If a star carries natal Hua Ji and annual Hua Lu, keep both labels. They come from different stems and timing layers. There is no universal rule that adds them together and produces zero.
Check whether it is actually the same star
In a common transformation table, Yi assigns Ji to Tai Yin and Ding assigns Lu to it. A person whose natal chart uses Yi can therefore discuss both labels when examining a Ding year. The annual layer has not changed the birth year.
Lu on one star and Ji on another in the same palace is a different configuration. Crowded labels can make these two situations look deceptively similar.
A new opportunity does not erase a history
As a hypothetical comparison, someone with a recurring coordination problem might find a client who communicates clearly this year. That new condition deserves attention without implying that every old difficulty has disappeared. It is not a prediction attached to this star combination.
If no expected opportunity occurs, claiming that Lu invisibly canceled Ji does not verify the interpretation either.
Schools differ in how they assess transformations alongside star combinations and palace relationships. Specify the star, natal palace, year and event being discussed. Do not combine fragments from different methods into an arithmetic rule.