“We trust Zhi Er.”
They trusted her judgment, and they trusted her character.
“No matter what happens, our entire Hua family stands behind her.”
If she had misjudged this time, the Hua family would help her bear the consequences together.
Gu Yanxi stood up and bowed deeply. Had the Hua family insisted on using reputation as an excuse to obstruct their relationship, he would have looked down on them. A Zhi had never placed much weight on her own reputation when working for the family, and when the Hua family needed her, they hadn’t shown much concern for her reputation either.
Fortunately, the Hua family, for whom A Zhi had worked so tirelessly, was worthy of her efforts.
With mutual recognition established, their relationship naturally grew a little closer. Hua Yizheng rose with a smile and said, “Zhi Er is probably still anxiously waiting. Let’s go over.”
Gu Yanxi lowered his head and smiled. “Yes.”
In the courtyard, the banquet had been set up. Hua Zhi, while responding to Hua Bolin’s questions, kept glancing toward the main hall. Strangely, she felt the same nervousness as if her partner were facing her father’s scrutiny.
When she saw them emerge from the room, she hurried forward. Supporting her grandfather, she secretly winked at her fourth uncle. Hua Pingyang glared at her but still gave a slight nod.
Hua Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. The hurdle of meeting the family was finally over, and it seemed the outcome was quite good.
Seated at the head table, Hua Yizheng looked at Gu Yanxi and said, “Please take a seat, Lu Xiansheng.”
“You may simply call me Yanxi.” After the elders had taken their seats, Gu Yanxi tactfully sat at the lowest seat. Hua Zhi glanced at her grandfather and sat beside Yanxi. The leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau, who commanded such prestige outside, now appeared somewhat isolated, and it tugged at her heart.
Hua Pingyang glared again at his niece, who seemed to have shifted her loyalty elsewhere. Hua Zhi gave him an appeasing smile, which amused him but also left him helpless.
Who would believe she wasn’t serious? This was the first time he had seen Zhi Er acting like a young girl in love. Before, when he teased her about Shen Qi, she would tease him back without any embarrassment—nothing like this protective behavior.
Hua Yizheng, however, smiled. Whatever the case, Zhi Er was happy, and that was enough. She had already endured enough hardships for the Hua family. If someone could bring her joy, he had no reason to stand in the way. As for the rules that constrained women, they no longer seemed so important.
If one really thought about it, Zhi Er had already broken conventions by appearing in public as a woman—long before this matter.
Once he understood this, the old man began to regard the young man more favorably. Raising his cup, he said, “You’ve come from afar. A simple cup of wine to express our gratitude.”
“I dare not accept thanks. I am acting of my own free will.” Gu Yanxi raised his cup with both hands and drank it all in one go.
The Hua family members all drank deeply. In the past, how could they have drunk such poor-quality wine? How could they have held a banquet so casually in the courtyard? But a year had been enough to bring about earth-shaking changes. They were acutely aware of their current circumstances and had adapted.
Gu Yanxi glanced around, taking in everyone’s calm expressions with a sense of admiration. This was the Hua family, which had existed as long as the Daqing Dynasty and whom his imperial uncle feared. They could enjoy boundless glory but also find vitality in adversity. The Hua family seemed more favored by heaven than the Gu family, always finding a savior in times of crisis—like Hua Jingyan in the past, and now A Zhi.
After a meal that was more symbolic than filling, Gu Yanxi and Hua Zhi walked toward the inn in the fading twilight. Hua Pingyang found an excuse not to accompany them.However, the two had no time for lengthy conversation. Along the way, people kept greeting Hua Zhi with remarks like, "Oh, the Hua family's young lady is here again!"
"Haha, this is the season when sandstorms are at their worst. You must have swallowed quite a bit of sand on your journey."
"Today, even the old master didn’t go to the yamen. He must be overjoyed, I imagine."
"You look in good spirits, Miss Hua."
"..."
And so on and so forth. Hua Zhi didn’t recognize any of these people, but that didn’t stop her from smiling and responding to each one who spoke to her.
When others showed her kindness, she returned it with sincerity.
