Chapter 342: Hua Zhi's Gambit

The Hua family had always known Hua Zhi's strength wasn't just a casual boast-it was the hard-edged backbone that kept the family's grip tight in the capital and extended their reach to Yingshan Pass. But knowing it wasn't the same as seeing it. That night, her power wasn't just something whispered about in the safety of dimly lit rooms; it was raw, undeniable, and impossible to look away from. Everything else paled.

Until now, they hadn't grasped the full depth of it.

Lately, their days revolved around endless rounds at the sand table-at first glance, just a game of strategy, but the kind that left no room for fumbling. The deeper they waded, the sharper the stakes cut. They'd fought their battles, watched their elders in action, even scrutinized Miss Shao Yao and General Wu trading blows on the board. But after a couple of rounds, it hit them like a slap: compared to the heavyweights, their efforts were laughable.

It was more than humbling. It was a lesson burned into their pride. Tactics they'd once scoffed at as useless suddenly made brutal sense when wielded with precision. Watching Hua Zhi work wasn't just a revelation-it was a reckoning. She didn't just outclass them; she exposed the yawning canyon of skill that separated her from the rest.

Wu Yong was floored. Sure, he'd figured Hua Zhi, the mastermind behind this game, would be sharp-hell, probably sharper than most-but this sharp? He hadn't seen it coming.

"Shocked, are you?" Shao Yao sneered, her grin dripping with smug satisfaction. "I warned you, didn't I? I've never managed to beat Hua Hua. Not even once."

Wu Yong wanted to say something, maybe admit he'd underestimated her, but words failed him. Instead, he just stared at Hua Zhi-drained but still standing-and tried to wrap his head around how a fragile woman could command military tactics with such ruthless precision.

Before he could dwell on it, Hua Yizheng opened his mouth to speak, but Gu Yanxi cut in first, his voice sharp and straight to the point. "Not feeling well?"

"Just a bit tired. Standing too long," Hua Zhi answered, her gaze soft but unwavering. One blink was all it took for Gu Yanxi to swallow whatever he'd planned to say next. Without a word, he guided her back inside, shutting the chaos of the outside world behind them.

As muffled voices buzzed beyond the walls, Hua Zhi sank into her chair, taking the glass of water Gu Yanxi handed her. She downed it in one go, her throat working with an urgency that betrayed her calm exterior.

"They're slipping, but you? You've been pushing too hard, especially given your condition," Gu Yanxi muttered, refilling her glass with a disapproving look.

Hua Zhi tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. The fire from earlier had dimmed, replaced by something quieter, more deliberate. "Do you see it?" she asked, her voice soft but cutting. "I had to do something. Ever since we pulled them out of the quarry, they've grown complacent. They don't understand what my grandfather and I have been fighting for. I get it-surviving a crisis breeds relief-but that kind of softness will ruin the Hua family in the long run. I can't stay here forever, so I needed to light a fire under them while I still could."

Gu Yanxi caught the sharp edge in Ah Zhi's tone. He understood exactly what she meant. In just three days, it became clear to him: the older generation was steady enough, but the younger ones? Too soft. Not in the sense of slacking off to party or chasing scandals, but in retreating to the safe monotony of studying and practicing calligraphy, as if the Hua family's crisis had miraculously resolved itself.

From the outside looking in, their behavior might seem disciplined, even commendable. But to Hua Zhi? It was a slow death. Staying shackled to Yingshan Pass, drowning in routine, ran counter to everything she was fighting for. She wouldn't have it-not now, not ever.

Her solution? Shake up the complacency, push the family out of their comfort zone, and force them to face the fire.

After all, no one likes being outmatched by a woman in every arena.

"Have you thought about the fact that they might resent you for this?" Gu Yanxi's voice carried a hint of warning, but his curiosity outweighed his caution.

"I've considered it," Hua Zhi said, her chin rising with an unapologetic flair. "But does it matter?" That flicker of detachment in her eyes spoke volumes. She had long accepted that one day, after the Hua family was rebuilt, she might be cast aside. "I answer to my conscience, not theirs. If they're willing to betray their own integrity, that's their burden-not mine."

Her words sliced through the air, leaving no room for argument, just the weight of her conviction-and a challenge no one dared meet.

