Hua Zhi woke up again the following morning. She glanced around, then smiled at Gu Yanxi. “You chased Shao Yao away again, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t chase her. She left on her own.” Gu Yanxi said this with a straight face, lying without so much as a flicker. Seeing that A’Zhi wanted to sit up, he moved forward to help, first supporting her against himself, then taking the quilt beside them to prop behind her back.

“How do you feel?”

“Like mountains and seas crashing down on me.” Even that small movement had already brought beads of sweat to Hua Zhi’s forehead, though some color had returned to her lips.

Gu Yanxi was about to speak when Shao Yao pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing Hua Hua awake, she completely ignored Yanxi’s expression, stepped forward, pushed him aside, snatched his seat, and launched straight into an examination. After a moment she nodded. “You’re recovering, but Hua Hua, you’ll have to endure the pain. Some medicines can dull it, but they’re bad for your body, so I left them out when I compounded the formula.”

“Don’t worry, I can bear it.”

“I’ll go get your medicinal congee.”

Shao Yao came in like a whirlwind and left the same way. Gu Yanxi didn’t take offense. He poured some water and helped A’Zhi drink, then set the small folding table that had been prepared earlier across her lap.

Shao Yao returned even faster this time, but on this occasion she couldn’t get past Gu Yanxi. She could only stand to the side and watch helplessly as Yanxi fed Hua Hua her meal.

The Hua family, reading Shao Yao’s movements, understood that Hua Zhi had woken. Hua Yizheng hurried in, and at the sight of the scene before him his footsteps faltered, and the worry he had been carrying quietly settled.

The Gu family had never produced men who wore their hearts on their sleeves. For Yanxi to tend to her with this kind of care — it must mean she had truly found a place in his heart.

“Grandfather.” Hua Zhi quickly swallowed what was in her mouth and dodged the next approaching spoonful, gesturing with her eyes for Yanxi to slow down.

Gu Yanxi had been enjoying himself and looked at Hua Yizheng with mild displeasure. He risked his life for this family, and they won’t even let the man feed her properly?

Hua Yizheng gave a light cough and pretended not to notice his own unwelcome reception. “Are your spirits holding up? How is the wound healing?”

“Look how happily I’m eating — how could my spirits not be good? The wound hurts a bit, but Shao Yao says she left out the pain-dulling medicines because they’re better for me.” Hua Zhi smiled until her eyes curved. She was genuinely happy. Her family was unharmed — that was the best thing in the world.

Hua Yizheng felt his throat tighten with emotion, but since Zhi’er didn’t want him to worry, he would let her be at ease.

“Pain is unavoidable, I’m afraid. You’ll have to endure it. Shao Yao’s skills are excellent — following her instructions is the right call.” Hua Yizheng smiled, radiating the warmth of a doting elder. “You eat first. I’ll come back in a little while.”

“All right.”

Her mouth had barely closed before another spoonful was offered. Hua Zhi shot the man a sidelong glance, then opened her mouth wide and took the bite anyway.

Hua Yizheng watched, a deeper smile finding its way to his eyes. These two — it wasn’t necessarily certain that Zhi’er was at a disadvantage at all.

In the end, Hua Zhi managed only about half the pot of medicinal congee. Her energy was nowhere near as good as she let on. She pushed the bowl toward Yanxi. “Eat a bowl. Don’t let anyone notice.”

Gu Yanxi didn’t need a moment’s thought to understand her intent. He felt it wasn’t necessary to be this careful with the Hua family — they weren’t so frail as all that — but A’Zhi had asked, and so he couldn’t refuse. He ate a bowl using her bowl and her spoon, and under Shao Yao’s wide-eyed stare, handed the whole thing back to her without ceremony. “Make smaller portions from now on. Are you trying to stretch one pot across two meals for A’Zhi?”

Shao Yao had not yet recovered from the shock of watching Yanxi use Hua Hua’s bowl and spoon. At his words, she replied on pure reflex: “I was originally going to keep half for myself…Yanxi, this is medicine formulated for women — it replenishes blood!”

“I’ve already eaten it.” Gu Yanxi was unperturbed. Never mind blood-replenishing medicine — even if it were the opposite, he would eat it as long as it meant sharing a bowl and spoon with A’Zhi. “I need to return to the capital first. I’ll be leaving shortly.”

