Chapter 83: Family Reunion (2)
None of the people here were truly guilty beyond redemption, yet under imperial decree they had spent half their lives in this place. Even if they had initially felt resentment and unwillingness, time had worn them down until only numbness remained. They had once held hopes for their families and loved ones, but year after year, how many still remembered them?
Everyone knew why the Hua family had been convicted, and they all understood that only women and children remained in the household. Merely surviving in the treacherous capital was already a blessing, yet now a woman had traveled thousands of miles to appear here. The impact this had on them was unimaginable.
Hua Pingyang tightly gripped his niece's shoulder before turning to enter the main barracks. On such a day, even if it meant offending his superiors, he had to request leave for his father.
Hua Zhi removed her cloak and draped it over her grandfather's shoulders, firmly tying it in place. The fiery red collar looked somewhat incongruous against his aged face, yet everyone seemed to have been struck mute, not uttering a single word.
Gu Yanxi silently removed his own cloak and placed it over Hua Zhi. Being considerably taller than her, the hem dragged on the ground.
Before Hua Zhi could refuse, Shaoyao stepped forward to fasten it for her, just as she had firmly done for her grandfather, and pulled up the hood.
Hua Zhi stroked the pure white fur collar at her neck and did not refuse.
Hua Yizheng narrowed his eyes as he assessed Gu Yanxi. How had his granddaughter become involved with someone who clearly didn't appear to be subordinate to anyone?
Noticing her grandfather's gaze, Hua Zhi took Shaoyao's hand and softly introduced her, "Grandfather, this is my good friend Shaoyao. Cao Cao, let Grandfather see."
Obediently, Shaoyao lifted her hood to reveal her scar-crossed face to Hua Yizheng. Simple-minded, she didn't know to lower it immediately after showing him. Hua Zhi reached up and pulled her hand down.
Hua Yizheng immediately understood his granddaughter's meaning. "I understand. I won't let anyone be disrespectful."
Gu Yanxi listened, feeling increasingly that Hua Zhi treated Shaoyao better than he did as her brother, even considering such details.
Hua Zhi stepped aside. "This is Lu Xiansheng, currently responsible for teaching my younger brothers physical training. The family guards are also learning some techniques from him."
Gu Yanxi calmly met Hua Yizheng's gaze, performing a martial arts salute. "I am Lu Yanxi, greetings to the Elder Master."
A martial arts instructor for the Hua family? Hua Yizheng nodded to him. "Thank you for your trouble, Lu Xiansheng."
"Not at all. The Young Lady pays me quite well for my services."
His gaze seemed clear and upright, likely not an evil person. He just wondered where Zhi Er had found him.
Hua Pingyang quickly emerged from the main barracks, his face full of smiles. "Father, let's go home."
Hua Yizheng nodded and bowed respectfully toward the main barracks.
Hua Zhi also curtsied in that direction before supporting her grandfather as they walked out.
Since the founding of the Daqing Dynasty, Yinshan Pass had been a place of exile, already possessing a well-established set of rules. Silver was particularly effective here.
The accommodations for convicts were naturally not in good locations. Upon arriving, Hua Pingyang's first task had been to use connections to rent a residence where the entire family could stay together. Though crowded, the environment was much better, and most importantly, the family remained united.Hua Zhi had been born into wealth and luxury. Even after moving to the residence in the southern part of the city, it still featured pavilions, towers, and winding streams. The house before her eyes couldn’t even compare to the one on the estate that she had repurposed as a workshop. She couldn’t fathom how her fastidious grandfather had managed to adapt to such conditions.
Suppressing the ache in her heart, she helped her grandfather sit down in the humble main hall. Hua Zhi then paid her respects anew to her grandfather, father, and fourth uncle, each kowtow performed with genuine sincerity.
When it came to Hua Pingyang’s turn, he hurriedly pulled her up after just one kowtow. “Enough, enough—the gesture is sufficient.”
