Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C248. Can Only Be Siblings.

Chapter 248: Can Only Be Siblings

After finalizing the arrangements for tomorrow's departure with Wu Zheng, Hua Zhi declined the invitation and returned to the inn.

"Have a good rest. We don't know what the situation in Xuanyang will be like tomorrow, so we all need to be prepared for anything."

Everyone agreed.

Hua Zhi went to the twins' room.

Both were awake. Shao Yao, as usual, took their pulses and glanced at the sister. She pursed her lips and stood aside.

Hua Zhi examined the two. Fraternal twins were not supposed to look very similar, but rather like ordinary siblings. However, these two had extremely similar facial features. But it was easy to tell them apart: the older sister's timidity and the younger brother's sense of responsibility were evident at a glance. She could understand Shao Yao's dislike for the older sister; it was only natural. She herself didn't feel particularly strongly about it, but she couldn't say she liked her either.

"Have you made up your minds?"

The younger brother knelt with his sister. "Please take us with you, Miss. We are willing to serve you as slaves, to do any work for you."

Hua Zhi nodded slightly. "Bao Xia."

"Yes, Miss."

"Write two indentures for them and have them sign them. Just use the price we pay for servants in our estate."

"Yes." Bao Xia looked at the two. "What are your names?"

"Our surname is Wu. My older sister's name is Dashuang, and mine is Xiaoshuang."

Bao Xia immediately wrote two indentures and handed them to the twins along with twenty taels of silver. The current price for a servant in the Hua estate was ten taels.

The younger brother was even more determined to follow this beautiful young lady. She could have given them the indentures without the silver, but she not only gave it, but also gave a high price. In Xuanyang, four taels of silver was enough to buy a servant.

"Bao Xia, I'll leave them to you. Teach them the rules of the Hua family and inform them of the taboos in the capital."

"Yes, I understand." The first thing she needed to teach them was how to address people!

How dare they call themselves 'I' in front of the miss.

Back in her room, Hua Zhi placed Xiaoshuang's indenture in front of the Sixth Prince. "This person is yours."

The Sixth Prince opened his eyes wide in surprise. "A person that Sister Hua bought herself..."

"They can't be together. That Xiao Shuang would be useful if he's properly trained." Hua Zhi smiled, "Other princes your age already have countless people at their beck and call. You have so few. Since Gu Yanxi has left you in my care, I need to think more about this for you, so that you won't be helpless when you need people. And about your maternal grandfather, before you left, I spoke with your grandmother. The Sun family won't be sending anyone else to your side for now. With fewer people around you, others won't be so hostile. No matter what you want to do, you need to grow up safely and smoothly."

The sixth prince's eyes welled up. He quickly lowered his head, using the act of holding the deed to cover his distress. At that moment, he was incredibly grateful for his elder brothers.

If it weren't for them, how would he have met Sister Hua?

Hua Zhi was momentarily startled by his reaction but soon understood. She couldn't help but smile. She didn't have any intention of bestowing favors, but this child had been so obedient and well-behaved around her for months. In her eyes, he was no different from her own younger brothers. Moreover, the Sun family had provided protection to his family in Yingshan Pass. So, she wanted to take special care of this child, without any ulterior motives.

"Since we're on this topic, Xiao Liu, let me be clear with you."

The boy looked up, his eyes still red.

"Your identity means you can never be like other people's children. The Hua family is too peaceful. Even Bai Lin, while intelligent, hasn't truly experienced much hardship. Don't let the Hua family environment make you lose your vigilance. The Hua family is a place for you to return to when you're tired or weary, but your world is within the imperial palace. Some things can't be avoided by retreating. No one will believe that a prince isn't interested in that position. And those few people in the palace are people you need to guard against your entire life. Do you understand?"

"What about Sister Hua? Does Sister Hua believe that I'm not interested in that position?" The boy stubbornly sought an answer. If even Sister Hua didn't believe him...

Hua Zhi smiled, "I don't need to consider that question. To use an imperfect analogy, all parents want their children to succeed. If you're interested, it's simply your ambition. If you're not, there are other paths you can take. As long as you consider yourself part of the Hua family, even if you want to travel the world, I can ensure you have no worries. Of course, if you ever truly ascend to a high position, I believe you will protect the Hua family, wouldn't you?"

The sixth prince's tears streamed down his face, one after another, as if he were trying to release all the tears he'd held back over the years. He'd never truly felt like he belonged anywhere. The palace was never a home, and though his maternal grandparents cared for him, they always remembered his royal status. The hug he received from his grandmother at the Shi Zai restaurant was the closest they could ever be.

Since his mother's passing, he'd been alone. His father, whom he rarely saw more than a few times a year, his grandmother, whom he visited on a set schedule, and his brothers, who could never be close—when he thought about it, his closest companions were just his guards, and they weren't family.

But now, Sister Hua had given him everything he'd ever wanted. She naturally sheltered him from harm, made the best arrangements for him, trusted him, taught him right from wrong, and guided him to see things clearly. He had everything he'd ever envied Bai Lin for.

This feeling was so wonderful that he couldn't help but crave more. He wanted... to keep others from having it.

But he knew he couldn't.

Sistet Hua was treating him like a younger brother, albeit not a biological one. If he ever crossed a line and made her stop seeing him as a brother, he would lose everything. He could only be a brother, and that was the closest he could be to her.

And that was enough.

Hua Zhi smiled softly, just as she had when she'd disciplined Bai Lin and the boy had cried his eyes out. She pressed a handkerchief to the sixth prince's face. "Don't hold things in. Even if you're embarrassed to talk to me, you can talk to Bai Lin. It's okay for children to cry. When you grow up, you'll have to hide your tears under the covers."

Her words only made the boy cry harder, and Hua Zhi fell silent. She knew of Yan Xi's plans and had her own concerns, but the sixth prince was so obedient that she often forgot his royal status. She simply saw him as a child who needed care. Perhaps it was because she didn't have enough reverence for the imperial power that she dared to express such affection for a prince.

"Alright, now stop crying. If Shao Yao sees you, she'll make fun of you."

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TNote:

[1] 婢子 (bìzi): This term refers to a female servant or maid in ancient China. It highlights the strict social hierarchy and the subservient position of women of lower social classes.

[2] 自称 (zìchēng): This means "to refer to oneself." In ancient Chinese society, the way one addressed oneself was highly dependent on one's social status and the person they were speaking to.