Knowing that Fourth Aunt had gone to the Yang family, Hua Zhi was not at all surprised that she not only returned empty-handed but also seething with anger.
"Zhi Er, you wouldn't believe the attitude of the Yang family's matriarch—she practically had her nostrils turned up to the sky. Has she forgotten that I know exactly what she used to be like?"
"Precisely because she had to bow and scrape before Grandmother and put on a smiling face for you in the past, she's now putting on such a show of authority." Hua Zhi had seen too many people like this and knew their nature all too well. "They refused?"
Wu Shi gritted her teeth. "More than refused. They said if we want a separation, the Yang family will issue a letter of divorce."
Hua Zhi narrowed her eyes. So arrogant? Did they truly think the Hua family could be trampled at will?
"Zhi Er, the Hua family still has many unmarried young women. We absolutely cannot accept this letter of divorce."
"I know. Don't worry, what Aunt will receive will definitely be divorce papers."
Wu Shi didn't know where her confidence came from, but ever since Zhi Er took charge of the household, there was nothing she couldn't accomplish. Including herself, all members of the Hua family held a blind trust in her. Hearing her say this made them believe she would surely succeed.
As soon as Wu Shi left, Bao Xia spoke up indignantly, "Young Miss, the Yang family is going too far."
"Not surprising. It's just the way of the world." Hua Zhi calculated the timing—tomorrow happened to be a rest day. "Bao Xia, deliver a name card to the Yang family's patriarch. I will pay him a visit tomorrow morning."
Bao Xia was taken aback. "The Old Master Yang? Not the matriarch?"
"Didn't the matriarch drive Fourth Aunt away? If I go, she'll surely put on a full display of seniority before me. Why should I subject myself to that humiliation? Delivering the name card to the patriarch is different—this is a meeting between the heads of two families. No matter how downcast the Hua family is, as long as the Yang family hasn't decided to completely sever ties, they will surely see me."
Just as she expected, Bao Xia returned with the name card. The vigorous handwriting indicated it hadn't been written by a servant.
Hua Zhi flicked the name card. Well then, let the battle begin!
Gu Yanxi arrived as usual right on time for dinner. During casual conversation, upon hearing A Zhi mention this matter, he asked, "What are you planning to do?"
"First, I'll see Yang Zheng's attitude. If he's smart, he should know that issuing divorce papers is best for both families. With Sui'an around, our families can't become enemies. But if he insists on taking things to the extreme, I won't agree either."
Glancing at the man, Hua Zhi asked, "How much longer until Shaoyao can leave the palace?"
"Within the next couple of days. Do you need her?"
"I want to borrow her medicine."
Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. Was she planning to use force?
"There are no clean officials in the Daqing Dynasty. I could make some trouble for Yang Zheng."
Hua Zhi shook her head. "Public matters should be kept separate from private ones. I won't involve myself in those affairs."
"Then take me with you." Gu Yanxi was reminded of that rainy night again. It had been a long time since he'd seen A Zhi in that state, and he didn't want to miss it.
The next day, the weather suddenly turned.
The wind whipped the rain, changing direction constantly. The recently improved weather turned cold again, and Hua Zhi added one more layer of clothing than yesterday.
When Ying Chun brought out a brand new outer garment, she refused it. "My usual clothes are fine. It's not like I'm going as a guest."
The Yang family indeed didn't treat her as a guest. The Yang matriarch even muttered some unpleasant remarks, and Yang Qi wore a dark expression, looking like he was ready to pick a fight at any moment.
Yang Zheng had completely lost hope in this eldest son and couldn't be bothered to offer any advice. He simply instructed his wife, "Don't show your face today."The old lady reluctantly agreed. She had originally intended to summon the person and lecture them—what kind of impression does it give when a young lady is constantly the subject of gossip?
The steward came to report, "The eldest young lady of the Hua family has arrived."
Yang Zheng instructed, "Take her to the drawing room."
"Yes."
Yang Zheng then turned to his son and felt compelled to add a few more words, "Pay more attention to Sui'an. How can there be lasting enmity between father and son? As for those illegitimate children of yours, even if you combined them all, they wouldn't measure up to him alone."
"Then I'll just have a few more."
Yang Zheng was so choked with anger that he glared. Seeing this, the old lady hurriedly interjected, "It seems to me that Sui'an's heart has long been with the Hua family..."
"He bears the Yang surname! That alone determines everything!" Yang Zheng looked helplessly at his wife and son, shook his head, and walked toward the drawing room.
Yang Qi was about to say something more, but the old lady quickly stopped him, shaking her head at him. The old master seemed on the verge of losing his temper—no more could be said.
In the drawing room, Hua Zhi sat in a lower seat, calmly sipping tea. Behind her stood Ying Chun and Bao Xia—she had brought only these two senior maids with her today.
The maids serving in the room secretly observed this young lady who was rumored to be so extraordinary. She certainly had a fine appearance, but there was no indication at all that she was so formidable. However, the maids behind her seemed somewhat different from them. Unconsciously, they began to imitate them—placing their hands properly, straightening their spines, keeping their heads respectfully raised just a little...
Footsteps sounded, and as soon as Yang Zheng's voice was heard, they immediately returned to their previous posture, heads bowed and slightly leaning forward in deference.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting, eldest young lady."
Hua Zhi rose and bowed in greeting. It was rather amusing—for others, "eldest young lady" referred to seniority, but for her, it had become a sort of code name, used by everyone, young and old, to address her.
After a few polite words, Hua Zhi got straight to the point, "Yesterday, my Fourth Aunt came to the Yang residence to discuss the matter of my aunt's separation. Unexpectedly, the old lady may have misunderstood the Hua family's intentions, saying she was willing to give my aunt a letter of divorce. I am quite puzzled—on what grounds does the Yang family intend to divorce my aunt? Has my aunt failed in her duties of obedience and virtue, or has she committed some other unforgivable offense that the Yang family must disgrace her with a letter of divorce?"
Yang Zheng had heard the rumors about Hua Zhi, but hearing about her and facing her were entirely different matters.
She did not directly accuse the Yang family, yet every word she spoke was an indictment. Outsiders might not know the details, but both families were well aware of the state Hua Xian was in when she returned to the Hua family. They could shamelessly deny everything, but in front of someone so much younger than himself, Yang Zheng truly could not bring himself to do it.
So he evaded the question entirely, "I understand your desire to protect your family, eldest young lady, but as the old saying goes, 'Better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage.' The two of them have not yet reached the point of complete separation."
Hua Zhi smiled, "You say I protect my family, and naturally, I cannot allow my aunt to be beaten black and blue again. It's true, my aunt is weak, but weakness is not a crime, nor is it a reason to be mistreated to such an extent. Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but if your own daughter were treated this way after marriage, would you tolerate it? Whether you could or not, I cannot. I am not here today to discuss whether they should separate or not, but to ask the Yang family to issue divorce papers. If only for the sake of the long-standing friendship between the Hua and Yang families, please grant my aunt some dignity."
With that, Hua Zhi rose and bowed gracefully to Yang Zheng.Yang Zheng offered a token gesture of support but did not give his approval. It wasn't just Yang Qi who had his eyes on the Hua family's fortune—he too wanted a piece of it.
After a few rounds of verbal sparring, Hua Zhi saw through their intentions. She sneered inwardly: if soft tactics didn’t work, then she would resort to force!
PS: Wishing all the young masters and ladies a peaceful Dragon Boat Festival. Double update today—it’s the end of the month, so shamelessly asking for monthly votes.
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