Chapter 285: Chapter 262: Who’s in Control

Lies!

Deceit!

Don’t you even blush when you tell such obvious lies with eyes wide open?

What do you mean you have no property in Ping City? If you wished, with your abilities, wouldn’t getting a few houses be as easy as lifting a finger?

Hua Cuo was stunned for a long time before she regained her ability to speak. Remembering what Rong Zhi had just said, that this house belonged to him, she immediately recalled that in a secluded part of the house, there was a large bamboo grove that somewhat resembled the layout of Rong Zhi’s residence in the Princess Mansion. She had thought it was a coincidence because that corner was too remote, so she didn’t arrange for anyone to live there, but now it seemed it was premeditated.

Staring at Rong Zhi’s innocent smiling face, Hua Cuo suddenly felt a tingling in her teeth and a strong urge to bite him.

But Hua Cuo also knew that even if she was reluctant, she couldn’t change anything. Rong Zhi must have made all his preparations before meeting with her. Whether she allowed it or not, he would move in. If not, he would certainly find another way.

Of course, she could choose to move out, but firstly, finding a residence in Ping City was not an easy task, and secondly, even if she found one, she couldn’t avoid Rong Zhi’s scheming. It might be better to just comply with his wishes.

Suppressing her impulse, Hua Cuo gave a cold sneer and stepped aside from the door. “If you wish to keep a closer watch on me, please come in.” After much contemplation, this was the only excuse she could find for Rong Zhi’s actions.

Because the real reason lay in the most unlikely direction, a direction that Hua Cuo would never consider.

—- Not even in her dreams had she entertained such a fantasy.

Therefore, all of Rong Zhi’s anomalies, even the kiss outside Luoyang City that was obvious for all to see, were easily overlooked under intentional and unintentional misinterpretations.

When one truly wants to avoid something, whatever they see or hear will be interpreted according to their preconceived angle. Misinterpretations and misunderstandings, this is just the beginning.

Rong Zhi smoothly moved into the house, with his servants carrying various household items and streaming in after him. He was already familiar with the layout of the house, and without needing anyone to lead him, he found his way on his own. Rong Zhi kept walking, and the people behind followed in order, forming a long procession that looked like a dragon from afar, winding and stretching for twenty or thirty meters.

Walking beside him, Hua Cuo glanced back at the long line following them and saw people carrying books, lifting chests, and holding decorative items–every variety of things was there. It seemed that Rong Zhi was planning to stay at her house for a long time.

You Lan crossed from the opposite side of the main walkway and was surprised at the sight of the procession. When she came closer and saw the young man in white walking beside Hua Cuo, she was so shocked that she dropped the tray she was carrying; the white porcelain bowl shattered into several pieces, spilling the creamy fish soup all over the ground.

“Young… Young Master Rong…” Her face turned pale in an instant, and You Lan’s weak voice trembled like a leaf in the wind.

Counting from Huan Yuan and others who had been by Hua Cuo’s side from Jiankang to Luoyang to Ping City, there was also You Lan. In Princess Jiankang’s Mansion, she served as Hua Cuo’s maid, in Chu Garden at Luoyang she was still Hua Cuo’s maid, and now in Ping City, she continued her diligent work.

When Hua Cuo took her away from Jiankang, it was because as her personal maid, You Lan couldn’t be completely kept in the dark about Hua Cuo’s activities. Furthermore, You Lan had no family and nowhere to go after leaving the Princess Mansion, so she followed Hua Cuo, quietly traveling this long journey.

Rong Zhi glanced at You Lan and then turned to Hua Cuo with a smile. “You sure are sentimental,” he said.

Hua Cuo’s face was expressionless as she replied, “You Lan, you may leave for now. He will be living with us from now on, but you don’t need to bother with him; his own people will serve him.”

You Lan bowed her head, timidly responding. Before she could step away, a red figure swiftly appeared at the entrance of the courtyard ahead. “What’s going on?” It turned out that the commotion had disturbed Amman, who lived not far from there.

