Chapter 356: The Night Encounter Continues

Hua Zhi hadn’t eaten much at lunch, and the gnawing hunger was starting to get to her. Rather than move from the bed, she lazily called for someone to fetch her food.

The person who came in was Nian Qiu. When she saw a man, she almost screamed, but after seeing who it was, she let out a relieved breath. If it had been anyone else, she would have surely reacted with more fire, perhaps throwing a few choice words their way. But this was Mr. Lu, and in this case, that meant a certain degree of comfort. The unspoken understanding between him and the mistress was far from a secret. Their connection didn’t need to be spelled out for anyone to grasp, as they could all see it.

The mistress was as clear as ever about her intentions, and those around her knew exactly what role they played. No need for any further clarification.

"Get me some food," Hua Zhi ordered casually, her tone almost too lazy to be bothered. "Have you eaten, Yanxi?"

"No, not yet," he replied, his voice low and unruffled.

"Bring more than enough, then," she instructed with a slight lift of her chin.

Nian Qiu nodded, turning to leave. But as she reached the door, a final, almost imperceptible glance over her shoulder revealed a rather telling scene: the tall man crouching to help the mistress slip on her shoes. The mistress, ever the picture of sweet dominance, smiled down at him in that indulgent way she did, as if the entire room could feel the tension laced in the air. And of course, Nian Qiu noticed it all—because, really, who wouldn’t?

Nian Qiu would remember this scene for many, many years.

During the meal, Gu Yanxi mentioned about Haoyue, and Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow, "She's here in the capital? Aren't you worried she'll stir up trouble within the royal family?"

"She won't have the opportunity." After picking up some food, Gu Yanxi put it in Ah Zhi's bowl and calmly stated, "If she makes any moves, I will kill her. Compared to her prophecies, she herself is more dangerous."

Hua Zhi nodded in agreement. Haoyue's chosen identity was indeed too dangerous in the eyes of those in power. Such a person would rather be destroyed than fall into anyone else's hands. It wasn't clear to Hua Zhi how confident Haoyue was to boldly approach Yan Xi like that.

Glancing at Yan Xi, Hua Zhi lowered her head to eat. If Haoyue truly was someone reborn, then by getting close to Yan Xi under these chaotic circumstances, it was highly likely that Yan Xi could survive until the end and gain the most significant power, even the throne.

Would the Emperor overlook his own son and pass the throne to Yan Xi?

Would the prince accept it?

Would the ministers accept it?

What was the situation in the Daeqing Dynasty at that time?

Haoyue must know all of this, but she wouldn't say it. It was her leverage, unless Yan Xi married her.

The other princes might have agreed immediately, but Yan Xi wouldn't. He detested coercion, had no ambitions, and had his own preferences. This man had been deeply hurt by his father and would not tread the same path.

"When you're free, accompany me to see her."

Hua Zhi, lost in her own world of thoughts, suddenly found herself shoveling a mouthful of rice into her mouth. She paused, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, her eyes wide with surprise as she realized what she'd done.

Gu Yanxi couldn't help but chuckle at her, then casually raised his hand to wipe the rice from her mouth. How charmingly familiar, like they were caught in one of those old-timey romantic dramas.

As if to recover some dignity, Hua Zhi hurriedly swallowed the rice and, with a touch of awkwardness, asked, "Take me with you? Is it really okay?"

"Just to listen, no harm in that," he replied with that trademark casualness. "Haoyue always gives me this strange feeling, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe you could take a look for me?"

Of course, Hua Zhi understood exactly what he meant by that uncomfortable feeling—how could she not?

But explaining it? That was another story.

The truth? Haoyue had lived an entire lifetime before and was now reborn.

How in the world could she explain that to him without making him think she was losing her mind?

"How about tomorrow afternoon?" she suggested, clearly avoiding the deeper conversation.

"Sure, I’ll have Chen Qing arrange it." He paused, offering her some soup like an indulgent older brother. "Drink some of this."

Hua Zhi, obedient as always, took the soup and sipped half of it. But just as she was about to relax, something popped into her mind. She couldn't let it go. "Do you have any news about Bai Lin and the others? I haven’t had the chance to ask Ying Chun, and I don’t know if that kid has even bothered to write a letter."

"They're in Xiangyang."

"Xiangyang? How did they...?" Her question trailed off, her mind racing.

"It was probably Little Sixth’s idea," he replied, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "He probably figured it out while we were making preparations. Can’t say I’m surprised he wanted to see it for himself. But don’t worry, they’re doing well. They’re learning more from the real world than any scholar could ever teach them. I’m going to involve them in the disaster relief, but they can’t show themselves just yet. It's not their time to shine."

Hua Zhi nodded, her mind processing the details. She got it—if they showed themselves now, they'd likely draw too much attention, and the last thing they needed was to stir the pot with his brothers.