Gu Yanxi walked by her side, watching her respond appropriately, observing her graceful composure, seeing her earn others’ admiration, and noticing how tenderly she treated everyone.
This was his A Zhi. At first, he had wanted to hide her away so no one could see how wonderful she was, but now he wished to proclaim to the world that such an exceptional person belonged to him!
Upon entering the inn, Hua Zhi was about to speak to Yanxi when the innkeeper approached. "Someone sent over a few sand-skinned melons for you today. Shall I bring them to your room?"
Hua Zhi was momentarily taken aback but quickly replied, "Yes, thank you, innkeeper."
"Not at all, not at all. It’s my duty." The innkeeper waved his hands repeatedly, his dark face breaking into an especially earnest smile. "There’s been little rain this year, so the melons are particularly sweet. You probably won’t find them anywhere else. Please enjoy them as a treat."
Hua Zhi thanked him again. She didn’t know who had sent the melons, but her heart warmed at the gesture. Most of the people here had been cast aside by society, yet they were not truly beyond redemption. Time had worn away their ambitions, revealing the genuine hearts hidden beneath layers of hardship—no different from ordinary people. In the end, they were merely a group of pitiable souls longing for visits from family and old friends.
"They probably see you as a kind of solace," Gu Yanxi said softly as they went upstairs.
"My honor."
Gu Yanxi pushed the door open for her and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms as he watched her. The faint scent of alcohol clung to him but was not overpowering.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I’m going to find Mr. Zheng’s old acquaintance." Hua Zhi entered the room, poured a cup of tea, and brought it to him. "Have you finished your business?"
"Hmm, I took the liberty of checking that person’s address today. I’ll accompany you tomorrow."
Zheng Bei’s old acquaintance was named Zeng Xian, though "old acquaintance" might be an overstatement. Zeng Xian’s father had once lent a hand to Zheng Bei’s mother after his father passed away. With the Zhu family’s influence looming large, it wasn’t a significant favor, but Zheng Bei had remembered it. Upon returning and learning that the Zeng family had fallen into misfortune, he entrusted Hua Zhi to bring some items when she came to Yinshan Pass.
Zeng Xian had once served as a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. Four years ago, he was exiled here on charges of embezzlement.
"Working in the Ministry of Revenue, few officials are truly clean. Zeng Xian merely took the fall for someone else. This matter has nothing to do with the Seven Constellation Bureau, and I haven’t looked into the specifics." Gu Yanxi pointed to a lane ahead. "It should be there."
Only when they reached this area did Hua Zhi realize that even in Yinshan Pass, there were distinctions between wealthy and impoverished neighborhoods. That the Hua family had managed to establish themselves in the intermediate zone between the two in such a short time after being exiled was partly due to their own capabilities, but more so because of the gold bars Hua Zhi had secretly provided for them.
In places like this, gold bars were especially useful.
Gu Yanxi carried the bundle on his back and held A Zhi’s hand as they walked through the dark, damp alley, carefully examining the numbers on the doors. "This is it."The low eaves and the missing section above the doorframe all spoke volumes about the occupant's circumstances.
Exchanging a glance, Gu Yanxi stepped forward and knocked.
"Who is it?" A hoarse voice came from within, laced with underlying wariness.
Hua Zhi cleared her throat and raised her voice. "We've come at someone's request to visit an old acquaintance."
Silence fell inside the room. Shortly after, the door creaked open, revealing—unexpectedly—a child standing in the doorway.
PS: Just as the readers in the comment section have pointed out, this is the calm before the storm~~ Kongkong can write four or five chapters a day, but revising that many is impossible. Even revising three chapters leaves me utterly drained. Every time I revise, my inner monologue goes like this: What rubbish is this? What kind of word choices are these? Absolute garbage, ugh. What is this plot? Did ancient people have no brains? Where are the emotions? Where? Ugh, so unnatural—back to the drawing board... Seriously, I put myself through this self-torture repeatedly with every revision. That's why I rarely look back at my own writing—because I'm already sick of it from revising and really don't want to see it again.
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