Shaoyao wasn't completely without perception either - she grabbed Little Six and ran outside, pulling the unprepared child so abruptly he nearly stumbled.
Hua Zhi wasn't worried. Even before this, Little Six had often come and gone in the inner courtyard. A child just over ten years old still didn't have those kinds of restrictions, especially since this was their own home where he should be free to go anywhere.
Gu Yanxi sat down before the dressing table. "A Zhi, come do my hair."
She'd done this task more than a few times over these past days. Hua Zhi walked over and took the comb. His hair, never subjected to various dyes or perms, was of excellent quality - smooth and soft. Gathering it in her hands, she said, "No need for a formal updo today. Let's just tie it back like this. It's not like we have visitors anyway."
"As you say."
Hua Zhi glanced at the person in the mirror and snorted lightly. "Your hair is in my hands - would you dare not listen to me?"
Gu Yanxi just smiled, not calling out how her gentle movements contradicted her tough words.
"Is your wound itching badly today?"
"It's bearable."
After skillfully tying his hair, she placed her hands on his shoulders and met his gaze in the mirror. "When are you going to Jin Yang?"
"In the next few days."
"Can't you postpone it?"
"Don't worry, I'll try to avoid fighting." Gu Yanxi raised his hand to cover hers, his smile gentle. "Only in your eyes am I so precious. Before, no matter how severe my injuries, lying down for eight or ten days was considered lenient treatment."
"Before, no one cared about you. Now you have someone." Hua Zhi wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against his back, like mandarin ducks with necks entwined. "Yan Xi, let's make a promise."
Gu Yanxi turned his head to nuzzle her. "Tell me."
"We both have responsibilities we must bear - that can't be changed. But we can do our utmost to protect ourselves. I want us to be people who create good lives, and also have the fortune to enjoy those good lives."
"...Alright."
Hua Zhi buried her face in Yan Xi's neck. These days where not a single day passed without having to worry about things - it was truly exhausting.
After indulging herself for just a moment, Hua Zhi lifted her head, her expression returning to normal. "Let's go join the excitement too."
The gatekeeper at the second entrance was momentarily startled upon seeing them, but quickly opened the gate. Everyone in the household knew who he was by now. Although they all thought their eldest young lady was rather bold, no one gossiped about it - their eldest young lady had been bold for quite some time, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.
As for the eldest young lady bringing an outside man into the inner courtyard, she would never harm her own family.
Although everyone in the household felt this way, Hua Zhi still had to consider her younger sisters' reputations, so she only watched the lively scene in the covered corridor from a distance.
With everywhere else dark, that area appeared particularly bright.
If only I had a camera, Hua Zhi thought. She could photograph this scene and send it to her grandfather, to show him that everyone was truly doing well.
Taking the lantern Ying Chun handed her, Hua Zhi lifted it for inspection. The craftsmanship wasn't great, but the pumpkin shape was still recognizable. She cleared her throat lightly and shoved it into Yan Xi's hands. "A gift."
Gu Yanxi looked down at it for a moment, then understood everything when he saw A Zhi's uncomfortable expression. Smile lines gradually appeared at the corners of his eyes. "I like it very much, but... what do these symbols mean?"Hua Zhi lowered her head to look at the English phrase written on the lantern. Initially, she had intended to leave a difficult riddle, but that seemed too ordinary. After some thought, she wrote the most common English phrase from her previous life.
"I’ll tell you on our wedding day."
Gu Yanxi gave her a deep look, agreed with a soft "Alright," and did not press further. A Zhi had secrets—he had always known.
The night was cool as water. Hua Zhi tightened her cloak, and Gu Yanxi held her hand as they stood side by side, gazing toward the direction of laughter and merriment. One day, such moments would be ordinary.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the grand court assembly convened.
Gu Yanxi stood at the forefront of the officials, dressed in his official uniform. Unlike before, he no longer wore a mask.
Unsurprisingly, five ministers stepped forward one after another to impeach him for neglecting public duties for private reasons.
The accusation was cleverly framed. Gu Yanxi kept his gaze lowered, ignoring them. Arguing in court would be beneath his dignity.
"Oh? Could my esteemed ministers enlighten me on what private matter caused the Heir to neglect his duties?" The crisp sound of jade beads clinking accompanied the Emperor’s leisurely question.
The court fell silent. The ministers who had stepped forward exchanged glances. One of them gritted his teeth and voiced what everyone already knew: "The Heir removed his mask for a woman, breaking the longstanding tradition of the Seven Constellation Bureau. Your Majesty, this act clearly shows he prioritized personal matters over public duty."
"Oh? My memory is not what it used to be. Could you remind me which law of the Great Qing Dynasty stipulates that the head of the Seven Constellation Bureau must wear a mask?"
Naturally, no such law existed. It was merely a convention passed down through generations. The impeaching ministers sensed trouble and began searching for ways to extricate themselves.
Meanwhile, the Duke of An and Minister Zhu Bowen breathed a sigh of relief. The Emperor’s attitude suggested the matter would be dropped.
"If you cannot recall, there’s no need to dwell on it. Today marks the resumption of court, and I have no wish to reprimand anyone on the first day. Return to your positions."
The ministers bowed deeply and hastily retreated to their places.
The Emperor glared irritably at the troublesome Heir. He wanted to punish him but feared it would give his opponents ammunition. Yet, letting him off the hook felt like condoning disobedience.
Still, he knew how to keep him in check.
"I intend to excavate a new canal, passing through Lingzhou, Dongyan County, and Yan County to connect with the Jing River."
At these words, impeachment and personal grudges became trivial. A new canal? With the treasury depleted and years of natural disasters and turmoil? Where would the funds come from? Where would the labor come from? Spring plowing was about to begin, and even conscripting laborers would fall far short of what was needed!
Minister of War Chen Yuanqing immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, by tradition, soldiers must be replenished by early April. I implore you to reconsider."
Minister of Revenue Zhu Bowen followed suit. "Your Majesty, last year, floods struck the south and droughts the north. Many regions were exempted from land taxes. Reclaiming wasteland and storing grain must be the top priority this year. I implore you to reconsider."
Even Minister of Works He Lianjie could no longer remain seated. "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has not undertaken such a major project in years. I fear we are ill-prepared for such a responsibility. I implore you to reconsider."
For once, the court officials were united. Everyone except Gu Yanxi knelt and pleaded in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to reconsider."
The Emperor’s face darkened, his earlier magnanimity vanishing. As the ruler of the nation, he faced repeated opposition whenever he sought to accomplish something. Where was his dignity?
His gaze fell on the only person still standing. In a heavy voice, he asked, "What do you say?"Gu Yanxi bowed respectfully. "You must have your reasons for bringing this up now."
The Emperor's expression softened somewhat; at least his affection for him hadn't been in vain.
"If there's no silver, we can earn it. Isn't there a female wealth god capable of turning stone into gold? As for manpower, I'm not planning to rush these two months anyway. The ground is still frozen—we'll have to wait until after April. By then, spring plowing will be over, and won't we have plenty of hands available?"
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