Chapter 319 They Have No Chance

Once it involves matters of the royal family, things become complicated.

But Hua Zhi wasn’t the type to roll over and play nice—not with her pride on the line. The thought kept gnawing at her:

What if she hadn’t shown up at that split second?

What if Jia Yang hadn’t been there?

What if Mr. Zheng hadn’t sent her to hand over that package to Zeng Xian?

What if she hadn’t let her heart go soft over Zeng Han?

With so many ifs, all fifty-four members of the Hua family, along with their loyal servants, wouldn't have survived.

How could she convince herself to overlook this incident?

She clenched her jaw. 'You wanted to play games, didn’t you? Fine. I won’t lay a finger on you, but I’ll hand you the shovel to dig your own grave. Let’s see how far you get.'

Gu Yanxi, ever the steady hand, caught the storm brewing in her eyes. “I’ve already ordered the Seven Stars Bureau to deliver the evidence and witnesses back to the capital. Rest assured, the Hua family will get the justice they deserve.”

Hua Zhi’s resolve faltered for a moment. She’d doubted Yan Xi when she shouldn’t have. Her voice dipped, quiet but edged with guilt. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her head low.

But even as the words left her mouth, her fists remained clenched. Apologies weren’t going to cut it

Gu Yan Xi shook his head slowly, his voice calm but laced with a sharp edge. "From a public standpoint, he's toast. A prince of the Daqing Dynasty conspiring with outsiders and poisoning loyal officials? Treason doesn’t even begin to cover it. The First Prince has completely fallen out of favor, and the Second Prince, with his long-standing position, has more opportunities than the others. I can't let this opportunity fall into his hands. The Daqing Dynasty cannot have a Crown Prince who is convicted of treason. And personally?" His gaze flicked to hers, hard and unyielding. "I don't want you to cut off the ties with me because of his actions."

Hua Zhi bit her lip, her silence sharp and telling. If Yan Xi dared to sweep this under the rug, she'd draw the line—no hesitation. Her quiet answer stung more than words, and Gu Yan Xi exhaled heavily. That damn status he held—coveted by everyone else—was always the wedge between them.

"Ah Zhi..."

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes blazing. "What are you going to do about it?"

He arched a brow, amused by her fire. "What do you mean?"

"If this all comes out—what then?"

"I won’t get my hands dirty. The evidence will do the talking."

Hua Zhi’s brow furrowed, doubt curling around her words. "Your uncle trusts you. But that’s still his son we’re talking about. You think he’s just going to roll with it?"

"If he takes it badly, it means he already has some displeasure towards the one he's redirecting it to. But me? He’s never had a reason to hate."

"Which means," Hua Zhi shot back, her tone biting, "he doesn't like the Hua family, which is why he's redirecting his anger."

Gu Yan Xi paused, Hua Zhi's reaction was quick.

Smart, too smart.

"That's true. If he liked them, he would protect them anyway. It's human nature." Hua Zhi exhaled sharply, tension slipping from her frame as a bitter smile curved her lips. She let go of the anger and frustration that had coiled tight in her chest—for her family, for Hua Jingyan. Still, deep down, she wanted to grab those suffocating family rules and shove them in the Emperor's face. Let him see exactly what it cost for the Hua family to survive through the generations.

No, the Emperor must be aware.

Her ancestors were clever people, and setting such rules wasn't done in secrecy. This was perhaps the umbrella of protection that had been provided for the Hua family. It's just that some Emperors had clear vision and insight, while others were blind both in eyes and mind.

Looking at the man holding her hand with a calm expression but a tight grip, Hua Zhi also felt sorry for him. In his position, when had he ever been at ease?

She wouldn't make it any harder for him.

"Is my father seriously injured?"

"Not fatally." Though the wound was quite deep, Gu Yan Xi deliberately didn't specify. The Hua family members wouldn't add to Ah Zhi's worries by giving her all the details of what had happened. What's done is done, why make Ah Zhi anxious by revealing everything.

Relieved, Hua Zhi let go of her worry. She hadn't expected her father to rush in to take that blow for her.

"Well, what about that child? What do you plan to do?" Gu Yan Xi smoothly changed the subject without leaving any traces.

"Zeng Xian's son? Bring him back to the capital. By the way, is his son on the list of criminals?"

