In the Empress Dowager's Fushou Palace, Gu Yanxi bowed and called her grandmother.
The Queen Mother beckoned him to sit closer. She was already used to seeing her grandson's face. "I heard that you were scolded by your uncle when you went to the Hua family to pay your respects."
"I didn't expect the news to reach you. Don't worry, it's not that serious. I usually have no contact with the Hua family, but I suddenly went to the Hua family to express my condolences. The emperor's uncle was curious and asked a few more questions."
"Grandma is curious too, you can talk to her about it too."
Gu Yanxi lowered her eyes, "If I tell you, you'll be sad again."
"It's okay. This one is not a big deal."
After a moment of silence, Gu Yanxi said, "When I escaped from the palace, I was covered in blood. Everyone who saw me would stay away from me. If it wasn't for Mr. Hua who happened to pass by and took me to the hospital in his carriage, you might not have seen me again."
Gu Yanxi spoke calmly, but the empress dowager almost broke her nails. Back then, the emperor brought the bruised and battered Yanxi back from the clinic!
"That's why I don't want to tell you. If you know it, you will be sad when you think about those things! It's been so long, don't always keep it in your mind."
The Queen Mother patted his hand lovingly, her love for him growing even stronger.
Gu Yanxi lowered her eyes. Hua Yizhen had nothing to do with this matter from the beginning. Back then, he was the one who tried his best to avoid the pursuers and ran to the clinic.
But only if Hua Yizhen is kept here will the emperor's uncle not investigate further. No one wants to uncover those rotten old stories, which will disgust themselves and others.
He also relied on the trust of his uncle the emperor. He had the power to supervise all officials, but no one was supervising him. That was why he dared to follow Hua Zhi to Yinshan Pass without an imperial edict, and he dared to hide his identity and go to the Hua family to be a martial arts master.
Because of this, although the princes were afraid of him, they did not dare to touch him at all.
"Your father..."
"Grandma." Gu Yanxi looked up, "Don't talk about him."
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it." Of all her descendants, the Queen Mother loved this ill-fated grandson the most. She couldn't bear to see him in any difficult situation. Seeing that he was unhappy, she immediately changed the subject and said, "Grandmother has shown you a few girls from good families. They are all good-natured and not troublesome. Their families are not those prominent and powerful families. You don't have to worry about..."
The Queen Mother patted his hands, "Don't always drift alone, Grandmother is distressed, your uncle has mentioned it several times, Yan Xi, don't blame your uncle for some things, it's not easy for him to sit in that position, but no matter what, he also hopes that you can start a family in peace and stability."
"I have never blamed my uncle. How could I blame him?" Gu Yanxi's expression was unusually gentle, completely different from her usual indifference. "Even the princes may not have received as much care as I did. I have slept with my uncle, but they haven't."
The Queen Mother also laughed, "That's right, you have to remember all of this. If you think about this, some things won't be worth worrying about, don't you think?"
"Yes, you don't have to worry about what I will think. I don't care about what they are fighting for, and I don't bother to fight for it. Even if they really want to take back the power from me one day, I am willing to hand it over with both hands. Grandmother, don't worry, I won't get involved in those things. It's best to live a carefree life. When the weather is good after the New Year, I will talk to my uncle and take you out of the palace to live for a while. Being trapped in this imperial city every day will make you tired of the beautiful scenery."
The Queen Mother was as happy as an ordinary grandmother, her eyes narrowed, "Don't think that I will forget about it just because you are making me happy. Look at all the noble families in the capital, which sons are still unmarried at your age? The eldest son is not much older than you, but he already has several children. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
He doesn't need to do anything to gain the position, Gu Yanxi thought to himself, but gave the Queen Mother a reassurance, "My grandson has someone he likes, but the timing is not right now. When the time comes, I will tell you."
The Queen Mother was so delighted that she sat up straight, "You didn't lie to me?"
"My grandson dare not lie to you."
"Which girl is that? Tell grandma quickly, what time has not come yet? It has already come. Tell me quickly."
Gu Yanxi just shook her head and refused to reveal a word no matter how the Empress Dowager threatened or coaxed her.
The emperor, who had been listening outside for a while, left as quietly as he had come. The palace maids kneeling on the ground looked at each other, all of them still feeling frightened.
Gu Yanxi glanced outside the hall and continued to deal with his grandmother's interrogation.
After a night, the sun came out early and it was a nice day today.
Amid the sound of Buddhist chanting, the coffin slowly closed. Hua Zhi watched as her grandmother's face was covered little by little, and finally it closed with a bang, never to see each other again in this life.
The coffin was nailed shut and everyone was crying, family members, servants, big and small, old and young, all were crying, but Hua Zhi was not crying.
She never cried from beginning to end.
She just stood at the front with her back straight, making people look at her, follow her, and obey her involuntarily. Before anyone could react, the Hua family quickly transitioned from the old mistress to the new head of the family.
The time has come.
Master Prajna gave the spirit tablet to Hua Bolin to hold, and handed the portrait to Hua Zhi in the surprised eyes of everyone.
Hua Zhi didn't ask why. She held the portrait she had drawn herself and knelt outside the mourning hall with her brothers and sisters, waiting for the coffin to be removed. She had made arrangements last night that she would take her brothers to the funeral, while her sisters would stay at home.
Amid the sound of burning incense, the sound of the wooden fish tapped gently in my heart.
The coffin was lifted by strong servants, and the pallbearers were Chen Sui'an, Song Chenghao, Chen Dayi, and the old lady's nephews and grandnieces from her mother's side. It looked a bit put together and shabby.
Ling Qi, a group of filial sons were helped out of the gate by old servants. The sounds of singing, shouting, burning incense, and wooden fish were all bustling and all washed away the sadness. Hua Zhi put on her hood and thought that after seven days, the sadness must have come to an end.
When the coffin was carried outside the gate, Hua Jing knelt on the ground and cried miserably. No one from the Hua family, from the master to the servants, stepped forward. They all watched coldly. At this time, even the most dull-witted person could sense that something was wrong with the way the Hua family treated Hua Jing. In the end, Song Chenghao helped her aside in the face of everyone's gazes.
He regretted it so much. His father didn't come, his brothers and sisters didn't come, what was he doing here! He was such a big person! With the attitude of the Hua family, it was impossible for everything to be fine as his mother said!
Song Chenghao was annoyed in his heart, but his actions were still gentle. Only Hua Jing, who was supported by him, knew how much strength he used.
Hua Jing endured the pain and lowered her head and cried. The real sadness in her heart disappeared in an instant, leaving only resentment!
She had to strike first and gain the upper hand. Even if Hua Zhi had a hundred mouths, she would never be able to throw dirty water on her, her elder. As for the Song family, she had to think of a reason to fool them.
Thinking of this, Hua Jing raised her eyes to look at Hua Zhi, but unexpectedly Hua Zhi was also looking at her with cold, disdainful eyes, as if she was looking at garbage.
She, she actually dared!
Hua Jing was so angry that she felt dizzy and if her hands were not still being held tightly by her son, she would have wanted to pounce on and tear apart the junior who dared to look at her like that.