Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C319. They Have No Chance.

Chapter 319 They Have No Chance

Once it involves matters of the royal family, things become complicated.

But Hua Zhi wasn’t the type to roll over and play nice—not with her pride on the line. The thought kept gnawing at her:

What if she hadn’t shown up at that split second?

What if Jia Yang hadn’t been there?

What if Mr. Zheng hadn’t sent her to hand over that package to Zeng Xian?

What if she hadn’t let her heart go soft over Zeng Han?

With so many ifs, all fifty-four members of the Hua family, along with their loyal servants, wouldn't have survived.

How could she convince herself to overlook this incident?

She clenched her jaw. 'You wanted to play games, didn’t you? Fine. I won’t lay a finger on you, but I’ll hand you the shovel to dig your own grave. Let’s see how far you get.'

Gu Yanxi, ever the steady hand, caught the storm brewing in her eyes. “I’ve already ordered the Seven Stars Bureau to deliver the evidence and witnesses back to the capital. Rest assured, the Hua family will get the justice they deserve.”

Hua Zhi’s resolve faltered for a moment. She’d doubted Yan Xi when she shouldn’t have. Her voice dipped, quiet but edged with guilt. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her head low.

But even as the words left her mouth, her fists remained clenched. Apologies weren’t going to cut it

Gu Yan Xi shook his head slowly, his voice calm but laced with a sharp edge. "From a public standpoint, he's toast. A prince of the Daqing Dynasty conspiring with outsiders and poisoning loyal officials? Treason doesn’t even begin to cover it. The First Prince has completely fallen out of favor, and the Second Prince, with his long-standing position, has more opportunities than the others. I can't let this opportunity fall into his hands. The Daqing Dynasty cannot have a Crown Prince who is convicted of treason. And personally?" His gaze flicked to hers, hard and unyielding. "I don't want you to cut off the ties with me because of his actions."

Hua Zhi bit her lip, her silence sharp and telling. If Yan Xi dared to sweep this under the rug, she'd draw the line—no hesitation. Her quiet answer stung more than words, and Gu Yan Xi exhaled heavily. That damn status he held—coveted by everyone else—was always the wedge between them.

"Ah Zhi..."

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes blazing. "What are you going to do about it?"

He arched a brow, amused by her fire. "What do you mean?"

"If this all comes out—what then?"

"I won’t get my hands dirty. The evidence will do the talking."

Hua Zhi’s brow furrowed, doubt curling around her words. "Your uncle trusts you. But that’s still his son we’re talking about. You think he’s just going to roll with it?"

"If he takes it badly, it means he already has some displeasure towards the one he's redirecting it to. But me? He’s never had a reason to hate."

"Which means," Hua Zhi shot back, her tone biting, "he doesn't like the Hua family, which is why he's redirecting his anger."

Gu Yan Xi paused, Hua Zhi's reaction was quick.

Smart, too smart.

"That's true. If he liked them, he would protect them anyway. It's human nature." Hua Zhi exhaled sharply, tension slipping from her frame as a bitter smile curved her lips. She let go of the anger and frustration that had coiled tight in her chest—for her family, for Hua Jingyan. Still, deep down, she wanted to grab those suffocating family rules and shove them in the Emperor's face. Let him see exactly what it cost for the Hua family to survive through the generations.