Gu Yanxi slowly placed his bowl down, his voice soft but heavy with seriousness, "It seems the Emperor has set his sights on fixing up the Lingzhou Grand Canal."

Hua Zhi, clearly not one to mince words, interrupted with an urgency that bordered on exasperation. "You must understand, now is not the time. We’re drowning in both external threats and internal chaos. Tackling such a monstrous project right now would push the Daqing Dynasty straight into the ground—exactly like the Sui Dynasty did to itself."

Gu Yanxi's lips curled in a knowing, almost sardonic smile, but his eyes remained unfazed as he continued, "He didn’t outright say it, but when I returned to the capital yesterday, he mentioned his lack of any real accomplishments. That got me thinking. If he builds this grand canal, it’s going to be something that serves the state for generations. That’s the kind of thing that would make him look good in front of his ancestors—finally earning some respect."

Hua Zhi didn’t flinch. Instead, she shot back, voice laced with a sharpness born of frustration, "But what if it’s the thing that brings the Daqing Dynasty to its knees? What if it’s the last thing he does before everything crumbles down around him?"

Her boldness in speaking her mind caught Gu Yanxi off guard, and the latter’s chuckle was almost involuntary. "Ah, so now we’re talking about survival, huh? That’s why he’s holding off—waiting for the ‘right’ moment."

Hua Zhi wasn’t some hot-headed fool, though. She took a breath, regaining her composure. "Look, if we deal with the Chaoli tribe first, then maybe—just maybe—building the canal after that would be feasible. The Daqing Dynasty’s foundation could survive the strain. But if he insists on going ahead with this now, before we’ve even sorted that mess out, Yanxi, the Chaoli tribe is no idiot. It’s like we’re handing them our territory on a silver platter."

Gu Yanxi leaned back, his expression growing more solemn as he spoke, "We both know what the Emperor knows, and yet, there he is, still entertaining these thoughts. It used to be easier to persuade him, but now? It’s getting harder by the day. In the end, he’s the one wearing the crown, and I’m just the loyal subject. I can’t step in and take control. I won’t—can’t—be the one to shoulder the blame if it all goes south."

Before Ah Zhi, Gu Yanxi shed that rugged armor he wore so well, the one that made him look like he could take on the world without breaking a sweat. With a gentle grip on her hand and a quiet smile that felt far too tender for a man like him, he said softly, “I value my life now.”

Watching this man, who had clearly borne the weight of the heavens and earth on his back for far too long, Hua Zhi felt an unexpected pang of pity. The kind that sneaks up on you, making you wonder when exactly you started caring so much. She got up, crossed the room, and wrapped her arms around his head, pulling him close to her chest. It wasn’t romantic, not really. It was the kind of gesture you give to someone who’s long forgotten what warmth feels like. She let him rest there, her touch steady, her heart heavier than she cared to admit.

She knew his story too well. In his early years, the Emperor had been both father and tyrant, a man Yanxi had given his everything to serve. And for what? A thankless loyalty, rewarded by powerlessness.

The Emperor, now old and fading, was no different than a battered tiger: all claws and no bite, trying to scare the world into remembering its glory days. But here’s the kicker—this tiger had the ultimate trump card. A word, a whim, a single stroke of imperial authority, and rivers of blood would flow. Toothless or not, that kind of power made him the most dangerous beast in the jungle, yet they had no recourse. They couldn't break away, nor could they intervene.

But at that moment, leaning back into Hua Zhi’s steady warmth, Yanxi allowed himself a rare moment of comfort. There was no heat between them, just a quiet, aching intimacy. He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to her palm, and murmured, “Don’t worry. The Emperor still trusts me. I’ll keep him distracted, stall for as long as I can. We’ll figure this out.”

Hua Zhi glanced at the jade crown perched on Yanxi’s head, a symbol of the burdens he carried. Her voice dropped into a sigh, a long exhale full of the kind of resignation that only comes from living through chaos. “My first fifteen years were so smooth. Life felt predictable, safe. And then everything fell apart. The Daqing Dynasty was thriving. I thought I’d live a quiet life, see old age in peace.”

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “But you know what? I’m almost grateful for the upheaval. If it hadn’t happened, we never would’ve met.”

Time hadn’t just been cruel; it had been relentless. “It’s strange,” she added. “It feels like we’ve lived lifetimes in a single year.”

"Besides you, nobody could accomplish those things in a lifetime." Gu Yanxi lifted his head.

He smiled then, a soft curve of his lips that almost made her believe in the life they’d dreamed of. “When this is all over, we’ll disappear. Find a little house somewhere no one will bother us. I’ll read, paint, just be with you.”

It was the kind of dream that felt like silk slipping through your fingers—fragile, beautiful, and all too fleeting. Hua Zhi gave a faint, almost wistful smile. “Let’s get through this hell first.”