The liveliness of the streets only accentuated the silence within the Hua family residence. Everyone walked on tiptoe, afraid of disturbing the person lying unconscious inside.
When Hua Zhi awoke groggily, she initially thought it was already nighttime. Only when she saw the ample light in the room did she realize she hadn't slept that long.
The sound of another person's breathing beside her and the octopus-like limbs wrapped around her made it unnecessary to turn her head to identify who it was. Only Shaoyao would handle her so freely—Yan Xi might have similar intentions but would always maintain proper boundaries, never clinging as tightly as Shaoyao did.
Every part of her body ached, yet compared to the previous numbness, this pain actually reassured her. Pain meant her nerves were functioning, with no irreversible injuries. As long as it was just ordinary wounds, they would heal with time.
Her current problem was that she needed to use the toilet.
Just as she was about to wake Shaoyao for help, the latter abruptly sat up and opened her eyes. Meeting Hua Hua's gaze, Shaoyao's tense body relaxed, and she lay back down. "No wonder your breathing changed," she murmured.
"Help me behind the screen."
Shaoyao blinked, then rolled her eyes dramatically upon understanding. "With injuries like these, don't even think about getting out of bed for twenty days. Do you realize your internal organs are damaged?"
"Should I just wet the bed then?"
"So what if you do? Who would dare say anything!" Despite her words, Shaoyao got up and soon returned with a brand-new chamber pot, slipping it under the covers.
Having lived two lifetimes, this was Hua Zhi's first experience being cared for like an invalid. But with internal injuries, she didn't dare take risks, so she endured the embarrassment to relieve herself.
Shaoyao attended to her matter-of-factly, and despite her usual carelessness, she thoughtfully brought water for Hua Zhi to wash her hands and face.
Though drenched in sweat from the pain, Hua Zhi acted unaffected and directed Shaoyao to fetch a quilt to prop behind her.
As Shaoyao complied, she chided, "You should keep sleeping. The medicine needs to be fully absorbed—can't waste it."
"I won't force myself to stay awake when I'm tired." Hua Zhi gently grasped her hand. "Were you frightened?"
Shaoyao recalled her earlier wild imaginings, her expression drooping as she curled up beside Hua Hua and nodded meekly. "Terrified. I thought we were going to become ghost sisters."
Hua Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, her heart aching at the thought. For Shaoyao to entertain such ideas showed how truly frightened she had been.
"Sorry, I couldn't think clearly at the time."
Shaoyao shook her head. "I understand. It was for family, right? Didn't I also risk my life for mine?"
Hua Zhi paused. "You remember everything?"
"Not everything. Sometimes images flash in my mind. I know I intended to die with a woman—I just can't recall her face."
"Would you remember if you saw her?"
"No need to remember. I've long guessed who it was. Yan Ge has restrained himself all these years not because he doesn't want to avenge me—I'll follow his lead."
Hua Zhi nuzzled the top of Shaoyao's head with her chin, the only motion she could manage effortlessly. "Good girl. Yan Xi remembers everything—his mother's grievance, your grievance—he holds them all in his heart."
Shaoyao looked up with a sweet smile, her obedience piercing Hua Zhi's heart with tenderness.
"By the way, Hua Hua, do you know who's behind all this?"Hua Zhi's smile faded. "I have a rough idea. It's probably one of those few people."
"Who?"
"Wait for Yan Xi to return and ask him. He should know more clearly."
Just as Shaoyao was about to press further, the door was pushed open. Seeing it was Yan Ge, she snorted, "Quick, tell me! Who's behind it? The second prince or the third?"
"The second prince." Gu Yanxi didn't even glance at her, his eyes fixed intently on A Zhi, afraid she might blame him for this.
But Hua Zhi acted as if she hadn't heard anything, extending her hand toward him. Gu Yanxi immediately grasped it, his heart instantly settling.
"Have you been awake long?" Gu Yanxi asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Just woke up."
