Chapter 87: Truth Revealed, Hearts Laid Bare
The inn was exceptionally warm. Hua Zhi paused at the entrance to adjust before stepping inside.
A waiter immediately came forward. Recognizing Gu Yanxi at once, he led them upstairs. "Everything has been tidied according to your instructions, sir. The bedsheets and quilt covers have all been replaced with new ones. Please see if it meets your satisfaction. The meals are also ready. Would you like them served now or later?"
Hua Pingyang couldn't help but glance at Gu Yanxi a few more times. As someone who had been through similar situations, he couldn't shake the feeling that this young man had ulterior motives.
"Bring some hot water first. Serve the meals in about a quarter of an hour."
"Right away! Scalding water will be delivered to you shortly."
The waiter had a naturally cheerful smile, as if born for business. Hua Zhi observed him, half-contemplating poaching him for her own shop.
"By the way, waiter, please prepare another room next door. Fourth Uncle, to avoid trouble, you should stay here tonight as well."
Hua Pingyang agreed without hesitation. Not just for today—he planned to stay here as long as his niece remained!
"Of course! I'll fetch the room key for you right away."
The water was indeed scalding hot. A half-bucket of cold water stood nearby, but Hua Zhi didn't bother mixing it in. Pinching the corner of a cloth with her fingertips, she slowly wrung it dry, spread it open, and pressed it against her face. She exhaled deeply in comfort, taking advantage of the cloth hiding her expression to relax momentarily, allowing her weariness to show.
"Hua Hua, the food at this inn is so delicious!" Shaoyao bounded into the room, her boundless energy making Hua Zhi wish she knew some energy-draining technique to borrow a fraction of it.
"Has the food been brought up?"
"Yes, it's in Fourth Uncle's room."
Hua Zhi rewet the cloth and draped it directly over Shaoyao's face, teasing her, "Do you know what 'eating secretly without wiping your mouth' means? You're the perfect example."
"Hehe." Shaoyao rubbed her face haphazardly and was about to toss the cloth onto the rack when she noticed Hua Hua watching her from the corner of her eye. She obediently walked over to wash the cloth before hanging it up.
"Let's go."
The doors on both sides opened simultaneously. Hua Zhi's reaction was slightly slow, and she paused for a moment before nodding at Gu Yanxi.
Gu Yanxi approached and pointed to the room on her right. "Fourth Uncle is staying here."
The door was open, revealing Hua Pingyang waiting for them at the table. Several large bowls sat on the table, all covered with lids.
"Come in quickly." Hua Pingyang stood up and removed the lids one by one. A rich aroma wafted out—large chunks of meat and bones, with even the accompanying vegetables cut into generous pieces.
"Don't be fooled by how rustic the dishes look compared to the refined cuisine in the capital. The flavor is just as good. The cook here is the innkeeper himself, using a family recipe passed down through generations. It's excellent."
Hua Zhi didn't need her fourth uncle's explanation. Having lived two lifetimes, she could tell from the aroma alone that the food was delicious. But perhaps due to exhaustion, even though it was well past mealtime, she didn't feel hungry. Instead, her weariness was becoming harder to conceal.
She forced herself to finish a bowl of rice. When she looked up, she found everyone staring at her. Subconsciously, she touched the corner of her mouth, but there were no grains of rice or vegetable scraps.
Shaoyao put down her bowl and let out a big yawn, stretching lazily. "I'm so sleepy. Hua Hua, let's go back to our room and sleep."
"..."She really wasn't convincing at all. Hua Zhi accepted her kindness—it was better to let Fourth Uncle think she was sleepy rather than know she was exhausted. She didn't want her family to feel indebted; after all, everything she did was willingly. No one could force her to do anything she didn't want to.
Hua Pingyang and Gu Yanxi sat facing each other, eating in silence. Soon, Shaoyao came over. "She fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed. I checked her pulse—she's just exhausted. Now that she's finally arrived and seen the person she wanted to see, she couldn't hold on any longer."
