Chapter 340: Protecting the Inside Before Dealing with the Outside

Hua Zhi's injuries had already healed significantly after nearly half a month, and he didn't stop her from going to the kitchen to make some noodles with Shao Yao. She calmly boiled water, added various ingredients, and soon a bowl of well-seasoned noodles was ready.

Meanwhile, Gu Yanxi couldn’t take his eyes off her, like a hawk locked onto its prey. His mind was empty—no schemes, no thoughts of the country, no worries about the royal family, nothing at all. All that mattered in his world was her. Just her.

“Come and eat,” she said, her voice soft but commanding.

Gu Yanxi didn’t hesitate. Every drop of that soup, every strand of noodle, was consumed with the urgency of a man starved—not just for food but for something else, something deeper. He didn’t leave a single drop, not even a trace.

Afterwards, Hua Zhi led him to a room, the same room her father and fourth uncle shared. She borrowed the bed, tidied it up like she had done this a thousand times before, and told him to sleep. She didn’t care that he’d just eaten—he looked like a man who could drop dead from exhaustion the second his body hit the bed. And she was right. He didn’t argue. His outer clothes were stripped off, shoes kicked away, and in a few seconds, he was lying on the bed, his eyes still fixed on her.

Hua Zhi sat by the bed, tucking him in with a soft, almost dismissive movement, and said, "Go to sleep."

Gu Yanxi didn’t need any more encouragement. His hand found hers, pulling it close to his cheek, rubbing it like a man starved for affection, before his eyes closed. In a matter of moments, his breathing evened out, steady and deep.

Hua Zhi waited for another fifteen minutes, ensuring that he was asleep, before gently removing her hand and looking at the man who had softened entirely in his sleep. The shadow under his eyes was now more noticeable, and she realized that she truly had some feelings for this man.

He was strong enough and disciplined enough to know what he wanted and to strive for it. He was loyal, never wavering in disappointment and keeping his sadness buried deep inside.

After gently tugging the blanket over him, Hua Zhi got up and left the room. She didn't want to be the one who made him sad, but what could she do? He was the nephew of the man who had almost uprooted her family.

And in the end, wasn’t that the cruelest twist of fate?

*

When Gu Yanxi woke up, it was almost dark outside, and he heard someone speaking softly. Without recognizing Hua Zhi's voice, he let himself idle for a moment.

Thinking about how his Ah Zhi had treated him that day, Gu Yanxi smiled. Ah Zhi, typical of her, was one who responded to kindness rather than force. Perhaps showing a bit of vulnerability from time to time could lead to some pleasant surprises in the future.

The door creaked open, and Shao Yao tiptoed in, noticing his wide awake eyes and quickly adopting a sly look as she bounced over and sat on the edge of the bed, asking, "How is Second Brother?"

"Confined," Gu Yanxi replied.

Shao Yao ground her teeth, "Just like that?"

Gu Yanxi didn't respond, getting up from the bed, "And Ah Zhi?"

"Teaching Zeng Han to write. Why did you show mercy to someone who had behaved so outrageously just because he's a prince?" Shao Yao asked.

Gu Yanxi got up and walked out. If he had to talk about this, he wanted to discuss it with Ah Zhi first.

Hua Zhi happened to come out of the room and wasn't surprised to see him awake. In fact, he had slept longer than she had expected.

"Aren't you hungry? I saved food for you," she asked.

"Not hungry yet," Gu Yanxi replied as he approached her. His complexion had indeed improved.

Not forcing him, Hua Zhi led him back to the room. Shao Yao wanted to follow them but was deterred by a fleeting glance from Gu Yanxi.

He was truly annoying!

Why did he have to come over after everyone had left?!

And what about Wu Yong?

Why did he return so early today?!

She hadn't had her fill of fun yet!

The two of them sat opposite each other in the room. Hua Zhi didn't ask, but Gu Yanxi couldn't help but speak up. "I came here on orders this time."

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow, "I might misunderstand that you're here to commend me."

"You know things won't be that easy." Gu Yanxi explained in detail about the situation in the capital, ending with, "Ah Zhi, no matter how significant the matter is, it's not as important as the Chao Li clan. You, being well-versed in history, should know that that period almost equated to destruction for the Central Plains."

Throughout his narration, Hua Zhi had a stern expression on her face. That hundred years was a dark time in the five thousand years of Chinese civilization that had been ruled by foreign tribes several times.

The Han people were a vast nationality, and regardless of which tribe ruled over them, that tribe would eventually assimilate into them. These Han people admired the civilization they didn't have, treasuring it as a precious asset and not willing to destroy it.

But the Chao Li clan was different. When they gained control of the Central Plains, they treated the Central Plains people as slaves, viewing their civilization as worthless. They only acknowledged the beliefs of their own tribe.

The century of Chao Li domination was a grim stain on history, an era where the Central Plains were stripped of their light. Books burned, scholars slaughtered—intellect and art ground into dust beneath the Chao Li boot. The survivors cowered, hid their words, and bowed their necks as slaves. But in the shadows, rebellion simmered. It started as whispers, a quiet fury that turned into action. The Founding Emperor raised his banner, Hua Jingyan spun his strategies, and the Daqing Dynasty was born from the ashes of despair.

"While it was true that nothing was more important than the Chao Li tribe in matters of great significance, however, Yanxi, have you forgotten that one must first stabilize the inside before dealing with external threats? The adult princes have already entered the court to take up their duties. Once a war breaks out, as princes, they will have to take on responsibilities like managing supplies and commanding troops. Are you at ease?"

Leaning on her cheek and looking at him, Hua Zhi continued, "If you were leading the troops in battle, would you feel reassured knowing that they are your rear support?"

Her words cut deep, sharp and unflinching. Gu Yanxi's jaw tightened.

No!

Trust?

Those spineless, scheming princes?

Not a chance in hell.

Without needing to think further, Gu Yanxi had his answer. He didn't trust any of those princes to have his back.

"You’re right," he admitted, his voice low and grim. "We stabilize the inside first."

Seeing that he understood, Hua Zhi’s eyes softened, but her concern didn’t fade. She could read the board better than most. The Emperor trusted Gu Yanxi, relied on him too much. If he led the charge, would those jealous princes see an opportunity to take him out?

Their petty ambition didn’t care about the bigger picture. They’d gut the Daqing Dynasty’s chances against the Chao Li just to line their own pockets or climb the ladder.

No, she couldn’t trust them either. Not with Yanxi’s life. Not with the fate of the empire.

"As for the First Prince's residence, Jia Yang has been improving his health gradually these days, so I let him follow along out of boredom. I told him to report any developments to you. Royal matters are beyond my reach as a commoner."

Raising an eyebrow, Gu Yanxi asked, "What made you want to investigate him?"

"I didn't think too much about it. In the recent events here, others may not know the intricacies, but the First Prince might. I wanted to see his reaction." Hua Zhi flipped over the teacup she held upside down to pour tea. "I have a feeling that the First Prince might still be holding some cards up his sleeve, a trump card that, if played well, could completely turn his fortunes around."

"Why do you feel that way?"

"In the matter of the Second Prince, he surprisingly didn't kick him when he was down. Moreover, he managed to keep himself clean in this matter. As far as I know, their relationship as brothers couldn't be described as friendly."

Gu Yanxi looked deeply at Hua Zhi, "After entering the city, I ordered for him to join them. Jia Yang should have already met up with them."

"That's even better." Hua Zhi suspiciously doubted the First Prince based on her intuition alone.

Without any evidence or reason, she simply felt that in this situation, the First Prince should be ruthless and step on the Second Prince heavily. She didn't believe that exile would change someone's character.