Chapter 305: Spiritual Anchor

"We stand with Zhi’er."

They placed their faith in her judgment, her resilience, and the strength of her character.

"No matter what happens, the entire Hua family will be her fortress."

Should she stumble this time, the Hua family would shoulder the weight of her mistakes without hesitation.

Gu Yanxi rose, his movements deliberate, and bowed deeply. If the Hua family had chosen to clutch at their precious reputation and obstruct her, he wouldn’t have masked his disdain. After all, Ah Zhi had sacrificed her pride countless times for the sake of the Hua family. Yet, when she needed them most, they hadn’t safeguarded her reputation in return.

But this time, the Hua family proved themselves deserving of her sacrifices. For once, they aligned themselves with the very woman who had carried their burdens for so long.

This mutual understanding shifted the dynamic between them, forging a closer bond. Hua Yizheng rose to his feet, a faint smile softening his expression.

"Zhi’er might still be feeling a little uneasy. Go to her," he urged.

Gu Yanxi returned the smile, humble yet resolute. "Yes, of course."

A banquet had been spread out in the courtyard, setting the stage for an evening brimming with expectation. Hua Zhi responded to Hua Baili's words, her attention intermittently drifting toward the hall, an odd, almost unshakable fear gnawing at her—like a young woman hoping her boyfriend would somehow manage to win over her father's approval.

When she spotted them emerging from the room, she wasted no time, rushing to greet them with practiced grace. As she helped her grandfather, her eyes darted mischievously to her fourth uncle. Hua Pingyang shot her a disapproving look, though he couldn’t resist nodding in acknowledgment.

A sudden lightness filled Hua Zhi as the tension of the family meeting seemed to melt away. It had gone far better than she anticipated, and with that, the first hurdle had been cleared.

Seated at the head table, Hua Yizheng turned his gaze to Gu Yanxi. "Mr. Lu, please take a seat."

"Call me Yanxi, sir," Gu Yanxi responded smoothly, slipping into his chair at the far end of the table once the elders were seated. Hua Zhi stole a glance at her grandfather before settling beside him, her chest tightening as she noted how much smaller and more vulnerable the once-dominant leader of the Seven Stars Bureau appeared.

Her fourth uncle’s scowl didn’t go unnoticed—he saw right through her; it was all too clear that she was head over heels. Hua Zhi’s smile, sweet and calculated, only served to amuse and frustrate him in equal measure.

Who would even believe she was so utterly committed to this?

This was the first time he had witnessed his niece act like a lovesick fool. In the past, she was always sharp with her words, effortlessly quick with a clever retort, never showing the slightest trace of embarrassment. She certainly never displayed such a level of protectiveness over anyone.

But Hua Yizheng? He smiled, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. As long as Zhi'er found her happiness, that was the only thing that mattered. She’d already given up so much for the Hua family, bending to its every whim.

If someone, anyone, could bring her a moment of joy, who was he to stand in their way?

Those archaic rules that shackled women to their roles?

They held no weight anymore.

The truth was, Zhi'er had long since defied those rules—breaking them wide open by stepping into the public eye, daring to take on a role where women were traditionally barred from stepping foot.

Once he had thought this through, the old man began to view the young man more favorably. Raising his cup, he said, "A toast to our distant guest. May this humble wine carry with it the weight of our appreciation."

"I wouldn’t dare claim such gratitude, sir," Gu Yanxi retorted, not missing a beat as he threw back the entire cup in one swift motion. "I’m only doing what needs to be done."

The Hua family members all drank deeply. They would never have drunk such poor-quality wine or eaten at a simple outdoor table in the past. But a year was enough to change everything. They had felt the harsh winds of reality and knew well enough that survival demanded adaptation.

Gu Yanxi’s gaze swept across the room, catching the calm and almost serene faces of those around him. And it hit him—the Hua family. The very same family that had made the emperor tremble in his boots. A family whose roots dug deep into the soil of the Great Daqing Dynasty.

