The elderly often sleep lightly. As soon as the first light appeared on the horizon, Hua Yizheng rose. Seeing a glow from the study didn’t surprise him—sometimes his eldest son arrived there even earlier than he did.
But when he pushed the door open and clearly saw the scene inside, the leisurely expression on his face vanished instantly. He strode in and asked, “What has happened?”
Hua Zhi snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. Recognizing her grandfather, she tried to stand and pay her respects, but her legs had long gone numb from kneeling. Before she could rise, she slumped back down.
Shaoyao hurried over to support her, and Hua Yizheng followed closely. He motioned for Shaoyao to help her into a chair and repeated his question, “What has happened?”
Hua Zhi’s mind felt sluggish. Rubbing her temples, she replied, “Yan Xi is investigating. I’ll tell you once we’re certain.”
Hua Yizheng glanced at the topographic map and sensed the gravity of the situation. Without pressing further, he said, “You haven’t slept all night? Go back to your room and rest properly.”
Hua Zhi nodded. Her legs, massaged by Shaoyao, were no longer as numb, and she allowed Shaoyao to support her back to her room.
But that day, she was destined not to rest well. Less than two hours into her sleep, Wu Yong arrived. She had previously instructed Shaoyao to wake her if anyone came. Shooting Wu Yong one glare after another, Shaoyao reluctantly entered the room to rouse Hua Hua, knowing full well the matter at hand was no trivial affair.
“General Wu, Yan Xi…”
Wu Yong cut her off, “I know. The Heir sent someone to inform me of the situation last night.”
Since he was aware of the circumstances and had still come, it meant he was here specifically for her. Hua Zhi nodded, “General Wu, please speak.”
“I have released everyone from the rear courtyard.”
Hua Zhi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Wu Yong to act so decisively.
“From the mistresses to the maidservants, all have been let go. Now, I doubt there’s even a female mosquito left in my inner courtyard.”
“General Wu, your approach is like using one bamboo pole to knock down everyone on the boat. They are far too innocent.”
Wu Yong glanced at Shaoyao, as if explaining to Hua Zhi or addressing Shaoyao, “There is a black market at Yinshan Pass. I wonder if the young lady is aware of it?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Sitting in this position, it’s impossible to remain completely clean. But I consider myself no ruthless exploiter. I take only what is customary and never overreach. Last night’s investigation revealed that while I refrain, many others do not. Those in the rear courtyard have long formed a network with the black market. They used my name to provide convenience and reaped enormous profits in return.”
Wu Yong sneered, “Innocent? No, they are far from innocent. They can take the vast sums they’ve amassed, leave Yinshan Pass, and start anew anywhere—marrying gloriously, bearing children. Over the years, no one in the residence has borne a child, and they all believed the fault lay with me. This morning, when I announced their release, not one of them asked to stay. They were eager to leave the garrison commander’s residence. My actions align perfectly with their wishes.”
“But they might not be able to bear children anymore.”
Both Hua Zhi and Wu Yong turned to look at Shaoyao, who always spoke shocking truths without batting an eye.
Shaoyao blinked, “The drug administered to you affected them as well. The more favored they were, the worse the impact—they’re certainly infertile now. Others might still have a chance, but it will be much harder for them than for ordinary women.”Wu Yong covered his face and laughed heartily, the bitterness in his heart completely dissipating. When he had spoken those words earlier in the day, he hadn't been without intention to test the waters. If someone had voluntarily stayed, he wouldn't have treated them poorly—but no one did, not a single one. Some had even breathed a sigh of relief; they had long wanted to leave!
Of course, having reaped enough benefits, it was time to go live the good life.
Shaoyao leaned in close to him. "Are you alright? Don't worry, I can counteract this drug."
Wu Yong lowered his hands, his eyes glistening with tears from laughter, but to Shaoyao, it seemed like sorrow. She patted his shoulder with a spirited expression. "Once I've neutralized the drug's effects for you, you can marry eight or ten more wives and have dozens of children. That'll show those women who can't bear any!"
"..." Wu Yong laughed again, but this time it was a genuinely happy laugh. He had never considered driving all the women from his rear courtyard before. Even after developing feelings for Shaoyao, even after realizing why he and Shaoyao could never be together, he hadn't planned to do so. They had all followed him in the bloom of their youth, giving him their most beautiful years—how could he be so heartless?
Yet, though he refused to be heartless, those he hadn't wanted to let down had been utterly ruthless. Their former innocence and beauty had become meaningless under the corrosion of money.
Unintentionally, however, he had cleared the obstacle between him and Shaoyao, granting him the qualification to pursue her.
Only... Previously, he had wished for Shaoyao to remain oblivious to love; now, he desperately hoped she would quickly understand romance and recognize affection.
"No need to laugh so hard just because you're happy," Shaoyao muttered. Extremely sensitive to emotions, she naturally recognized the difference between Wu Yong's two bouts of laughter. Seeing that he was fine, she sidled back to Hua Hua's side and whispered to her, "Has he gone mad from anger?"
Hua Zhi shot her a glance, pulling her back to prevent her from approaching further. She didn't explain that Wu Yong wasn't mad with anger but truly happy—and as for why he was happy, she'd rather not know.
"Did General Wu come only to tell me this?"
"Yes." Wu Yong didn't back down. "This matter is very important to me."
Shaoyao looked at him pityingly. A whole courtyard of beauties gone—that was indeed quite important.
Wu Yong's face twitched, and he nearly confessed his feelings on the spot. But he immediately suppressed the impulse—at a time like this, it would be a miracle if Shaoyao accepted, and she might even misunderstand him.
Hua Zhi had no desire to look at his scheming expression and was about to ask him to leave when she heard Jia Yang reporting from outside, "I request an audience."
"Enter."
Jia Yang wasn't surprised to see Wu Yong. He saluted him and said, "We went to the garrison commander's residence first. When you weren't there, we guessed you had come here."
Looking for him? Wu Yong immediately adopted a serious expression. "Has Zuo Ling's identity been confirmed?"
"Yes, it's confirmed that she is a remnant of the Chao Li Tribe."
Wu Yong was speechless for a long moment. To think a remnant of the Chao Li Tribe had been hiding in his rear courtyard! Although Zuo Ling hadn't been among his favored consorts, she had been in his residence for five years. How could... how could this be...
Hua Zhi took over the conversation. "What about the fake eunuch?"
"She is one too. The Seven Constellation Bureau has already gone to apprehend her."
After a moment's thought, Hua Zhi suddenly turned to Wu Yong. "General Wu, have you investigated the background of that physician?"
"The physician didn't detect that I had been drugged; he was merely bribed by Zuo Ling." Wu Yong finally found an opportunity to speak to Shaoyao. "Is that drug very difficult to detect?""Indeed, most physicians wouldn't detect that medicine. I specialize more in poisons, and only through dedicated research of such substances was I able to uncover clues."
Pretending not to notice Wu Yong's ulterior motives, Hua Zhi intercepted the conversation: "Jia Yang, have your Seven Constellation Bureau investigate whether we can follow this trail to uncover something. With two arrests already, I'm deeply concerned about whether there might be a third at Yinshan Pass."
"Understood."
PS: As promised, triple update. Is the plot becoming too intricate? These chapters mark a turning point.
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