Gu Yanxi did not provoke him further, nor did he intend to hand over the silver hairpin. Clutching it in his palm, he tucked his hands behind his back. "She hasn't even told her own family about these matters, let alone you. But I believe you should know—don't assume it's easy for her, and don't take it for granted that these are her duties."
Hua Pingyang smiled bitterly. These were originally Hua family affairs, and no outsider had the right to interfere. Yet the revelations had shaken him profoundly, and this man before him consistently supported Zhi Er, giving him the inexplicable feeling that whatever this Lu Xiansheng said ought to be heeded.
Gu Yanxi was someone who didn't even regard the fiercely competing princes in the capital with any esteem. While he treated the Hua family kindly for Hua Zhi's sake, he wouldn't place them on a pedestal. To earn his recognition, one had to possess genuine capability.
His words to Hua Pingyang weren't meant to boast of his own abilities. On the contrary, it was because he respected Hua Pingyang that he spoke openly. Had it been Hua Pingyu here, he wouldn't have uttered a single extra word.
"You can also set aside your unnecessary worries. I would never demean the person I've chosen to admire. Until Hua Zhi agrees to be with me, I will restrain my feelings and act with propriety—this is my promise. Although Shaoyao serves under me, she genuinely regards Hua Zhi as a friend. With her by Hua Zhi's side, no one can bully her."
All Hua Pingyang wanted was precisely such a promise. He believed this man would keep his word, even if perhaps even his surname was fabricated.
Without another word, Hua Pingyang bowed deeply and left, his retreating figure appearing somewhat desolate. No words could fully express the gratitude in his heart. In places where their family had failed to watch over Zhi Er, this man had already offered immeasurable help. He had no desire to inquire whether Zhi Er was aware of his feelings or to press her about her intentions. What he ought to consider and act upon was how to ensure the Hua family returned to the capital as soon as possible without losing any members.
Until then, everything else was empty talk.
Gu Yanxi carefully wiped the hairpin and tucked it close to his body again. Pushing the window open, he stepped aside. Soon, Xu Gui leveraged his momentum to leap through the window. Seeing the heir changing clothes, he hurried over to assist.
Gu Yanxi spread his hands. "Your identity must remain concealed. Stay here and keep watch. If anyone dares to break into the adjacent room tonight, kill them."
"Yes." Xu Gui's eyes burned with intensity. He had been at Yinshan Pass for four years, pretending all the while, and missed the exhilaration of carrying out missions with the heir. Just that single word, laden with killing intent, made him tremble with excitement.
Under the cover of deep night, two figures moved silently across the rooftops of the general's residence. Shaoyao inwardly grumbled, "A moonless, windy night—perfect for murder and arson," yet her body, prone on the snow, remained utterly still, as if impervious to the cold.
Gu Yanxi gestured, and Shaoyao nodded. The two worked in perfect harmony—one infiltrating, the other keeping watch.
Gu Yanxi was exceedingly familiar with such mansions. He headed straight for the master bedroom.
In the dead of night, the slightest sound was magnified infinitely. With one party making no effort to conceal their presence and the other highly alert, the ** figure rolled over and rose, gripping a long sword. "Who's there?"Gu Yanxi emerged from the shadows. He wore no mask, nor had he deliberately changed into stealth attire. Dressed merely in more practical clothing, he walked to the center of the room as casually as if he were in his own home, lighting the lamp on the table with more authority than the man standing by the bed.
"General Wu, it's been a long time."
Wu Yong’s heart skipped a beat upon recognizing the visitor, yet he also felt a wave of relief. Had it been anyone else, he would never have trusted them, but the fact that it was someone from the Seven Constellation Bureau put his mind at ease.
He had learned that Gu Shizi was a member of the Seven Constellation Bureau when the two had collaborated on a case years ago. Recalling the man’s integrity and the authority behind him, Wu Yong, who had been stumbling through the darkness for months, finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Gu Yanxi studied Wu Yong closely as he approached and understood why even someone as meticulous as Xu Gui had failed to notice his illness earlier. Compared to four years ago, Wu Yong appeared more mature, with no trace of sickness evident in his demeanor.
"What brings you here? Does His Majesty have an edict to convey?"
"I came on personal matters, but it seems the undercurrents here run deep."
Wu Yong smiled bitterly, feeling utterly incompetent.
"I heard you were ill, but it doesn’t show."
"I don’t feel ill either, yet the truth is, I am sick—and I can’t determine the cause." Wu Yong fixed his sharp gaze on Gu Yanxi. "Might the Heir enlighten me as to whose path I’m blocking? The Wu family is stationed far at the border, never meddling in court affairs or factional struggles. No matter who sits on the throne, we only guard Yinshan Pass. Who would want to destroy my family?"
"How can you be sure the threat isn’t from beyond the pass?"
"I’ve investigated. It can’t be them. Even if they intended to invade, they wouldn’t use such a slow, torturous method—letting me die gradually without a trace of the cause. Only our own people, who commit foul deeds yet hide behind a veil of decency, would resort to this."
Though the Wu family had only one male heir in this generation, his intellect surpassed that of his predecessors. Gu Yanxi held a favorable impression of Wu Yong and decided to speak frankly.
"I can’t be certain. If I were still in the capital, I wouldn’t have known Yinshan Pass was in such peril. Those capable of this are few, and whoever it is has some understanding of the Seven Constellation Bureau—and is guarding against it."
A faint smile touched Gu Yanxi’s lips. "You clearly knew Yinshan Pass was in turmoil yet didn’t submit a memorial to the court. Have you discovered something?"
"They’re after my life—can’t I even protect myself?" Wu Yong shot him a glance, then rose and walked to the desk. After touching a few specific spots, the desk split in two, revealing a hollow compartment inside.
He retrieved several items and handed them to Gu Yanxi. "One of my subordinates is skilled at forging handwriting. After intercepting these letters, we caused them some trouble."
Gu Yanxi carefully read each letter, then unfolded the silk parchment as thin as a cicada’s wing. Even someone as composed as him couldn’t help but narrow his eyes—it was an exquisitely detailed topographic map encompassing the entire northern region.
How audacious! How utterly audacious!
Gu Yanxi looked up, his eyes icy. "I need to take these with me. If you have anything else, hand it over as well."
"This is all of it. The other side isn’t foolish enough to leave more evidence for me to seize."Slowly folding the item and tucking it into his chest, Gu Yanxi said with a detached expression, "The Wu family's guardianship of Yinshan Pass was decreed by Emperor Taizu himself. On his deathbed, he declared that as long as the Wu family harbored no rebellious intentions, Yinshan Pass would remain under their charge. Generation after generation, your family has never overstepped, and successive emperors have never sought to interfere with Yinshan Pass. The imperial family's trust in the Wu family has been passed down through the ages. Wu Yong, do not hold the entire Daqing Dynasty accountable for one individual's actions—he is not worth that."
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