The rain was still pouring, instantly drenching anyone caught in it.

Thunder continued to rumble, rolling overhead with a deep, muffled sound, while lightning spread across the sky like a tangle of thorns.

Xu Nian’an stood there, stunned, staring at the young man shielding her.

His hands and legs were trembling slightly and uncontrollably, but his silhouette stood as still as a stone statue.

Zhu Zhifu had just pulled the gold hairpin out from the back of his hand when he saw Zhao Huanxi get off the carriage. His face was as pale as a ghost, devoid of any color. It was clear that Zhao Huanxu hadn’t lied to him, Zhao Huanxi truly did fall ill in such thunderstorm weather.

“What are you waiting for? He’s just one person, attack!” he shouted at the servants, cradling his injured hand.

The five servants, upon hearing this, raised their sticks and rushed towards Zhao Huanxi.

“Sanlang…” Xu Nian’an had just called out when she saw the trembling young man step forward to meet the servants. He raised the stick in his hand high, his figure slender but fierce like a mad tiger.

In the pouring rain, the pale young man fought fiercely against the servants who were like wolves and tigers.

Xu Nian’an was completely soaked, wanting to step forward but fearing she would drag him down. She could only stand in place, her vision blurred, watching as he was beaten by the servants, stumbling, falling, struggling desperately to get up, only to be beaten again and fall…

The servants were wary, knowing he was the eldest legitimate grandson of Jing Guogong, so they didn’t dare to beat him to death. Although he was hit several times, when all the servants had fallen, he could still stand up.

Zhao Huanxi wiped the blood dripping from his forehead and limped towards Zhu Zhifu, using the stick and his injured leg for support.

“What- what are you doing? Zhao Huanxi, I warn you, don’t mess around!” Seeing Zhao Huanxi, covered in blood, limping towards him like a madman, Zhu Zhifu was so scared his legs went weak. He turned to run, but his foot stepped on the gold hairpin he had thrown on the ground earlier, slipped, and fell.

Zhao Huanxi took two quick steps and stomped on Zhu Zhifu’s right hand.

“What are you trying to do, Zhao Huanxi? You–” Before Zhu Zhifu could finish his sentence, Zhao Huanxi raised the stick high and without hesitation, struck his right arm, breaking it.

Zhu Zhifu’s screams echoed continuously in the street.

Zhao Huanxi staggered back two steps. He glanced around and saw no one else was standing, so he threw away the stick and walked towards Xu Nian’an, who was standing next to their carriage.

He was covered in mud and water, his face pale, eyes dark, and blood red, with the rain unable to wash him clean.

“Dong Jiejie&*, Dong **Jiejie, are you alright?” He staggered to Xu Nian’an’s side, reaching out to hold her shoulders, his voice extremely weak.

“I’m fine.” Xu Nian’an looked up at him, but as soon as she spoke, she found herself choked up.

“That’s good…” He looked relieved, closed his eyes, and collapsed.

Xu Nian’an quickly stepped forward to support him.

Zhiyi brought reinforcements from nearby and ran over in the rain to help Xu Nian’an lift Zhao Huanxi and Zhi’er onto the carriage, heading back to Jing Guogong Residence.

In Shenhui Court, Yin Furen had already cried a lot. Only after seeing that Zhao Huanxi’s injuries had been taken care of and the medicine was being brewed did she gradually calm down.

“Mom, you should go back and rest. I’ll look after Sanlang here,” Xu Nian’an said to Yin Furen.

Yin Furen withdrew her gaze from Zhao Huanxi’s face and looked up at Xu Nian’an’s tired face. She said, “You’ve been frightened today as well. The calming potion is ready. Remember to drink a bowl.”

Xu Nian’an nodded and said, “For what happened today, One need to bother Mother to tell Zufu about it.”

Yin Furen clenched her handkerchief and said, “The Zhu family is really unreasonable. I must go and speak to your Zufu about this myself!”

After seeing off Yin Furen, Xu Nian’an returned to the bedside and sat down, using a cloth to gently wipe Zhao Huanxi’s semi-dry hair inch by inch.

As she wiped, she couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch the young man’s fair and smooth cheeks.

The fear of thunder is a mental disease that has plagued him since he was seven years old. For so many years, he had endured the thunder and the nightmares of his childhood.

The last time it rained heavily with thunder, he collapsed on the street. This time, he walked from the carriage to the street in the thunderstorm, standing in front of her.

She didn’t know how much fear he had to overcome at that moment, how much courage he had to gather, just to take that step, and to persist until he knocked down everyone, before he passed out.

