Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C345. Deployment.

Chapter 345: Deployment

The fake eunuch was captured, but guess who’s still lounging around untouched? The First Prince, of course.

Rank stripped, exiled, and yet the royal blood running through his veins is enough to keep Wu Yong and the Seven Stars Bureau tiptoeing around him. With Gu Yanxi conveniently out of the picture, no one dared to lay a finger on the pampered royal. Instead, all they did was keep tabs on him like dutiful babysitters. But, oh no, it wasn’t them who snapped—it was the prince himself. The fragile ego couldn’t handle it and marched straight to the governor’s mansion.

Wu Yong had received the news early and had avoided going there. The place of his sanctuary was naturally the Hua family. Now he had a good excuse: he had a poison that needed to be cured, but Shao Yao couldn’t leave Hua Zhi's side, so he had no choice but to go to her.

Under her own nose, Hua Zhi didn't bother to expose him. She was now full of a sense of crisis and spent most of her time in front of a sand table, simulating various terrains on the map. However, she didn't do anything, just watched, often standing there motionless for half an hour or an hour. No one knew what she was thinking.

Hua Pingyu, bless his curiosity, tried to sneak in a question or two but was immediately shut down by Hua Yizheng. The old man had put two and two together, though even he wasn’t privy to the whole puzzle. Instead of prying, he took action.

He sent the younger Hua clan members to the military camp, drilling them in horseback archery like their lives depended on it—which, let’s face it, wasn’t far from the truth. The man himself, despite his creaking joints, put in half an hour daily to keep his body as battle-ready as it could be. Hua Zhi’s ominous words had sunk deep: When chaos strikes, even if you can’t fight, you damn well better know how to run.

*

Three days later, well after the sun had clocked out and retired, Gu Yanxi finally showed his face. Hua Zhi had been restless for days, her unease bubbling beneath the surface like a pot perpetually on the brink of boiling over. Even asleep, her body betrayed her tension, jolting awake for no discernible reason. Shao Yao, ever the considerate meddler, found herself cornered, forced to spill the beans: Yan-ge was back.

Hua Zhi quickly got up and put on some clothes before heading out. She immediately spotted Gu Yanxi waiting outside, listening for any movement inside.

Silently, she motioned for him to follow, her finger pressed to her lips in a gesture that demanded obedience. She led him, not to some grand hall or cozy sitting room, but to the kitchen—a place where warmth was conjured from fire and steam, not words. His hands, cold from whatever trials he had endured, brushed against hers briefly, sending a chill down her spine. But in the quiet sanctuary of the kitchen, that chill gave way to an odd, comforting warmth that seemed to ease the tension etched into his features.

Turning on the light, Hua Zhi, ever practical, rolled up her sleeves like she was about to wage war against his empty stomach. "Sit," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "I’ll make you some noodles. You look like you need more than just a hot meal, but let’s start there."

Her hands, unfamiliar with the kitchen's rituals but determined nonetheless, fumbled with the stove. Gu Yanxi watched her, his heart swelling with an unexpected, almost painful contentment. This—this ordinary moment, unmarred by schemes or shadows—felt more like home than any grand reception ever could. A simple bowl of noodles and a warm cup of tea were all it took to remind him of what he’d been missing.

For now, the weight of the world could wait. He wasn’t about to shatter this fragile bubble of comfort with talk of alliances and betrayals. No, he’d sit, eat, and soak in the rare tranquility Hua Zhi offered, whether she realized it or not.