Su Jia Mo's words were truthful, not sarcastic.
Zhao Xiao Hua was now far from her former self, famous in the capital.
She knew many things others didn't, and could even predict many people's fortunes.
She could divine good and bad luck, and forecast futures.
With this skill alone, she had acquired considerable wealth in Shun Tian Fu.
Furthermore, the young ladies from various noble households treated her exceptionally well, willing to protect her.
He truly could not compare to her.
Zhao Xiao Hua scoffed, "A true man should strive for progress; what use is sighing here?
You criticize me, but I wasn't born into nobility. Everything I have today is through my own hard work."
Su Jia Mo said he understood the principle, but understanding and doing were different.
He constantly reminded himself that what he had now was far from enough, hoping to advance further.
But despite all his efforts, he had only achieved this much.
"You've followed the wrong person, naturally you've made no progress," Zhao Xiao Hua snorted.
This Crown Prince, though seemingly at the peak of power now, as if only one step away from the throne.
However, this one step was a dead end.
The moment he took it, he would not be far from death.
Therefore, he was by no means a wise ruler.
Zhao Xiao Hua hadn't intended to remind Su Jia Mo.
After all, back in Zhao Jia Village, they hadn't known each other for long.
But Su Yu Ru constantly pestered her about her own brother.
Thinking that if he gained power, it would not only be beneficial but also bring many advantages to her.
So she was now willing to offer some guidance. "Do you want to make a name for yourself?" Zhao Xiao Hua asked.
Su Jia Mo nodded without hesitation, "Of course. If I didn't want to succeed, why would I endure the hardship of ten years of bitter study?"
"Then what if I told someone to have you leave the current Crown Prince, what would you do?"
"What?" Su Jia Mo was unwilling. If he left the Crown Prince, he would at best be a minor Hanlin Academy scholar, not even a proper official.
"Never mind, you can't let go. In the future, then..." Zhao Xiao Hua recalled that in her past life, Su Jia Mo had also served as an official under the Crown Prince.
When the latter ascended the throne, he did enjoy a period of favor.
But soon, even the Emperor was deposed by his ministers.
As the Emperor's favorite, his fate was naturally tragic.
He was beheaded in public as a treacherous official.
Not even a complete corpse remained.
Of course, Zhao Xiao Hua couldn't tell him all this.
If she did, he likely wouldn't believe her.
Zhao Xiao Hua merely said that if he wanted to save his life in the future, it would be best to stay as far away from the Crown Prince as possible.
"This matter, this matter, thank you, Miss Zhao, but it's not urgent. I heard from my sister that you are intelligent and resourceful.
Could you perhaps help me see why Xiao Qi...
Her attitude towards me is completely different from before.
Before, she loved me in return, we even made vows under a tree. Why does she have no feelings for me now?"
Su Jia Mo was grasping at straws in desperation. He had already hurt Su Xiao Qi terribly, and without regard for appropriateness, he poured out all his confusion to Zhao Xiao Hua.
He had merely been venting his frustrations, as the situation was too unusual, and he hadn't expected any answers from Zhao Xiao Hua.
But just when he thought Zhao Xiao Hua couldn't offer any advice, she spoke.
"Young Master Su, have you ever considered that perhaps Su Xiao Qi is no longer the same Su Xiao Qi?"
"What, what?" Su Jia Mo was startled, then stammered, "She's not the old Su Xiao Qi, what do you mean? Has she lost her memory?"
Su Jia Mo looked as if his face had ten thousand question marks, utterly bewildered.
Zhao Xiao Hua thought for a moment. She initially wanted to blurt out that perhaps Su Xiao Qi's appearance hadn't changed, but her core might have been replaced.
However, she couldn't say that.
If she did, her own significant changes would also invite speculation, suggesting she too had been replaced.
So, she had to go along with Su Jia Mo's words, "Perhaps she has lost her memory and forgotten your relationship."
"Ah, so that's how it is. No wonder she could be so heartless towards me; she simply forgot.
Then I can't blame her." Su Jia Mo found a very fitting explanation for Su Xiao Qi, and his heart suddenly felt much clearer.
As long as Su Xiao Qi hadn't deliberately changed her mind, he could accept this explanation.
But this was not what Zhao Xiao Hua wanted.
All along the way, she had been secretly tracking Su Xiao Qi and Shen Yun's group.
Earlier in Tongzhou, her informants could still find them.
They had reported everything they had done to her.
Therefore, she knew early on that Shen Yun had completed his mission.
She had been somewhat alarmed then, because in her past life memories, Shen Yun had not undertaken this mission, and the epidemic in Northern Zhili had been severe, dragging on from that year to the next, almost crippling the entire region.
Tongzhou was the most severely affected, followed by Bazhou.
But now, she found that things were not as they were before.
Tongzhou, an area prone to epidemics, had not a single case.
How could it then spread to neighboring prefectures later?
Uh, no.
Zhao Xiao Hua's thought process wasn't because she wanted to see epidemics rage and harm people.
She merely wanted to wait for the opportune moment to present her prescription specifically formulated to combat the epidemic.
But now that the epidemic in Tongzhou had been eradicated.
And Lu Ming Yang and Wang En Ze had returned to the capital, reporting their successful experience in treating the epidemic in Tongzhou. The imperial court had organized the calligraphy bureau to print it in large quantities and dispatched urgent dispatches to all parts of the country.
As long as there was an epidemic, it would be handled according to this plan.
The success of this epidemic resistance battle was imminent.
The prescription in her hand had become useless scrap paper.
Zhao Xiao Hua deeply resented Su Xiao Qi.
If she hadn't researched the treatment method so quickly, her prescription wouldn't have to worry about becoming worthless.
Alas...
But now, regret was useless.
Her intestines had turned green with regret.
Firstly, she regretted not acting sooner; she should have presented her prescription as soon as the epidemic appeared.
At that time, she would at least have received credit.
Secondly, she regretted not stopping Su Xiao Qi.
Knowing she was accompanying Shen Yun to Tongzhou, she should have created some trouble for her, keeping her stuck in the capital.
Alas, alas...
Zhao Xiao Hua's heart ached with anger.
But now was not the time to discuss this. She flicked her eyes and asked, "Do you really like Su Xiao Qi?"
Besides being pretty, what other merits did she have? She was fierce and greedy for money.
Su Jia Mo nodded frantically. He liked her, he liked her very much.
"Good, I have an idea that can allow you to keep her by your side, as wife or concubine, under your command."
"Really? How do we do it?" Su Jia Mo agreed without even thinking.
He had already lost his reason due to Su Xiao Qi's cold and harsh attitude, and his mind was filled with only one thought: to possess her, to possess her!
Zhao Xiao Hua smiled with satisfaction as she saw the madness in his eyes, hoping that Su Jia Mo would not disappoint her this time.