She lowered her eyes, pulled his hand from under the blanket, and lowered her head to gently suck on a red mark on his delicate wrist.

✦

After returning to the residence, Guogong Yé personally visited Shenhui Courtyard to check on Zhao Huanxi. Seeing that he was still unconscious, he inquired about the situation from Xu Nian’an and then left.

Zhao Huanxi woke up in the middle of the night.

Due to his head injury, Xu Nian’an was worried and asked Yisu to take turns watching over him with her. When he woke up, Xu Nian’an was lying on the edge of the bed, just having fallen asleep, while Yisu was still awake. When Yisu saw him open his eyes, she reached out and nudged Xu Nian’an’s shoulder, saying, “Xiaojie, Gu Yé is awake.”

Xu Nian’an startled awake and locked eyes with Zhao Huanxi. After a moment of daze, she instructed Yisu, “Yisu, have someone fetch some porridge from the kitchen. San Yé will have the porridge before taking his medicine.”

Yisu acknowledged and went to carry out the task.

“How are you feeling? Does it hurt?” Xu Nian’an sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the young man whose head was wrapped in bandages.

Zhao Huanxi moved his limbs slightly and felt pain all over his body. He didn’t try to act tough and said miserably, “It hurts.”

“Can you sit up?” It would be inconvenient to feed him porridge or medicine while lying down.

Zhao Huanxi nodded.

Xu Nian’an fetched a large pillow from the cabinet and helped him sit up, leaning against the pillow.

The porridge and medicine were quickly brought over. Xu Nian’an sent Yisu to rest and sat on the edge of the bed, feeding Zhao Huanxi the porridge.

The porridge was made with donkey-hide gelatin and red dates, good for nourishing the blood. Zhao Huanxi frowned as he ate, he didn’t particularly like it, but he didn’t refuse to eat either.

After finishing the porridge, he took the medicine.

“Sit for a while before lying down. If you lie down now, your stomach might feel uncomfortable,” Xu Nian’an said to Zhao Huanxi. “How about I find a book you haven’t read and read it to you?”

Seeing her about to get up to find a book, Zhao Huanxi suddenly reached out and grabbed her sleeve.

Xu Nian’an turned around.

“Dong Jiejie, I’m sorry,” Zhao Huanxi looked at her with guilt. “It’s all my fault for being useless, causing you to be bullied by Zhu Zhifu too.”

Xu Nian’an sat back down on the edge of the bed, holding his hand, and said softly, “When I was young, at Count of Zhongyi Residence, Zumu was partial and biased, Da Bomu was harsh and domineering. My siblings and I, including my mother, had a hard time. My father was not a strong-willed person and was constrained by the concept of filial piety, so he couldn’t help us much. He could only advise us to relax and not compare ourselves with the other branches of the family.

“Later, my father passed away, and our branch was separated from Count of Zhongyi Residence, leaving us with no support. My mother was weak, and there was only Ah Xiu, as the man in the family. He was young and, even if he wanted to help me, he was not capable enough. I’m not afraid to admit it, but it’s not until today that I’ve experienced for the first time what it feels like to have someone in front of me, supporting and protecting me when facing danger and difficulties.”

She lifted her unusually bright and radiant eyes, looking straight at the pale and weak young man in front of her. “That person is you. Thank you, Zhao Huanxi.”

Zhao Huanxi’s cheeks showed a faint blush as he averted his gaze. “Dong Jiejie, you don’t need to worry about it. Even if it were my mother or my sisters, I would still do the same.”

Xu Nian’an was stunned for a moment, then slowly let go of his hand and lowered her eyelids. “In any case, no matter who speaks ill of you in the future, you must not belittle yourself. You are a good person. Those who dislike you cannot see your goodness, and those who wish you well, even if you have shortcomings, will not hold them against you.”

Zhao Huanxi nodded, causing pain at the wound on his head. He winced and furrowed his brow, saying, “I’ll remember.”

✦

Jing Guogong Residence and Cheng Guogong Residence, one with an eldest legitimate grandson and the other with an eldest legitimate son, naturally couldn’t let things go easily. On the next day after the incident, they started arguing again in court.

Zhu Zhifu, accompanied by six servants holding sticks, blocked the road in the rain. Since it was in the middle of the street, everyone could see what was happening, and Cheng Guogong naturally couldn’t make up lies. So, he simply said that Zhao Huanxu had deceived Zhu Zhifu into thinking that Zhao Huanxi would fall ill in the rain, prompting him to seek revenge during the rainy day. However, since Zhao Huanxi did not show any signs of illness, it was a plot concocted by the two cousins from Jing Guogong Residence, which led to Zhu Zhifu’s arm being broken.

