Hua Zhi was unaware of the commotion in the imperial court and left home after calculating the time.
As if attending an ordinary gathering, she still wore her slightly faded white dress, adorned only with small white flowers in her hair. Since others had deliberately sent her an invitation despite knowing she was in mourning, they could hardly object to her attire.
She brought only Nian Qiu and Su Momo as attendants, having coaxed even Shaoyao into staying behind.
In the carriage, Hua Zhi instructed Su Momo, "Those who dared issue this invitation clearly hold no regard for past affections. There's no need to invoke Grandmother’s authority—I can handle these people on my own without dragging her into this."
Su Momo was momentarily taken aback before assenting. She had assumed this was precisely why the young lady had brought her along...
"If they truly cherished even a shred of past sentiment, I wouldn’t need to make this trip today. Why disturb Grandmother over insignificant matters?"
"Understood."
Hua Zhi closed her eyes to rest, contemplating the situation she would soon face and remaining silent for the rest of the journey.
When the carriage halted, a voice from outside inquired, "Is this the carriage of the Hua family’s eldest young lady?"
A servant from the Hua family replied, "Indeed it is."
Hua Zhi, supported by Nian Qiu, stepped out of the carriage and stood on the footboard, looking down imperiously at the man who had clearly been waiting there deliberately—a youth of about seventeen or eighteen.
Under her gaze, the young man instinctively straightened his posture and introduced himself, "I am Wu Chunsheng, the eldest son of the Wu family, here specially to welcome you, young lady."
Sending a male family member to greet her? The Wu family was certainly being peculiar. Had it been her own kin, it might have been acceptable, but she and the Wu family were hardly close—previously connected only by marriage, with no blood relation whatsoever. Did they think the presence of a man would make her shrink in shyness?
Or were they deliberately aiming to spread malicious gossip about her?
Such blatant scheming. Hah.
Hua Zhi turned and reentered the carriage, her voice drifting out from within, "If this is how the Wu family behaves, there’s no need for me to stay. Let’s return."
Wu Chunsheng, youthful and impulsive, was unwilling to let her leave so easily. "Why would you say that, young lady?"
"Are the young ladies of the Wu family typically received by gentlemen when they go out? How novel. However, the Hua family upholds strict decorum, and I cannot indulge in such impropriety. Please convey to the Old Madam that I must regrettably break our engagement today."
"How unkind of you to suggest that Wu family ladies would be received by gentlemen!"
"Oh? So Wu family ladies aren’t treated this way, yet a Hua family lady should be? What logic is that?" Hua Zhi stepped out once more, looking down at Wu Chunsheng with icy eyes and an equally cold expression. "Does the Wu family believe our Hua family deserves such disrespect?"
So this was the famously aloof and fiery beauty. Wu Chunsheng felt a stir of excitement—this Hua Zhi was utterly unlike those delicate, fragile women. She had such spirit! If only he could...
Suppressing his improper thoughts, Wu Chunsheng softened his expression to coax her. "How could the Wu family ever disrespect you, young lady? It’s only because I am the Wu family’s eldest grandson and you are the Hua family’s eldest granddaughter—having me greet you is the highest courtesy. I never imagined you would misinterpret it..."
"If we’re reasoning by status, then the Old Madam herself should have greeted me. Though young, I am the head of the Hua family. By comparing yourself to me, you overestimate your own importance." Hua Zhi turned to reenter the carriage. "Please deliver my message to the Old Madam.""Wait a moment." An elderly woman emerged hurriedly from the eastern side gate with two young maidservants. Su Momo quietly identified her, "That's Stewardess Zhu Momo from Old Madam Wu's household."
Zhu Momo approached with an elaborate curtsy, offering an apologetic smile, "My apologies for letting the young lady witness such an embarrassing scene. Please forgive this offense. Rest assured, the old madam will properly discipline the young master later."
Had Hua Zhi wished to press the matter, she could certainly have pursued it to the end. She could have justifiably turned and left without anyone accusing her of poor etiquette. However, her purpose today wasn't to engage in a public confrontation with the Wu family's young master at the gate, becoming the subject of others' gossip.
Thus she took the offered way out, allowing Su Momo to assist her down from the carriage. She regarded the matron coolly without uttering a word, making her displeasure abundantly clear. She had decided to take a direct approach today - this being her most proficient strategy.
Zhu Momo had no choice but to maintain her apologetic smile. The Wu family was clearly in the wrong here. Had the Hua family's eldest young lady failed to see through their scheme and fallen into their trap, that would have been one thing. But since she had seen through it, Zhu Momo had to serve as the punching bag.
Yet no matter what she said, Su Momo intercepted every word seamlessly. They proceeded into the inner courtyard without so much as another glance in her direction, eventually reaching the Wu family's garden.
The Wu family's garden wasn't located within the inner courtyard proper, but rather to the side of the main residence, enjoying considerable renown in the capital.
Grandmother of Wu Zhen, the minister, had been particularly fond of flowers and plants, maintaining this passion steadfastly for decades. The collection of rare and exotic blooms she amassed was beyond counting. Wu Zhen's father, being filial, would acquire every new variety he heard of to honor his elderly mother. With the master of the household setting such an example, every member of the residence naturally took great care with the garden. After the old matriarch passed away, the garden was entrusted to her daughter-in-law, and subsequently to Minister Wu Zhen's current wife.
The family took immense pride in this garden, using it as the venue for everything from poetry and wine gatherings among the younger generation to social meetings among married women.
It was indeed beautiful. In this season when the chill had dissipated, flowers bloomed in vibrant competition. Even those not yet in their flowering season showed no signs of decline, clearly demonstrating the meticulous care the Wu family devoted to the garden.
In such surroundings, Hua Zhi's feigned anger appropriately dissipated for the most part. Right at this moment, Zheng Shi, the Wu family's eldest daughter-in-law, coincidentally approached. "I heard from the matron that my undisciplined son has offended you, young lady. This reflects my failure as a mother in proper upbringing. Please don't be angry, young lady."
Hua Zhi offered a slight bow, neither humble nor pushy. "I had thought it was customary for the Wu family to have male members receive female guests."
Zheng Shi's expression shifted slightly before she quickly summoned a smile. "How could that be? No family would do such a thing - it would violate all propriety."
"Exactly." Isn't it your Wu family that's violating propriety? Hua Zhi chuckled lightly.
Having been selected by Old Madam Wu as the eldest daughter-in-law, Zheng Shi was no fool. She perfectly understood the implication in Hua Zhi's words but could only pretend otherwise. Secretly, she wondered why her mother-in-law had permitted Chunsheng to do such a thing. If this were to spread, how would it reflect on Chunsheng's reputation?
As the garden frequently served as a gathering place, several pavilions of varying styles had been constructed. Among them, one with fluttering white curtains stood out particularly - reserved for unmarried young ladies' gatherings, though unused today. Zheng Shi led them to another nearby pavilion adorned with carved railings and jade-like ornaments, from which an air of opulence emanated.
Yet Hua Zhi appeared rather out of place in such surroundings.Upon closer inspection, the traces outside the pavilion appeared quite fresh, suggesting it had been recently built. She thought that given the taste of the two generations of Wu family matriarchs, they wouldn't have constructed such a pavilion that disrupted the overall layout.
Hua Zhi suppressed her thoughts. This was simply her nature—when she favored someone, she would willingly treat them with utmost kindness; when she despised someone, even their breathing seemed wrong to her.
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