Scent Of Time

Chapter 50

My eyes suddenly widened. Hua Rongzhou, seemingly not noticing, continued to say: “At first, he was very good to me, but later, he began to move against me. Once I resisted, he showed his true colors and began to beat and scold me. However, I was not afraid of him. Even though he beat me, I did not give in. When the old man saw this, he drugged me. Because I was wary, I changed our soup bowls, and he fell asleep. I know if he woke up, I would still live the same life as before, so I took the candlestick and smashed it to his head. Then, I set a fire. I did not steal; I just fled by myself. That year, I was ten years old.” Hua Rongzhou paused for a moment. I have no words. I couldn’t speak.

“After that, I become a beggar. After all, there was no longer room for me there. Later, Wei Xian, a craftsman, picked me up on the street. I thought he just wanted to find someone to learn his craft, so he picked me from so many beggars, but then he had a dirty mind like that old man. But he didn’t beat me, so I escaped on my own once again and continued to be a beggar, then painted my face with mud every day until I unintentionally crashed into your carriage. Then, my dirty life for the past ten years didn’t seem so bitter.”

I always knew that Hua Rongzhou was beautiful. Still, I never thought he had suffered so much because of his looks—beautiful people with no power couldn’t establish themselves in this world easily. I opened my mouth but still didn’t speak.

“In my life, I hate it when people say that I was born good-looking, but when Miss said I was born good-looking, I felt thrilled. Because of you, I think I will try to make myself more powerful and become able to protect you. Others said my martial arts rapidly improved when I was in King Jin Mansion’s competition. That’s because it was a competition for them while I fought for my life.” Hua Rongzhou smiled at me; his tone was harsh, but he smiled like a child.

“Then my bracelet …… and that weaponsmith ……” It took a long time to find my voice back.

A dark aura flashed in Hua Rongzhou’s eyes: “When I saw you were unarmed in the ancestor ceremony and nearly injured, I remembered his craftmanship, so I found him to ask for a concealed weapon for women. However, he used the concealed weapon as blackmail and attempted to kill me, and then I lost my temper for a moment and killed him.”

When my eyes blurred, I heard Hua Rongzhou’s panicked voice: “Miss, don’t cry, I’m fine ……”

Did I cry? Reaching out and touching my face, my hand was indeed moist.

Hua Rongzhou carefully wiped away the tears in the corners of my eyes and then said, “I know I did wrong, Miss. Don’t mind me. My mistake — ”

“You’re not wrong.” I held his fingers and hugged him, “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone.”

Hua Rongzhou did not speak for a long time. I gently patted the back of his hand and stood up. For a moment, it seemed that he slightly hooked the corners of his mouth, but when I looked at him again, he was still full of emotion. I comforted him a few more times before leaving, and when I walked to the door, I stopped and said to the jailer, “I don’t care who’s in charge on your side, but my guard hasn’t been convicted yet, and in the future, if you touch half of his fingers again, I’ll make you pay back double.”

That jailer opened his mouth in difficulty, “This — Miss Hua, the one inside who is not cooperating. Besides, we can’t decide, ah, this is all the meaning of the above.”

Above? I stopped and spoke again, “Then tell my words to the person above you. He will weigh it himself.”

That jailer had a troubled look on his face. I no longer said anything and walked out.

After going out, Cui Zhu looked at me nervously. I ignored her and walked straight ahead.

“Miss ……” Behind me came Cui Zhu’s voice. I didn’t stop and walked straight to the side of the carriage before saying: “You don’t need to tell me about Hua Rongzhou’s matter. I will handle this. You go to the housekeeper and ask for money and your contract. I won’t pursue what you do, but I also won’t tolerate you.”

Cui Zhu walked quickly to kneel in front of me. I saw her kowtow heavily thrice, and her skin’s forehead broke when she straightened up. I said nothing to her and only heard her say: “I made a mistake. I admit and won’t complain. I don’t want money and my contract; I only beg Miss to allow me to stay to see Guard Hua. It would be fine even if Miss sale me. ”

The beauty’s face cried snotty tears. It was true that the matter of feelings was the most disturbing.

“Okay.” I dropped a single word and got on the carriage, no longer speaking.

Cui Zhu wiped her tears and hurriedly got up to follow the carriage. After returning to the Hua Mansion, I sent people to look for the Li Couple who caused trouble on the street that day. However, there was no trace of them. Their silhouette was not in the city, and they hadn’t returned to the border town. I wonder if these Hua Mansion guards were useless or if they could hide.

Hua Xiang also came to my yard several times to ask what was going on. I only said that someone framed me and then covered up the rest. After all, he was only a guard in Hua Xiang’s eyes. I realized how vital power and connections were; otherwise, moving forward here would have been challenging. So I went into the palace, and this time, I looked for Zhong Xiwu.

When Zhong Xiwu saw me, his eyes were full of joy, and he put down the documents in his hands. I directly spoke after opening the door: “Can you help me find Li Couple from that day again?”

Zhong Xiwu hung his head momentarily before raising his head and looking at me with heartbroken eyes, “It’s rare for you to come and find me once. I thought you were here for me.”

I avoided his gaze before I spoke: “Your Majesty, Hua Rongzhou has other hidden reasons. That Li Couple is missing without a trace; they’re clearly in the wrong, so they dare not show up. Hua Rongzhou should not be been locked up like this.”

“I told you his name is Qi Rongzhou, but you still call him Hua Rongzhou. Are you arguing with me?” Zhong Xiwu’s voice grew colder.

I could only soften my tone: “He is my guard. He has saved me from danger many times. How can I see him being framed and wronged like this?”

“A guard?” Zhong Xiwu’s tone rose, “The way he looked at you was not like a guard should be.”

I gripped my hands tightly in my sleeves. I almost forgot he was the Emperor, the most honorable person under the sky. He said that his heart was pleased with me, so naturally, he couldn’t allow me to have someone else around. I overthought momentarily and did not have time to reply. I only reacted when he violently pulled me. His burning eyes scorched my heart, and he said: “So, you already know, but you still allow him to be on your side? What do you take me for?”

He was still — the Emperor, ah.

I lowered my eyes. “It’s related to the report. Lin Jiang’s report didn’t thoroughly describe Qi Rongzhou’s matter. Does the Emperor want to listen to the cause of this?”

Zhong Xiwu loosened the hand on my arm and said, “You believe your guard’s words, and why can’t I believe mine?”

Reaching out to hold the seat handle, I took a deep breath before speaking, “It doesn’t matter if Your Majesty does not want to hear. I will put the evidence in front of you.”

I couldn’t make Zhong Xiwu help me. He was prejudiced against Hua Rongzhou, so he wouldn’t listen to my words, so I could only go to find evidence by myself. “Before the trial …… I hope that the Emperor will not order another beating.”

Zhong Xiwu still had his back to me, so I bowed and retreated with my head hanging down. When I walked to the door, I heard his voice: “Qianqian, can there be a time when you take the initiative to come to seek me? Only because you want to see me?”

My hands involuntarily shook. I took a deep breath and replied, “Then would the Emperor consider me when acts in the future? You have many ways to tell me, but why choose that kind of way?”

After saying that, I stepped out the door and looked up at the sky for a long time until my neck ached before I continued to walk.