At the dining hall, Fu Dong's culinary skills had improved further, presenting a table full of dishes that were a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
Even with worries weighing on her mind, Shaoyao ate with her head down, not looking up. Hua Zhi served her food while eating little herself, while Gu Yanxi leaned against the bedpost, sipping broth from a small bowl intermittently.
Though each was silent, the atmosphere felt warm.
"Once the news spreads tomorrow, the capital will be in an uproar," Hua Zhi said softly, setting down her chopsticks.
"Let it be. What does it have to do with us?"
"You all don’t need to go out, but I must pay New Year’s visits during the first month."
"No matter. They’re experts at avoiding trouble. Until the Emperor makes his stance clear, they won’t act rashly." Gu Yanxi had long seen through the fickleness of human relationships. Having overseen the Seven Constellation Bureau for years, he knew the temperaments of the civil and military officials all too well. "This is a good chance to see some people for who they truly are—their last opportunity."
Hua Zhi looked at him. "So confident we’ll get through this safely?"
"Yes," Gu Yanxi replied firmly. "Those in the wrong are already at a disadvantage. And since I harmed myself right in front of him, his guilt will only deepen."
"Did you plan this from the start?"
Gu Yanxi stared at the canopy above, thinking the broth tasted eerily like medicinal soup—the kind with double the dose of bitter herbs. "There was no time to plan. Many people entered the palace today. I was in charge of palace security, not the Seven Constellation Bureau. By the time the message reached me, you were already in the hall. When I realized what he intended, only one thought crossed my mind: I’m done. Let whoever wants this job take it. Leaving the palace would be like a fish returning to the ocean—no more daily toil. How wonderful."
"What about the Chao Li Tribe? And Jin Yang? Will you abandon them too?"
"Even if I leave, the Seven Constellation Bureau’s personnel remain. The necessary arrangements are in place. If decisions are needed, they can seek the Emperor. It makes no difference whether I’m there or not."
But it does make a difference, Hua Zhi knew. The Chao Li Tribe was advancing aggressively, their schemes unknown, while vast Jin Yang had become a gambling city. One misstep could lead to exposure. Without Yanxi, the Seven Constellation Bureau would be scattered and disorganized.
As for the Emperor, a cold smile touched Hua Zhi’s lips. Who would dare rely on an emperor nearing his end? But that wasn’t what she wanted to discuss now.
"You said you didn’t have time to plan," Hua Zhi said, her pent-up anger finally erupting. "So when you stabbed the dagger into your chest, you didn’t consider you might die!"
"I knew how to control it…"
"If you truly had control, you could have stabbed your arm, your thigh, or even the soft part of your abdomen. But you aimed for your chest! Your idea of control was to angle it slightly off and make the wound shallow enough not to kill you instantly! What if we hadn’t found Shaoyao? What if she had arrived a moment later? Ha! Then my name, Hua Zhi, would go down in history—a tale of uncle and nephew fighting over a woman, ending with the nephew’s sudden death. Enough material for countless operas in the ages to come."
"A Zhi…"
"Did you think of me, just a wall away? Right there, not far from me, my man nearly died!" Hua Zhi’s words were sharp and forceful, as if releasing the terror she had felt in that moment. "You didn’t think. In that instant, you truly wanted to die before the Emperor, to make your imperial uncle regret it. You gambled your life on this move."Gu Yanxi could not refute this. Just as he understood A Zhi, she understood him equally well. Initially, that had truly been his intention. But when he held the dagger in his hand, he recalled how he had once crafted several weapons from the same material and gifted them all to the same person.
To A Zhi, to whom he had pledged his lifelong devotion.
When the dagger pierced his flesh, his thoughts were also of A Zhi—specifically, of her as she appeared now: her eyes bright with fury, her face vividly radiant and striking. At least in this moment, her eyes and heart were entirely filled with him.
"A Zhi, I promise, there won’t be a next time."
"Your promises aren’t worth much. Just days ago, you agreed to consult me before revealing your identity." Hua Zhi covered her eyes, feeling utterly wretched. This version of herself was too unsightly. If she could, she would rather weep and rage openly, venting all the fear and sorrow in her heart. Yet her reserved nature made such outbursts impossible.
Shaoyao, who had set down her bowl and chopsticks at some point, abruptly stood and took the nearly full bowl of soup from Gu Yanxi’s hands. "Don’t act as if everything’s fine now. If your vision darkens, you’ll faint."
Gu Yanxi gazed pitifully at A Zhi. Hua Zhi wanted to harden her heart and ignore him, but the moment her eyes fell upon his chest, her resolve melted. This man knew all too well where her weaknesses lay.
She rose and sat on the edge of the bed. His hand immediately clasped hers, and she did not pull away, her voice hoarse as she said, "Sleep."
Almost as soon as the words left her lips, the man closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
Shaoyao came over to check his pulse and administered acupuncture. Only when his breathing grew more steady did she cease her ministrations.
"I know what he’s relying on."
Shaoyao pulled a small sachet from around her neck. "Over all these years, Master only ever made two life-saving pills. Yan Ge and I each had one. His was given to you at Yinshan Pass. If he hadn’t shown himself mercy earlier today and if the wound had been just a bit more off, this pill would have had to be used."
Hua Zhi felt the man’s temperature, praying he wouldn’t develop a fever.
"Has there been anything unusual in the palace lately?"
"Nothing unusual that I’ve noticed, but the former favored consort and the current one have been quite busy scheming against each other."
"Consort Xu and Haoyue?"
"Just the two of them." Tucking the pill back into its place, Shaoyao sidled over and rested her head on Hua Zhi’s lap. "Consort Xu has the security of a son, so she’s confident. Though Haoyue’s foundation is weaker, she’s clever enough to entice the Emperor to stay at her Like Orchid Palace nine out of ten days."
"Is the Empress Dowager not intervening?"
"Pfft, let them fight like dogs biting each other—we’re all covered in fur. We haven’t even let Empress Dowager Grandma know."
Hua Zhi felt something was amiss. She was almost certain Haoyue had been reborn. If so, hadn’t she adapted to palace life too quickly? Shouldn’t she be trying every means to escape and continue pestering Yanxi instead?
Yet now she seemed quite content to engage in a fierce rivalry with Noble Consort Xu. Could it be that the Emperor’s consorts in the future all met peaceful ends? Was she unwilling to struggle further because she knew the outcome?
But she had schemed against Hua Zhi not long ago, clearly not as detached as she appeared!
"Aside from this, are there any other issues?"
Shaoyao thought for a moment. "Well, there is one thing. Hua Hua, you know my nose is sharp. Haoyue carries a very faint scent of blood. She usually wears heavy perfume, so you can’t detect it unless you’re close."
"You mean… she’s injured? Has she secretly left the palace?""Others might be possible, but not her. Not only is the Seven Constellation Bureau watching her closely, but the Emperor would never consent either. Lately, the Emperor goes to the Like Orchid Palace every day after court—she has no opportunity to leave."
A palace consort, especially one constantly attending the Emperor—how could she carry the scent of blood?
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