The Song family resided in the northern part of the city, where the Hua family's former mansion had also been located, but now the Hua family lived in the southern part.
Battling wind and snow all the way, Hua Jing felt as though she were walking through hell.
As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Hua family, she had been doted on since birth and had spent half her life as the mistress of the Song family, enjoying every comfort. Never had she endured such hardship. Afraid of being overheard, she could only curse under her breath—berating Hua Zhi for disrespecting her elders, for being ungrateful and ill-bred, blaming the Hua family for having no one left to prevent a junior from tormenting her, and cursing the servants for their insolence...
After listening to her complaints the entire journey, Hua Zhi finally spoke leisurely as they approached the Hua residence. "What a fine daughter of the Hua family you are, now reduced to a shrew. How heartbroken Grandmother would be if she knew."
Supported by a matron, Hua Zhi stepped out of the carriage and stood on the shaft, looking down at Hua Jing's pale, ashen face. "Ah, I forgot—Grandmother can no longer feel sorrow, thanks to you."
"Hua Zhi! What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said." Hua Zhi pointed to the small shed that had been set up outside the main gate. "Grandmother declared that from now on, you have no ties to the Hua family. Naturally, you cannot enter these gates. But as a filial daughter, how could you not mourn your mother?"
Noticing the people watching openly and covertly, Hua Zhi gave a faint smile. "The legitimate eldest daughter of the Hua family voluntarily chooses to mourn her grandmother with the ground as her bed. In recognition of your filial devotion, the Hua family naturally grants your wish. Please, Aunt."
Hua Jing glared furiously, wishing she could tear Hua Zhi apart. But there was nothing she could do. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Song family, with her maternal family no longer a refuge, she could not afford to give that old hag any leverage. Yet, if they thought they could force her into submission, they were dreaming!
"Hua Zhi, I am your aunt. Before you act, you should consider that you will still need to marry someday. Do I need to explain how important reputation is to a woman?"
Hua Zhi feigned sudden realization. "I heard my cousin is already discussing marriage prospects. You should consider whether she could still marry if you were to earn the reputation of having driven your own mother to her death."
"You're slandering me!"
"If it's just slander, why are you so agitated?" Hua Zhi gently brushed the snowflakes off her mourning clothes. "You cannot enter the Hua residence. Kneel and kowtow at the gate. Of course, you may also choose to return to the Song family."
Without another word, Hua Zhi turned and walked through the main gate, followed by the four sturdy matrons who had been flanking Hua Jing.
"Hua Zhi! Stop!" Panic surged in Hua Jing as she watched her leave. She couldn’t possibly mourn here—what would people think? But returning to the Song family... That old hag was just waiting for an excuse to torment her. If she didn’t even mourn her own mother...
For the first time, Hua Jing understood the taste of true desperation.
But Hua Zhi did not even pause in her steps. Hua Jing could only watch helplessly as the figures disappeared through the main gate.
The wind picked up, and snowflakes stung her face with their cold. Hua Jing hugged her arms and gritted her teeth as she stepped into the small shed beside the gate.
Compared to the cramped shed Hua Zhi had demanded—one barely large enough for a single person—this one was clearly oversized, spacious enough for three or five people.
Inside, a straw mat lay on the ground, and a small stool stood nearby. That was all.
Hua Jing was so enraged her vision blurred. Hua Zhi was trying to kill her, to destroy her!
Fine, very well. She would stay right here. When she collapsed from the cold, let’s see how Hua Zhi would pin the charge of disrespecting elders on her then!As she was lost in thought, a commotion arose behind her. Thinking it was Hua Zhi returning, she turned around with a cold sneer, only to see two servants carrying a brazier filled with fiercely burning charcoal.
Soon after, others brought a quilt that looked thick but felt weightless, a box of chilled pastries, a fully filled hot water bottle, and even a small container of tea leaves.
The servants' voices were so loud they could be heard from the next street over, "The Eldest Young Miss said that it’s commendable for Eldest Aunt to show such filial devotion, but you must also take care of your own health. If Eldest Aunt needs anything else, just let the servants know. The Hua family will do everything to accommodate."
Hua Jing felt her vision darken repeatedly. Hua Zhi had effectively cut off all her escape routes!
She couldn’t step forward and declare this wasn’t her choice, nor could she simply walk away. She didn’t dare rush into the Hua family’s main gate, unsure whether the servants would stop her. And if they did, how would she explain it to outsiders? How would her husband’s family view a woman who couldn’t even return to her own parental home?
The mere thought sent a chill through Hua Jing’s heart.
To an outsider, the array of items on the ground might seem like the Hua family’s thoughtful care for their married daughter!
She couldn’t believe that her eldest niece, whom she had never taken seriously, could be such a formidable opponent. No, it couldn’t be her. It must be the third daughter-in-law—or perhaps the fourth. Those two were the only ones in the family with any sense. It had to be one of them!
Just wait, all of you, just wait!
As soon as Hua Zhi stepped through the main gate, Steward Xu came forward to greet her. Hearing the Eldest Young Miss’s orders, he felt a sense of vindication, but he also worried about the potential damage to her reputation. He cautiously reminded her, "Eldest Aunt is, after all, an elder. You…"
"Eldest Aunt is determined to pay her sincere respects to Grandmother one last time. What does that have to do with a junior like me?"
Steward Xu’s mind cleared, and his steps lightened. "You’re right. Eldest Aunt is being filial—we have no reason to stop her."
Hua Zhi looked at the partially constructed mourning hall, but the heaviness in her heart did not ease in the slightest. No matter what she did, no matter what price Hua Jing ultimately paid, Grandmother was never coming back.
Hua Jing! I’ll teach you what it means to be slowly worn down!
"Assign someone to keep a close watch on Eldest Aunt. Report everything she does to me. Make sure to replenish her charcoal—don’t give her any excuse to fall ill."
"Yes, I’ve noted it down," Xu Dongjin replied. He then asked, "What if someone from the Song family comes? And if the young mistress and the others arrive…"
"Handle it as usual. Hua Jing knows what to do."
"Understood."
The residence was draped in white silk everywhere, the starkness stinging Hua Zhi’s eyes. She subtly lowered her gaze to avoid the sight and returned to her own courtyard.
Ying Chun was hurrying out of the courtyard and quickly bowed upon seeing her.
"Where are the others?"
"They’re all busy. Shall I call them back?"
"No need. Send for Fu Dong and have someone bring hot water to my room."
"Yes."
Fu Dong hadn’t gone far—she was in the kitchen, preparing soup for her young mistress. Ever since learning that Hua Jing had returned with such a demand, Ying Chun and the others had guarded Fu Dong like a precious treasure, forbidding her from going anywhere.
Surprisingly, the usually timid Fu Dong wasn’t as frightened. She knew her young mistress would protect her.
Fu Dong arrived with the soup, and a smile spread across her face as she watched her young mistress drink every last drop.Hua Zhi attempted to curl her lips into a smile, but overwhelming exhaustion made it impossible, forcing her to give up. "Come help me change."
Fu Dong, meticulous as ever, could tell at a glance that her mistress was unwell and handled her with utmost gentleness. Yet when she saw the flesh on both sides of Hua Zhi's inner thighs torn and bloody, she was so startled that tears welled up instantly.
"It's nothing. Don't make a sound."
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