Without taking a big bite out of the Hua family, the Yang family would not easily agree to a peaceful separation. Hua Zhi was mentally prepared for this, but what she could accept was only a mutual separation—a divorce paper, not a letter of repudiation.
After comforting her anxious younger sister-in-law, who wished she could swallow back every word she had said, Hua Zhi went to find Fourth Aunt. On such matters, she could only discuss them with Fourth Aunt.
"Has she truly made up her mind and won’t regret it?"
"I believe so. It seems Sui’an has given her courage." Watching the small child in Fourth Aunt’s arms, Hua Zhi reached out to play with the baby and continued, "I only know that the Daqing laws permit mutual separation, but I don’t know how to proceed. Do you know, Fourth Aunt?"
Wu Shi frowned slightly. "I do know a little, but the initiative still lies with the husband’s family. The Yang family may not willingly issue the divorce papers."
"That’s what worries me too, but we must at least try."
"Should I go to the Yang family?"
"Logically, my mother should go, but if she does, she’ll likely flood the Yang family with tears. It’s better to trouble you to make the trip, Fourth Aunt."
Wu Shi couldn’t help but laugh. "How can you speak of your own mother like that?"
"I’m just telling the truth. I’ll have Su Momo accompany you."
Su Momo represented Old Madam. Even though Old Madam was no longer around, families who valued face—especially those who had previously relied on the Hua family—would still show some respect. If the other party didn’t care about face at all, then there was nothing to say, and she would act without regard for face as well.
Who’s afraid of a contest in shamelessness? Bring it on.
Hua Zhi calmly devised several shameless strategies in her mind, but none of it showed on her face. Instead, she brought up another matter. "How is your relationship with your maiden family now, Fourth Aunt?"
Wu Shi was taken aback. "Why do you ask? Is there something the Wu family can help with?"
"It’s not exactly help—more like mutual benefit. I recall the Wu family previously intended to distance themselves from the Hua family. What is their attitude now?"
Wu Shi fell silent. She had come to understand Zhi Er well enough to know that if she spoke of mutual benefit, it must be worthwhile. Yet, the thought of her family’s attitude filled her with bitterness. Recalling the doting affection she had received in her maiden home now felt like a dream.
But after all, she was still a Wu!
Wu Shi smiled bitterly. "Give me an idea of what you plan to do, and I’ll send someone to inform them."
Hua Zhi traced the rim of her teacup with her finger. Deep down, she looked down on the Wu family. To put it nicely, they were avoiding misfortune; to put it bluntly, they had abandoned the Hua family during its difficulties and forsaken their own daughter in the process.
However, she couldn’t be too harsh. Compared to the families of Second Aunt and Third Aunt, who had drawn clear boundaries from the start, the Wu family hadn’t severed all ties. Old Madam Wu had personally visited when Fourth Aunt gave birth. It was only after realizing the Hua family had no hope of recovery that the Wu family cut off contact.
For the sake of that initial goodwill, she had to treat them differently rather than outright exclude them from her plans.
"Let me be frank with you, Fourth Aunt. Making money is secondary to everything I’m doing now. What’s important is building a network of relationships. I’m offering substantial profits to win them over, all so that when the time comes, they’ll be willing to lend a hand to the Hua family and help bring Grandfather and the others back. If ten thousand taels won’t do it, I’ll offer a hundred thousand; if a hundred thousand won’t suffice, a million. As long as I can earn enough silver for them, what I’m planning might just succeed."Wu Shi stared at her blankly, murmuring, "Zhi Er..."
Hua Zhi looked up at her and smiled, "I've considered many approaches, but this is the most feasible one."
Once this community of shared interests grew, it would naturally form an alliance. And she would be the linchpin of that alliance. If she remained, the alliance would hold; if she withdrew, this coalition built on interests would collapse. Eventually, they would realize just how crucial she was.
The allies she sought would naturally be those without conflicting interests with the Hua family. Whether her grandfather and the others returned or not would make no difference to them. They only needed to speak a few words in support of her grandfather's cause to gain substantial silver—why wouldn't they agree?
She had already prepared for the current emperor's demise. After all, he wouldn't live much longer. Once the new emperor ascended the throne, regardless of whether it was the Sixth Prince or not, as long as her network was established, the Hua family members would inevitably return.
Yan Xi's move to align with the Sixth Prince wasn't essential for her, but it offered another path. She certainly wouldn't close that door. If the Sixth Prince could ascend the throne, it would be highly advantageous for the Hua family.
This game of chess she was playing had only just begun. She couldn't predict how the situation would unfold, but one thing was certain: she wouldn't be the loser.
Those within the chess game would also discover that as long as they remained in it, everyone would win. Once anyone left, they would automatically forfeit.
Among the four arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she had only mastered chess. And what she excelled at most was setting traps for her opponents.
Wu Shi opened and closed her mouth several times before she could speak hoarsely, "I thought you engaged in business just to earn more silver for lobbying..."
Who would have thought this was your method of lobbying!
But as she followed Zhi Er's train of thought, Wu Shi's heart raced so fiercely it felt like it might leap out of her throat. As the one managing internal household affairs, Zhi Er rarely kept things from her. She understood better than anyone else in the family how profitable Zhi Er's business ventures were. With such substantial benefits at stake, she didn't believe anyone could resist.
However, "Won't this attract too much attention?"
"It won't. At their level, everyone understands the principle of quietly amassing wealth."
Wu Shi couldn't help but pat her chest. She needed to calm down and properly digest Zhi Er's words.
"I'll think more about the Wu family side." Though she said she would reconsider, both Wu Shi and Hua Zhi knew the Wu family had already been excluded from this network. Wu Shi felt a pang of bitterness but remained unwavering. If the stakes weren't so high, she might have considered her maternal family, even though they had abandoned her during her difficult times. But now, it wasn't possible.
She wasn't just the daughter abandoned by the Wu family—she was also a daughter-in-law of the Hua family, Pingyang's wife, and mother of two children. She wanted her husband back; her children needed their father!
"There's no need to overthink it. We've already survived the worst times. This is just a minor matter. If you truly can't let go, the Hua family can concede some benefits."
Wu Shi simply shook her head.
Hua Zhi didn't press further, as she wasn't particularly willing to do so in the first place.
After bidding farewell to Fourth Aunt, Hua Zhi went to her mother's room to chat with her. Madam Zhu missed her dearly, as she had only been able to see her children briefly morning and evening during this period.She knew Zhi Er was busy, so no matter how much she missed her, she wouldn't approach. But now that her daughter had come to her, she couldn't help but talk more. Hua Zhi stayed with her through the meal and personally attended to her until she was settled in bed.
Watching her mother sleeping peacefully, Hua Zhi couldn't help but think of her aunt. Divorce... this would be a tough battle.
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