Though A Zhi didn't ask, Gu Yanxi felt compelled to explain. He looked at the extra person in the room. "Go prepare some medicinal cuisine for A Zhi to nourish her body."
Shaoyao was furious! She knew it, she just knew Yan Ge would drive her away as soon as he arrived! She wrapped her arms tightly around Hua Hua's arm, curling up close to her with a resolute expression that said she wouldn't leave even if beaten to death.
"Don't you want to make food for A Zhi?"
Of course she did! But, but she just didn't want to be driven away! She wasn't redundant at all!
Shaoyao was so unwilling she felt like pouncing on him and biting, but then she remembered how seriously Hua Hua was injured and how much blood she had lost—if she didn't nourish herself properly, her foundation would be damaged!
After weighing her options, Hua Hua's health was more important. Resentfully, she crawled out from the inner side of the bed, deliberately avoiding the large empty space and instead squeezing between the two of them. "Excuse me!"
As long as he could get her to leave, Gu Yanxi didn't mind giving way. He actually shifted half a buttock back, though he didn't let go of A Zhi's hand, confident that Shaoyao, being a paper tiger, wouldn't step on A Zhi's hand.
"Alright, stop bullying her." Hua Zhi tried to withdraw her hand, but seeing his insistence, she let it be. Softly, she said to Shaoyao, "Just tell the Hua family servants how to prepare it. Go check on Jia Yang—his injuries are no lighter than mine... Jia Yang should be fine, right?"
Hua Zhi looked uncertainly at the man, her heart tightening. Given the situation back then...
"He's tougher than you. He sustained some injuries, but the Hua family cleared a room for him and is providing him with good food and care. He'll be able to get out of bed in three to five days."
"No matter how well we treat him, it's only right. If it weren't for him that day, plus me, the Hua family would have been doomed."
"Don't worry, we won't treat him unfairly."
Shaoyao suddenly felt like she really was a bit redundant... She pursed her lips, slipped on her shoes, and got off the bed. "I'll go check on him. Hua Hua, if you want to sleep, just sleep. Don't push yourself—the medicine still needs time to be absorbed."
"Okay."
With the nuisance finally gone, Gu Yanxi moved closer, gently smoothing her disheveled hair back. His voice was full of tenderness. "The second prince wants to seize control of Yinshan Pass. He poisoned Wu Yong before—that time we kept Shaoyao to detoxify him. Your grandfather's actions hindered him, which led to this assassination attempt."
"I don't really understand. He's a prince—his focus should be in the capital. Why would he want to seize control of Yinshan Pass, a border fortress? What benefit does it bring him?" Hua Zhi genuinely couldn't comprehend it. Even if he did control Yinshan Pass, what could he do? Use it to threaten the capital?
"Ambition outweighs ability—it's not surprising." Seeing her rare look of confusion, Gu Yanxi couldn't help but stroke her cheek. "Internally, he's pressured by Consort Hui, who has fought with Noble Consort for a lifetime but remains suppressed. Externally, there are restless maternal relatives egging him on, plus Zeng Xian's enticement. That's more than enough."Hua Zhi instantly pieced everything together in her mind. Zeng Xian, by some means, had connected with the Second Prince and gained his trust. Seizing control of Yinshan Pass wasn’t necessarily about raising troops in rebellion, but it could be used to collaborate with the grassland forces for various schemes. The position of border garrison commander wasn’t highly contested—if Wu Yong died, the Second Prince could install his own man. Using Yinshan Pass as a border stronghold to amass wealth would be far easier than doing so in the capital. After all, warfare consumed vast sums of money. As for the grassland tribes, they could be given what they wanted—grain, tea bricks, porcelain—without concern for whether it would only whet their appetites further. The Second Prince likely gave little thought to such consequences.
And Zeng Xian was undoubtedly up to no good.
Yes, all these events had unfolded only after Zeng Xian arrived at Yinshan Pass.
PS: My friend Chu Shimei has started a new novel titled Noble Family’s Beloved: BOSS, Spare Me. If you’re interested, feel free to check it out—though I haven’t read it yet…
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