Scent Of Time

Chapter 42

“No, he wore a mask.”

Hearing Hua Rongzhou’s answer, I wasn’t too disappointed; it was a gain. “Then what happened afterward?”

“The man in black didn’t seem to want to tangle with me, so after a few moves, he took advantage to injure my waistline and fled in a hurry. I also hurt his arm; after that, I — was worried about Young Miss’s safety, so I did not chase.”

Injured arm? I lightly tapped my fingers on the desk, pondering.

Noticing that Hua Rongzhou was still on the sidelines, I temporarily collected my thoughts, “Falling off the cliff and injured; why didn’t you tell me about these things?”

“Because Young Miss did not ask.” Hua Rongzhou looked at me, his gaze clear, without complaint.

I felt something clogged my heart; these past few days, I had closed myself off from asking about idle matters; no wonder he hadn’t said anything to me. He felt that if he took the initiative to tell me, I would think he asked for credit, so he did so much without mentioning it.

“From now on, you have to talk to me about everything, okay?” I said.

Hua Rongzhou nodded heavily.

My tone was a bit heavy, so I added: “I’m always busy with my affairs and unable to care about other things. I know you usually talk less, but you’ve done so much for me, so you must learn to take the initiative to say it; otherwise, how would others know about it? I’ve never viewed you as a subordinate. So, you can speak freely, and I won’t think you’re taking credit.”

“I know.” Hua Rongzhou spoke, looking at me with a deep gaze.

“You should recuperate. Don’t do things like taking Zhong Yelan’s palm. First, learn to protect yourself before protecting others, you know? Besides, I do not need ……”

“Miss had said this to me before.” Hua Rongzhou interrupted my words and smiled brightly at me, his eyes twinkling with a river of stars, “But I have thought about it myself for a long time. Whether Miss needs it or not, I still feel that Miss is more important; it doesn’t matter how I am; I can’t see Miss suffer from half a bit of aggravation.”

The young man’s blatant confession reddened my old face. I awkwardly laughed and said, “You silly child …… hurry back to rest. These days, you don’t need to guard this courtyard. Recuperate well. You can ask Qian Zhi if you need anything.”

Ignoring Hua Rongzhou’s noticeable loss, I sent him away. Is it hard to believe that this kid likes me? Or is he just loyal to me? Thinking of the “hmm” in the valley, I couldn’t help but dwell on it for a moment. But what’s wrong with me now? First, Zhong Xiwu, then Hua Rongzhou. Am I becoming the female lead? Unfortunately, among these two, one has a harem of countless beauties, and one is too young, so my peach blossom luck is not that good. Shaking my head to shake off these distractions, I recalled the words of Hua Rongzhou just now – the bottom of the valley, the man in black. Closing my eyes and projecting the possibilities in my head, I eventually got up and walked outside, no longer sleepy.

In Hua Xiang’s room, I sat silently on a chair, fiddling with my fingers. A few moments later, Hua Xiang came from the outside while carrying a pot of tea. With a head full of white hair, he was no longer arrogant, but lookied easy-going as an ordinary old father.

“This is Shen’er brought over to me when he was alive, he knew that I like tea, so he didn’t spend thousands of dollars to buy these few taels of tea. For this reason I have reprimanded him many times, but he still turned a deaf ear, and from time to time he would bring it over to me, you come and taste what do you think?” Hua Xiang personally poured me a cup and handed it over.

Reaching out to take it, my hand shook so much that the teacup and the base collided for a moment, a crisp sound rang out, and I placed the tealight on the table before barely maintaining my composure.

“How is mother these days?” I spoke with my head bowed.

Hua Xiang took a sip of tea before speaking, “Much more emotionally stable, you can go to her house more often if you’re not doing anything, ultimately you’re her only child now, she won’t make a scene once she’s sober.”

My chest hurt so much that I felt like I couldn’t breathe, just as I was trying to inhale to keep my composure, Hua Xiang spoke again, “In a few days your brother’s tablet will be sent back to the ancestral hall on the old side of the family home, and at that time I will go and resign from my post, lest those old codgers in the clan see that I am out of power and think of something else to thwart me.”

“Everything is at father’s disposal.” I clasped my fingers in the palm of my own hand before I could speak back.

Right now, to me, what crimes, what three views of right and wrong, what good and evil are right and wrong… it doesn’t matter, I have to protect Huafu in its entirety. Otherwise, the fire called “remorse” burning in my chest will burn me out sooner or later.

“Is there any place you want to go, Shallow Child? When the time comes, we are not in a hurry to go back to our hometown, we will first have a good tour, speaking of being an official for so many years, I have never taken you out alone, it is because I have neglected you too much before.” Hua Xiang reached out and patted my shoulder, opening his mouth amiably.

My body involuntarily trembled, and I hurriedly opened my mouth before the tears came out, “Father, can you lend me some manpower?”

Hua Xiang froze, put down his tea and opened his mouth, “What trouble does Shallow Child have?”

“I want to do something, but unfortunately there are too few people in my hands that I can use.” I said back.

“What is it? Tell me, I can come and help you ……”

“Father, this is something I want to do myself.” I interrupted and said back.

Hua Xiang also no longer insisted: “The people in this house you can call at will, no need to speak to me, what can’t be solved come and tell me is.”

“Thank you father.” I got up and bowed.

This matter must be mine to do, Hua Shen died because he was defending me, during the time before Minister Hua resigned, I must do justice to Hua Shen.

Having been instructed by Minister Hua, I immediately drew out six resourceful ones from the Hua mansion guards and said to them, ”The few of you will take turns guarding the area around the Jin Wang Mansion for two things. The first is to pay attention to every move of the Pastor’s concubine, if she goes out, you guys will follow her, don’t scare her, and if she meets anyone, just come back and tell me. The second is to see if there is anyone who visits the Jin Wang Mansion at night, if there is, then inquire about this person’s whereabouts and come back to report to me.”

The six guards arched their hands in agreement.

I added another uneasy sentence, “If you are found out, there’s no harm in saying that you are Hua Fu’s guards, ordered by me to monitor Mu Yao.”

The six guards glanced at each other, and without asking too many questions, they returned together, “Subordinate knows.”

I then waved my hand for them to go down.

What we need now is to wait for that person to show traces of can, ZhongXi Wu also said these days the imperial city guarded, assassination of the black man for a while also can not escape. I sent to monitor the guards even if the ability is not good to be found, it does not matter, others will only think that I am out of jealousy of women, unwilling to have this action.

That day in the hillock to see Zhong Xi Wu, he clearly knows what but did not mention, therefore I do not have to wait for this side, entering the palace to find out the news is also good, after all, every move in the palace, but will trigger a myriad of wind blowing grass.

Turned his head to Qian Zhi opened: ” Later, to the palace to pass a post, say I tomorrow to the palace to the Empress Dowager thank you.”

Qian Zhi nodded and answered and left, I also said to Yin Xing: “You help me find the bracelet that the Empress Dowager gave me after the marriage, now that I have already separated, there are some things that should be returned.”

Yin Xing nodded and then turned around to rummage through the dresser.

No matter what, the man in black who carried out the assassination this time…all the masterminds behind the scenes, I must find them, leaving myself three days to grieve for the heavens is already enough, nowadays time is so precious, I can’t afford to waste any more of it.