This time, Hua Zhi really took a break. She even forced herself to pause the things in her mind. She didn't want to be the tragic figure who sacrificed herself for everyone else. She didn't want to leave her name in history like that.
If everything can be peaceful in the end, she hopes she can live to see it, hopes she can enjoy the peace and joy that she has gained after doing everything she can. She doesn't need others to erect a plaque or a tombstone for her, and she doesn't want those on the front line to see only a handful of earth when they return.
She wants to live!
So she started to exercise systematically the next morning. The long corridor was a good place for running. She walked slowly back and forth, then jogged. When her body couldn't bear it anymore, she stopped and walked again. She repeated this until her whole body was warm.
"Miss, Dr. Yu is here."
In fact, Doctor Yu had been here for a while. He was happy to see that she took such good care of herself. Personally, he hoped that this girl who had given so much to her family could be in good health. Publicly, he also hoped that she could have a body strong enough to handle all the work. As a citizen of Daqing, he naturally only hoped that Daqing could be the winner of this war.
Hua Zhifu came forward to greet him.
Doctor Yu raised his hand and asked, "How do you feel?"
"I feel a little more relaxed."
“Good.”
Hua Zhi chuckled and said, "Please wait a moment. I'll come right after I change my clothes."
In the flower hall, Divine Doctor Yu took back his pulse-taking hand and said, "In the final analysis, it is still due to deficiency. The frequent losses in the past two years have made your body unable to bear it. Young lady, you should listen to my advice. For the sake of your future, don't be careless. After all, a woman's body is not as good as a man's."
"Yes, I'll remember that." Hua Zhi pulled up her sleeves. "If I continue to train like this in the future, or even increase the size a little, can my body handle it?"
"It is a great virtue, but it needs to be done step by step, don't rush it."
"yes."
Doctor Yu put the medicine pillow into the medicine box and was about to say goodbye and leave. He had to go to the palace today to check the Queen Mother's pulse. This was what his disciple asked before he left.
Hua Zhi looked at the old man's slightly hunched back, stood up and bowed, "I'm sorry about what happened in the palace before, and thank you for not exposing me."
Doctor Yu paused, turned around and looked at the girl who was looking down with her head down and couldn't see her expression clearly, and sighed, "Why mention the past?"
"I took advantage of your kindness." If she hadn't known from Mr. Yu about the interactions between medicines, if she hadn't guided Mr. Yu to guess the late emperor's physical condition at the time, and if she hadn't known that the late emperor was in a state of balance, she wouldn't have dared to take the gamble of using medicine on his clothes to induce the aphrodisiac effect of musk to break the balance.
She could be cruel to the emperor, but she always felt guilty when facing this old man.
"You've been holding this in your heart for a long time, right? Don't regret it now. Worrying too much is not good for your health." Doctor Yu sighed. "His body was already at the end of its strength. Even if you didn't take action, he wouldn't have lived for a few days. But if you hadn't broken the situation and let them succeed in the end, I don't know how many lives would have been lost. I know my disciple well. She would protect the person she loves even if it costs her own life. How could I stay out of it then? When you asked me about those things, I guessed what you were going to do. I didn't stop you, which was equivalent to my consent. You don't need to blame yourself."
Whether it was a comfort or it was really the case, Hua Zhi felt much more relieved and she bowed again.
Doctor Yu accepted her gift with some emotion in his heart. It would be fine if she was really a ruthless person, but she was just an empty shell with such a soft heart on the inside. He didn't know how much she had endured in her heart to make all those decisions. How could he not worry too much? Fortunately, she had a strong character. If it were someone else, they would have collapsed long ago.
For two days, Hua Zhi didn't even go to the front yard. She spent time with her mother, chatted with each room, and exercised. The time passed by in a flash.
When she appeared in front of everyone again in official uniform, it seemed as if those two days of leisure were just their imagination.
Instead of rushing into the palace, Hua Zhi went to the clan school.
The sound of reading aloud can cleanse one's soul. After listening for a while outside, her expression couldn't help but soften. She hadn't been here for a long time, busy running around everywhere. It seemed like the last time she taught here was a long time ago.
"It's the eldest sister!"
Someone saw her, the sound of reading stopped, and a group of children, big and small, ran out together. Looking at her official uniform, they wanted to approach her but did not dare to. Zeng Han did not have such concerns. The children rarely showed emotions on their faces, so they came over and hugged her legs without moving their heads.
Following his lead, those who were already ready to make a move immediately gathered around, calling out "Elder Sister" again and again.
Hua Zhi touched Zeng Han's head, nodded and smiled at Zheng Zhi and Mu Qing who came out, and her eyes fell on these children with clear eyes.
Her greatest achievement was not becoming the first female official in the Daqing Dynasty, not how much money she earned, not her fame, but protecting the children in her family from innocence and childishness, and allowing them to safely accept the Hua family's inheritance in this world. They will surely become the purest descendants of the Hua family in the future. Of course, the premise is that Daqing becomes the winner in the war.
"Can you make progress?"
Children of all ages nodded and chattered about what books they were reading recently, what they had learned, who they surpassed in the last exam, etc.
Hua Zhi sat down on the stone chair and listened to them carefully. Under their expectant eyes, she praised where necessary, commented where necessary, and encouraged where necessary. Zeng Han leaned beside her without saying a word, trying to be sticky to her without leaving any trace but everyone could see it.
"Sister, I want to be an official when I grow up." A child with delicate features suddenly raised his voice.
"Then you have to grow up quickly."
The child nodded vigorously, "When I become an official, my elder sister can rest."
Hua Zhi's heart warmed, "Okay, when you become an official, I will come back and continue to be a teacher."
"Then you, Ninth Brother, go and be an official. I don't want to be an official. I want to be my eldest sister's student."
The child called Ninth Brother looked conflicted, because he also wanted to be the eldest sister’s student!
Hua Zhi laughed and touched the child's face, "It's time to go to class, work hard."
"Yes, elder sister."
Children of all ages walked into the house, looking back every few steps. Only Zeng Han stood firm and did not move.
Hua Zhi pulled him over and looked at him with satisfaction. He had grown taller and his face had gained some weight. However, he still looked too mature compared to other children of the same age. "Are you okay?"
Zeng Han nodded, then raised his hand and poked Hua Zhi's face, "You are not good."
"I've been very busy lately." Hua Zhi smiled. "If you want to read any book, go to my study and get it. But remember, too much is too little."
Zeng Han nodded again.
"The teacher is going to give a lecture."
Zeng Han did not move.
Hua Zhi thought he had something to say, and just as she was about to ask, she saw the child running away with a clatter.
She didn't think much about it and walked towards Mr. Zheng who was leaning against the pillar.