Hua Zhi understood. “Be careful out there. Whatever you do, don’t let yourself get pulled into a trap. And remember — the Hua family are the victims in this. Don’t let us end up on the losing side of this matter.”

“We won’t.” Gu Yanxi moved the small table off the bed and sat closer to her, lowering his voice. “He can’t turn this around.”

Even the eldest prince, who had the backing of a powerful maternal family, ended up sentenced to exile. The second prince fell short of the eldest in every regard and was even less favored by the Emperor. If he truly had the means to reverse his fate, Gu Yanxi might actually think more of him.

“When you get back, find a moment to stop by the Hua residence in the capital and tell them… just say Fourth Uncle has fallen ill and I’m staying to look after him for a while before I return.”

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. He felt a slight pang of envy toward this Fourth Master of the Hua family, who was close in age to himself — the man had watched A’Zhi grow up and the two of them were genuinely close.

“Why Fourth Uncle?”

“Because Fourth Aunt is better at handling difficult situations than the others. Cao Cao — fetch me paper and a brush. I’ll write a letter to Fourth Aunt. She’ll know what to do.”

Shao Yao set down what she was holding and hurried to find brush and ink. The small table was propped back up. “Tell me what to write. I’ll write it.”

“I’ll write it myself. Fourth Aunt knows my handwriting.” Hua Zhi had wounds on both her arm and shoulder, and every movement sent a piercing pain through her. The hand holding the brush was trembling, and she had to grasp it with her other hand to keep the characters steady.

Just then, Hua Pingyang came in supporting his elder brother. The moment he saw her like that, his face tightened. “Why aren’t you resting properly? Is there anyone in the Hua family who doesn’t know how to hold a brush? Do you have to be the one to strain yourself?”

Shao Yao’s temper flared instantly. “Hua Hua is not straining herself!”

“Cao Cao.” Hua Zhi stopped her and looked up at her father and Fourth Uncle. “Yanxi is heading back to the capital. If I have no word and keep not returning, the family will start to worry. Fourth Uncle, I’m using you as a cover — saying you’ve fallen ill and I’ve stayed to look after you. But I can’t have Fourth Aunt fretting either, so I thought to write her a letter to set her mind at ease.”

You thought of this and thought of that — but what about yourself? What about you? Hua Pingyang exhaled heavily and moved the small table away entirely. “I’ll write it. She’ll recognize my handwriting just as well.”

“Very well. But Fourth Uncle, don’t make my injury sound too serious. Just say I hurt my leg a bit and need to rest before I can ride.”

“Understood.” Hua Pingyang knew perfectly well what Zhi’er was trying to do. But he would not follow her lead in this — they all deserved to know, and they should all share in carrying the weight of the family’s affairs.

Hua Zhi let the matter go. She looked at Yanxi, and there was an unguarded, almost endearing softness in her gaze. “Help me take all the letters back with you. Everyone must be anxious by now.”

Gu Yanxi loved her like this more than he could say, but with her father present he kept himself from crossing any lines, answering her only with eyes that had gone soft and warm. “Of course. Give them all to me.”

Before Hua Zhi could say another word, Hua Pingyu had already stepped out to give instructions. Moments later a bundle was brought in. Hua Pingyang blew on the ink until it dried, sealed the letter, and tucked it inside, tied the bundle shut, and handed it to Gu Yanxi.

Gu Yanxi rose, took the bundle, and turned to look at Shao Yao. “Don’t leave her side. If anyone comes to cause trouble again, I give you leave to cut them down without mercy. Anyone who commits treason has already ceased to be a subject of Great Qing — show no leniency.”

Shao Yao nodded fiercely. She would have much preferred to go back and make Gu Cheng’an wish he were dead, but right now Hua Hua’s health came first.

Seeing A’Zhi sitting up straight and leaning forward to look at him, Gu Yanxi walked over and gently pressed her back down. He couldn’t help himself — he reached out and ruffled her head. “Rest properly. Only get out of bed when Shao Yao says you can. Don’t push yourself. Be good. Don’t make me worry.”

Hua Zhi nuzzled against his palm, her voice soft, as though the words were meant for him alone. “Mm. I’ll be good. Don’t worry.”

Gu Yanxi’s heart went so soft he no longer wanted to leave at all. She was always getting hurt, one way or another. He truly wished he could keep her in his sight at all times and never let her go anywhere — and he would go nowhere himself, only stay by her side and spend his days watching over her.