Chapter 355: The Night's Rendezvous

After leaving Fourth Aunt to calm down the rest of the crew, Hua Zhi took it upon herself to personally escort her grandmother home. But before she could get too comfortable, there was the matter of bidding farewell to Li Mama, who’d been riding in the same carriage.

Graciously accepting the favor, Hua Zhi kept her charm on full display throughout the trip, making sure to be as pleasant as one could muster—because, of course, it would have been simply unacceptable not to reciprocate Li Mama's "kindness." When they reached their destination, Hua Zhi even saw it fit to help Li Mama out of the carriage, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Li Mama, the picture of graciousness, smiled back, fully aware of the unspoken strings attached. After all, she’d been by the Empress Dowager’s side for years. With the Empress Dowager’s favor still lingering over the Hua family, there was more than a hint of mutual benefit, wrapped up in pleasantries.

Finally, as the carriage pulled away, leaving no one around to witness the performance, Hua Zhi, tired of all the pretense, let out a breath and leaned casually against her grandmother’s shoulder, as if all that charade had been a simple passing moment, easily brushed aside.

Old Madam Zhu affectionately patted her arm, her hand resting lightly on her granddaughter’s arm as she exhaled a wistful sigh. "And how’s your father these days? Managing all right, is he?"

"He’s doing well enough," came the composed reply, a hint of restraint softening the words. "He’s teaching now, which means life’s been relatively kind to him, so he hasn't suffered too much."

"Ah, that’s good to hear, very good," Old Madam Zhu murmured with approval, her satisfaction a subtle undercurrent in the air. Her son-in-law, after all, was a manageable presence in her family’s narrative—a necessary anchor for her daughter’s rather... unpredictable inclinations. Heaven forbid that woman be left to her own devices. "Your approach to Hua Yan earlier—dare I say, it looked almost merciful."

"I couldn’t afford to be too heavy-handed," the younger woman responded, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "One brushstroke doesn’t make two 'Hua' characters, after all. I needed to make my position clear, yes, but pushing her into a corner would do us no favors. The Hua family’s reputation would be dragged through the mud alongside hers, and frankly, I’d rather not hand people that kind of ammunition against us. Besides," she added with a languid shrug, "even if Hua Yan does find herself in the Feng household, does anyone truly believe she’ll fare well? The so-called ‘true love’ she’s banking on won’t mean a thing when Feng Changyu’s main wife steps in—and she will step in. Let’s be honest, how many concubines actually live happily ever after? And even if Feng Changyu’s reputation as a philanderer holds true, he’s no fool. He’ll toe the line when it matters, and Hua Yan? She’ll be left to fend for herself."

A pause, deliberate and laced with a sharp undertone, followed. "Besides, with the longstanding feud between the Hua and Feng families, sending someone like her into their hands is practically gift-wrapping an opportunity for them to twist the knife."

Old Madam Zhu let the words settle, her sharp eyes catching the faint glint of strategy behind her granddaughter’s calm demeanor. "So, you’ve cut off her escape route without dirtying your hands. A wise move, I must say."

"I have more important things to do than her affair." Hua Zhi didn't want to discuss this further and lifted her head, "Is it a rest day today? It feels like it's been a while since I've been out."

"It should be a rest day, but there has been severe flooding in the south recently, and the court is preparing disaster relief. Your grandfather, as the Minister of Revenue, has been busy these days and can't rest."

"Grandfather has been promoted?" Hua Zhi suddenly realized. Right, the case involving Zeng Xian had implicated Minister of Revenue Fang Hongzhi, so now that Zeng Xian cases was being reopened, it was no surprise that Fang Hongzhi had fallen.

"Yes, he was promoted recently." Old Madam Zhu's eyes were full of smiles as she mentioned this.

Going from a second-rank official to a first-rank official was something some people couldn't achieve in their entire lifetimes. Her husband had been blessed with good fortune in his official career.

However, Hua Zhi felt that not being able to ascend in rank was a good thing now. The older the emperor got, the more suspicious he became, and being a close confidant to the monarch was not easy.

The Ministry of Revenue controlled the finances of the Great Daqing dynasty, and alongside the Ministry of Personnel controlling official appointments, they were the two departments that saw the most frequent changes in Minister positions.

And now, with disaster relief at a critical juncture...

Hua Zhi felt she needed to ask Yan Xi how the Emperor felt about this. She couldn't let her maternal grandfather get implicated in this matter. She was afraid; the Hua family, despite its size and prestige, could fall, and the Zhu family was even a step below the Hua family. If either of them were to fall, there would be no place to seek justice.

She wasn't afraid of anything else. As her grandfather had been serving as an official for many years, he knew far more about the intricacies of the court than she did. She was afraid that the princes would interfere, and the Emperor was kind to his sons, but merciless to officials.

"Zhi'er, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing,” she lied smoothly, the ghost of a smile curling her lips. “When I drop you off today, I won’t linger. If I do, we’ll talk so long I’ll end up dozing off where I stand.”

Old Madam Zhu touched her face. She had come back from such a long journey yesterday, so she knew the hardships involved. "Rest well, don't let yourself become worn out. There are so many eyes on you, so many relying on your strength.”

"Yes."

