Although both were heads of their households, there was a gap of two generations between them, as well as a difference in their relationship.
If the Old Madam of the Hua family were still here, she could have held hands with tears streaming down, expressing the helplessness of having to remain distant all these years. However, facing Hua Zhi, Madam Sun could only treat her as a junior whose relationship had yet to be determined.
She needed to observe for a while. If the other party truly possessed the decisiveness as rumored, that would be excellent. She would be very happy for the Hua family, and some words could then be spoken, some issues could be discussed together.
If the other party was merely a young woman with a bit of cleverness and minor abilities, she would need to offer some guidance, but certain matters could not be discussed. Knowing too much without the capability to handle it would only harm her. Out of respect for the generations of friendship between the Hua and Sun families, she could not do that.
After exchanging some words of closeness, Madam Sun said, "My husband sent a letter some time ago, saying he dispatched his personal guards to Yinshan Pass and asked me to look after the Hua family here in the capital. Please don’t blame him for only sending people now. Many are watching him, and he cannot act lightly. He had to wait for the right moment to avoid giving others a reason to criticize."
Speaking of the Sun family’s precarious situation over the years, Madam Sun sighed. Sometimes, she truly wished time would pass faster. She would rather live a few years less if it meant her husband could resign from his post and return home to live a peaceful life. Because of that position, which brought nothing but hardship and no benefits, the Sun family’s long-standing friendships and connections had almost all drifted away. At times, she wanted to visit someone but had nowhere to go.
Hua Zhi stood up and bowed solemnly. "Hua Zhi expresses her gratitude."
Helping her up and seating her again, Madam Sun smiled. "There’s no need for that. Their friendship is theirs; it’s not for a young lady like you to bear this responsibility. I only told you so you could feel at ease. When your family faced trouble, and later when Wan Niang passed away, I could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything. Thinking about it still troubles me. Here in the capital, there are far too many constraints. A single misstep could lead to utter ruin. Now that you are managing the household, you must be extremely cautious. The Zhu family is trustworthy, and now we can also interact. If you are unsure about anything, ask more questions. No one will find you bothersome."
"Yes, I will remember that." Hua Zhi had already weighed the situation in her heart. She understood that the Sun family not only had no intention of distancing themselves from the Hua family but also wished to offer more support. Madam Sun’s words carried a tone of guidance, so she also knew what attitude to adopt toward the Sun family.
"Today, I invited you here firstly to reconnect, and secondly, there is another matter I wish to inform you about."
Madam Sun nodded with interest. "What is it?"
Hua Zhi raised her eyes. "The Sixth Prince has been staying with the Hua family for some time now."
Madam Sun was taken aback. This topic was completely unexpected. It was no wonder she was surprised—since this incident occurred, the Sun family had not received even a hint of news. Gu Yanxi had kept the matter tightly sealed, not leaking a word.
Madam Sun, who had single-handedly stabilized Sun Qi’s rear support, was no ordinary person. The leisurely smile had vanished from her eyes as she went straight to the heart of the matter. "What happened in the palace? Is it related to the day the Seven Constellation Bureau bloodied the capital? How did the Hua family get involved in this?""Please don't worry, the matter is already over." Hua Zhi explained the situation in detail to Madam Sun, only omitting her acquaintance with the head of the Seven Constellation Bureau and Gu Yanxi's plans regarding the Sixth Prince. She merely mentioned that she had befriended the rarely seen Gu Shizi.
"Now the Emperor has granted permission for the Sixth Prince to remain outside the palace, entrusting him to the care of the Heir. Since the Heir doesn't involve himself in mundane affairs and noticed the Sixth Prince's closeness to me, he placed him in my residence. This matter hasn't received official approval, but the Heir has promised to bear all consequences."
Madam Sun was no ordinary woman - her experiences far exceeded those of typical inner household matrons. She knew perfectly well there must be more to the story, details she couldn't press about. What she could see and understand was that Hua Zhi had become involved in such affairs.
"Allow me to call you Zhi Er affectionately. Though I'm grateful you protected my grandson, I must remind you - imperial family matters are best avoided. At best you gain nothing, at worst you suffer greatly. The Hua family cannot withstand another blow."
Warmth spread through Hua Zhi's heart, her smile growing more sincere. "I understand. But sometimes it's not me choosing the situation, but the situation choosing me. Given the circumstances then, I couldn't possibly have driven the Sixth Prince from my carriage."
Madam Sun patted her hand. If Hua Zhi were truly that heartless and cruel, even with generations of friendship between their families, she would have to reconsider their relationship.
"My Qian'er was fortunate to encounter you. Otherwise, the Sun family might have been dragged into this."
"It was merely coincidence."
In that moment, Madam Sun began to see in her the boldness rumored throughout the capital. Without courage and wisdom, who would dare get involved in such matters? Upon learning Qian'er's identity, most would either politely send him away out of fear, or outright surrender him to curry favor. Yet she had protected him, keeping it so secret that even Madam Sun hadn't received any news.
This went beyond mere capability.
"You've told me this today because you must have a plan. Why not share it so we can discuss it together?"
"It's not really a plan." Hua Zhi smiled gently. "It's just that since the matter is resolved and the Sixth Prince will likely remain with the Hua family for some time, I thought I should inform the Sun family to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."
"That makes sense. I had planned to request an audience in the palace to see him in a few days - the last time was after New Year when he came to pay his respects." Madam Sun wore a bitter smile. "Which other prince is as pitiful as him? Even visiting his maternal family requires calculation - too frequent visits risk arousing suspicion. Even my palace visits must be carefully timed. And what was the result? All this calculation nearly cost him his life. Then why should our Sun family be so cautious? Wouldn't the worst outcome still be Qian'er's death?"
Hua Zhi had no words of comfort, knowing that in her place, her reaction might be even stronger than Madam Sun's. Everyone has bottom lines that must never be crossed - for the Sun family, it was the Sixth Prince; for her, it was Berlin.
Madam Sun closed her eyes briefly, her expression gradually calming. "I will inform my husband immediately. The subsequent arrangements will need to be decided by him.""I am telling you this not to stir up the Sun family's resentment toward the imperial family." Hua Zhi held Madam Sun's hand in return. "This matter is in the past. Though the Sixth Prince now appears to have distanced himself from that position, it is actually the best protection for him. While the others are locked in a life-and-death struggle, the Sixth Prince remains the safest. Though the Emperor has been somewhat negligent toward him, it does not necessarily mean he lacks a protective heart."
Madam Sun looked at Hua Zhi, then nodded slightly after a moment. "But I still need to inform my husband. For the Sun family, there is no greater matter than this."
"Of course, no one can question your decision."
PS: Mwah to all the ladies waiting for updates, and well, a kiss for the gentlemen too.
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