Blossom in Adversity

C153. The Past.

Chapter 153: The Past

Shao Yao stood at the courtyard gate, pounding the medicine jar in her hands, her neck stretching as she gazed towards the Moon Gate.

Gu Yanxi walked over and whispered, "She will be leaving for three days, you should go with her."

"Of course I will follow her, Yan-ge, what about you?" Shao Yao asked without any ulterior motives, but immediately felt like she might get scolded, instinctively taking a few steps back.

Gu Yanxi, however, didn't have time to pay attention to her. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the Sixth Prince who had just come out from the house and stood on the veranda. He walked up to him and said, "The Third Prince may have some information, he wants to stir up trouble. I need to make some arrangements, and we can't let the emperor know about this for now."

The Sixth Prince pursed his lips. If their father knew about this now, none of them would be in a good position. If the emperor found out that he was hiding at the Hua family's residence, the family who had been punished with confiscation and exile just last year, the emperor would be even more displeased. He couldn't bring harm to Hua Jiejie.

"What should I do?"

"Hide well, don't leave the house."

The Sixth Prince looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky, a feeling of sorrow rising in his heart. He was the victim, yet all he could think about was how to hide himself, how pitiful.

"Gege, I don't want to go back to that cold place, do you have a way to help me?"

"Do you like it here?"

"Yes."

Gu Yanxi's expression was inexplicable as he silently looked at him for a while. The Sixth Prince didn't know what he saw, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "I will grant your wish, but before that, hide well."

Sixth Prince never expected Gu Yanxi to actually agree with him. He immediately turned around and went inside, closing the door tightly.

He had a good memory from a young age, and he had heard palace maids talk more than once about the emperor's different treatment towards the Shizi. The Shizi was someone who earned the emperor's trust more than his own sons, he could freely enter and exit the palace, and he was the only one allowed to enter the imperial study room. He even secretly doubted Gu Yanxi's identity.

But then, overnight, everything changed. The Shizi suddenly disappeared. He never appeared again, not even for the ceremonies, and at that time, he wondered if his father didn't like him anymore, or if he had done something wrong and was banished from the capital by his father. Nearly five years later, he reappeared, looking somewhat like he remembered, transitioning from a child to an adult. His father's affection for him remained the same as before, and he felt a bit envious then.

Later, his mother fell severely ill. Before she passed away, she told him that if he ever faced a life or death decision, he should follow the Shizi's choice. He didn't understand the meaning of her words, but he kept them close to his heart.

After his mother's death, the Empress Dowager took him in for a few days. During that time, he couldn't sleep well, but he also felt the need to sleep constantly. The Empress Dowager took pity on him and let him sleep wherever he fell asleep, trying to let him rest as much as possible.

One day, between dreams and half-awake, he heard the voices of his father and the Shizi. He wanted to get up to pay his respects, but in a daze, he saw the Shizi pulling and twisting his face, revealing a scar that made him look fierce. He remembered that very clearly, but he unconsciously fell back asleep.