Chapter 683: Revealing True Intentions
Hua Zhi sent word to her grandfather and went along when Wu Yong arrived.
The Hua family now followed Hua Zhi's words without question. Hua Yizheng didn't even consider conventional gender restrictions - after exchanging pleasantries with Wu Yong, he found an excuse to leave. Applying the rules meant to confine women to the inner quarters to Zhi Er would be the greatest insult to her.
Though somewhat surprised, Wu Yong adapted well. He smiled and said, "The young lady appears to have lost weight."
"A minor illness, I'll recover with some rest." Hua Zhi took a small sip of medicinal tea, inwardly disliking it but showing no expression. Wherever she went now, this tea awaited her - even in the palace. What could she say?
"I heard General Wu has requested the Emperor's permission to marry Shaoyao."
"Young lady has always been straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either." Wu Yong adopted a serious expression. "My intentions are sincere, and I hope the young lady can put in a good word for me."
"You should be thinking about how to pass my test first."
Wu Yong was taken aback. "Yes, I'd forgotten the young lady is now the Regent's Consort."
Hua Zhi didn't argue, merely saying, "General Wu's taste is rather unconventional."
"Appreciating beauty is human nature, and I'm no exception. But even the most beautiful appearance becomes ordinary over time. The joy of being with Shaoyao, however, is something no one else can provide. I adore Shaoyao's transparent nature that shows everything at a glance, and I love how she lives with clarity and sees things through. To be frank with you, young lady, I'm thoroughly tired of all the scheming in inner quarters, where even sleep brings no peace. Please believe me when I say this decision was made after careful consideration. I want to ride freely with Shaoyao, spar with her in leisure time or compete on the sand table - just thinking about such a life makes me happy."
"True enough." Hua Zhi nodded. "Marry Shaoyao as your principal wife, then take a few beautiful concubines - that would complete the picture."
Wu Yong had never considered this, though the thought of having only a wife without concubines had never crossed his mind either. But judging from the young lady's words...
He thought for a moment. "If I promise not to take concubines, would that make this possible?"
"I can only say that if you make this promise, I won't stand in your way. Whether this succeeds or not lies in Shaoyao's hands. If she has no feelings for you, no one can force her. If she agrees, no one will stop her either." Hua Zhi gently slid the teacup lid. "General Wu should also understand what consequences there would be for breaking a promise. Don't think that being far away would make us helpless. What happens to spilled water after a daughter marries won't happen to Shaoyao - I'm always willing to take this basin of water back. So General Wu shouldn't make this decision impulsively. It would be better to consider carefully before giving your word."Wu Yong stood up and bowed solemnly. "My proposal to marry the princess is a decision I've made after careful consideration. I've thought through all the consequences and understand clearly that if I dare mistreat her, the Prince Regent's protection of her would ensure I face severe repercussions. Yet... I often think of her. Those days spent with her were my happiest—even being mocked by her brought me joy. For a time, I kept thinking of excuses to visit the capital, just to see her once. This feeling must be what they call love, I believe it is. Shaoyao isn't beautiful—one might even say she's plainer than most—but her eyes are the brightest I've ever seen. You can see both joy and dislike in them. Forgive my frankness, but I want to cherish her, and I want to cherish this feeling of loving someone. For people like us, this is truly rare."
Even Hua Zhi, who had countless reservations, couldn't help but be moved by the man's sincere expression and words. This wasn't a world of freedom. They were accustomed to arranged marriages through parental orders and matchmakers—some people never even knew what love was in their entire lives. Married couples treated each other with respect, and showing slight preference to one concubine over others was the extent of affection they could offer.
But Wu Yong had laid bare this affection of his. She had to admit, this was indeed a sentiment worth cherishing.
Thus, she gave her most sincere reply: "I will speak seriously with Shaoyao."
Wu Yong bowed deeply and took his leave.
"Feeling somewhat reassured now?" Hua Yizheng entered with a smile. He could finally understand why the younger generation in the family obeyed Zhi Er so readily—her protection wasn't just empty words but genuine action.
Hua Zhi stood up, waiting for her grandfather to sit before resuming her seat. "My impression of him has never been particularly bad. Do you think highly of him, Grandfather?"
"Having worked with him for two years, I've come to understand him somewhat. Among the military officers of his generation, he's one of the few with real capability. What's rare is that he possesses a strong sense of chivalry. Not all officials exiled to Yinshan Pass were truly guilty—some were framed, some wrongfully accused. He provided protection both openly and discreetly; otherwise, some wouldn't have survived in such conditions. In my view, this reflects excellent character."
Hua Zhi nodded. Indeed, how one treated the vulnerable revealed their true nature.
"If you speak well of him, he must be decent. The only problem is the distance."
This was the hard truth. Hua Yizheng had no response. Marrying so far away meant she might only return home a handful of times in her lifetime. Moreover, Wu Yong was different from other garrison commanders—Yinshan Pass was the Wu family's territory, guarded by generations of their lineage. Without imperial summons, they couldn't enter the capital. Other commanders at least had opportunities to return to the capital.
This matter was beyond the Hua family's control, so Hua Yizheng didn't dwell on it, instead turning to Zhi Er's own marriage matters. "Take whichever servants you want from the household registry—don't hesitate. And the businesses you've built over these past two years, you may take them all as your dowry."
"I'll just take the food studio and the mushroom business. The mushroom venture was originally my partnership with Yan Xi, with Shaoyao holding a share too. When Shaoyao marries, I'll gift this business to her. The food studio needs Fu Dong to manage overall operations, and the ideas come from me anyway. As for the rest, they should remain with the Hua family."Hua Yizheng disagreed, "The Hua family's shops and businesses have all been recovered. Although some required starting from scratch and incurred some losses, they will gradually improve. Moreover, the Hua family's foundation remains solid, and the Emperor has bestowed various rewards under different pretexts. There is no reason to continue holding onto your assets."
"I built this enterprise from nothing in just two years. With so many years ahead, are you still worried I won't live comfortably? Besides, Yan Xi's resources are substantial—the late Emperor gave him half of the Private Treasury. I made it clear back then that these family businesses would be incorporated into the common pool, with each branch having a share. You can't expect me to go back on my word."
"You have all the logic on your side," Hua Yizheng conceded helplessly. In the end, however, he did not agree to take everything back. He allocated the most profitable Oriole Cloud Alley and Green Moss Lane, along with their staff, into the dowry. The various branches of the Hua family raised no objections upon learning this—after all, these ventures had been built entirely by the eldest young lady. Even if they coveted them, they had to consider whose assets they were.
PS: Tried drafting a scene with Shaoyao and Zheng Zhi, hmm, it doesn't feel right.
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