The seventh day of the vigil had arrived, and the Hua family members were utterly exhausted.
Hua Jing, needless to say, had visibly lost weight within days, appearing significantly older with strands of white hair now visible. Observers who noticed this praised her filial devotion, though the reality was far from it. Yet Hua Jing offered no explanation, swallowing the bitter consequences while accepting the undeserved praise.
During the morning's first Buddhist ceremony, Hua Zhi recited the Rebirth Mantra along with the monks, slowly burning stacks of paper money. The glow reflected off her face, lending it a rosy hue.
As the Sanskrit chants gradually faded, she led her younger siblings in bowing to the monks, who returned the gesture with full respect, treating her as the head of household without the slightest condescension.
If their initial courtesy had been due to Master Banruo's influence, after days of witnessing how smoothly she managed every funeral arrangement without a single misstep, their respect had become genuine.
Hua Bolin personally escorted the monks to their morning meal. Watching her weary younger siblings, Hua Zhi's heart ached. "Liu Xiang, tell Fu Dong to prepare some children's favorite dishes, while still maintaining propriety."
"Yes."
"Su Momo, arrange for them to rest. They can return after eating and recovering."
Su Momo signaled the servants to assist the young masters and misses away, then knelt beside Hua Zhi. "Elder Sister, you should rest too. This old servant will keep watch here."
"It's fine. I rested well last night." Though only two hours, it sufficed. Her sleep had been scarce and fitful lately, her mind stretched taut.
Noticing Hua Zhi burning paper money slowly as if deep in thought, Su Momo didn't disturb her. Wiping a tear discreetly, she joined in burning offerings. The Old Madam had lived in luxury—she mustn't lack money in the afterlife.
Hua Zhi mentally reviewed the accounts she'd compiled these past days, her heart growing colder with each entry. Among the Hua family's numerous relatives and old friends, only her maternal Zhu family and grandmother's Qin family had attended with full ceremony. Most others had merely sent stewards to offer incense.
How quickly warmth faded after death! But this chill had come too abruptly!
Closing her eyes, Hua Zhi remembered how Han Xin endured crawling between another's legs—she too could swallow this humiliation. The road was long—they would see who laughed last.
After eating warm, delicious food and proper rest, the children returning to the mourning hall finally showed some vitality.
Seeing Hua Bojun secretly rubbing his knees, Hua Zhi drew him into her lap to massage them gently. Always close to his elder sister, Bojun leaned against her and whispered, "Elder Sister, does this mean I'll never see Grandmother again?"
"Yes, never again."
"But what will Grandfather do when he returns? Grandmother is gone!"
Innocent childish words that pierced like daggers.
Grief crashed over Hua Zhi like tidal waves, demolishing the high emotional barriers she'd erected. She suddenly bent forward, trapping Bojun beneath her. The boy stayed motionless, softly calling, "Elder Sister."
Hua Bolin rushed to support his elder sister while another brother carefully extracted Bojun from her embrace. Other siblings gathering around watched Hua Zhi with concern.
Now, Hua Zhi was their sheltering sky—if it collapsed, the Hua family would truly fall.A moment later, Hua Zhi straightened up, her expression as calm as usual, though her voice was noticeably less clear than before. "I suddenly felt dizzy for a moment, but it's nothing."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but Hua Bolin didn't believe it. His elder sister, who was leaning against him, clearly didn't even have the strength to straighten her back.
He didn't point it out, remaining crouched beside his elder sister without moving.
After resting a while longer, Hua Zhi finally stood up. "I'm going to rest for a bit. Berlin, you..."
"Eldest Miss, quickly! The Empress Dowager has sent someone!" Steward Xu, supported by Xu Jie, rushed in with hurried steps, his voice hoarse and cracking with excitement.
Hua Zhi took a deep breath, scanned the mourning hall, and instructed, "Su Momo, lead the servants in tidying up thoroughly once more. Second Sister, all of you stay inside and don't come out until the visitors enter the mourning hall to pay respects. Berlin, bring our younger brothers and follow me."
"But Elder Sister, you..."
"Even if I were on the verge of death right now, I'd have to hold on until this matter is settled." She had never forgotten that when the Hua family fell into hardship, it was the Empress Dowager who first reached out to help them. Even now, the Empress Dowager sending someone was undoubtedly a warning to those with ill intentions.
Hua Zhi led her younger siblings to kneel outside the main gate, watching as a small sedan chair stopped not far away. An elderly palace matron, supported by palace maids, stepped down. She watched as the matron straightened her attire and, with a solemn expression, led four palace maids carrying boxes toward the main gate.
"Hua Zhi of the Hua family, leading the descendants of the Hua family, pays respects to Your Excellency."
In the Daqing Dynasty, female officials of the palace could also be addressed as "Your Excellency." The palace matron gestured for them to rise. "Please rise. This humble servant is Yu Chun, entrusted by the Empress Dowager to offer incense on her behalf before the spirit of Old Madam Hua. Please lead the way."
"Yes." Hua Zhi stood up, her movements so precise that even someone from the palace couldn't find any fault. Yu Chun nodded inwardly, her opinion of the Hua family rising even higher.
People need not fear hardship; as long as they strive, there is always a chance to rise again. What is truly feared is when descendants lack ambition, fail to uphold their principles, and become so frightened that they lose even the qualification to walk among noble families.
Seeing the small details reveals the bigger picture. Clearly, the Hua family would not fall to such a state.
Yu Chun respectfully offered incense and signaled the palace maids to place the boxes in Hua Zhi's hands. "These are gifts from the Empress Dowager, intended as burial objects for Old Madam. They must be kept safe."
"Yes, this humble girl will remember."
Yu Chun did not inquire why the daughters-in-law of the Hua family were not present, leaving a young lady in charge. Such matters were no secret to the imperial family. She bowed respectfully toward Master Banruo and left without any further instructions to Hua Zhi, arriving suddenly and departing just as quickly.
Yet their visit was a statement in itself, telling everyone that the Empress Dowager had not forgotten the Hua family! This was the Empress Dowager's protection for the Hua family, honoring her sisterly bond with Old Madam Hua.
But Hua Zhi understood clearly that such protection had its limits. If the Hua family could not stand on its own, the Empress Dowager would not shield them forever.
Lowering her head, Hua Zhi looked at the four sealed boxes of varying sizes in her hands and placed them one by one beside her grandmother.
Hua Bolin had been staying close to his elder sister and now whispered, "Elder Sister, go and rest for a while. I will keep watch here."
Hua Zhi nodded slightly and, supported by Ying Chun, walked toward her own courtyard.
She wasn't tired. She just wanted to find a quiet place to be alone for a while, to think: Grandfather has returned, but Grandmother is gone. What should we do now?PS: To be honest, Bo Jun's line wasn't pre-planned—it just emerged naturally when I reached that point in the writing, and it ended up touching me deeply too.
On the homepage of the Migu client, there's a discussion topic titled "Good Books Missed Because of Their Titles." Curious, I clicked in to take a look and was surprised to find several people recommending Cherish Hua Zhi. You girls are so mischievous—this book still has so few chapters, don't lead people into a trap, haha! Why not recommend my previous book instead!
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