On New Year's Eve night, the streets stood empty, the sound of carriage wheels rolling across the ground echoing through the entire avenue.
Gu Yanxi leaned against the carriage wall, his wounds seeping fresh blood. Shaoyao reapplied his medicine before hugging her knees and ignoring him. A Zhi spread out the quilt always kept in the carriage and covered him with it, never lifting her head.
Gu Yanxi caught her hand as she tried to withdraw it. "Your wound needs treatment."
Shaoyao immediately looked over. A raw, bloody circle stood out starkly against the pale skin of Hua Hua's hand. Normally, even the faintest scent of blood wouldn't escape Shaoyao's notice, but today it had been masked by a heavier smell of blood.
Having decided not to return to the palace, Shaoyao had brought her precious medical kit when they left. She now retrieved ointment from it and gently applied it to Hua Hua's hand, finally wrapping it carefully with clean, soft cloth—her attentiveness far exceeding what she showed her own brother.
Hua Zhi looked down silently, her eyes holding a confusion no one else could see.
Why had her soul crossed into this unfamiliar world? To save the Hua family? But even without her, the Empress Dowager would have protected the Hua women and children. Even if those exiled met misfortune, the Hua clan wouldn't face complete annihilation.
To save Little Six? Or to preserve the fate of the Daqing dynasty? Judging by Haoyue's actions, without her, Yan Xi might have ascended the throne instead of losing everything because he met her.
Had whatever deity granted her this second life specifically sent her to bring ruin upon Yan Xi?
Hua Zhi's thoughts spiraled into wild conspiracy theories, amusing even herself. The corner of her mouth twitched, but no smile formed on her face.
"A Zhi."
Hua Zhi looked up instinctively.
As if feeling no pain, Gu Yanxi raised his arm and gently covered her eyes. "I didn't act recklessly. The grudges behind this have nothing to do with you. Don't rush to shoulder the responsibility."
He understood her so well—knew exactly where her thoughts would turn. Hua Zhi's eyes stung, and she blinked to ease the discomfort.
Unable to elaborate further during their journey, Gu Yanxi hissed softly and put down his hand and began to act spoiled, "It hurts a little.""
Hua Zhi watched him for a moment, then leaned forward and lowered her head, her cheeks puffing in and out as she blew gently on his wound.
The unexpected gesture stunned both siblings. Gu Yanxi had never imagined making A Zhi humble herself like this, as if pleasing him. He only wished to do everything A Zhi liked, to please her.
He cupped her chin and lifted it. "A Zhi, you're blaming yourself."
"Yes, I am." Hua Zhi moved his hand aside, admitting freely. "Without me, you'd still be the head of the Seven Constellation Bureau, the most favored Heir of the Daqing court, perhaps even... Because you met me, you've lost all that. Am I not a femme fatale?"
"You're the beauty, not the disaster." Gu Yanxi took her hand again. "And who says I have nothing now? I have you."
Hua Zhi gazed at him quietly.Gu Yanxi smiled, "People outside the palace desperately want to get in, but only those who have actually lived there know that life within those confined walls is far less flavorful than outside. I spent much more time in the palace than at the Heir Apparent Residence. Every day I opened my eyes to political affairs and closed them thinking of Daqing. That kind of life made even me feel like I had little human warmth left. A Zhi, it was you who made me understand what emotions like happiness, joy, jealousy, and satisfaction feel like. Only after knowing you did my life stop being a stagnant pool. And after today's events, all those restraints binding me are gone. You don't know how delighted I am."
He truly was happy. Seeing every line on his face relaxed upward, Hua Zhi confirmed this.
"Just thinking that I can stand openly by your side as Gu Yanxi, openly become engaged to you, makes me so happy I want to jump for joy. Although it was still me accompanying you before, outsiders didn't know. Now if anyone dares to covet you, I can righteously knock them flat."
"..." Hua Zhi turned her back to him, "You can try to see if you can actually jump."
Gu Yanxi just smiled, his gaze tender, though his complexion was somewhat poor and his lips pale.
The carriage jolted a few times before soon coming to a stop. Ying Chun lifted the curtain as Bao Xia and the others hurried over with lanterns.
After bending to exit the carriage, Hua Zhi looked up and saw that all the masters of the Hua family, great and small, had gathered in the front courtyard. Having no time to dwell on this, she turned and reached out to help the person Li De was supporting.
Ying Chun had been thoughtful - the carriage had stopped directly at the entrance of the courtyard where she usually handled affairs. Hua Zhi and Shaoyao supported the man on either side as they entered, startling Bao Xia who, coming to her senses, quickly went ahead to prepare the bed before immediately sending a maid to fetch hot water.
Finally lying on the bed, Gu Yanxi was already drenched in sweat, but fortunately they had been careful enough not to aggravate his wound.
"Fu Dong, prepare a separate table of light, bland food. None of us have eaten yet."
"Yes." How could Fu Dong bear to see her young lady go hungry? She hurried out of the room immediately.
Hua Zhi bent over to wipe the sweat from Yanxi's forehead, saying softly, "I need to go out and settle household matters."
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Hearing this, Shaoyao shot him a sharp glance.
Hua Zhi stood up, patted Shaoyao's head, and walked out. "Everyone has had quite an eventful New Year's celebration today."
Outside, the Hua family members had also entered the courtyard. Madam Zhu, supported by Lin Shuang, stood at the front. Seeing Hua Zhi emerge, she urgently grasped her arm asking, "What happened? This person... this person..."
"Former head of the Seven Constellation Bureau, Ling Wang's heir." Since this identity was no longer secret, Hua Zhi laid it out plainly. Watching their astonished expressions, she added another shock: "He may potentially become the Hua family's son-in-law in the future."
It was no secret that a man frequently visited the Hua family's front courtyard, but they hadn't known he held such status! And what was the current situation?
As her mother, Madam Zhu was naturally best positioned to inquire, "Is he injured?"
"You needn't concern yourselves with outside matters. Just focus on living your lives well. However, I'm afraid we'll need to decline visitors for some time."
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts filled with apprehension.Wu Shi dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. "We don't have much contact with the outside world anyway, so it's fine to decline visitors. Let's not talk about these matters today, Zhi Er. You should eat first and fill your stomach."
"I've asked Fu Dong to prepare the meal. Have all the families returned?"
"Yes, I told them you had urgent business to attend to outside. They didn't ask further questions and returned to their respective homes after the meal."
Hua Zhi nodded. "Let's not discuss other matters today. Those who wish to observe the New Year's Eve vigil may do so, and those who want to rest may retire. You may disperse now."
"Zhi Er..."
Seeing her mother's hesitant expression, Hua Zhi smiled. "Don't worry, everything is fine."
Even if there were troubles, they would be her troubles alone. No matter what happened, she would protect the Hua family.
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