A collective gasp rippled through the room. Old Lady Wu rose to her feet, her voice sharp as she demanded, "Hua Zhi, what do you think you're doing? Let go at once!"
To everyone's surprise, Hua Zhi's lips curved into a faint smile, and she actually released her grip. Old Lady Yang was equally taken aback but seized the opportunity without hesitation—raising her hand high, she brought it down hard. Just before it could connect with Hua Zhi's face, her wrist was caught again, this time with noticeable force.
Ignoring Old Lady Yang's contorted expression, Hua Zhi turned her gaze to Old Lady Wu. "I did as you asked and let go. And what happened? Could it be that everyone here has joined forces to bully me alone?"
She had indeed released her hold, and she had nearly been slapped. No one could deny it. Even Old Lady Wu, who wished to defend the Yang family, could only fall back on seniority. "After all, she is your elder. You should not hold it against her."
"If that slap had landed, would you, Old Lady Wu, still be telling me not to hold it against an elder?"
Struck by the accuracy of the guess, Old Lady Wu flushed with embarrassment. She had indeed prepared those very words, and though she had spoken them now, their meaning was entirely different.
Still, she refused to admit it openly. Glaring, she retorted, "What nonsense! How could I say such a thing? But she is older, and if you push too hard when you're in the right, you'll end up in the wrong. Why not let it go out of respect for her age?"
"Respecting one's elders isn't about honoring their age, but their character and conduct. Some people live their whole lives only to have wasted decades of food." Hua Zhi released her grip and sat back confidently, not moving an inch, her eyes even carrying a hint of defiance.
Old Lady Yang could not bear such provocation. Though one of her hands was weak and numb, her other hand was still functional. She was close enough—she lunged forward, aiming to claw at Hua Zhi's face.
Hua Zhi sidestepped neatly and, considerately, hooked the chair out of the way to prevent the old lady from crashing into it and damaging her aged teeth. But with nothing to block her fall and the Yang family women failing to support her in time, everyone watched helplessly as Old Lady Yang stumbled. Just then, Hua Zhi, who had moved aside, unexpectedly stepped forward quickly to catch her. Though the old lady still fell, the impact was less severe.
Old Lady Yang looked up to see Hua Zhi gazing down at her, mockery clear in her eyes. Her mind went blank. For decades, she had ruled her household with an iron fist, and every daughter-in-law had been firmly under her thumb. The inner quarters were her domain—when had she ever suffered such humiliation!
Her limbs moved faster than her thoughts. Before she could even get up, she swung at Hua Zhi, who was still supporting her. This time, her hand barely grazed Hua Zhi's face—a light brush, but to the onlookers, it appeared as if she had struck her. And Hua Zhi even tilted her head aside as if reacting to the blow!
Old Lady Yang knew perfectly well she hadn't landed the hit, which only fueled her frustration. Seeing Hua Zhi within easy reach, she lunged again without a second thought—she was determined to scratch that seductive face!
This time, Hua Zhi retreated decisively, and Old Lady Yang fell hard. Yet no one could fault Hua Zhi for stepping back.
She had tried to help, only to be met with another attack from Old Lady Yang. No one would offer the other cheek after already being struck on one.
A woman from the Yang family hurried forward to assist her grandmother, her face flushed with embarrassment. To see her elder act so shamelessly in front of everyone was deeply mortifying.But Old Lady Yang pushed her away with such force that the unprepared Madam Yang fell hard on her bottom. She let out a soft gasp, which seemed to flip a switch in Old Lady Yang’s mind. Abandoning her aggressive stance, she began to moan softly.
“Ouch, ouch…”
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, while Hua Zhi stood apart, watching coldly. She knew exactly what Old Lady Yang was scheming, yet she remained unruffled. Her first attempt to help had been for show—and to prevent the old lady from getting seriously hurt and causing trouble for her. The second time, she didn’t bother, having judged that the fall wasn’t severe enough to cause harm.
While others were too far away to see clearly, Hua Zhi had noticed that the old lady’s expression hadn’t changed after the fall; she still looked as if she wanted to tear Hua Zhi apart. Clearly, she felt no pain.
Since that was the case, let the farce continue. Hua Zhi had come here precisely to sever ties with the Yang family publicly, ensuring everyone knew there was no further connection between them—so that Yang Zheng would never again dare to reach out to the Hua family.
However, Old Lady Wu genuinely believed Old Lady Yang was injured and quickly signaled her maids and servants to help her up. She hurried over, asking anxiously, “Where does it hurt? Is it serious? Eldest daughter-in-law, send for a physician at once.”
“Yes.”
A crowd gathered, all eager to help the old lady to her feet—it was undignified for her to remain on the ground.
At that moment, everyone recalled Old Lady Yang’s humble origins. Unlike the rest of them, who came from respectable families, Old Lady Yang had been an orphan taken in by the Yang ancestors. It was no surprise she resorted to such vulgar, unruly behavior.
Though they were on the same side, the others couldn’t hide their distaste for her antics, their expressions cooling noticeably.
Meanwhile, Old Lady Yang, now seated in a chair with support, continued to moan in pain as if on the verge of death.
Old Lady Wu saw through the act and glanced at the surprisingly young head of the Hua family. She had no desire to play the villain—her own daughter was married into the Hua family, and she hadn’t forgotten that this young woman had saved her daughter’s life. But personal sentiments meant little when weighed against family interests.
The Yang family had promised that if the Wu family sided with them in this matter, her husband’s promotion would be assured. Though she worried endlessly about her daughter’s future in her marital home, she had to consider her sons, grandsons, and the Wu family’s prospects. She knew where her priorities lay and, however reluctantly, had to do what was necessary.
“Young Lady, what do you propose, given how this has unfolded?”
“That’s an interesting question, Old Lady,” Hua Zhi replied, smoothing her hair as Su Momo helped her to another seat. “This is a tea party hosted by the Wu family, and the fall happened at your residence. Why ask me for a solution? Am I in charge here? Let things take their course—I’ll handle whatever comes.”
Zheng Shi smiled faintly. “Young Lady, there’s no need for temper. After all, Old Lady Yang fell because of you. It’s only right to consult you.”
“To be precise, Old Lady Yang fell while trying to strike me. Your vague wording, Madam, makes it sound as if I harmed her. I won’t accept such false accusations. I trust the Wu family would not wrong a junior like me.”Hua Zhi suddenly broke into a smile again. "If the Wu family truly says so, then so be it. With the Wu family keeping me company, what does it matter if I suffer a little loss?"
Zheng Shi was taken aback for a moment, not understanding why the Wu family should bear half of the false accusation.
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