On the night of New Year’s Eve, the streets were deserted. The turning of carriage wheels rang out across the full length of the road.

Gu Yanxi rested against the side of the carriage. The wound had begun seeping blood again. Shao Yao redressed it, then curled her arms around her own knees and stopped paying him any further attention. Hua Zhi unfolded the blanket that was kept inside the carriage, spread it over him, and still had not once raised her head.

Gu Yanxi closed his hand around hers as she went to draw it back. “Put on the medicine.”

Shao Yao looked over immediately. On the back of Hua Zhi’s pale hand, a ring of raw flesh — distinctly visible. Under ordinary circumstances, even the faintest whiff of blood would never escape Shao Yao’s notice; tonight it had been buried beneath a far greater smell of it.

Shao Yao had no intention of returning to the palace — she had taken her precious medical case with her when she left. She now rummaged through it and drew out some medicine, applying it to Hua Zhi’s hand with great care, and when she was finished, wrapped it all in clean soft cloth — a gentleness she had not remotely shown her own brother.

Hua Zhi looked down at it, her eyes holding a blankness that others could not see.

She had come to this world through a wandering soul. What, in the end, had she come here for? To save the Hua Family? But even without her, the Empress Dowager would have protected the Hua Family’s women and young children — even those who had been sent into exile might have met with misfortune, but the family as a whole would never have been wiped out.

To save the Sixth Prince? Or to preserve Daqing’s fate? But judging by how Hao Yue operated, without her, Yan Xi might well have ascended the throne — rather than being here today, having thrown everything away for the simple reason that he had come to know her.

Had whichever immortal spirit granted her this second life sent her here specifically to bring ruin upon Yan Xi?

Hua Zhi spun these aimless theories at her own expense, and felt herself rather ridiculous; the corner of her mouth twitched, yet she could not manage to produce an actual smile.

“Hua Zhi.”

Hua Zhi looked up without thinking.

Gu Yanxi raised his arm as though he felt no pain at all, and placed it gently over her eyes. “I did not act recklessly. And none of this has anything to do with you — don’t be hasty in taking the blame onto yourself.”

He knew her so well — he had known she would think this way. Hua Zhi blinked several times before her eyes felt more comfortable.

They were still on the road; he could not say more. He let out a soft, deliberate hiss of discomfort, lowered his hand, and immediately began to play the invalid: “It hurts a little.”

Hua Zhi looked at him for a moment, then leaned forward and, with her cheeks puffed out, began blowing gently on the wound.

This entirely unexpected gesture left both siblings frozen. Gu Yanxi had never once wanted Hua Zhi to humble herself before him in such a way, as though she were appeasing him. His one wish was to do everything that would please Hua Zhi, to be the one who appeased her.

He cupped her chin and tilted her face up. “Hua Zhi, you’re blaming yourself.”

“Yes, I am blaming myself.” Hua Zhi moved his hand aside, admitting it without the slightest reluctance. “If not for me, you would still be head of the Seven Lodges — the most favored Shizi in all of Daqing, and in time perhaps even… But because you came to know me, all of that is gone now. Does that not make me a woman who brings ruin wherever she goes?”

“You are a beauty, not a ruinous one.” Gu Yanxi took her hand in his again. “And who says I have nothing now? I have you.”

Hua Zhi looked at him quietly.

Gu Yanxi smiled. “People on the outside fight with everything they have to get into the palace — but only those who have truly lived inside it know that life within those narrow walls is nothing compared to what lies beyond them. I have spent far more time in the palace than in the Shizi’s residence. Every morning I woke to affairs of state; every night when I closed my eyes, it was Daqing filling my head. Those days left barely a trace of anything human about me, even to my own eye. Hua Zhi — it was you who showed me what joy, and happiness, and jealousy, and contentment, and all those other feelings were. After knowing you, my life stopped being a still and stagnant pool. And after everything that happened today, even those fetters that were pressed upon me are gone. You have no idea how glad I am.”

He was genuinely glad — looking at the way every line on his face was turned upward, Hua Zhi confirmed it for herself.

“Just imagining that I will be able to stand openly at your side as Gu Yanxi himself, and formally enter into a betrothal with you as Gu Yanxi himself — I’m so happy I could leap up and jump around. Before, the one who was always by your side was still me, but no one outside knew it. And now — if anyone dares to set their eyes on you, I can straightforwardly beat them to the ground, with every justification in the world.”

“…” Hua Zhi turned her back to him. “You’re welcome to try and see if you’re in any state to jump.”

Gu Yanxi only smiled, his eyes warm and soft. His color was just a little poor. His lips were just a little white.

The carriage swayed a few times, then stopped. Ying Chun lifted the curtain, and Bao Xia and the others came rushing over with lanterns in hand.

After Hua Zhi stepped out and straightened up, she looked around. The Hua Family’s household members, young and old, had apparently all gathered in the front courtyard. With no time to address this now, she turned and reached out to steady the person being helped down by Li De.

Ying Chun had thought ahead — the carriage had stopped directly at the entrance to the courtyard where her Miss handled matters each day. Hua Zhi and Shao Yao supported the person between them as they went inside. Bao Xia, shaken out of her stupor, got there ahead of them, laid out the bed, and had a small maidservant fetch hot water at once.

At last they laid him down. Gu Yanxi was soaked through with sweat — but they had been careful enough, and the wound had not been disturbed.

“Fu Dong, prepare a separate meal — light dishes, nothing heavy. None of us have eaten.”

“Yes, Miss.” Fu Dong could not bear to see her Miss go hungry; she was out of the room almost as quickly as the words were spoken.

Hua Zhi bent and wiped the sweat from Yan Xi’s brow, saying quietly: “I’ll go out first and see to the household.”

“I’m all right. Don’t worry.”

At those words, Shao Yao looked up and gave him a pointed glare.

Hua Zhi rose, patted Shao Yao on the head, and walked out. “We all had a fine New Year today.”

Outside, the Hua Family members had followed them into the courtyard. Zhu Shi was being supported by Lin Shuang, standing at the very front. Seeing Hua Zhi emerge, she immediately caught hold of her arm and asked: “What has happened? That person — that person —”

“Formerly the head of the Seven Lodges. Shizi of the Prince of Ling.” That identity was no longer a secret in any case; Hua Zhi simply said it plainly. She watched their expressions of shock and added, even more startling news: “He may, in time, become the Hua Family’s son-in-law.”

They had known there was a man who came and went from the front courtyard of the Hua Family — it was no secret. But they had not known he was of such a standing! And what was the meaning of things now?

Zhu Shi, as her mother, was naturally the most suited to ask: “He is injured?”

“What happens beyond these walls is nothing for you to trouble yourselves with — simply live your own lives well. But the family will need to close its doors and decline all visitors for a while.”

Everyone exchanged uncertain glances, unease settling in.

Wu Shi wrung her handkerchief and touched it to the corner of her lips. “We don’t have much to do with outsiders to begin with — if we are to close the doors, then we close them. But let’s not speak of this now. Zhi, you haven’t eaten yet. Get something into you first, and we can talk after.”

“I’ve sent Fu Dong to prepare it. Is everyone else settled?”

“Yes — I told them you’d been called away on an urgent matter. No one asked further, and they took their leave after the meal.”

Hua Zhi nodded. “Let’s not speak of anything else tonight. Those who are keeping vigil for the New Year, keep vigil. Those who wish to rest, go rest. Everyone is dismissed.”

“Zhi…”

She looked at her mother, standing there with words that would not come. Hua Zhi smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Everything is all right.”

Even if it were not all right — it was her matter alone. Whatever happened, she would keep the Hua Family safe.