The arrival of the imperial envoy once again set the hearts of the Hua family on edge. In their eyes, every visit from the envoy had brought misfortune—from the confiscation of their property to causing their eldest young lady hardship—each time without fail.
Although the eldest young lady had sent word that they need not come out, no one felt at ease. Maids and matrons were sent in waves to the second gate.
In contrast, the atmosphere in the front courtyard was relatively calm. Lai Fu was one of their own, and the news he brought was favorable, so everyone felt somewhat relieved.
"You played that move well. This old servant has been by the Emperor's side all along and noticed that His Majesty seemed rather startled by your reaction. These past few days, he hasn’t been particularly angry—more like he couldn’t understand why you reacted so strongly. Now that you’ve offered him a way out, the matter should be settled."
"How are things with Haoyue?"
Lai Fu took a sip of tea. "Moon Consort once suggested having Lady Shaoyao serve as her personal physician, but the Emperor refused, reminding her of Lady Shaoyao’s status as a princess." She didn’t seem pleased at the time."
Shaoyao snorted. "How bold. Does she not know I’m better at poisoning than healing?"
"Very few are aware of that. Her request was likely because she knows of our sibling relationship and wanted to test the Emperor’s current stance toward us," Gu Yanxi sat up slightly. "Or perhaps she targeted Shaoyao’s impulsive nature, hoping to lure her into a mistake so she could gain leverage over me."
Hua Zhi smiled. "She underestimates Shaoyao. Shaoyao never loses her head in important matters."
After all she had been through, how could anyone remain truly carefree? Shaoyao was less reckless and more straightforward—a quality the Emperor particularly valued, as such sincerity was rare within the imperial family. Yet she possessed the necessary shrewdness and caution; otherwise, Yan Xi would never have allowed her to remain in the palace.
Watching Shaoyao, who was now beaming with delight, Hua Zhi asked, "Haoyue is favored and pregnant—how have the other consorts reacted?"
Lai Fu chuckled. "Publicly, it’s all congratulations. Privately, I’ve heard a certain noble consort smashed an entire room of belongings."
"And the Noble Consort Xu?"
"The day before yesterday, Noble Consort Xu visited Like Orchid Palace. According to my sources, she flew into a rage after returning."
Gu Yanxi looked up. "You mentioned that Like Orchid Palace is no longer under our surveillance."
Lai Fu set down his teacup, his earlier ease vanishing as he met Gu Yanxi’s gaze.
"Noble Consort Xu has always been shrewd. Why did she lose her composure this time?"
Hua Zhi followed this line of thought. "Do you suspect they’re colluding? But why? By status, they’re rivals. Shouldn’t Noble Consort Xu react this way to Haoyue’s pregnancy?"
"Noble Consort Xu has been in the palace for years. She knows better than anyone that a newborn prince poses no threat to the Fourth Prince. Even if the Emperor dotes on a child born in his later years, he would never make him heir. If His Majesty were so impulsive in such matters, he wouldn’t have delayed designating an heir for so many years. Besides, who knows if Haoyue will even bear a son? Given the palace intrigues, it’s uncertain whether she can carry the child to term safely. Noble Consort Xu understands this perfectly—she could have remained calmly observant without needing to involve herself directly."
Hua Zhi nodded thoughtfully. "Yet she did involve herself. So, she knows there are spies around her and put on a show for them. But I can’t fathom why she would ally with Haoyue.""I'll have someone investigate." Gu Yanxi looked towards Lai Fu. "Can we not get anyone into Like Orchid Palace?"
"I've tried twice without success. Whenever she needs people, she requests permission from the Emperor and selects them herself, bypassing this old servant entirely."
Gu Yanxi hadn't expected that Haoyue, who used to feign mystery, would become such a formidable enemy once turned against them. With the Emperor already somewhat confused in his old age, having someone whispering divisive words in his ear was truly headache-inducing.
"Keep a close watch on Haoyue. Additionally, don't let her find any leverage against you. I know your background well—even if such a day comes, there's no need to yield to her coercion."
Lai Fu stood and bowed deeply. His primary reason for choosing to follow The Heir was precisely because The Heir wouldn't abandon those who had helped him. Only by aligning with The Heir could he hope for a peaceful end.
"This old servant cannot stay long and must return to the palace now. Please take good care of your health."
"Thank you for your concern."
Hua Zhi stood up and took a package from Ying Chun. "The servants prepared some food—it's well-wrapped and still warm. Please have some on your way, Steward. There are also some medicines prepared by Shaoyao inside. Please keep them safe; they might come in handy someday. Since it's the New Year season, I wish you a happy new year."
As the steward most trusted by the Emperor over the years, Lai Fu had received many gifts, but never one he found so impossible to refuse. Suddenly, he understood what the Emperor couldn't comprehend—why The Heir would abandon everything for this woman. It was likely because of Miss Hua's natural warmth, not deliberately shown but felt by anyone around her. People like them lacked neither wealth nor influence—what they lacked was precisely this human touch.
"This old servant thanks Miss Hua, and wishes you smooth sailing in all matters."
"May your kind words come true."
Su Momo saw him out, where Steward Xu waited outside the door with utmost respect, escorting him to the carriage and following it all the way to the gate, watching until it departed before returning.
Inside the carriage, Lai Fu lowered the window curtain and opened the still-warm package. Unwrapping the oilpaper layers revealed plump, white steamed buns. The Hua family's buns were different from others—they sliced them halfway through and stuffed them with large pieces of braised pork and sauce, making them look particularly appetizing.
Taking a big bite that made his mouth water, Lai Fu suddenly felt his nose sting. It had been so long since anyone had treated him as a human being—had he nearly forgotten what it felt like?
Hua Zhi went to the backyard to comfort her frightened family members. Gu Yanxi looked at Little Six. "Did you learn anything?"
Little Six looked confused.
Gu Yanxi wasn't disappointed. Even he had only begun to change after meeting A Zhi.
"Do you think A Zhi prepared that package to win people over?"
Little Six pressed his lips together—that was indeed what he thought. He knew how to win people over too, though not with the same dedication as Sister Hua... as his master.
"No, she wasn't." Gu Yanxi propped his head up, gazing at the tent ceiling. "She considers Lai Fu one of her own. Since this trusted person had to make this trip in the cold weather, she thought he must have had a hard time. She doesn't take things for granted—she doesn't assume others should help her. She simply thought Lai Fu probably hadn't eaten at this hour, so she prepared something to fill his stomach. Then she got some medicine from Shaoyao, giving him more means to protect himself."Gu Yanxi smiled, "We sometimes do such things as well, but your master has never acted with the intention of bestowing favors. Learn from this—treating others with sincerity may not always be reciprocated with equal sincerity, but it will certainly do no harm."
"Yes."
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