Hua Pingyang found the food increasingly tasteless; even the most fragrant dishes felt hard to swallow. He forced a slight smile and said, "Sit down and eat quickly, or it'll get cold."
Shaoyao ate with great relish, enjoying the meal more than either of the two men.
After the meal, the two men went to Gu Yanxi's room, while Shaoyao conscientiously returned to watch over Hua Hua.
"I am deeply grateful for Lu Xiansheng's care along the journey," Hua Pingyang said.
Gu Yanxi had known about Hua Pingyang even before meeting Hua Zhi.
For the Hua family, having two Hanlin scholars in one generation was indeed an honor, but for Hua Pingyang personally, it was an obstacle. The old master of the Hua family likely knew that his youngest son was the most outstanding of his generation, but because an older brother had already become a Hanlin scholar, he had to cut short Hua Pingyang's path to success.
Others might have resented or hated such a situation, but Hua Pingyang did not. He served the Hua family wholeheartedly in his own way, even though most of the family neither knew nor understood his efforts.
When Gu Yanxi first learned of this man, he thought he was a truly intelligent person with an exceptionally broad-minded disposition. It was a pity he was born a bit too late; had he been the eldest son of the Hua family, he would likely have done better than Hua Pingyu.
So, Gu Yanxi wasn't surprised that Hua Pingyang had noticed something.
"I receive a salary from the Hua family, so it is only right that I fulfill my duties."
"Is that all?"
Gu Yanxi looked up, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Someone like me is generally beyond most people's means to hire. I offered my services to the Hua residence with my own motives, but the time is not yet right to speak of them."
Hua Pingyang hadn't expected such candor and inwardly regarded him more highly. Still, he felt no one was worthy of his Zhi Er. Previously, they had betrothed her to Shen Qi only because he had grown up under their watchful eyes—they knew him well and believed he wouldn't cause trouble. Who would have thought that after years of vigilance, they'd still be blindsided?
Thinking of Shen Qi, Hua Pingyang gritted his teeth secretly. Just wait until he returned! He'd break that boy's legs—all three of them!
"At this point, even demons and monsters are avoiding the Hua family. How dare you get involved?" Hua Pingyang sneered. "With Zhi Er's temperament, if she were to marry, she would undoubtedly bring the burden of the Hua family with her. Can you bear the consequences?"
"She hasn't used any of the resources you left for her. After I helped her with one matter, she gave me an ice-making formula worth a fortune. Hua Si Ye, making money has never been a problem for Hua Zhi. She has countless methods. What she thinks about is never just earning a little silver to support the family, but how to get all of you back."
Their eyes met, neither yielding nor retreating.
Hua Pingyang's heart tightened at those words. Finally, he couldn't help but ask hoarsely, "What are you trying to say?"Gu Yanxi no longer restrained his overflowing pride. "Appearance, family background, talent—none of these matter to me. What I admire is Hua Zhi's protective nature toward her family, that fierce determination of hers to die before anyone else even if they all must perish. I hope one day she will also regard me as family and shield me behind her. Though she appears fragile and vulnerable compared to those with superior martial skills, her inner strength cannot be easily destroyed. Many things others consider noble or extraordinary, she simply disregards."
Gu Yanxi took out the sharp hairpin he always carried and showed it to Hua Pingyang. "With just this small object, she fought fiercely against someone who had escaped from my grasp, nearly ending in mutual destruction. Even when half-dead, she didn't retreat an inch. Tell me, what other woman could compare to this?"
Hua Pingyang stared at the hairpin, his lips trembling. What had Zhi Er gone through while they were away!
PS: Writing this was exhilarating. Thank you, Your Majesty Ten Thousand Years, for the correction. Kongkong mixed up the time—Mao hour is early morning, while 5 PM is You hour. Will ask the editor to fix it tomorrow! Also, thank you all for the monthly votes. Please keep leaving comments—they're Kongkong's spiritual sustenance. Don't cut off Kongkong's nourishment!
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