Dongzi and the others knelt in unison to pay their respects. Hua Yizheng stroked his beard with deep satisfaction; even his incessant coughing couldn’t dampen his joy at this moment.
But Hua Zhi couldn’t bear it any longer. As soon as Dongzi and the others rose, she eagerly asked, “I heard from Chen Shan that Grandfather has been coughing persistently. What did the physician say?”
Hua Yizheng cast a casual glance at Hua Pingyang, who was about to speak. “It’s just a matter of not being accustomed to the climate here. Nothing serious.”
Hua Zhi didn’t believe him. Having come from another time and place, she knew all too well that prolonged coughing could lead to severe illnesses—such as tuberculosis, which was incurable in this era.
“Cao Cao, please examine Grandfather.” After entrusting Shaoyao, Hua Zhi turned to the astonished group. “Shaoyao is a physician, and a highly skilled one.”
Hua Yizheng readily placed his left hand on the armrest of the chair. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
Shaoyao beamed. Hua Hua’s grandfather was different from the others—she rather liked him.
After carefully taking his pulse, Shaoyao frowned slightly. “Has the venerable elder been running a fever?”
Hua Pingyang could tell that although this physician was a young woman, her trust from Zhi Er meant she truly had skill. Ignoring his father’s meaningful look, he spoke before his father could. “He’s had intermittent fevers. A few doses of medicine can bring it down somewhat, but it never fully goes away. Do you know why, Physician?”
“Is there phlegm when he coughs?”
“Yes, there is.”
“Is there blood in the phlegm?”
Hua Pingyang glanced at his father, then shook his head after careful recollection. “There shouldn’t be.”
Shaoyao’s tone turned serious. “Please open your mouth, Venerable Elder, and let me take a look.”
By now, Hua Yizheng was also convinced that this young woman truly had skill. He cooperated attentively, not wanting to remain ill and burden his children and grandchildren further.
After a thorough examination through observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, everyone in the room fixed their intense gazes on Shaoyao, hoping for a definitive diagnosis. They had heard too many ambiguous statements from physicians during this time.
“Insufficient lung yin has led to internal deficiency heat. The prolonged coughing has damaged your qi. If this drags on much longer, it may become a chronic condition that’s difficult to cure.”
Hua Zhi felt a wave of relief. “So it’s still manageable now, isn’t it?”
“Of course, Hua Hua, you have to trust me.”
Hearing the laughter in Shaoyao’s voice, Hua Zhi pressed her right hand against the tiger’s mouth of her left hand, inhaling slowly and exhaling gradually, subtly calming her racing heart.
Hua Pingyu and his brother also breathed sighs of relief. Their father’s illness had been a heavy burden on their hearts, and now that weight felt somewhat lifted.
Hua Pingyang suddenly remembered something he had forgotten. “Father, should we notify Second Brother and Third Brother to return?”
“No need. Having the entire Hua family take a break would be too conspicuous.”
Hua Pingyang nodded and let the matter drop.
Gu Yanxi, who had remained silent for a long while, stepped forward. “Eldest Miss, I shall first find a place to settle.”Hua Zhi rose to remove her cloak, but Gu Yanxi would not allow it. The room didn't even have a brazier, and without thick clothing she would surely fall ill. He called out to Shaoyao, who had no choice but to follow him out.
After the two had walked some distance, Hua Yizheng asked casually, "Are you acquainted with Lu Xiansheng and the physician?"
"Yes, your granddaughter first met Shaoyao. Later, when Shaoyao learned I wanted to find a martial arts instructor, she recommended Lu Xiansheng. Shaoyao has a simple nature, so I could place more trust in someone she recommended."
So that was how it was. Having judged countless people in his life, Hua Yizheng could see through Shaoyao clearly, and consequently his impression of Gu Yanxi improved somewhat.
PS: These two chapters form a small climax—they read better together. My heart aches for the girls waiting for updates, and Kongkong aches for myself too. Off to write more—haven't even drafted a single word of the script outline yet!
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