Wu Yong still came every day, and though he endured Hua Zhi’s half-smiling gaze each time, he gritted his teeth and bore it. Seeing this, Hua Zhi made no further move to stop him. She had no objection to someone being fond of Cao Cao — and with Cao Cao’s oblivious nature, unless he said it plainly, she would never know. The one suffering, at any rate, would not be Cao Cao.

Hua Yizheng was old and sharp — how could he miss a little thing like Wu Yong’s feelings? On a day when the two of them were at it again in their match, he came strolling over to stand beside his granddaughter. “You are simply going to let this run its course?”

“He won’t gain any advantage.” Neither in matters of the heart nor in matters of martial skill — Shao Yao might be marginally below Wu Yong in technique, but the abilities she kept in reserve were far more than she let on.

Hua Zhi turned to him. “Has Grandfather been hearing the rumors outside?”

“How could I not.” Hua Yizheng glanced at the child sitting at his granddaughter’s feet, deeply absorbed in reading. “You do not mind, so there is nothing left for us to mind.”

“You will all need to get used to it — so that when we return to the capital, none of you are thrown by my reputation.” Hua Zhi delivered her forewarning with a tone that was half joking and half serious.

“However it is, you are still the daughter of the Hua Family.”

Yes — however it was, she was the Hua Family’s daughter. Even if it meant carrying a ruined name, it would be ruined for the sake of the Hua Family. Hua Zhi smiled. She only hoped that when the day came, the people of the Hua Family would still remember that — but even if they did not, it did not matter. All she had ever sought was a clear conscience.

“What is Shao Yao’s relationship with Shizi?”

Yanxi’s identity had already been guessed at, so Hua Zhi no longer concealed it. “Grandfather knows of what happened at Prince Ling’s estate, I take it.”

“The whole of the capital knew — it was quite the commotion.”

“Shao Yao is the sister he carried out of that estate, covered in blood.”

It was her?! Back then, everyone had assumed that child had died — and instead she had been left so terribly scarred? But of course — no wonder she and Shizi could be so easy in each other’s company.

“Divine Physician Yu saved her, though she has no memory of what occurred before. She was later taken in as his disciple and learned his healing arts.”

The two of them had never discussed Gu Yanxi’s identity at length, and the moment having now presented itself, Hua Yizheng pressed forward. “With Shizi’s standing as it is, what is your intention? And what is his? If the Emperor were to learn of your relationship, I fear…”

“No intention. We take it one step at a time. If we keep walking forward together, then so we will. If the Emperor proves to be an obstacle we cannot overcome, that is fine too. He understands my resolve. I understand his helplessness. Whatever the outcome, neither of us will carry resentment or blame. That is good enough.”

“Can you truly, in the end, carry no resentment and no blame?”

“Why could I not?” Hua Zhi gazed at the figure striding in from outside, dusty from the road, a smile spreading across her face. “When we are together, we are wholeheartedly present for each other. We understand each other, make allowances for each other, and are each other’s support. It is not as though our feelings have been misplaced — we are simply not strong enough to fight the tide. What is there to resent, and what is there to blame?”

Hua Yizheng looked at the one who had arrived, and let out a quiet sigh, and in the end said nothing more. He clasped his hands in parting and took his leave.

Indeed — she looked upon even her own feelings with such clear eyes. How could she ever carry bitterness toward the Hua Family for standing in the way of her happiness? If Zhi’er had been so narrow in spirit, she would not have carried this family on her back all this way, nor would she have captured the genuine devotion of Shizi.

“Why have you come again? I thought we would meet next in the capital.”

Gu Yanxi looked down from his height at the person before him, who was in noticeably better color. The courtyard was small — this distance had been more than enough for him to hear every word she had just said. For a moment he did not know whether to be put out by how clearly she saw things, or moved by her easy acceptance of them.

In the end he only bent down and leaned in, wrapping his arms around her in a light, hovering embrace. “If I hadn’t come, how would I have heard those words? I feel as though I am at constant risk of being cast aside.”

