Blossom in Adversity

C181. Let's Leave It at That for Now.

Chapter 181 Let's Leave It at That for Now

The sounds of people gradually faded, and the carriage stopped after a while.

Chen Qing's voice came, "Master, we have arrived."

Suyun Mama, who was sitting by the carriage curtain, was the first to get off the carriage, followed by Gu Yanxi. As she was about to step forward to help her young lady, she saw the man already reaching out his hand towards the person walking out of the carriage.

Suyun Mama wanted to approach, but Chen Qing quickly blocked her way, giving her a toothy grin.

Ah Zhi first looked around, surprised to find herself under the city wall. She then looked down at Gu Yanxi, lazy to be coy at this late hour, and placed her hand in his palm.

Gu Yanxi held her hand tightly, using his other hand to support her as she stepped down.

"Mr. Lu is certainly unique," Ah Zhi said with a smile, half expecting him to take her to see some lanterns or go for a boat ride.

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow and led her towards the stone steps. He reached out to help her again but found no opportunity as Ah Zhi held her skirt with both hands.

There were no guards on the city wall. Ah Zhi spun in place, looking around at everything she could see. The city's bustling areas were lit up, while some places were engulfed in darkness. Outside the city, only limited visibility was available, with faint mists swirling.

Ah Zhi chuckled, "If there were a hidden group outside the city at this moment, would the guards notice?"

"There are stationed troops outside the city."

"Can the stationed troops resist someone as skilled as Mr. Lu's men?"

Gu Yanxi fell silent.

Ah Zhi felt strangely satisfied. Making things difficult for others seemed to make her feel better. "What if there's a disturbance outside the city?"

The once thought impenetrable defense that had never faced any issues before suddenly seemed flawed everywhere upon Ah Zhi's mention. Gu Yanxi had to admit that Ah Zhi's suggestion was not entirely unfounded; just because it hadn't happened before didn't mean it couldn't happen in the future.

Leading Ah Zhi towards the city tower, Gu Yanxi asked, "In your opinion, what should we do?"

"I am just a woman who grew up in the inner chambers. How would I understand these matters?"

"Don't be so modest, Ah Zhi."

"It's not modesty. I simply excel at finding flaws." Developed through years of running a business, she had a habit of scrutinizing every project brought to her and could pinpoint the slightest imperfections. Once implemented, the project would surely yield golden results.

"I am only good at doing business. As for other matters, there are specialists for that."

Although her words made perfect sense, Gu Yanxi still felt that Ah Zhi was not truly as ignorant as she claimed to be.

“I do have a suggestion,” A Zhi said with a almost mischievous smile, “If even with Mr. Lu's abilities he can't breach the city walls, then the walls are indeed safe.”

Gu Yanxi chuckled, "There isn't a wall under heaven that can resist me, Ah Zhi's standards are just too high."

"So, as I said, I don't understand," A Zhi looked at the clean city tower, thinking to herself what a great place it was for clandestine meetings, free from the fear of being caught and filled with intrigue. Today, her mind was filled with negative emotions.

Walking to the window and gazing outside, the moon bathed everything in its light, casting a cool haze over the scenery. It seemed as if she could only see what was right in front of her, yet also saw far beyond.

She reached out, the moonlight enveloping her hand, soothing her restless heart.

Yes, she shouldn't be angry. No one understood better than her how vast the world was, beyond the capital city, beyond the Daqing Dynasty, beyond the surrounding countries. Even on the other side of the sea, there were civilizations.

In comparison, where did she stand?

Arguing over something so insignificant, she was only making herself less worthy.

A white cloak draped over her shoulder, Ah Zhi turned to the man beside her, surprised at how well he understood her. He had brought Shao Yao to her side, joked with her, and brought her to the top of this city tower. The methods might not have been the best, but they were heartfelt.

Had she given him hope?

Ah Zhi looked back outside, refusing him yet accepting his kindness, feeling guilty.

Before, she hadn't paid much heed to the saying 'A virtuous woman fears entanglement with a persistent man', but now she realized her naivety at the time. Encountering a persistent man like Mr. Lu, even a nun would have trouble resisting.

She wasn't a nun, nor could she withstand a persistent man. Yet, she didn't want to get involved in such entanglements.

What should she do?

"Mr. Lu, let's stop our relationship at this stage for now."

"Okay."

Ah Zhi looked at him, surprised by his easy acceptance.

Gu Yanxi adjusted her cloak and said with a hint of amusement, "I’ve said before, it's all up to you, and this time you didn't reject me, did you? That's enough for now. I'm not in a rush."

He had waited twenty-four years for someone like her, and he wasn't in a hurry. Moreover, he didn't want to push too hard. Ah Zhi didn't respond well to pressure.

Ah Zhi leaned against the window, looking at him, and suddenly smiled. So be it, she didn't want to make things difficult for herself. The current situation didn't require her to sever their ties, and only time would tell what the future held.

Gu Yanxi also smiled, the moonlight casting a glow on their faces, like two statues.

Suyun Mama was anxiously pacing, but Chen Qing stood at the staircase, blocking her from passing. She could only pace back and forth, fretting.

Chen Qing found it amusing and said, "Mama, there's no need to be so nervous. Our mistress isn't one to take reckless actions. Besides, with the temper of our young lady, if the master truly dared to do something, it would be a showdown. Listen, there's no commotion at all right now."

These words only made Suyun Mama more anxious. Her young lady, a delicate girl, how could she handle such a showdown? In the beginning, it was the Hua family who invited Mr. Lu, not the other way around!

Just as she was about to summon her courage and rush up, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Looking up, she saw her young mistress, seemingly unharmed and calm. Suyun Mama's heart settled a little.

Chen Qing grinned and stepped aside, winking at Mama as if to say: See, I didn't deceive you.

But Suyun Mama was too preoccupied to pay him any mind and rushed up the stairs to assist her mistress.

"Rest assured, everything is fine."

The carriage rumbled back to the Hua residence, with Ah Zhi alighting from the carriage and giving a slight bow to Gu Yanxi.

Gu Yanxi lifted her up, "Tomorrow I'll have Shao Yao accompany you."

"No need, I'm not afraid of the Song family, and Shao Yao's identity is known to many. I don't want to get involved with Prince Gu at this moment."

"Alright, as you wish."

Every time she heard that 'as you wish,' A Zhi's heart softened. She didn't know how highly he regarded her. A prince, the leader of the Seven Stars, willing to defer to her in everything. To say she wasn't moved would be a lie. She had a feeling that if this continued, she might not be able to handle it.

But as she had said earlier, there were too many people in the world who loved each other but couldn't be together. Theirs was a complicated situation, involving too many factors and people.

What the future held, who knew?