Lai Fu seized the opportunity to say, "This matter must be handled with discretion. No matter who is behind it, it is unwise to pursue it too far."
"I understand. Please rest assured, Father-in-law."
Lai Fu breathed a sigh of relief. His greatest fear was that the young lady would stubbornly cling to this matter. From the Emperor's perspective, as long as the prince hadn't done anything to endanger him, a minor punishment as a warning would suffice—especially since the young lady had only been injured. If the matter were blown out of proportion, it would only bring more harm to her, which would be unwise.
After returning to the palace, Physician Liu reported Hua Zhi's condition in detail. "Hua Zhi's injury is neither severe nor insignificant. From what I observed, the arrow was aimed directly at her heart, but she managed to evade it slightly, which is why she survived. However, the area is still close to the heart meridian. Even though she avoided a fatal blow, she must recuperate carefully. Otherwise... it may affect her lifespan."
The Emperor suddenly recalled what Shaoyao had said on the day Hua Zhi collapsed in the palace. Hua Zhi had protected the Hua family, ensuring they didn't have to marry off their daughters for self-preservation, deplete their resources, or sacrifice their dignity. Yet, in just over a year, her body had become riddled with ailments—this was the price she had paid. As both a daughter and an elder sister, she had done everything she possibly could.
The Emperor couldn't help but wonder: Did she have any regrets?
Driven by this curiosity, he felt an urgent need to know the answer. Without suppressing his impulse, he stood up and declared, "Prepare the carriage. I am going to the Hua residence."
Lai Fu was stunned. What was the Emperor thinking?
The Emperor's arrival took everyone by surprise. While the remaining members of the Hua family scrambled to receive him, Shaoyao rushed over in a flurry, knelt on one knee, and performed a military salute. "Hua Hua is unable to rise. She has asked me to apologize to you on her behalf."
"Lead the way."
Knowing her place in public, Shaoyao respectfully escorted the Emperor into the courtyard, ensuring he was treated with due honor.
Old Madam Zhu, feeling uneasy, instinctively moved to follow but was firmly held back by Madam Sun. "The young lady can handle it."
Though Old Madam Zhu trusted her granddaughter, she fretted, "But she's still injured..."
Madam Sun watched the Emperor's retreating figure, her eyes cold. Her husband had submitted three memorials proposing that part of the military provisions be replaced with items like the ones Hua Zhi had created. While Dried Meat might be difficult to produce, the Crisp Noodles were not costly. Why couldn't it be done? Even if it couldn't, the Emperor had said he wouldn't stop them from solving the issue themselves. Yet, because of this, the provisions had been delayed. Whose kingdom was her husband defending?
With an emperor like this, how could anyone expect him to consider Hua Zhi's well-being? What a dream!
Inside the room, Hua Zhi sat up slightly and leaned forward. The Emperor took a seat and glanced at her. "You may dispense with the formalities."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The movement tugged at her wound. Shaoyao wanted to say something but ultimately held her tongue, instead placing a pillow behind Hua Hua to help her conserve energy.
The Emperor studied Hua Zhi, who remained silent as if she could bear anything. "Don't you want to ask me to seek justice for you?"
Hua Zhi replied without hesitation, "I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me."
"..." Trapped by his own words, the Emperor felt a surge of frustration, unable to swallow or spit it out.
As if unaware, Hua Zhi continued, "In broad daylight, under the imperial city's very nose, someone dared to act so recklessly. Today, they attempted to assassinate me. Who knows if tomorrow they might dare to storm the palace? For Your Majesty's safety, the culprit must be brought to justice."
"Do you know who it is?"
"I do not, which is why I seek Your Majesty's intervention."
Shaoyao turned away, biting her lip to keep from laughing. Hua Hua was truly formidable!The Emperor snorted. How could he not know? Those bold enough to commit such audacious acts could be counted on one hand. It was merely that he knew he couldn't do anything about it, so he couldn't even be bothered to investigate.
"Can you swallow this grievance?"
Hua Zhi had been pondering the Emperor's purpose since learning of his visit, yet even now she couldn't discern it. Not knowing what answer he sought, she was about to offer a perfunctory reply when the Emperor added, "I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries with you. I want to hear the truth."
The truth? Hua Zhi smiled. For her, telling the truth was far easier than lying.
"I cannot swallow it, but I know how to adapt to circumstances."
"Oh? What circumstances are those?"
Hua Zhi gently pressed her hand against her wound. "The capital is only so large. Everyone knows the Salt Administration and Transportation Department are under my control. Though I've made some enemies over the past year, the benefits these two departments have brought should be enough to offset that. Those who still hold grudges against me to the point of wanting my life are few. Since I clearly know I can't afford to provoke them, what else can I do but adapt?"
"You could incite my nephew to stand up for you."
"He doesn't need to know. The matter of Jin Yang cannot afford the slightest mistake. I don't know how many people in Daqing have forgotten the threat of the Chao Li Tribe, but the Hua family ancestors wrote about them in our ancestral teachings. No one in the Hua family dares forget."
This Hua Zhi truly wasn't afraid of him. The Emperor confirmed this once again. Though she still behaved like a proper subordinate, she had betrayed herself when she instinctively defended Yan Xi. The fearlessness in her eyes was like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
How interesting.
"You've protected the Hua family and its members well. No one can deny that." The Emperor leaned forward. "Even if one day the Hua family rises again, and everyone else enjoys glory and honors you as the family's savior, what does it matter if your health fails? You might not even be able to bear children. In the prime of your life, your hair turns white, and your lifespan falls short of those who did nothing. Are you... content with that?"
Hua Zhi thought seriously for a moment, then smiled. "As long as I know Berlin can grow up well—carefree, passionate, loyal, with a few close friends and a beautiful wife, becoming the person he wants to be—that seems perfect to me. What does it matter if I have no children? I raised Berlin myself. As the elder sister, I acted as his mother. I don't feel my life is lacking. As for the others..."
Hua Zhi shot Shaoyao a look to stop her from speaking. "From the beginning, all I wanted to protect was my mother and Berlin. Everyone else was incidental. When the Hua family was prosperous, I rarely saw my siblings more than a few times a year. We weren't particularly close. But perhaps the Hua family's roots are too strong. Even though they each had their flaws before, over this past year, they've become united. They learned to work together, to support each other. They care for me and worry about me. Those little ones who barely reach my waist even want to protect me. Only now have we truly become a family. Why should I be discontent about sacrificing for my family?"
"Such noble righteousness?"
Suddenly, Hua Zhi understood the Emperor's purpose. He was here to sow discord. Without hesitation, she retorted, "Yan Xi has done much for you, sacrificed much for you. To you, is that also noble righteousness?"
The Emperor stared fixedly at her.Hua Zhi gave him the answer, "The difference between people lies in the fact that some are willing to sacrifice everything for family love and romantic love, while others are simply heartless."
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