Amman was holding an unsheathed longsword, his face still beaded with sweat from practicing. Like You Lan, he immediately noticed Rong Zhi. His originally indifferent expression turned grim and forbidding in an instant.

Hua Cuo inwardly gasped, cursing at her oversight. She had only been thinking about how she should deal with Rong Zhi moving in but had neglected to consider how the other person in this house, who despised Rong Zhi to the bone, would react. If Amman saw Rong Zhi, bloodshed might occur the next second.

Hua Cuo deeply regretted it. She wanted to say something to diffuse the tension but realized that Amman’s eyes were fixed solely on Rong Zhi, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Rong Zhi, with a faint smile on his lips, calmly looked back at Amman, completely unconcerned with the tense and dangerous atmosphere.

The two exchanged glances for a moment, to Chu Yu’s surprise, Hua Cuo did not draw his sword and charge forward, and even quickly, his expression returned to normal as he asked, “Are you going to live here?”

Rong Zhi smiled and said, “Indeed.”

“Very well.” Before the sound of his voice faded, Hua Cuo had already turned back inside the door.

Thus, a storm dissipated invisibly. Although Chu Yu knew that Hua Cuo’s current inaction didn’t mean he would never act in the future, it was still good that they hadn’t fought just now. She let out a sigh of relief, hurried to see Rong Zhi to his place, and after shaking off this trouble, she left as if fleeing.

Rong Zhi found a secluded corner in the bamboo forest and sat down, just as he used to sit quietly in the bamboo forest of the Princess Mansion. His body seemed to integrate with the bamboo forest, and the green shadows cast upon him laid a cool, dark layer upon his snow-white clothes.

He carelessly plucked a bamboo leaf, looked at it carefully, and then smiled. Although they tried to mimic the Southern Dynasty’s style as much as possible, there were still differences. Some types of bamboo were not quite suited to grow in the north; the ones planted in this yard were a different species from those in Jiankang.

If they had tried to plant the Jiankang species of bamboo here, they perhaps wouldn’t wither, but they wouldn’t grow well either.

Everything changes when moved to another place.

But… it’s good as long as one comes here.

He was here, and he was in control.

Since he had already taken that step, there should be no hesitation, just follow through.

Once decided, he would not waver.

What belonged to him would ultimately be his.

On his exceptionally refined and handsome face, slowly emerged an expression of complete control, powerful and composed.

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The news of Rong Zhi moving into the household was known by everyone from the Southern Dynasty, but nobody seemed to react much. Everyone went about their usual business, not changing a thing just because one more person was now living with them.

Hua Cuo continued to practice swordsmanship daily without leaving the house, Amman made a point to walk around the yard where Rong Zhi lived, Huan Yuan merely hummed upon hearing the news and asked no further…

Chu Yu, after a few days, entered Rong Zhi’s courtyard once again, not for Rong Zhi, but for the little one who had once bitten her.

Tuoba Hong was the infant’s name. It was homophonic but not identical to his father’s name, the Emperor of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong. The child was now being taken care of by those close to Rong Zhi. On a regular basis, Rong Zhi paid the child little attention, only bringing him out to amuse himself when Chu Yu visited.

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard, Chu Yu immediately spotted the small wooden bed by the bamboo forest. The maid tending to the baby, realizing her arrival, was momentarily stunned, then stood up respectfully, saying, “Young Master Rong has gone out on business today, please make yourself at home.” With that, she left the courtyard.

This approach might as well have said: The child is here, please feel free to play with him…

In the blink of an eye, only Chu Yu and the baby remained in the yard, with the chair where the maid had been sitting beside the little bed. Chu Yu also took a seat and lowered her gaze to look at the sleeping infant.

The tiny child seemed completely unaware of whose hands he was in or the situation he would face in the future. His plump, tender little face shone with a healthy glow, his rosy little mouth slightly open, a drop of clear liquid at the corner.

Not knowing how long she had been looking down, Chu Yu suddenly spoke up, “The person on the wall, can you come down now?”