Chapter 277: The Forbidden Sharing

Liu Da, translating Elder Tao's words, explained at a landslide-scarred location, "Their ancestors lived here for over two decades. Eleven died in the landslide, and they later saw this place inexplicably catch fire. They were forced to move to their current residence, making this their fourth relocation."

Hua Zhi's heart stirred as she gazed at the dark spot. "Yu Tao, go fetch a handful for me."

Without a word, Yu Tao obeyed and returned with a handful cupped in his sleeve.

Gesturing for him to put it down, Hua Zhi squatted to examine it. Not many substances could spontaneously combust; coal was one such possibility. The appearance of this substance seemed to match that of coal.

"Recognize it?" he asked, Hua Zhi turning to Gu Yanxi.

Hesitating slightly, she shook her head. "Just curious."

The Great Daqing Dynasty was not an industrial age, and there was little demand for coal. For personal use, the trees on the mountain sufficed. If she were to reveal the true nature of this substance, it might not be a good thing. After the black powder incident, she had become much more cautious.

Once coal's existence became known, the powerful would benefit, while the common people would bear the burden of mining and washing it. In an era where human life was so cheap, no one would speak up for the countless people who would die.

Why should she bother advocating for the powerful and leaving the danger to the common people?

If it wasn't necessary, she'd leave it for future generations to use when needed.

They rested in Ling Village that night and continued along the previous route the next day, gaining a general understanding of the area. That evening, they each drew a map of the canal route and, after careful discussion, finalized the preliminary plan.

Hua Zhi handed the completed map to Gu Yanxi. "This matter should be left to the professionals. When the Ministry of Works takes over, we can provide this as a reference. The specifics should still be decided by them."

Gu Yanxi took the map and stood up. "Want to go for a walk?"

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. A walk in this place?

Gu Yanxi smiled and extended his hand. She took it, and they walked up the hill together.

Bao Xia and Xu Ying exchanged glances, feeling a bit worried. Their young mistress was so bold, venturing out alone with a man at night. If word got out, what would people say?

But their mistress didn't seem to care...

Oh well, perhaps Mr. Lu was truly sincere and wouldn't spread rumors. Bao Xia tried to reassure herself, but her worry was almost overwhelming.

The couple had climbed to the top of the hill. The bare rock offered no shelter, and the moonlight bathed them, their long shadows intertwining.

Hua Zhi looked back and laughed. "Do you see any beautiful scenery here?"

"I see a beautiful woman," Gu Yanxi replied, his eyes fixed on the woman who seemed almost ethereal in the soft moonlight. As if afraid she might vanish, he instinctively tightened his grip on her.

No one would be unhappy to be complimented by their beloved. Hua Zhi, being human, was no exception. She leaned into him and pulled him down to sit on the flat ground.

They stood close, their bodies nearly touching. Neither seemed inclined to move, despite the intimacy of their position. Hua Zhi paid no mind to the societal strictures about propriety between men and women, while for Gu Yanxi, this was the woman he was to marry. Such closeness was perfectly acceptable.

“Are you going north as soon as we return?”

Hua Zhi rested her chin in her hand, gazing up at the waning moon. “Let's rest for a few days. We’ll need time to prepare for the journey.”

Gu Yanxi pulled her closer, his arm around her shoulders. “After the incident in Yuzhou, I suspected the involvement of several princes. When I investigated, the Emperor told me to disregard the First Prince, saying he had nothing to do with it. I later learned that the Emperor had sent someone to Yingshan Pass, and he casually mentioned the Hua family. It was clear that the Emperor was quite pleased with the Hua family’s performance.”

Hua Zhi nodded outwardly but thought to herself, ‘This won’t be the last time. Even if there wasn’t a previous incident, there will be another. I must remind Grandfather when I see him. Even if he appears more mediocre, he absolutely cannot attract the Emperor’s attention again.’

“Has the Emperor placed spies there? If he knows I’m going...”

“You don’t want him to know?”

Hua Zhi thought for a moment. “Let him know. There’s no law against visiting exiled relatives, nor any restrictions on gender. It’s better for him to focus on me than on other members of the Hua family.”

Gu Yanxi warned her, “If he focuses on you, your actions in the capital will be difficult to hide from him.”

“There will always be a time when I can’t hide.” She wanted to show him what kind of daughter the Hua family had raised. If even the daughter of the Hua family could do this, and he had exiled the men of the Hua family, who was the real loser?

She knew she was venting her anger, but this resentment had been stuck in her throat for a year, and she couldn’t swallow it!

The Hua family had sacrificed so much for his Gu family’s empire. The men of the Hua family had dedicated themselves solely to their studies, never daring to make a single mistake, only to be met with exile.

She felt sorry for them!

The men of the Hua family might accept their fate, but she would not!

She couldn’t resist the supreme power of this era, she couldn’t do anything, but she could be the best version of herself. She could use herself as an example, to let that high and mighty Emperor know that the Hua family he had ruined had not fallen, that the Hua family who had shouldered the literary spirit of the Great Daqing had not fallen!

She wanted the Emperor to see!

Even if it meant standing in the spotlight for him to constantly watch!

She was a daughter of the Hua family. Everything she learned came from the Hua family. Her actions, her character, everything about her was derived from the Hua family, and it represented the Hua family!

The better she was, the better the Hua family would appear, and the more it would prove how unjustified the Emperor’s exile of the Hua family was!

If it could make the Emperor see this, then what did it matter if she stood in the spotlight?

Gu Yanxi stroked her face and looked up at the sky with her in his arms. The biggest obstacle between him and Ah Zhi was the exiled members of the Hua family. Even if he wanted to marry her now, Ah Zhi would not agree if the members of the Hua family could not return.

But it was impossible for the members of the Hua family to return now. Even if he intervened, with the Emperor’s golden edict in place, he would never allow the Hua family to return so easily; that would be slapping his own face.

Thinking of the old man who still had affection for him, Gu Yanxi sighed and changed the subject. “I haven’t reported Hao Yue’s existence to the authorities yet, Ah Zhi. I want you to meet her. Maybe you can see something I can’t.”

Knowing he didn’t want to talk about the Emperor, Hua Zhi snorted but didn’t want to make things difficult for him. She replied, “Why should I meet her? Is there something wrong with her?”

“She gives me a strange feeling, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. When you return from the north, take a look at her for me.”

Hua Zhi smiled wryly. “Her target is you, she’ll agree to anything you say.”

“Her target is the leader of the Seven Stars Bureau, and right now, in her eyes, the leader of the Seven Stars Bureau is Chen Qing.” Gu Yanxi rested his forehead against hers. “Jealous?”