Gu Yanxi sat at the edge of the bed, letting Ah Zhi rest her weight against him. His voice was steady, measured, as he laid out every grim detail of Zeng Xian’s mess. He didn’t sugarcoat a thing, yet stripped of Zeng Xian's bitterness, the tale lost some of its sharp despair, coming off more like a sordid confession than a tragedy.

Ah Zhi stayed silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. The world of politics was a cesspool—it always had been, the kind of place where even the shadows had secrets.

“So, you’re telling me Zeng Xian never registered Zeng Han here? The kid’s still a ghost on paper?”

“Exactly. When we’re back in the capital, I’ll make sure the boy’s name is where it needs to be—under my protection. Nobody gets to dangle this over the Hua family.”

Ah Zhi tilted her head, her lips curving into the faintest, approving smile. “Fine. I’ll back your plan.”

Hearing someone as strong as the Spider—smooth as silk, harder than steel—agree without a fight?

That was the kind of rare pleasure Gu Yanxi lived for. He brushed a hand across her temple, his touch light but deliberate. “I’ll clear Zeng Xian’s name too. It’s the least I can do for Zeng Han’s future.”

"Will this cause trouble for you?"

Seeing that she was more concerned about him, Gu Yan Xi smiled. Although they were discussing something unpleasant, it seemed that as long as Ah Zhi was the listener, any bad feelings disappeared.

"In the end, the money ended up in the Second Prince's pocket. Clearing his name is just adding another straw to the pile. The Seven Stars Bureau has done these things before, and this won't be the last time. Whenever a member of the royal family commits a crime, it's the Seven Stars Bureau that intervenes. This case is no different from the others."

Hua Zhi finally felt some relief, knowing that there was a precedent to follow.

As drowsiness crept over her, Hua Zhi remembered Shao Yao's words and didn't force herself. Leaning against Yan Xi, she asked one last question, "Has your identity been exposed?"

"I haven't said anything, but they probably guessed it," Gu Yan Xi kissed her hand, "Go to sleep, these are all minor matters."

It wasn't a minor matter at all, Hua Zhi thought as she drifted off to sleep. This was a big deal, meeting his loved ones with her relatives!

As her breathing became slow and steady, Gu Yan Xi gently lifted her and removed the blanket behind her before carefully laying her down. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked at Ah Zhi, whose lips were as pale as her face, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead and arranging her damp strands of hair.

She hadn't made a sound since waking up, but of course it must still hurt. She was just enduring it.

Outside in the corridor, there were not only Shao Yao but also Zeng Han and Hua Pingyu waiting.

As Gu Yan Xi stepped out, Shao Yao jumped up, "Is Huahua asleep?"

"Yes, how long do you think she'll sleep for?"

"I remember Master saying that the better the foundation, the longer one sleeps. But how long exactly, Master doesn't know."

Gu Yan Xi gave a curt nod, his voice clipped, "You’re on watch."

Shao Yao scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Like I need reminding." She stepped forward, boots clicking on the threshold, but before she could even plant her foot inside, a sharp gust whipped past her. That kid—quick as hell—darted ahead with a blur, leaving her blinking at the empty space he’d occupied.

Shao Yao thought for a moment and then followed him. With Hua Hua's temperament, this kid would never run away from the Hua family. They were their own people, after all. At this point, there was no need to worry about such things.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan Xi strode up to Hua Pingyu, his movements deliberate, confidence carved into every step. He clasped his hands, voice firm, “Uncle, lead me to Patriarch Hua.”

Hua Pingyu’s gaze lingered, sharp and assessing. With a faint nod, he allowed his attendants to guide him toward the study at the front.

Hua Yizheng was not surprised by Gu Yan Xi's arrival. The old man had already pieced together the young upstart’s identity. Cool, collected, not a ripple in his demeanor, he waved off the others with a flick of his hand.

“Guard the door,” he talked at his eldest son.

“Understood.” The man snapped to his post.

The two men settled in. No pretense, no games. Gu Yan Xi leaned in, cutting straight to the chase. “You’ll submit a formal memorial exposing the attack on the Hua family.”

Hua Yizheng’s eyes darkened, the weight of those words settling like lead. “And air all our dirty laundry? Do you know what that would mean for Zhi’er?”

"So what?" Gu Yan Xi shot back, calm but razor-edged.

“If this comes out,” Hua Yizheng hissed, “who in their right mind would marry Zhi’er? Are you suggesting my daughter marry into some lowly military family?”

Gu Yan Xi’s lips curled, a smirk laced with challenge. “No. Because they won’t get the chance.”