Chapter 508: Wise Man?
Winter nights fell early, and it was already completely dark by the hour of You.
The Hua family gathered together, and after a lively meal, they eagerly made their way to the covered corridor that served as the lantern festival venue.
The weather was favorable—no rain, no wind, and though it was a bit cold, wearing an extra layer made it bearable.
By then, all the lanterns were lit, casting a warm, yellowish glow over the corridor, as if wrapping everyone in a gentle warmth.
Hua Zhi raised her voice and announced, "I’ve prepared some small gifts. The top three who solve the most riddles can claim their rewards from my mother. Everyone, do your best!"
"Thank you, Elder Sister!"
The girls thanked her cheerfully and, in small groups, stepped onto the corridor, their laughter and chatter drifting through the air.
The three elders and the married women also went up to soak in the festive atmosphere. Hua Zhi exchanged a brief greeting with Su Momo before quietly slipping away to the front courtyard.
Fu Dong had been waiting and, upon seeing the young lady arrive, hurried to prepare the dishes.
"Hua Hua, I’m starving," Shaoyao drawled, putting on a pitiful act.
Hua Zhi washed her hands and came over, flicking Shaoyao’s forehead. "Wipe your mouth clean before saying that."
Shaoyao instinctively wiped her mouth—it was a bit greasy—and chuckled sheepishly. "Fu Dong’s chicken legs are so delicious. I brought one for Little Six too."
"As if bringing one for Little Six means you didn’t sneak a bite yourself. Little Six is still growing—it’s fine for him to eat more. But no matter how much you eat, do you think you’ll grow any taller?"
"I…" Shaoyao barely stopped herself from finishing the sentence, her eyes darting around. She really was growing, but unfortunately, it wasn’t in height—it was in her chest, which she considered rather useless.
Maids filed in, first serving a bowl of soup. Nian Qiu explained, "Fu Dong said everyone should have some soup first to warm their stomachs."
Hua Zhi had been drinking soups and broths almost without interruption. She never neglected her health and always consumed the right amount.
Shaoyao, however, disliked soup. With great cunning, she scooped tiny half-spoonfuls, deliberately slowing her pace while glancing repeatedly at the door, eagerly awaiting the main dishes. There were several hearty dishes tonight—no way was she letting soup take up precious stomach space.
Little Six didn’t care for soup either. He glanced around, his eyes crinkling with amusement, but under his teacher’s stern gaze, he didn’t dare to mimic Shaoyao’s theatrics.
As if summoned by their thoughts, Fu Dong soon appeared at the door, carrying a large wooden tray with a medium-sized pot placed on it. The maids behind her held comparatively smaller dishes.
Hua Zhi believed that rice should be cooked in large pots, while dishes should be prepared in small batches. Fu Dong kept this principle in mind, so her servings were always modest.
The main dishes on the table featured mutton—Fu Dong’s mutton dishes were exceptional, which was why the mutton banquets at the vegetarian restaurant had been the most popular lately. There was also a fish stew with a milky-white broth, neatly arranged white-cut chicken, soy-braised pork with a rich, dark sauce, braised pig’s trotters, twice-cooked pork, soy-braised chicken legs, stir-fried fresh mushrooms, two plates of vibrant green vegetables, and several small dishes of pickles.
Shaoyao kept sniffing the air, clutching her chopsticks and urging Yan Ge with her eyes to start eating—she could barely restrain herself.
Gu Yanxi first picked up a piece of mutton and placed it in A Zhi’s bowl. Then, he took a piece of white-cut chicken, dipped it in sauce, and took a bite, eating only half of it.Shaoyao's eyes darted between the two of them several times, yet her chopsticks unerringly picked up a piece of braised pork. Though she initially meant to eat it herself, somehow they changed direction and landed in Little Six's bowl. By the time she realized what happened, Little Six had already cheerfully eaten it, not forgetting to thank her afterward, "Thank you, Sister Shaoyao."
"My meat!" Shaoyao wailed, not daring to look any longer at the two people who seemed to make her foolish. She quickly snatched a piece and put it in her mouth, then piled several more into her bowl—only this could mend her wounded heart!
Hua Zhi laughed and poked her forehead. During this period when the vegetarian restaurant was closed, Fu Dong had been experimenting with all sorts of delicious dishes at home every day. It wasn't as if Shaoyao had been deprived; why was she acting so ravenous?
Among family, there were no strict rules about not speaking during meals. Once they were half-full, Gu Yanxi said, "The court resumes tomorrow, and I need to make an appearance."
"But your injury hasn't healed yet..."
"Outsiders don't know I was injured; they only think there was a conflict between the Emperor and me. With the previous arrangements, that conflict should be resolved. If I don't show up, it might give others an opportunity."
Hua Zhi nodded slightly. That was true. That day, the Empress Dowager had cleared the area, and only those present knew about Yanxi's self-inflicted injury. When they left, Yanxi was wearing a cloak, so no one saw the wound. Because of this, the story could be covered up.
"The Emperor ordered you to continue leading the Seven Constellation Bureau—does that mean he agrees there will be no more Seven Constellation Bureau in the future?"
"The Emperor is well aware of the pros and cons of the Seven Constellation Bureau, but he's grown accustomed to relying on it and can't bring himself to dismantle it completely. Now that things have reached this point, as long as no one can replace me, he has no choice but to test whether this path works. At least I can protect it for a while longer." Gu Yanxi leisurely ate a bite of food. "To put it plainly, it means returning the authority of the Seven Constellation Bureau to where it belongs. Since I'm willing to relinquish power, they should be pleased."
"So, the plans you previously set in motion still need to be carried out by you."
"Most likely. I wouldn't trust anyone else with it, especially regarding the Jin Yang matter. There's definitely the Chao Li Tribe's influence behind it. If we startle them, they'll go into hiding again, and it'll be hard to catch their trail. This time, we must root them out."
"The Chao Li Tribe, historically known only for relying on brute force, actually has such cunning now? I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Hua Zhi picked up the last piece of braised pork and put it in Little Seven's bowl, ignoring Shaoyao's glare. Shaoyao had already eaten more than half of the bowl herself. "Such a transformation in a tribe is no small matter. I suspect they may have produced a Wise Man. Such situations aren't uncommon among tribes."
"Based on Yuan Shifang's age, if that Wise Man was very young back then, he might still be alive now. He's likely the mastermind behind the Jin Yang incident." Gu Yanxi set down his chopsticks and pondered. "I'll send people to investigate in that direction. If the Chao Li Tribe truly produced such a person, there must be traces. If such a person exists, we need to be even more cautious with the Jin Yang matter."
"I hope we're overthinking it."
"I'd rather overthink than overlook something." Gu Yanxi turned to Little Six. "Tomorrow, you should go to the palace and request the Emperor's order to go to Qingzhou."
Little Six nodded. Now that his master's crisis had been resolved, he could leave with peace of mind."Alright, let's not dwell on that. Have you finished eating? Shall we go guess lantern riddles to join in the festive atmosphere?"
Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow, "Can we go?"
"Why not?" Hua Zhi looked at the man feigning innocence with a half-smile, "Hasn't the entire capital already learned you're my fiancé?"
Gu Yanxi couldn't help laughing, "I'll arrange for the six rites to be carried out soon, so our relationship will be officially confirmed. Then I'll be your rightful fiancé."
"Shameless." Hua Zhi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "No need to rush. Let's wait a while, so the Emperor doesn't get any more ideas."
Gu Yanxi thought for a moment, sighed, but could only nod in agreement.
PS: Kept my promise.
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