The days grew colder, yet the teahouses and taverns remained bustling. Warming a pot of wine, slicing a plate of beef, with the shopkeeper throwing in a complimentary dish of peanuts—nothing was more delightful than gathering with a few close friends to drink and chat.
These past two days, the talk of the town was Hua Jing, the eldest daughter of the Hua family and the wife of the Song family's eldest son.
"Demanding her niece’s maid to serve as a concubine for her own husband upon returning to her maiden home—such an outrageous act. Both raised by the Hua family, yet how vastly different they are!"
"You’re comparing her to the Hua family’s eldest young lady? Tsk, aren’t you afraid of tarnishing that girl’s reputation?"
"Didn’t they say Song Shizu intended to divorce her? Has it happened yet?"
"Just empty talk. If he divorces her now, people won’t blame the Hua family—they’ll only say the Song family is heartless and ungrateful. The Songs still care about their reputation."
"If she were truly divorced, she’d have no choice but to become a nun in a temple. The Hua family’s eldest young lady has made it clear: Hua Jing is forbidden from setting foot in the Hua household ever again."
"That girl dared to make someone kneel outside during her mourning period—she’s certainly capable of enforcing this."
"…"
At the staircase, Song Chenghao’s face flushed crimson, torn between advancing and retreating. His classmates behind him subtly retreated a step, exchanging glances. One of them remarked, "I feel like having another drink. How about the rest of you?"
"Perfect timing, I was thinking the same."
"Just waiting for you to suggest it—treat us to a round."
They all headed back upstairs as if they had completely forgotten about Song Chenghao, not bothering to invite him.
Humiliated and furious, Song Chenghao lowered his head and rushed outside, galloping home on his horse.
As usual, a servant stepped forward to take the reins, but Song Chenghao lashed out with his whip. The servant cried out in pain, his arm and half of his face swelling and reddening instantly.
Song Chenghao snorted coldly, threw down the reins, and stormed straight into the inner courtyard.
In the room, Hua Jing was coughing violently, covering her mouth, while her youngest daughter, Song Linger, wept with swollen, red-rimmed eyes. Both mother and daughter looked utterly disheveled.
As her coughing subsided, Hua Jing lifted her head. The once arrogantly beautiful eldest daughter of the Hua family now appeared at least a decade older, her face contorted and veins bulging, devoid of any trace of her former elegance. "How dare they! How dare they call off the engagement! What face does our Song family have left?"
Song Linger burst into loud sobs.
Song Chenghao strode in, his words cutting like knives. "Face? You’re the one who tore our family’s dignity to shreds and tossed it into the cesspit! Now you suddenly remember the Song family’s reputation? Why don’t you go fish it out of the filth yourself!"
"Haor…" Hua Jing stared at her son in disbelief. "I am your mother!"
"Because you’re my mother, little sister’s engagement was broken, I’ve been humiliated, and Father doesn’t even dare show his face outside!"
Hua Jing clutched her chest, gasping for breath, trembling yet still defiant. "Everyone else may condemn me, but not you two! Everything I’ve done was for this family, for you and your sister. I couldn’t let anyone trample over you!"
"Stop dressing it up in noble words. You were just fighting for favor—everything you did was for yourself." With that cold retort, Song Chenghao turned and left, unable to bear the sight of this woman who had lost all grace.
Hesitating for a moment, Song Linger bit her lip and began to follow him out.
"Linger!" Hua Jing’s voice cracked with shrill desperation. "Do you also believe Mother ruined you?"Song Linger didn't dare look back. Clutching the doorframe with tears streaming down her face, her expression showed no hesitation. "Mother, I've reached marriageable age. I don't want to become an old maid in the Song family. I must beg Grandmother to find me a good match. Please focus on recovering your health and don't concern yourself with outside matters anymore."
"Song Linger!"
Song Linger walked away without looking back.
Hua Jing stared at the empty window, listening to the howling wind outside, feeling chilled to the bone. As she opened her mouth to call for someone, a mouthful of blood sprayed out. Staring blankly at the crimson droplets staining the ground and her clothes, she swayed several times before collapsing backward.
Snow began to fall again, so Hua Zhi decided to give the clan school a holiday, allowing the teachers to properly celebrate the New Year.
Since the Hua family was still in mourning and couldn't visit others' homes, Hua Zhi had prepared generous New Year gifts in duplicate sets for Mr. Mu and Lu Xiansheng to take back. She also prepared several additional portions - sending them to the Zhu family, Chen Dayi's family, Bai Mingxia, and all the Hua family's in-laws. Both the Song and Yang families received their shares, ensuring no breach of etiquette.
"Young Miss, Xu Jie requests an audience."
"Wasn't he delivering New Year gifts? Let him in." Hua Zhi finished writing the last character and set down her brush.
Su Momo carefully removed the scripture from the desk to dry.
Xu Jie's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Eldest Miss, this servant just returned from the Song residence."
"What good news has you so delighted?" Hua Zhi asked lazily as Ying Chun warmed her hands with a hot towel, feeling quite comfortable.
"The Eldest Lady has fallen ill."
"Tell me more." Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. This was indeed welcome news, though not unexpected. With rumors flying everywhere, it would be strange if she were living comfortably. Still, Hua Zhi was quite pleased to hear what had happened.
"Yes. Just as this servant was about to leave after delivering the gifts, I heard maids shouting that the Eldest Young Madam had fainted. Normally I wouldn't have stayed, but the Song family seemed afraid they wouldn't be able to explain if something happened and insisted I remain. I overheard from the servants that the Young Master and Young Miss said something that angered the Eldest Lady. Later, the physician diagnosed that rage had attacked her heart, causing her to spit blood. She needs careful recuperation and must avoid further anger. She still hadn't awakened when I left the Song residence."
A slight smile touched Hua Zhi's lips. "Bao Xia, go to the main kitchen and tell them to prepare two extra dishes tonight."
Bao Xia pressed her lips together to suppress a smile, nodding repeatedly.
"The Hua family won't involve ourselves further, but we should still know whether Hua Jing is doing well or poorly. Xu Jie, keep an eye on the situation at the Song residence."
"Yes, this servant understands."
Hua Zhi went to the ancestral hall. When they left the old residence, the Old Madam had brought all the ancestral tablets of the Hua family. Now, they were all here.
Incense constantly burned in the ancestral hall. Hua Zhi lit three incense sticks and held them before her chest. Through the rising smoke, she looked up at the hundreds of neatly arranged memorial tablets.
Born into such an illustrious family as the Hua clan, she had carefully studied the family's history in her earlier years. More than once, she had suspected that their founding ancestor Hua Jingyan, who brought prosperity to the Hua family, might also have been a time traveler. His protection of family members, his relatively advanced ideas for this world, and even his arrangements for descendants were all too perfect.He did not place the clan above emotions, but used emotions to maintain the family. That is why, even if there were conflicts among the legitimate and collateral branches of the Hua family, the foundation would never be shaken.
Yet sometimes she would feel that he was merely a wise, towering man with vision beyond his time.
Because he understood and fit into this world too well—something a soul from another world would find difficult to achieve. At the very least, she herself had not fully integrated; there had always been a distance between her and this world.
A distance that made her feel at ease.
Perhaps you all know where I come from. Please believe me.
I am Hua Zhi.
The eldest daughter of the Hua family, Hua Zhi.
OpenNovel