*

By the time Hua Zhi dragged herself back home, the hour was far past respectable mealtime, not that it mattered—she couldn’t muster the faintest hint of an appetite. Picking at her food with the kind of disinterest that made you wonder why she bothered at all, she turned to Suyun Mama with a lazy flick of her wrist. “Take some of those fresh mushrooms we received today and pay a little visit to Li Mama. Extend my thanks for her help today."

Suyun Mama nodded and went to do it immediately.

Ying Chun clearly had something to say but was stopped in her tracks by Hua Zhi’s raised hand. “Whatever it is can wait,” Hua Zhi cut her off, her tone smooth yet sharp enough to make even the most stubborn tongue retreat. “I need rest. Everything else is secondary.”

"Yes." Ying Chun hurriedly helped her back to her room. She hoped that her mistress would set aside those matters first, take a good rest, and then address them.

Hua Zhi, however, didn’t just rest—she sank into a deep, unshakable sleep. She didn’t stir even when Shao Yao popped by, took her pulse, and silently confirmed what everyone already suspected: their eldest miss was simply worn out from managing the ceaseless chaos of a family that seemed incapable of functioning without her. The fact that Hua Zhi, who never napped, was now sleeping like the dead was enough to make even the most worry.

By the time she woke, it was already dark. Blinking slowly, she stared up at the unfamiliar shadows dancing across her room, momentarily unsure whether it was night or the early hours of morning. A low voice cut through her haze. “You’re awake.”

Her gaze snapped to the source—a man lounging casually at her table as if he owned the place. Gu Yanxi.

Her brows furrowed. “This is the inner courtyard,” she said, voice laced with suspicion. “How on earth did you get in?”

He stood, sauntering over to her bedside with that maddening air of nonchalance that made her want to throw something. “I avoided the others.”

"Could my maid agree to that?" Hua Zhi propped herself up, leaning against the headboard and looked at the man. She arched a brow, the corner of her mouth curving into a sharp smirk. “And my maid—did she just roll out a red carpet for you?”

"Why do you look so tired? Have you been busy since you came back?"

“Shao Yao distracted them,” he replied, deflecting her question with the ease of someone far too practiced at this game. “Heard you caused a stir today. Again.”

“Oh, you mean the matter with Hua Yan?” Hua Zhi leaned back against the headboard, studying him with a cool gaze. “It seems everyone has nothing better to do than meddle in the trivial affairs of my family. Such thrilling lives they lead.”

Gu Yanxi smiled. It wasn't that everyone was idle; it was clear that she had played her hand too well. In the blink of an eye, she had turned the tables in favor of the Hua family, and the Feng family had to acknowledge their concubine, even though among the prestigious families, it was always about family interests and not personal feelings. But no one wanted to destroy their reputation as being unfeeling. Ah Zhi hit the nail on the head.

Hua Zhi sat up a bit. "I was actually thinking of asking you something. How is the Emperor handling the southern flooding situation?"

Gu Yanxi immediately understood what she was worried about. "This matter doesn't go through the hands of the officials. The Ministry of Revenue only needs to provide the money. The individuals handling it are chosen by the Seven Stars Bureau. The Emperor doesn't allow anyone to touch this money, and I've made sure the Seven Stars Bureau is monitoring it."

"That's good. If they continue to exploit the situation like before, who knows how much will actually reach the people's hands, especially this year, the disaster area is so widespread. Once the people start complaining, my grandfather will definitely not be able to stay out of it."

"You don't need to worry; Patriarch Zhu isn't easy to deceive."

Hua Zhi glanced at him with that kind of smile that's not really a smile, the one that leaves you wondering whether she's amused or just humoring you. "Oh, so my grandfather’s an easy mark, is he? He’s still stuck at Yingshan Pass, last I checked. Guess he must’ve missed the memo on how to be deceived."

Gu Yanxi cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. Revealing the Emperor’s deep distaste for the Hua family? Now that was a line he didn’t want to cross, and definitely not today.

But luck seemed to be on his side for once—Hua Zhi wasn’t looking to push him further. She swiftly changed the topic, as if the previous conversation had never happened. "So, are they finally going to clear Zeng Xian's name, or is this just another one of your delightful half-promises?"

Gu Yanxi's gaze softened, though he knew this was no time for warmth, not when she was poking around for details. Still, he was prepared. "Oh, absolutely. I had someone draft a statement for Zeng Han, but of course, he turned it down—too proud for his own good. Instead, he had someone else do it, which, quite impressively, he then copied word for word and submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The Seven Stars Bureau’s got their hands on the evidence now, so it’s only a matter of time before Zeng Xian is completely exonerated. And as for the Zeng family’s possessions? All of that will be back in Zeng Han’s hands before you know it."

"If Zeng Han doesn't need to come forward, then hurry and bring him to me. Frankly, if he’s the last one standing in the Zeng family, I don’t want him tangled up in their mess any longer. Honestly, after all this time, I’ve figured it out: Zeng Han really has no idea what’s right and what’s wrong, or good and bad, when it comes to anything that matters."

Gu Yanxi nodded, his expression unreadable but his mind already working. "Understood. I’ll make sure they fall in line."

———TN: Hua Zhi has this unforgettable attitude when she first wakes up—like she's got a permanent chip on her shoulder. But who knows, maybe she's just a little too tired and sluggish from her beauty sleep to keep up the whole charming persona.