Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C260. Jiangling.

Chapter 260: Jiangling

Hua Zhi didn’t linger any longer in Zhenyang. Despite her injuries, which throbbed with each step as if her flesh was being torn apart, she checked out of the inn early the next morning.

“Miss Hua! Miss Hua, wait!”

This voice had become all too familiar over the past few days. Hua Zhi turned to the figure on the dock, a young man with a bundle on his back rushing towards the boat. “Young Master Jiang, this is…”

“Well, I don’t really have anything pressing to do, so it doesn’t matter if I return sooner or later. I’ll just hitch a ride on Miss Hua’s boat.”

After their joint battle against the enemy, Hua Zhi viewed Jiang Huanran differently from the other young masters of the capital. Though she was not overly enthusiastic, she was no longer as cold towards him as before.

She nodded, saying, “The boat is large, and there are many empty rooms. Feel free to make yourself at home, Young Master Jiang.”

“Thank you, Miss Hua.” Jiang Huanran smiled widely, a genuine smile that was not at all irritating.

Hua Zhi returned the smile and slowly walked towards the cabin.

As soon as her back was turned, Jiang Huanran secretly inhaled sharply, his face contorting in pain. The running had seemed to aggravate his wounds. It really hurt. Miss Hua's injuries were clearly worse than his, yet she showed no sign of pain. He couldn’t help but admire her.

Who would have thought?

A young lady raised in such a sheltered environment, while other girls complained about the pain of embroidery, she was out there fighting for her life. He had only been out once and had already encountered such a thing. Who knew what she had been through in the year since the Hua family’s downfall.

If he were to tell others about this, no one would believe him. It was better that way. The less people knew about Miss Hua’s extraordinary nature, the better. When he returned, he would have his mother propose a marriage!

Lost in thought and daydreams, Jiang Huanran grinned again, and even the pain in his wounds seemed to lessen.

The journey from Zhenyang to Jiangling took two and a half days. During this time, Hua Zhi did not leave her cabin. Besides resting, Xiao Liu spent most of his time by Hua Zhi’s side. Hua Zhi would casually talk to him about various things, not in the form of rigid lectures but using real-life examples.

The Gu family had held the throne for nearly two hundred years. The fact that the empire remained relatively stable indicated that the Gu family members were not fools. Xiao Liu was especially intelligent, and he had a unique talent for summarizing. Every time Hua Zhi finished a story, he could quickly extract the essence, which was exactly what the story was trying to convey.

Having such a bright student was very rewarding for Hua Zhi. She didn’t see anything wrong with sharing her knowledge with others, whether it was Wu Xiaoshuang waiting outside or Jiang Huanran who often dropped by. As for what they could understand from her words, that was up to them.

As expected, the boat docked at the inner harbor of Jiangling.

Shaoyao, who had been suppressing her temper for several days, could no longer hold it in. She was filled with murderous intent, looking like she was about to devour someone at any moment. Jiang Huanran avoided this veiled woman whenever he saw her.

“Caocao, this is a personal matter. Since my status is questionable, I won’t go with you.”

Shao Yao nodded immediately, "You should rest well. I never intended to take you along. Xiao Liu, come with me. I'll let you see how the Seven Stars Bureau (Qisu Si) operates!"