Several people entered and left with Hua Zhi without even sitting down. Madam Zhu seemed on the verge of speaking but held back, her face full of worry.
The elderly lady patted her daughter's hand. "Zhi Er was never meant to be confined to the inner chambers. Don't restrain her."
"I'm just worried..."
"Being born into such a family, when have we ever been free from worry? Both thunder and rain are the grace of the sovereign. Who knows when it might be our turn? Having enjoyed wealth and honor, we must bear this anxiety."
Madam Zhu twisted her handkerchief tightly. She was truly afraid. With her husband's whereabouts unknown, her son not by her side, and only her daughter holding up the family, no matter how capable she was, she remained a woman in an era that had never been kind to women.
In the study, the old master sat at the head, Zhu Haocheng and his brother on one side, Zhu Ziwen on the other, with Hua Zhi respectfully taking the lowest seat.
She smiled. "This setup looks like a formal interrogation."
Her words lightened the atmosphere in the room. Zhu Bowen glared at her. "All of Hua Yizheng's wayward traits have been passed down to you."
"I'll tell Grandfather that."
"As if I'm afraid of him." Zhu Bowen tapped the armrest of his chair. "Quickly explain what's going on. While the Hua family has closed its doors to visitors, our Zhu family's threshold is nearly worn out from all the visitors."
Hua Zhi glanced outside.
Understanding her meaning, Zhu Ziwen immediately stepped out for a moment before returning with a nod to the others.
Only then did Hua Zhi recount in detail everything that happened that night. Zhu Ziwen was so shocked he stood up.
Zhu Bowen gave him a light glance, making him sit back down before speaking, though his voice showed restrained emotion. "The Emperor wants you to enter the palace? As a consort?"
"Yes."
"The leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau removed his mask for you? He is the Heir?"
"Yes."
"Did the Emperor already know about your relationship with the Heir?"
"Yes."
"So, the Emperor knowingly wants to summon you to the palace as his consort, despite your connection with the Heir?"
"Yes."
Zhu Bowen gripped the armrest tightly. His Zhu family's granddaughter, the legitimate granddaughter of the Hua family who had served as pure officials for generations, was qualified even to be the Crown Princess. Yet the Emperor, at his age, wanted her as a consort? What was he thinking?
No wonder the Heir turned hostile. However much the Seven Constellation Bureau might be criticized, no one could deny his loyalty and merits. The Heir had devoted himself entirely to Daqing, and now the Emperor wanted to take the woman he loved as his consort? How heartless!
"What will you do now?"
"Wait." Hua Zhi remained calm without any panic. "The decision lies with the Emperor. We can only respond as situations arise."
Zhu Bowen nearly laughed in frustration. "You seem quite confident."
"At least our lives are safe. He still needs me to make money for him. As for Yan Xi, whether it was an act or genuine, all of the capital knows how much he dotes on the Heir. If he were to execute the Heir over this, their uncle-nephew bond, praised for so many years, would become a joke." Hua Zhi smiled. "The Emperor may shamelessly compete with his nephew for a woman, but he wouldn't want to be seen as heartless. Besides, the Empress Dowager is still in the palace."
The Zhu family had discussed this matter more than once. They regarded the Empress Dowager as their reliance. As long as she was present, extreme measures were unlikely. Moreover, they believed the Heir, who had commanded the Seven Constellation Bureau for years, would not be without contingency plans.
Zhu Bowen paced back and forth a few times. "He revealed his identity without permission. Is there no issue with that?""Yan Xi once said the Seven Constellation Bureau is no longer suitable to exist. He had long planned to end it with his own hands. Even if not now, he would find an opportunity to reveal his identity later. Don't you think both the court and the Emperor rely too heavily on the Seven Constellation Bureau?"
This was indeed true. Zhu Bowen recalled how Hua Yizheng had repeatedly warned that continuing like this would inevitably lead to trouble.
"You must be prepared. The Emperor can never be wrong. Defying his decree before so many imperial relatives would justify imprisoning you. Even though the Heir's injury prevents things from reaching that extreme, this matter won't be simply forgotten. Even if the Emperor wanted to, others wouldn't agree."
"Yes, we will consider this carefully." Hua Zhi looked at her grandfather. "If others come to inquire..."
"I'll handle them. You focus on dealing with the current crisis." Zhu Bowen waved his hand and sat back down. "Before sealing the edict, the Emperor said the transportation framework needs to be established after the new year. The Lu family, after all, comes from a military lineage - even after years away from office, their connections and prestige remain. The Sun family are in the same boat with us. This channel must be properly managed and absolutely cannot fall into the wrong hands. Discuss this with the Heir, Zhi Er. This channel is crucial."
Zhu Bowen emphasized the last sentence. Hua Zhi nodded in acknowledgment. "I understand."
She had to understand. The Seventh Division controlled finances, and most people there had connections to their faction. Compared to salt taxes, transportation was more important. Securing this channel would leave them a retreat path in case of emergency. If it fell into others' hands, it would become a road to the underworld.
After spending most of the day at the Zhu residence, concerned about the two people at home, she decided to leave her reluctant mother behind and return home first.
The room was quiet. Shaoyao wasn't there, and Yan Xi seemed to be asleep.
Hua Zhi slowed her steps as she approached, gently adjusting the quilt corner before preparing to leave. When her hand was grabbed, she wasn't the least bit surprised.
"You always use this move."
With slight effort, she pulled him to sit up. Gu Yanxi slowly shifted to rest his head on her lap, looking up at the face he found endlessly beautiful. "I woke when I heard your footsteps. Were you happy at the Zhu residence?"
"Not bad." Hua Zhi touched his face and recounted her discussion with her grandfather. "What actually pleases me more is my eldest uncle's attitude. Before, he always seemed to be looking for escape routes, but this time that feeling was gone. Could it be he's finally seen reason?"
"He should have understood long ago. It's too late for the Zhu family to distance themselves from the Hua family now." Catching the hand that kept tracing the scar on his face, he kissed it and smiled wryly. "Normally nobody dares approach this face of mine, yet you never seemed afraid from the beginning."
"It's so handsome, very masculine. I don't like soft, weak men."
"My honor." Gu Yanxi felt his smile must have reached his ears. A Zhi always unintentionally said things that made him unbearably happy, each time giving him the feeling of his heart overflowing with emotion.
Hua Zhi gently placed her hand on the wound on his chest. "But this doesn't mean I'll allow you to add another scar anywhere on your body. Not anywhere."
"I'll be careful."
Hua Zhi looked at him with displeasure.
Gu Yanxi immediately became defensive. "I promise I won't deliberately get injured."
Hua Zhi's expression grew even more displeased."I will do my best to protect myself from getting hurt."
Hua Zhi snorted, barely satisfied.
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