Hua Xian had endured alone for too long. Now that she could finally relax in her mother's embrace, she grew drowsy. Hua Zhi had her carried on a sedan chair to Third Aunt's courtyard.
The moment she touched the bed—perhaps because the room and bedding were filled with familiar, comforting scents—Hua Xian fell asleep almost instantly.
Third Aunt's tears fell like broken strings of pearls. Her daughter's suffering couldn't have happened overnight. She had always believed that the Yang family wouldn't dare mistreat Xian'er, given the Hua family's status. But now she realized that when a person is too weak, they can be bullied at any time.
And Xian'er was foolish too—she never said anything when she returned. Had the master been alive, wouldn't he have stood up for her? Fortunately, the eldest young lady was capable of handling matters, otherwise...
Carefully tucking her daughter in, Third Aunt quietly left the room. The Hua family members in the outer room hadn't left yet, their eyes showing varying degrees of concern. Never before had Third Aunt felt such a strong sense of belonging to the Hua family.
Madam Zhu, her eyes red and swollen, asked softly, "Has our younger sister-in-law fallen asleep?"
"She's asleep. Thank you all for today."
"We didn't do much," Xia Shi glanced at Hua Zhi. "It was the eldest young lady who showed determination."
Third Aunt nodded in agreement. "Yes, no one compares to our eldest young lady."
"Anyone would have helped in such a situation," Hua Zhi said without taking credit. "We won't disturb any longer, lest we bother Second Aunt. Sui'an, let me take you to your quarters."
"Yes." Yang Suian bowed to his grandmother and immediately followed. He knew his cousin must have questions for him.
Hua Zhi led him to the western courtyard. "Do you know why your father hit Aunt?"
"I know a little." Yang Suian pressed his lips together. Though it was a family disgrace, he had no intention of hiding it from his cousin. "It was probably because of the scene of scholars paying their respects during Grandmother's funeral. He wanted to use the Hua family to connect with some people—he needs influence among scholars to advance further."
"Did your mother refuse?"
"My mother said the Hua family now consists mainly of women, with the younger generation still too young. She wouldn't interact with those men to avoid gossip. That's when he hit her. I think he wanted to intimidate her into obedience." Though sitting by the fireplace, Yang Suian felt chills running through his body.
"Had he ever been violent with Aunt before?"
"Never. He would make sarcastic remarks, avoid her room for long periods, deliberately flirt with her maids—but never physical violence. Probably didn't dare back then."
"Since you knew this, why didn't you tell Grandfather? Don't say it's because your mother is a concubine's daughter—Grandfather never treated any of his children unfairly."
Yang Suian lowered his head. "I only learned some of it shortly before Grandmother passed away, and found out more through my own investigations. Mother always told me she voluntarily moved out of the main courtyard, saying she didn't like it there. Every time I visited, she seemed genuinely happy, without any sign of reluctance. So I..."
Yang Suian bent over his knees, assuming a self-comforting posture. His voice choked as he said, "I should have cared more about my mother."Hua Zhi added some charcoal to the brazier, watching as the black lumps gradually caught fire. She made no attempt to console the boy whose shoulders were shaking with sobs. Suddenly she realized it had been quite some time since she'd entertained the notion that children shouldn't bear responsibilities too early. After the Hua family's misfortune, she had come to understand that no one willingly learned things they shouldn't have to know—they were all forced into it by various circumstances.
Berlin was like this, and Sui'an was too.
The capital was never short of topics for conversation, and recently the talk of the town was the eldest daughter of the Hua family.
First the Hua family's male members were sentenced to exile, then shortly after, the Old Madam passed away. Just as people were lamenting how such a prominent family was likely to collapse, who would have thought that while they were still sighing over this, she would send her not-yet-ten-year-old brother with some men to forcibly bring back their bullied aunt? This didn't seem like the action of someone afraid of trouble. Suddenly, everyone in the capital appeared interested in this Hua family eldest daughter.
Along with the young lady's rising reputation was that of Hua Berlin. Such a young child, not even ten years old yet, handled matters with such reason and propriety, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. He hadn't even been intimidated when facing Official Yang. It was said that when the Yang family's people surrounded them, preventing him from taking the Hua family's second aunt away, he had stubbornly broken through with just a few men. Even some adults wouldn't have handled it better than him.
Tsk, this was the younger generation raised by the Hua family—truly different from other families' children.
Bao Xia vividly recounted all this to the young lady, while the other maids wore expressions of shared pride. The main subject of discussion, however, remained perfectly calm. Setting down her brush, she blew on the ink and handed the paper to Bao Xia. "Take this to Fu Dong and have her try making it."
"Young lady!"
"What would you have me say? Praise them for speaking well?" Hua Zhi curved her lips in a faint, ambiguous smile. "Or should I present myself before them so they can see exactly how beautiful I am?"
Belatedly, Bao Xia remembered what her young lady's temperament was really like. She lowered her head in a show of contrition, though her performance was so half-hearted that even Ying Chun couldn't bear to watch, pushing her out directly. "Hurry up and go, don't annoy the young lady here."
Bao Xia stuck out her tongue and ran off.
Hua Zhi pointed vaguely in Ying Chun's direction, and Ying Chun responded with an ingratiating smile.
Hua Zhi was actually pleased to see them getting along harmoniously. If there were scheming and rivalry among those close to her, she wouldn't be able to tolerate it.
Liu Xiang entered carrying a basket. "Young lady, it's time for the clan school."
"Mm." Washing her hands, Hua Zhi instructed as she moved, "The young ladies have only recently begun learning management. If they have questions and send someone to ask you, make sure to teach them properly."
"Who else, when newly in charge, doesn't hold tightly to every bit of authority? But you—you can't wait to delegate all power as soon as you take control." Ying Chun brought over a thick cloak and helped her into it. Seeing the fiery red fox fur, Hua Zhi froze for a moment. Right, she still owed Lu Xiansheng quite a bit of silver.
"Young lady?"
"Nothing." Hua Zhi lowered her head to adjust the cloak. "Is that little bit of power really worth coveting? If I can properly train them all, then in the future we can entrust the family affairs to them to manage. I'd be happy to be free of the burden. Nian Qiu, remember to use the old accounting methods that everyone can understand for the public accounts, not the system I taught you."
Nian Qiu nodded reluctantly. If only she could use the young lady's system—it was so much more convenient and would save a lot of effort.Before heading out, Hua Zhi turned back to add, "Pay extra attention to Second Aunt's household. Ensure she receives everything the other branches have. I recall the monthly allowance for fourteen or fifteen-year-olds in the family used to be twenty taels—give Sui'an the same amount from now on. Also, don’t let him lack writing brushes, ink, paper, or inkstones. Whatever Berlin has, he must have too. Understood?"
"Yes, this servant will handle it personally."
Hua Zhi nodded, tightened her cloak once more, and tucked her hands into her sleeves, clutching the hand warmer. Despite being fully prepared, she still shivered as the wind hit her the moment she stepped outside. The weather was growing colder, and with the biting wind, she truly didn’t want to take another step out.
"Next year, we must install heated floors in the Clan school. Liu Xiang, remind me of this—I’m afraid I might forget."
"Yes."
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