This family had it all. They could savor unparalleled luxury, but when times got grim, they didn’t fold—they adapted, they endured. The Hua family was a breed apart. They had something the Gu family lacked—this uncanny ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity. Just as Hua Jingyan had done in the past, and now, as Ah Zhi was doing once again.

After a fulfilling, yet undeniably poignant meal, Gu Yanxi and Hua Zhi strolled towards the inn as the evening sky began to dim. Hua Pingyang had found some excuse to linger behind, leaving them to themselves.

But time wasn’t on their side; as they walked, an unrelenting parade of greetings bombarded them.

"Oh, the Hua family’s girl is back!" someone would call out.

“Bet the journey was dusty, huh?”

“Your grandfather must be over the moon today, didn’t have to go to the yamen, huh?”

“You’re looking well, Miss Hua!” The remarks came one after another.

Hua Zhi, not recognizing a single face, maintained that effortless smile. She responded with the same grace, sincerity, and warmth, each word like a carefully placed brushstroke.

Gu Yanxi walked beside her, taking it all in—watching her with the utmost admiration as she handled it all with such poise, with finesse that was both delicate and sharp. This was his Ah Zhi. There had been a time, a fleeting moment, when he’d considered keeping her hidden, sheltered from prying eyes. But now? Now, all he wanted was to shout to the heavens that such an extraordinary woman was his, and his alone.

As they entered the inn, the innkeeper greeted them. "Someone sent you a few sand-grown melons today. Shall I send them to your room?"

Hua Zhi was surprised. "Thank you, innkeeper," she said.

"You're welcome, you're welcome," the innkeeper replied with a wide grin. "There's been little rain this year, so the melons are very sweet. You won't find any like these anywhere else."

Hua Zhi thanked him again. She didn't know who had sent the melons, but her heart felt warm. Most of the people here had been abandoned, but they were not all evil. Time had worn away their ambitions, revealing a kind heart beneath. They were just ordinary people who longed for the company of family and friends.

"They probably see you as a kind of hope," Gu Yanxi said softly as they climbed the stairs.

"I'm honored," Hua Zhi replied.

Gu Yanxi pushed open the door and leaned against it, looking at her. The scent of wine lingered on him, but it was not overpowering. "What are you going to do tomorrow?" he asked.

"I'm going to visit a friend of Mr. Zheng's," Hua Zhi replied, pouring him a cup of tea. "Have you finished your business?"

"Yes, I found out the address of the person I was looking for today. I'll go with you tomorrow."

*

Zheng Bei's so-called "friend" was actually Zeng Xian. Calling them friends was a stretch, to say the least. Sure, Zeng Xian’s father had done Zheng Bei’s mother a solid after her husband’s death, but it wasn’t exactly the kind of favor that demanded eternal gratitude. Still, Zheng Bei kept it in the back of his mind. So when he caught wind that the Zeng family was in trouble, he called on Hua Zhi to take them some provisions on her trip to Yingshan Pass.

Zeng Xian had once held the position of undersecretary in the Ministry of Revenue, but four years ago, he was ousted and exiled for embezzlement.

"Plenty of officials in the Ministry of Revenue are dirty," Gu Yanxi said, his finger pointing towards an alley ahead. "Zeng Xian was probably just a scapegoat for someone else. This whole mess has nothing to do with the Seven Stars Bureau, but I haven’t dug into the details yet."

The neighborhood was a sad sight—ramshackle homes with broken doors and windows, a clear sign that the people here were scraping by, barely getting by.

Gu Yanxi exchanged a glance with Hua Zhi before heading toward a particular house marked with a number on the door. He knocked.

"Who’s there?" came a rough, rasping voice from inside.

Hua Zhi cleared her throat, sharp and to the point. "I’m here to visit an old acquaintance," she responded, the tension clear in her voice.

The door creaked open, revealing a child standing in the doorway.