Hua Zhi instructed the servants to prepare several hand warmers, signaled Berlin to take good care of the younger brothers, then took a few and lifted the curtain to enter the inner chamber.
"Elder Sister." The few people inside quickly stood up upon seeing her.
"Sit." Stuffing a hand warmer into each of their laps, Hua Zhi sat on an empty cushion nearby and added charcoal to the brazier. "Rest while seated when not performing rituals. Kneeling for too long will be unbearable—don’t let it leave lasting ailments."
They murmured assent. Usually having little contact with this elder sister, and even privately looking down on her, they now felt unsure how to grow closer to her in such close quarters.
The warmth from their laps gradually spread throughout their bodies, and as their bodies warmed, their hearts seemed to warm too. Hua Xin glanced at Hua Zhi across from her and suddenly felt much more at peace.
It was good for the Hua family to have an elder sister who could shoulder responsibilities—at least it let them know what they should do and how. Hua Zhi wasn’t throwing her weight around or trying to assert authority over them; one could even say she was doing her utmost to protect them.
Whatever others might think, Hua Xin resolved she would defer to her elder sister from now on.
Hua Rong, being Hua Zhi’s half-sister and relying on her closer blood tie compared to Hua Xin and Hua Ling, edged nearer to Hua Zhi and asked softly, "Do we have to stay here the whole time?"
Hua Zhi looked at her. "Don’t want to?"
"No." Hua Rong glanced up at her before lowering her head again. "But if male guests come…"
"In the mourning hall, there’s no distinction between men and women. Just remember you are all Grandmother’s granddaughters. Who comes, whether male or female, is irrelevant to us. We simply fulfill our duties as filial descendants."
"...Yes." Hua Rong felt somewhat resentful. She had drawn closer hoping for special attention from her elder sister, not to be singled out and admonished.
"The coming days won’t be easy. I can’t stay here with you—support each other and act within your limits."
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Hua Zhi didn’t imagine a few words would win them over, but for now, she only needed them to behave these next few days. Hearing movement outside, she lifted the curtain to look and hurried out upon recognizing the visitors.
Hua Xian, supported by her eldest son, was weeping uncontrollably, her face haggard. An observer might mistake her for the Hua family’s true eldest daughter.
Hua Zhi bowed from a distance, feeling a wave of relief.
Grandmother had been kind-hearted. While she doted on her own daughter, she never mistreated her stepdaughters, giving them their full due, hiring tutors for whatever they wished to learn, and generously contributing to their dowries—fulfilling her role as a legal mother.
Fortunately, this one hadn’t strayed and still remembered the kindness.
Hua Xian had few children, only one eldest son Yang Suian, who at just fourteen was remarkably sensible. He knelt with his mother, kowtowing reverently and offering incense.
After letting her cry awhile, Hua Zhi approached gently. "Aunt, your health matters most. Grandmother would be glad to know you’ve come."
Hua Xian looked up, tearful eyes fixed on her eldest niece from her maiden family, bitterness welling inside. The family had already fallen, and now the old lady was gone—what would become of the vast Hua household!She resented her husband's family for their heartlessness—they had constantly urged her to return home when there were benefits to be gained, yet confined her indoors after the Hua family fell from grace. This time, they even threatened her with divorce. But this was her maternal home, the place that had given birth to and raised her, even if it had lost its wealth and glory. Now that her stepmother had passed away, how could she not return?
Thinking of this, Hua Xian's tears flowed even more uncontrollably. The fickleness of human relationships was stark, yet whose heart wasn't made of flesh and blood?
Hua Zhi signaled Su Momo to step forward. "Escort the elder lady to the aunt's room."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi turned to Yang Suian, unsure of his intentions, and asked, "Cousin, you..."
"I came specifically to mourn my grandmother. I won't go inside."
Hua Zhi pondered for a moment, then gestured for him to follow as she led him to a quieter corridor. "Is the Yang family unwilling to let my aunt return?"
Yang Suian, uncertain of the Hua family's current situation, hesitated to reply directly and vaguely said, "It was only right for her to return."
Hua Zhi understood perfectly. She lowered her head and smiled faintly, mentally marking the Yang family with a heavy grudge. "Suian, just wait and see. Let's see whether the Yang family progresses faster or the Hua family does. By then, even if your father wants to kowtow at my grandmother's grave, he won't be allowed into the Hua family's ancestral cemetery."
Yang Suian was overwhelmed with shame and did not defend his father. The facts were clear, leaving him no room for argument. As the Hua family's son-in-law, his father should have come as soon as he received the news of the death yesterday. Instead, not only did he refuse to come himself, but he also confined his mother and forbade her from attending. If not for Yang Suian's fierce protest, his mother would likely still be locked indoors, unable to even step outside.
Back when his maternal grandfather was alive, his father had never treated his mother this way. The opportunism was so blatant that even he, as a son, felt ashamed.
"Suian, I've taken note of everything."
Yang Suian looked up at his cousin.
Hua Zhi gazed toward the mourning hall, listening as the Buddhist chants resumed, but offered no further explanation. "Go on."
After walking some distance, Yang Suian glanced back and saw that his cousin had already turned away. He understood the implication of her words perfectly well but could only pretend not to. No matter what, the Yang family was his own kin—others might scorn or belittle them, but he could not.
Hua Zhi quietly processed all her emotions before returning to the mourning hall. Throughout the morning, aside from her second aunt who had returned for the funeral, the only visitors to offer condolences were from the Zhu family. Hua Zhi's heart sank, though she showed no outward sign. Closing her eyes, she joined in reciting the rebirth mantra along with the rhythm of the chants and wooden fish.
Suddenly, an announcement rang out: "Lu Xiansheng has come to offer condolences."
Hua Zhi's eyes snapped open, fixing on the man entering through the main gate. Draped in a white cloak that accentuated his tall, imposing stature, his solemn expression made the scar on his face appear even more severe and cold.
He took the incense, bowed three times, and Hua Zhi led her siblings in kowtowing to the ground in return.
Suppressing the urge to step forward and help him up, Gu Yanxi said in a deep voice, "Please rise."
Everyone stood, and Hua Zhi bowed to Gu Yanxi once more. "Thank you, Lu Xiansheng."
Thank you for concealing the truth, for bringing me back as quickly as possible, and for watching over the Hua family in my absence. Thank you.
Gu Yanxi nodded, accepting her gratitude. "My condolences."
"Yes."
Their eyes met briefly before Gu Yanxi turned and left, arriving and departing just as swiftly.
He was a member of the imperial family, the Heir, and practically a son raised and educated by the Emperor himself. Yet, the scar on his face was one he had inflicted upon himself.His public identities were so numerous that he sometimes forgot who he truly was. Yet this face that truly belonged to him remained hidden in the shadows, known to very few. He hadn't seen his biological father for many years, and the only person close to him was a half-sister who had lost her memory. Though he wielded immense power, he still had to enter the imperial palace to give his imperial uncle a plausible explanation for his visit.
He held great authority, yet in truth, he possessed nothing.
But now, things were different.
PS: Rest assured, dear reader, though Kongkong is a plot-driven character, I won't forget to let these two fall in love.
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