Gao Zhi had never intended to leave in the first place. She had ridden over precisely because she planned to take him back to the Gao residence.
Feng Che’s injuries were serious.
Her mother was highly skilled in medicine, even more so than her maternal grandfather, who had treated Feng Che’s leg in her previous life. With her help, Feng Che’s leg should be able to recover.
Feng Che paused. “I already said that. I…”
“I heard you.”
Gao Zhi said, “Prince Huai’an doesn’t need to repeat himself. If you don’t want to lose the use of your leg, come back with me now. My mother will treat you.”
“Wow.”
Wen Ting was carried back by Cang Zhu.
“Mother is so cool.”
“Of course.”
Remembering the past, Cang Zhu raised his thumb.
“Your mother was already this amazing when we were at the academy.”
The General’s Residence was magnificent, with grand halls and exquisitely carved walls.
The atmosphere in the main hall was solemn.
“I won’t treat him.”
Gao Zhi’s mother, Madam Shao, came from generations of physicians. Her father, Shao Kang, was the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Had Madam Shao been born a man, her reputation would have surpassed even her father’s.
“Gao Zhi.”
Madam Shao cast a sidelong glance at the man sitting quietly in the corner with his eyes lowered.
“If you have even a little self-respect, you should sever ties with him. You waited for him for years. What did you get in return?”
“Madam, don’t be angry.”
Grand General of State Gao Zheng looked at the young man covered in injuries, whom he had not seen for five years, and sighed.
“Feng Yun was an old friend of mine, and I watched A-Che grow up. You should know his temperament. He must have had his reasons.”
Madam Shao didn’t care what his reasons were. The only thing she cared about was that her daughter had been wronged.
“If you feel so sorry for him, then find a physician for him yourself.”
Gao Zheng was left speechless. He silently glanced at Feng Che.
“I’ve troubled you both today.”
Feng Che forced himself to stand and bowed to them.
“I have wronged Miss Gao. It was my fault. From now on…”
“Mother.”
Gao Zhi interrupted him and walked straight over to Madam Shao. She whispered a few words into her ear.
Madam Shao’s expression immediately became increasingly… strange.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Gao Zhi squeezed her hand.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Madam Shao believed her daughter would never lie. When she looked at Feng Che again, there was even more complexity in her eyes.
“Forget it. Sit down. Let me examine your injuries.”
Feng Che froze.
【What did A-Zhi tell her?】
Before he could ask, Chan Yi came hurrying in.
“Miss, the Crown Prince is here. He doesn’t look very happy.”
Feng Che instinctively looked toward Gao Zhi.
There was not much change in the woman’s expression.
“Have him wait in the side hall. I’ll go over now.”
Gao Zheng frowned.
“A-Zhi, about what the Crown Prince said to you earlier…”
“Don’t worry, Father.”
The current political situation was turbulent. Several princes were openly and secretly competing against one another. The Gao family had no intention of getting involved, much less choosing a side.
In her previous life, Gao Zhi had only agreed to the Crown Prince’s proposal out of spite.
Thinking about it now, she had been foolish. In one fit of anger, she had dragged her entire family into disaster.
Because Feng Che was present, Gao Zheng had refrained from saying it outright, but Gao Zhi spoke bluntly.
“The Crown Prince was only making promises two days ago. No formal betrothal gifts have been exchanged. I’ll make things clear to him.”
The side hall was connected to the main hall by a small door. Worried about his daughter, Gao Zheng paced back and forth in the hall.
Madam Shao grew annoyed by the sound.
“Open the door a little more so everyone can hear clearly.”
“Excellent idea, Madam.”
Gao Zheng had wanted to do exactly that. Now that his wife had given the order, it carried more weight than an imperial decree to him.
Feng Che lowered his eyes and allowed Madam Shao to examine his badly injured legs.
“Everyone already knows. You publicly denied that you were going to marry me because Feng Che has returned?”
Feng Zhao’s questioning voice carried into the main hall.
“A-Zhi, don’t you know that he fathered several children with another woman while he was away? Are you really willing to marry him and become their stepmother?”
“He’s already a cripple. A-Zhi, I’m doing this for your sake. You’ve already wasted five years on him. Do you really want to waste the rest of your life on just one man?”
Madam Shao paused.
The young man before her had gone completely rigid. His five fingers were curled tightly, trembling faintly, and his face was even paler than when he had entered the residence.
【Feng Zhao is right…】
【I’m… a cripple. How could I possibly be worthy of A-Zhi?】
“He isn’t a cripple.”
Gao Zhi’s words rang out with unmistakable force.
Feng Che froze.
“Even if he were, I would support him. And I would raise the children.”
The words that followed struck Feng Che like a thunderbolt, leaving his mind buzzing.
【A-Zhi… will support me?】
“What about me? You repeatedly promised that you would marry me.”
“Are you going to betray me for him?”
Feng Zhao’s voice grew louder, and his footsteps became increasingly agitated. No one in the side hall knew what had happened.
Then a loud slap rang through the residence.
Before Madam Shao could react, the man who had obediently sat there moments earlier, allowing her to examine his injuries, ignored his wounds and charged forward with the ferocity of a mother wolf protecting her cubs.