Empress Yan's gaze lingered between the two of them. She took a deep breath and asked, "I will only ask you one question: do you trust me?"
The Seventh Prince frowned.
The atmosphere was tense.
The Third Prince's wife quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Perhaps there's some misunderstanding. We'll find out what happened after the Seventh Prince's wife wakes up."
This wait lasted for two hours.
Princess Jia Hua opened her eyes weakly and, as expected, saw the Seventh Prince's worried gaze. She moved her fingertips.
"Jiahua, you're awake." The Seventh Prince was both surprised and delighted.
Princess Jia Hua nodded, looked around, and recognized that this was a side hall of Fengyi Palace. She gently moved her wound and gasped in pain.
"Don't move yet, tell me what you need." The Seventh Prince gently supported her shoulder and helped her sit up.
She shook her head.
The two chatted for a few minutes.
Those outside knew she had awakened. Empress Yan was helped in by two people, and her eyes immediately fell on Princess Jia Hua as soon as she entered.
“A-Yin, I did not hurt her.”
“Your Highness, Her Majesty did not hurt me. I injured myself.” Princess Jia Hua said in a calm tone, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.
Empress Yan frowned.
"Your Highness, I'd better return to the Seventh Prince's residence so as not to disturb Her Majesty's rest." Princess Jia Hua gently tugged at the Seventh Prince's sleeve.
The seventh prince nodded in agreement without hesitation and ordered people to prepare a carriage.
"A-Yin!" Empress Yan looked aggrieved.
The Seventh Prince turned to Empress Yan and said, "Your Majesty can walk now, so you probably don't need me by your side anymore. Jia Hua is weak, so I'll take her back to rest first."
Empress Yan took a deep breath, nodded magnanimously, and had no choice but to let the person go.
It was already evening when I left.
Princess Jiahua leaned against the carriage wall. She knew that her actions today would anger Empress Yan, but she didn't care. The initiative still lay with the Seventh Prince's residence.
She suddenly looked across at the opposite side: "I happened to hear in the temple that there is a rare copy of the sutra, which is now in Madam Huo's collection. I would like to borrow it to study it. Is that alright?"
It was just a scripture; the Seventh Prince had no reason to refuse.
"Once you've recovered..."
"Your Highness, could you help me make a copy?" Princess Jiahua interrupted him: "Fourteen volumes of scriptures, only the last one is missing."
The Seventh Prince figured he had nothing else to do for a while, so he naturally didn't refuse and told the driver to turn around and head to the Huo family.
“I heard that General Huo has a son, Huo Xi, who was very promising at a young age. He made a mistake and was banished by the emperor. The Huo family has declined in recent years, which is a real pity.” Princess Jia Hua sighed softly.
The Seventh Prince had always admired General Huo Xi, and since Princess Jia Hua had started chatting with him, he began to say casually, "If it weren't for that incident, Huo Xi would also be a famous general."
"Which matter?"
"Several years ago, my father was assassinated when he went out. Huo Xi was on duty but abandoned his post, causing my father to be seriously injured."
Princess Jia Hua raised an eyebrow: "Then how did Huo Xi explain it?"
The Seventh Prince shook his head: "He didn't say anything."
As they spoke, the carriage stopped, having arrived at the Huo family's gate. The curtain was lifted, and the Seventh Prince stepped down first, considerately supporting Princess Jia Hua.
Standing at the entrance of the Huo residence.
Unlike other grand and magnificent mansions, the Huo family was very low-key, with its gates tightly closed and the entrance appearing deserted.
There wasn't even a passerby.
The guard went to knock on the door.
A moment later, the back door was opened, and a man who looked to be about fifty or sixty years old peeked out from the crack. After the guard announced his name, the man was surprised and rubbed his eyes several times to make sure that the other party had come to the right place.
"The Seventh Prince has arrived! Hurry back and report to your master!"
Yes, yes.
The man ran away in a flash.
Half an hour later
As soon as the gate of the Huo family was opened, Huo Xi's father, Huo Yun, limped out. Dressed in a black robe, he appeared low-key and reserved, but his eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the Seventh Prince with great excitement. "Your Highness, this old minister pays his respects to Your Highness."
The Seventh Prince stepped forward and helped Huo Yun up: "General Huo, there's no need for such formalities."
"I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me." Huo Yun, with tears streaming down his face, grabbed the Seventh Prince's hand. "I have heard that Your Highness has fought a great battle against many countries and won against overwhelming odds. This old minister... is very excited."
Princess Jia Hua watched Huo Yun act without exposing him, and waited quietly until all the pleasantries were finished.
The seventh prince explained his purpose: "I have come to your residence to borrow Buddhist scriptures."
Huo Yun was taken aback.
"I heard that the Huo family has a rare copy of a Buddhist scripture. I would like to borrow it. Is that convenient?" Princess Jiahua asked sincerely.
They chatted on the street for a long time, but Huo Yun didn't invite them in to sit down.
It is clear that there are some shady things going on inside the mansion.
Huo Yun stammered, "Scriptures... Your Highness must be mistaken. The Huo family only has military books, how could there be scriptures?"
"It was collected by Old Madam Huo."
Huo Yun was speechless and could only say, "I'll go back and ask my wife. If it's true, I'll definitely send someone to the prince's residence."
“A gentleman does not take what others cherish. We only want to make a copy. This is a rare and precious copy; how can we lend it out so casually?” Princess Jiahua said.
Having said all that, Huo Yun had no reason not to let them in, so he said, "My humble abode is simple and unassuming. I hope Your Highness will not find it offensive and will move in."
The two followed.
Huo Yun sent someone to tell Old Madam Huo to find the scriptures.
The Seventh Prince sat down in the hall with Huo Yun.
The maidservants served tea and snacks.
Princess Jia Hua glanced at the extremely tender green leaves while holding her teacup, a smile playing on her lips. This was top-grade Yunwu tea, worth a fortune.
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