad chest, not wanting to move at all. Her tightly wound body finally relaxed. These past days hadn't been without pressure - the plan had been her idea. If this labor-intensive, resource-draining scheme failed to achieve its intended effect, even with the Seven Constellation Bureau taking the forefront, she knew the blame would ultimately be hers to bear.
Although Yanxi's arrival didn't mean she could shift the responsibility to him, she still felt somewhat more at ease.
"Traveling day and night?"
"Yes, day and night, through wind and rain." Gu Yanxi chuckled softly. "See if I don't smell rancid."
"You do carry quite a masculine scent." Hua Zhi allowed herself this moment of indulgence before straightening her spine. Taking his hand, she led him out of the room and addressed Bao Xia waiting outside: "Prepare the room next to mine, and bring plenty of hot water."
"Yes." Bao Xia smiled cheerfully while bowing to Lu Xiansheng. How wonderful - the young mistress immediately regained her spirit when Lu Xiansheng arrived.
Hua Zhi brought him to her own room. "Since you've come from that direction, I'd like to ask - did it rain on your journey?"
"It rained intermittently, sometimes quite heavily. After receiving your letter on the road, I sent people to investigate other locations. We should have news by tomorrow at the earliest. Don't worry."
"I am somewhat anxious. Shaoyao has taken all the pressure upon herself to spare me worry, but how could I not know? Sometimes I even privately hope for another heavy rainfall, so those people will become more urgent."
Hua Zhi shook her head lightly with self-mockery. She wasn't truly a kind-hearted person - sometimes her temper was actually quite considerable, she just hid it well.Gu Yanxi held her hand and kissed it gently. "It's fine. Shaoyao can handle things. If she's truly provoked, she can have all the officials in Xiangyang removed from their posts. No official is truly clean—it just depends on whether they're investigated or not."
"I can see that. She's somewhat unrestrained in this matter, which isn't good for the Seven Constellation Bureau."
"She's an exception. Usually, she rarely involves herself in such affairs. Others in the bureau follow the rules strictly." Gu Yanxi's eyes held a smile. "If there were more people like Shaoyao in the bureau, I wouldn't be able to handle it either."
PS: I went somewhere far today and returned late, so the update is later than usual. Apologies.
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