Chapter 342: Hua Zhi's Intentions
Everyone in the Hua family knew Hua Zhi was formidable. Without such capability, she couldn't have protected their relatives in the capital, nor would she have had the capacity to extend her influence to Yinshan Pass. Yet what they had truly witnessed was only her combat skills displayed that night, while her other abilities remained abstract.
Until this moment.
These days, they had been most engaged in sand table deductions—a seemingly playful game. Only by immersing themselves did they realize how much it encompassed. They had battled among themselves and watched their elders compete. When Miss Shaoyao played against General Wu Yong, they often observed, already feeling utterly outmatched. But after these two matches, comparing themselves, their so-called battles were truly child's play.
They finally understood what it meant to apply knowledge flexibly. The tactics they had learned, which seemed unimpressive, weren't actually weak—they just didn't know how to use them, or used them too rigidly. Only after witnessing it firsthand did they grasp the vast gap between themselves and Hua Zhi.
Wu Yong was equally astonished. He had guessed that Hua Zhi, as the creator of this method, would be highly skilled, but he never expected her to be this formidable.
"Shocked, aren't you?" Shaoyao gloated on the side, as if she were the one who had won. "I told you long ago—I've never beaten Hua Hua."
Wu Yong wanted to say he had already held her in high regard, just not to this extent. In the end, he merely shook his head and looked at Hua Zhi, whose body was clearly still weak, wondering how a woman could be so intimately familiar with military strategy books.
Hua Zhi glanced at Shaoyao, who understood and went to fetch the wheelchair that hadn't been used for days.
Hua Yizheng was about to speak when Gu Yanxi spoke first, "Where are you feeling unwell?"
"Just tired from standing too long." Hua Zhi blinked at him, and Gu Yanxi swallowed his follow-up words, wheeling her back inside.
Listening to the commotion outside, which seemed to be a post-game analysis, Hua Zhi relaxed and gulped down the water Gu Yanxi poured for her.
"They may be too lax, but your health hasn't fully recovered. Why push yourself like this?" Gu Yanxi refilled her cup, his tone disapproving.
"You noticed?" Hua Zhi propped her chin, her expression gentle, with none of the relentless intensity from earlier. "I'm a bit anxious. Ever since they were all freed from the quarry, they've been like this. They don't understand Grandfather's and my intentions. I can empathize with the relaxation after prolonged pressure, but if this continues, it will only harm the Hua family. I can't stay here long, so this was the only way I could think to jolt them awake."
Gu Yanxi understood A Zhi's meaning. In his three days here, the older generation was tolerable, but the younger ones had relaxed excessively. Their relaxation wasn't about going out to play or engaging in disgraceful behavior—they had simply returned to their once-familiar routines: the younger ones reading and practicing calligraphy, the older ones composing poetry and essays, as if the Hua family's crisis had already passed.
To outsiders, the Hua family's self-discipline was admirable, but in Hua Zhi's eyes, continuing like this would mean the family might truly take root in Yinshan Pass. This contradicted her goals, and she couldn't allow it.
All she could do was use herself to motivate the Hua descendants who had lost their way.
No one wanted to be utterly overshadowed by a woman in every aspect."Have you ever considered that they might distance themselves from you because of this?"
"I have, but so what?" Hua Zhi lifted her chin slightly. Distance meant nothing to her—she had even prepared herself to be abandoned by her family if the Hua family were ever restored to power. "I can only ensure my own conscience remains clear; I cannot control whether others choose to act without integrity."
Gu Yanxi gently touched her cheek. He understood her pride—she disdained anything obtained through pleading, including affection. If the Hua family ever wronged her in the future, she would likely just smile, walk away, and never see them again without uttering a single unnecessary word.
Yet how could the pain in her heart be any less? Gu Yanxi sighed inwardly, his heart aching with helpless tenderness.
This heavy dose of medicine had clearly taken effect. The Hua family descendants grew solemn, no longer treating the sand table deduction as mere amusement.
Hua Yizheng observed this with relief. Zhi Er's approach was more effective than any words could be. Thinking of the girl, he frowned slightly—with her intelligence, how could she not know the consequences of such extreme actions? Why must she go to such lengths!
Hua Zhi naturally had no intention of explaining. For her, the past was the past—what mattered now was the progress regarding the Crown Prince's faction.
"Was Wu Yong's side also compromised?"
"The fake eunuch has been under constant surveillance by the Seven Constellation Bureau. Unless she remains completely inactive, any move she makes will expose her." Gu Yanxi, dressed in black night clothes, had been operating after dark these past days to avoid attention. Today he returned earlier than previous nights, which was why Hua Zhi was still awake.
"Today she visited Yinshan Pass's only cosmetics shop in female disguise. Coincidentally, one of Wu Yong's concubines happened to be there. The Seven Constellation Bureau never believes in coincidences—after discovering their contact, they became suspicious of the concubine as well."
"But without evidence..."
Gu Yanxi shook his head. "After plotting for so many years, they wouldn't easily leave behind evidence."
Hua Zhi frowned. "Then how can we prove the concubine is involved?"
"Hand her over to the Seven Constellation Bureau for interrogation, and we'll have our evidence. Even if they can withstand three days of torture, they can't resist Shaoyao's drugs. I've sent Shaoyao to summon Wu Yong. If you're not tired, you can join us to hear the details."
That the person sent to notify Wu Yong about his concubine's misconduct was Shaoyao, whom he favored, made Hua Zhi feel somewhat sympathetic toward Wu Yong. She glanced down at her overly casual attire and stood up. "I'll change my clothes."
Gu Yanxi also went to change out of his night clothes. By the time they were both ready, Wu Yong had already arrived, his face dark as storm clouds, making even the usually boisterous Shaoyao stay quietly aside.
Seeing Hua Hua, she bounced over, secretly making funny faces at her.
Hua Zhi poked her, feeling another wave of sympathy for Wu Yong. Still, she was grateful Shaoyao remained emotionally unaware—when it came to matters of the heart, it didn't matter if others got hurt, since she wasn't the one causing the pain. As long as her own people could avoid it perfectly, that was enough.
Wu Yong took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Gu Yanxi. "This subordinate has failed in his duties. I will submit a memorial to the Emperor tomorrow to request punishment."
"The outcome isn't determined yet, General Wu. There's no need to draw conclusions so hastily."
Wu Yong shook his head—he knew better. The Seven Constellation Bureau wouldn't bring this matter to him without substantial certainty. "I have already detained her. May I ask how the Heir plans to proceed?"
"Hand her over to Chen Tu.""Yes." Wu Yong looked up at Shaoyao, who was snuggling against Hua Zhi and acting coquettishly. She happened to glance over as well, meeting his gaze with a wide grin, appearing utterly innocent and carefree. He knew she wasn't truly naive, yet the purity in her heart was genuine. What had first captivated him were those clear eyes—so transparent that he could no longer see her tragically disfigured face.
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