Gu Yanxi brushed his fingers over her cheek, reading her pride like an open book. Begging? That wasn't her style. Not for emotions, not for anything. If the Hua family ever crossed her, she'd smirk, step back, and cut them off with chilling finality. No drama, no words wasted. Just silence that stung harder than any reprimand.

But the weight in his chest gnawed at him. Gu Yanxi stifled a sigh, frustration boiling beneath his calm surface. Helplessness wasn't a feeling he wore well.

The bitter pill had hit its mark. The Hua family had finally dropped their smug attitudes and started treating the sand table drills like a real fight.

Hua Yizheng noticed the shift, a flicker of relief crossing his face. Zhi'er's ruthlessness had spoken louder than any lecture he could give. But the sharp pang in his gut lingered. Her moves were calculated to the edge of recklessness. Did she not grasp the fire she was playing with? Or was she just that unbothered?

Why the hell was she like this?

Hua Zhi offered no explanations. She lived by a simple creed: the past was a dead weight, and the future was all that mattered. And right now, her focus was laser-sharp on her dealings with the First Prince.

"Wu Yong's crew didn't slip the noose either?" she asked, her tone flat but probing.

"Twelve-hour shifts. Seven Stars Bureau has their eyes glued to that fake eunuch. One false move, and she's toast." Gu Yanxi's black garb blended into the shadows, a ghost in the night. He'd been running missions in the dark for days, but tonight he was back early, catching her awake.

"She had the nerve to waltz into Yingshan Pass today, dolled up like a noblewoman, and strolled right into the only shop selling rouge and powders. Coincidentally-or not-Wu Yong's concubine was there too. The Seven Stars Bureau doesn't buy coincidences. Now they're sniffing around her, too."

"But they've got no proof..." Hua Zhi's words trailed off.

Gu Yanxi shook his head, his voice low but sharp. "After scheming for years, they're not careless enough to leave proof lying around. But trust me, they're circling like wolves. One slip, and the blood trail will be hers."

Hua Zhi narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp and biting. "How do we nail the concubine to the wall?"

"Send her straight to the Seven Stars Bureau," Gu Yanxi replied with a sly edge, his voice laced with something darker. "They might endure the Third Constellation Star's torture, but Shao Yao's little chemical tricks? Not a chance. She's already fetching Wu Yong. If you're not too worn out, you can sit in and enjoy the show."

The concubine in question had fumbled badly, but it was Shao Yao delivering the news to Wu Yong. That bitter twist didn't sit right with Hua Zhi. A flicker of pity for the man flashed through her, fleeting but sincere. She glanced down at her casual attire, exhaled sharply, and stood. "Let me dress properly for the occasion."

Gu Yanxi shifted too, slipping into his nighttime garb with a languid precision. By the time they were both ready, Wu Yong had already arrived. His face was a mask of stoicism, but even Shao Yao, who normally toyed with him like a cat with string, had dialed down her antics.

When Hua Zhi appeared, Shao Yao caught her eye and tossed her a cheeky wink. Hua Zhi, unimpressed, nudged her aside, that pang of pity for Wu Yong flaring up once more. Love could be cruel, she mused, as long as it didn't leave scars on her own people. The wounds of others? Fair game.

Wu Yong inhaled deeply, dropped to a low bow before Gu Yanxi, and spoke with grim resolve. "I've failed. I'll report my incompetence to the Emperor in the morning."

Gu Yanxi's lips curved in a faint, unreadable smirk. "Don't be so hasty, General Wu. The Seven Stars Bureau wouldn't make noise unless they were certain."

Wu Yong straightened, a flicker of resignation in his eyes. "She's already under control. What does Shizi plan to do?"

"Leave it to Chen Tu."

A curt nod sealed the decision, but Wu Yong's gaze slid sideways, locking onto Shao Yao. She was nestled beside Hua Zhi, flashing that impish grin of hers, the kind that seemed to taunt and soothe in equal measure. Wu Yong studied her, his chest tightening. She wasn't as pure as she pretended-he knew that-but her innocence wasn't fake either. Those eyes of hers, so clean, so bright, had ensnared him once, blinding him to the ugliness lurking beneath. And yet, even now, he couldn't look away.