“Such conduct in the presence of my family — you have some nerve.” Hua Zhi said this, and then put her arms around him anyway. “If I ever have a wedding day, the groom will only ever be you. Does that give you a little more peace of mind?”

Gu Yanxi went absolutely still. He released her and looked down, meeting her smiling eyes, his voice low and rough. “There will be that day — I will wait for it.”

Being watched so intently like that, Hua Zhi found herself faintly flustered. She cleared her throat and looked away. “Go and pay your respects to my grandfather.”

“As you command.”

The members of the Hua Family stared in wide-eyed disbelief. This was open flirting, wasn’t it? So why did none of them feel that anything was wrong?

Hua Zhi happened to glance down, and met Zeng Han’s eyes squarely. Only then did she feel genuinely flustered — saying such things in front of a child…

She looked up again. Well then — Shao Yao was already giving an enthusiastic thumbs up, while Wu Yong looked as though his jaw had dropped clean off.

As though she had done something extraordinary, Hua Zhi stood up and walked back into the house with a perfectly composed expression.

Across the way, Gu Yanxi entered the study and performed a proper junior’s bow.

Hua Yizheng accepted it, and gestured for him to sit.

Gu Yanxi, intent on delivering his news quickly so he could be back at A’Zhi’s side, did not sit. He spoke directly. “The events at Yinshan Pass have the Chaoli Tribe’s influence behind them. By the Emperor’s oral decree, the Hua Family is instructed to assist General Wu in holding Yinshan Pass firmly. The Second Prince, having been incited by another to act against the Hua Family, has been confined by the Emperor to the Second Prince’s residence pending the outcome of the investigation, at which point his crimes will be formally pronounced.”

The moment Hua Yizheng heard the words oral decree, he rose to his feet. When the words were finished, he turned to face the direction of the capital and knelt. “This condemned subject receives the command.”

The words condemned subject grated painfully on Gu Yanxi’s ears. Yet even so, his imperial uncle showed no intention of reinstating the Hua Family to their former standing. He could only restrain himself, and counsel Hua Yizheng to restrain himself as well. “Old Master, the time has not yet come.”

Hua Yizheng bowed deeply to Gu Yanxi. He understood. Had it not been for Shizi working on their behalf behind the scenes, the matter of jointly guarding Yinshan Pass might never have been made official. With this imperial decree, everything the Hua Family did at Yinshan Pass would be beyond anyone’s ability to cover up — and if the Hua Family were to be reinstated, it would be in a manner that commanded the respect of all.

Gu Yanxi stepped aside and declined to accept the bow. “I only hope the Old Master does not resent me for it.”

“This old man understands the reasoning and will not be ungrateful. Thank you, Shizi.”

“What I do is only what she wishes.” Gu Yanxi clasped his hands and turned to leave.

What I do is only what she wishes. Hua Yizheng murmured the words once over and suddenly pressed a hand to his forehead and smiled. It seemed he had no need to worry so much about Zhi’er after all — those two, really!

Hua Zhi had already steeped the tea and was waiting for him. At the sound of footsteps she looked toward the door. Their eyes met, and Gu Yanxi’s steps paused slightly before he entered.

Hua Zhi said nothing of how his errand had gone. Instead, she changed her mind — she took back the cup she had poured for him on the other side, and poured him a cup of plain water.

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

“You need rest.”

In so short a time he had traveled thousands of li there and back, and would surely have made a stop in the capital as well — meaning he had had precious little sleep the entire journey. Even if the whole of him still looked as sharp and honed as a drawn blade, he was still only human. No matter how strong the appearance, there was still exhaustion underneath.

Warmed by such an ordinary phrase, Gu Yanxi’s expression softened. The hard shell that enclosed him cracked without a sound, letting show the tenderness within. He took A’Zhi’s hand and, compliant as could be, gave a nod.

Hua Zhi suddenly felt a swell of aching tenderness that had nowhere to go. “Let me make you something to eat. You can rest after.”

“Alright.”