Old Yu emptied the medicine chest onto the table, selecting herbs to prepare a remedy. The wound kept reopening, and without proper treatment, it would likely fester. This young woman had suffered enough—she certainly didn’t need any more agony.
Gu Yanxi gazed down at A Zhi, unable to tear his eyes away. Her hair, usually tied up neatly under her official cap, now looked disheveled, and her official uniform was tattered. Without needing to ask, he could tell how much hardship she had endured. He had rushed back day and night, yet he was still too late.
The heavy silence made Hua Zhi uncomfortable, so she initiated a conversation. "When did you realize something was wrong?"
"The Chao Li Tribe dispersed their forces to various locations, leaving few at Shou’ai Pass. That’s when I understood their plan." Yanxi’s voice was gentle, though he spoke of warfare. "Before returning, I led troops to bomb their island stronghold."
Hua Zhi looked up at him in surprise but refrained from asking about the casualties. She knew that showing mercy to the enemy was cruelty to oneself.
A general’s success is built upon countless bones—such has been the way since ancient times.
"I sent Wu Xing to assist Shaoyao."
"With Zheng Zhi as her strategist and black powder as their weapon, Shaoyao would have no excuse not to conquer the Flame Country."
Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. "You convinced Zheng Zhi to serve the court?"
"Whether he’ll officially join the bureaucracy in the future, I don’t know. But for now, he’s willing to work for the imperial family. He’s always been ambitious." Hua Zhi nuzzled against his chest. "I suspect there are still hidden accomplices in the palace. Yu Xiang certainly provided many conveniences, but the imperial guards aren’t blind. I can understand how the Chao Li Tribe managed to hide so many people from the Seven Constellation Bureau—after all, the Bureau has limited mobility within the deep palace. But the imperial guards are responsible for protecting the palace. How could they miss something so obvious?"
Gu Yanxi nodded slightly. "The problem lies with the imperial guards."
"I think so too. We must uncover this mole. He’s too close to the Crown Prince. We can’t afford to fail at the final step after coming this far."
"Don’t worry, he won’t escape."
Hua Zhi sighed. "Now that we know Yu Xiang was a Chao Li spy, many previously puzzling things make sense. I suspect Haoyue’s use of that sinister prescription is also connected to her. But Yu Xiang has been serving the Empress Dowager since she was young—how could she have known back then that her mistress would become the Empress Dowager?"
Zhu Bowen entered carrying two jars of wine. Old Yu soaked the sheep gut thread in one jar, then poured a bowl of wine and gestured for Zhu Bowen to bring it to Hua Zhi.
Gu Yanxi immediately understood. He lifted A Zhi slightly and took the bowl, feeding her the wine sip by sip. "Would you like more?"
"That’s enough. I already had a few mouthfuls earlier, and this bowl must contain at least three liang." Her untrained body had little tolerance for alcohol, and with Yanxi by her side, she could already feel the effects. Hua Zhi closed her eyes and murmured, "There are many matters outside requiring decisions. You should go."
"I’ll stay with you."
Hua Zhi smiled and nuzzled him, making no further attempt to urge him away. In truth, she wanted him to stay. She had already experienced how excruciating the suturing process could be—it was unbearable.
Old Yu approached with the wine jar. "Lift her up a bit and hold her arm steady."
He then handed over a roll of fine cloth. "Have her bite down on this."Hua Zhi could vividly picture Gu Yanxi’s cautious demeanor even with her eyes closed. Dazed, she bit down and thought, surviving until now was truly a blessing. The emperor who had made life difficult for her was dead, the troublemaking threat of the Chao Li Tribe had been eliminated, her family’s return was within reach, and the man she loved was still alive. The road ahead would be smooth and unobstructed.
As strong liquor was poured over her wound, excruciating pain shot through her, and Hua Zhi let out a muffled groan. Yes, this was her final trial. Once she endured this, dawn would break.
In her dazed state, she mustered every ounce of strength to withstand the agony, unaware that her body trembled uncontrollably, that she groaned aloud in pain, or that large beads of sweat rolled down her face, mingling with the man’s tears.
“Please be gentle,” the man who had fought his way through countless battles pleaded hoarsely to Yu Lao, who was swiftly stitching the wound as if mending clothes. The mere thought that A Zhi had endured the same stitching not long ago made his heart ache so fiercely he wanted to scream at the heavens. They said greater ability came with greater responsibility, but who decreed that the capable must bear burdens that should never have fallen on their shoulders alone?
It was as if everyone knew A Zhi was fiercely protective of her own, and everyone took it for granted that she should endure anything. After all, wasn’t she the Crown Prince’s teacher? Didn’t she want her family to return to the capital? But who had ever calculated that her meritorious service for supporting the emperor, her contributions as a mentor, and her countless deeds for the country were more than enough to secure the return of the innocent Hua family? Everything A Zhi was doing now was for the Crown Prince, for him, and for the greater good—because when disaster strikes, no one escapes unscathed.
She couldn’t bear to let the elders charge ahead, nor could she leave the young unprotected. With a gap in both the civil and military ranks and no promising young officials to rely on, she had no choice but to step forward herself, earning these scars in the process.
But how long would people remember her sacrifices? Human hearts were fickle, and even he couldn’t guarantee that Little Six wouldn’t forget this debt of gratitude someday. In the face of so-called greater good, who could say whether that “greater good” would demand A Zhi’s sacrifice? If that day ever came, what then?
Watching as Yu Lao finally cut the thread, Gu Yanxi leaned his forehead against A Zhi’s damp one and let out a long, relieved sigh. From now on, we will never be parted. I will never give anyone the chance to scheme against you. Let them see—a Crown Prince’s teacher and a regent—who would dare challenge us?
Yu Lao applied the prepared medicine to the wound. “This dressing must be changed every hour to prevent the wound from festering. If it festers, her body may not withstand it.”
Gu Yanxi’s expression darkened. Countless soldiers on the battlefield had succumbed at this stage. Worried he might forget, he removed the cloth from A Zhi’s mouth and glanced up, noticing several people already waiting at the door. He pointed to one from the Seven Constellation Bureau. “Go to the Hua family and bring Nian Qiu and Fu Dong to the palace.”
The man immediately obeyed and left.
“Bring me an hourglass.”
Hearing A Zhi’s faint whimpers, Gu Yanxi kissed her forehead and leaned closer to blow gently on her wound. The cool breeze soothed the burning pain slightly. Breathing in his familiar scent, Hua Zhi whimpered softly about the pain—a vulnerable side she only showed to Gu Yanxi.
His throat tight with emotion, Gu Yanxi blew on the wound even more intently.He continued blowing like this until his lips dried and developed several more lines, paying no mind to the increasing number of people coming to look for him outside. It wasn't until Nian Qiu and Fu Dong rushed in breathlessly that he finally stopped.
Carefully positioning her to lie face down, he said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on the water clock. Apply the medicine once when the time comes, without fail."
Though neither of them shifted their gaze from their young lady, they heard his words clearly and promptly acknowledged in agreement.
"Blow on it more for her, she's in pain."
"Yes."
PS: My stomach has been hurting for several days. I couldn't hold out today, so there's only one update. I need to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow and will try to post two updates then.
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