Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C286. A Little Finger Promise.

Chapter 286: A Little Finger Promise

Even though Hua Zhi claimed she wasn’t in a rush, Steward Xu couldn’t sit still. He retreated to his quarters, obsessing over how to solve the matter.

Hua Zhi beckoned Fu Dong closer, her tone decisive. “Start scouting for good properties nearby. I’ll be heading north soon, and if we don’t secure a shop before I leave, don’t slack off. Keep looking. Around mid-August…”

She paused abruptly, recalling Haoyue’s ominous prediction of an August flood in Xiangyang. Unlike Yan Xi, who wavered between doubt and belief, Hua Zhi fully trusted it. This was Haoyue’s first public forecast—if it failed, her reputation would take a serious hit.

“It might actually drag into September,” Hua Zhi continued, her mind racing. “That’s when the ingredients will start arriving from the south. Time is tight. If you find a property that fits, don’t wait—buy it. Coordinate with the others, pull funds from Nianqiu if needed. Some of the seafood will arrive alive, so they’re already prepping seawater for transport. The shop must have a big backyard, and part of it needs temperature control.”

She paused to think, then added, “I’ll draft a plan myself. Adjust and refine it as necessary, but don’t waste time.”

Fu Dong nodded, mentally cataloging each directive with precision.

Just then, Gu Yanxi appeared at the door. Hua Zhi barely spared him a glance, quickly wrapping up her instructions to Fu Dong before dismissing her.

The household’s maids, including the ever-watchful Suyun Mama, kept Gu Yanxi at arm’s length. Whenever they crossed paths, they stayed wary, avoiding even the faintest appearance of association. None of them dared risk being caught in his orbit.

After Suyun Mama served the tea and quietly stepped outside, Gu Yanxi leaned back and said, his tone calm but firm, “There’s nothing pressing right now. Why not rest for a while?”

Hua Zhi, moving away from the desk to sit beside him, didn’t miss a beat. “Not dealing with it now only makes it linger, festering into something worse.” Her gaze was sharp, cutting straight to the point. “You’re always nagging me about overworking, but look at yourself—still here at this hour.”

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, they shared a knowing smile. It was true: both of them thrived in their relentless drive, bound by the weight of their responsibilities.

“I spoke to the Emperor about Ling County,” Gu Yanxi said, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of calculated restraint. “He was very receptive to your proposal.”

Hua Zhi smirked, her tone dripping with pragmatism. “Of course, he was. A legacy project appeals to his vanity—as long as it’s not rushed or ends up bleeding the people dry while wasting resources.”

Gu Yanxi’s smile faded, his expression turning colder. He knew her words hit the mark. Without the leverage of the Chaoli tribe issue, he wouldn’t have been able to convince his Imperial uncle to exercise patience. The Emperor, flush with resources and intoxicated by peace and prosperity, was itching to leave behind a grand, enduring achievement. But Gu Yanxi knew better—reckless ambition could destabilize everything.

Still, the Chaoli tribe was an obstacle that had to be dealt with before anything could move forward.

“I haven’t told him about Haoyue,” Gu Yanxi said quietly, his tone laced with warning.

Hua Zhi’s eyebrow arched, her curiosity piqued. “Are you planning to keep her for yourself?”

Gu Yanxi’s expression darkened as he reached out, brushing an invisible thread off her sleeve with calculated care. “She stays in Daqing, but she won’t end up in the wrong hands. If the Emperor gets wind of her, it’ll throw everything into chaos. Haoyue isn’t one of us, and I can’t trust her motives.”