Jing Guogong couldn’t be bothered with him and said to the Emperor, “May the Emperor see clearly and understand. My grandson Huanxi does indeed fall ill in thunderstorms. In previous years, We have had imperial physicians come to the residence to treat him, which can be verified. As for Cheng Guogong’s claim of collusion, it is unfounded. If it were truly collusion, would my grandson only be accompanied by two servants who are not skilled in martial arts, and would my granddaughter-in-law be blocked by Zhu Zhifu? Clearly, the Zhu family is unhappy with Your Majesty’s previous mediation and is retaliating out of malice. Unexpectedly, they were defeated and turned to bite our Zhao family. Now that my grandson Huanxi is seriously injured, Chen implores Your Majesty to make a decision for Chen.”

The Emperor turned his head with a headache and annoyance, resting his hand on his forehead.

“If it wasn’t a plot, then why did Zhao Huanxu tell my son about Zhao Huanxi’s illness in the rain?” Cheng Guogong questioned.

Jing Guogong remained expressionless. “Who, in their youth and ignorance, has never misjudged others?”

“You—”

Jing Guogong turned to the Emperor again. “Your Majesty, Chen asks that Your Majesty decree that Cheng Guogong Shizi, Zhu Zhifu, is not allowed within ten zhang (≈ 33.3 meters) of my grandson Huanxi. He is so fond of provocation and troublemaking, and my grandson is no match for him. This time, it was only an arm that was broken. If next time it’s his life, who will be responsible? My grandson cannot simply let him attack without fighting back. For the sake of Cheng Guogong’s succession, One implores Your Majesty to intervene.”

“Jing Guogong, you are going too far!” Cheng Guogong was now red-faced with anger and embarrassment.

Jing Guogong glanced at him. “If Cheng Guogong thinks life and death are irrelevant, then my Zhao family naturally feels the same. But if there’s another incident next time, Cheng Guogong, you will deal with it yourself. Don’t bother His Majesty anymore. His Majesty manages the affairs of the state every day. How can he have the time to worry about your incompetent and troublemaking son every day?”

“You—”

“That’s enough, both of you, be quiet!” Cheng Guogong wanted to continue arguing, but the Emperor, tired of it all, interrupted, staring at Cheng Guogong. “Go back and manage your son. He causes trouble all day long. If you’re not tired of it, Zhen is!”

Cheng Guogong, seeing the Emperor’s change in expression, dared not say more and reluctantly acquiesced.

“The court is dismissed!” The Emperor waved his sleeve and left.

✦

On that day and night, in the Lǚyun Pavilion.

Wu Taitai, accompanied by Zhao Shuxian and Zhao Huanxu, looked around inside and outside the house and nodded, saying, “The arrangement is quite decent. I thought Da Taitai would try to make things difficult and withhold some things.”

Zhao Shuxian raised her chin and pursed her lips, saying, “Would she dare? Gege has invited so many Gongzis from the noble families this time. This is the face of our Zhao family. If she dares to cut corners and try to pass off inferior goods, let her give it a try.”

Wu Taitai smiled and glanced at her daughter, feeling satisfied. She then asked Zhao Huanxu, “Have you invited your future Meifu?”

Zhao Shuxian blushed but remained silent, listening intently.

Zhao Huanxu replied, “I have invited him, but tomorrow is not a suitable day for travel, and Canglan Academy is outside the city, so it’s inconvenient for him to come and go. He has sent gifts and a letter as an apology.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuxian’s face fell with disappointment.

Wu Taitai patted her hand and said, “It’s a good thing that your future husband is focusing on his studies. You’ll be marrying into the Lu family this winter anyway. Why worry about not seeing him?”

Zhao Shuxian’s face turned red. With a coquettish pout, she turned and ran off.

Wu Taitai was still smiling when a maid from the Dunyi Hall arrived outside the Lǚyun Pavilion. After paying respects to Wu Taitai and Zhao Huanxu, she straightened up and said, “Xu Er Yé, Guogong Yé requests your presence at Dunyi Hall.”

⟡ Aewoo’s Ramble ⟡

The phrase 'Fire in his veins' in the snippet comes from the word 血性.

血性 (Xuèxìng): This is a powerful term that literally means "blood-nature." It refers to courage, spunk, or moral mettle. It is the quality of having "fire in one's veins"—someone who refuses to be bullied and stands up for what is right, even at great personal risk.