Wei Jing froze for a moment when he saw Hua Zhi, never expecting her to appear.
Few in the capital had known of Hua Zhi before, but now the eldest daughter of the Hua family was known throughout the city. He knew more than most, and precisely because of that, he would not underestimate her.
Back then, she had stirred up such a commotion for the sake of a younger sister, forcing the Wei family to step in and protect Hua Ling’s reputation. Now that he intended to move against the entire Hua family, he didn’t believe she had come to congratulate the success of the Pure Conversation Gathering. It was more likely she meant trouble.
But so what? Behind the Wei family stood the Emperor.
Wei Jing stepped forward with a warm smile, offering a reserved bow to the assembled guests. "This is the Wei family’s first time hosting a Pure Conversation Gathering. Our inexperience may have caused some neglect—please forgive us."
All eyes, subtle yet unmistakable, drifted toward Hua Zhi. While this was the Wei family’s first time hosting, the Hua family had organized these gatherings for years. The sudden shift in stewardship must have been a bitter pill to swallow, and Wei Jing’s words struck right at the heart of that discomfort.
Zhu Ziwen was about to retort when Hua Zhi spoke first, "Experience is built over time. Should Lord Wei have another opportunity to host, I’m sure he’ll be well-prepared and won’t leave us waiting outside like this."
Her words could be taken at face value or read as a veiled jab. Wei Jing, not one to invite discomfort, clasped his hands and replied, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Hua. We will certainly not repeat this mistake next time."
"Very well," Hua Zhi responded with a smile, smoothing her wind-tousled hair. "The wind today is rather strong. If I stay out here much longer, I fear I may appear unseemly."
Wei Jing was inwardly annoyed at being preempted, but his reply remained impeccably courteous. "The fault is mine for keeping everyone talking. Please, come inside."This official?"" Hua Zhi adjusted her cloak and smiled faintly. So he was treating the Pure Conversation Gathering like a formal banquet.
The Wei residence, a third-rank official’s estate, was comparable in scale to the Zhu family’s. It bore all the hallmarks of an established family. As they walked deeper inside, servants stood with bowed heads along the winding corridors.
At a fork in the path, Wei Jing led the group to the right. Passing through a courtyard and a moon gate, the view suddenly opened up.
They entered a garden where nearly half the area was taken up by a lake. Several pavilions dotted the water, spaced closely together, and boats floated on the surface.
Had it not been for the strong wind, it would have been an ideal spot for leisure. Even with the wind, much of it was blocked by the surroundings. As a venue for the Pure Conversation Gathering, it was passable.
Hua Zhi instinctively compared it to the Hua family’s gathering place—a specially built two-story wooden pavilion. The ground floor was a large open space, while the upper floor was open-air. Along the walls on both levels stood long desks equipped with fine inkstones, brushes, and paper. Cushions were scattered casually on the floor, and a few servants served tea in the corners. Beyond that, there was nothing else.
Her grandfather, father, and uncles would typically wear simple white scholars’ robes. Her grandfather loved to lean against the railing on the upper floor, speaking eloquently. Her father often stood on the staircase between the two floors when it was his turn to speak. Other scholars, too, would take elevated positions when addressing the crowd. When the gathering was full, even the stairs would be packed with people, leaving only a narrow path for passage.The Great Qing Dynasty did not restrict scholars to taking the provincial examinations solely in their local prefectural cities. Those brimming with confidence often traveled thousands of miles to the capital. This was partly due to the Hua family’s Pure Conversation Gathering, which was held only after the Autumn Examination—a scholarly discussion among scholars, free from any taint of personal gain or political motives. All participants stood on equal footing, with no distinctions of rank. For scholars, merely gaining entry was an honor in itself.
But now.
Hua Zhi stood on the pavilion, gazing at the several wine jars and cups on the table, then at the beautiful maidservants waiting in attendance. She thought, He should come and see for himself how the very person he favored, Wei Jing, is destroying the pillars of his nation.
Coincidentally, that very person also felt he ought to witness it firsthand and was at that moment entering the Wei residence, accompanied by Gu Yanxi.
Upon receiving the report, Wei Jing’s eyes lit up with delight. After hurriedly instructing his eldest son, he swiftly departed.
Seizing this golden opportunity to shine, Wei Chenze made his way to the highest pavilion, his smile as warm as a spring breeze. "The Wei family dares not compare itself to the Hua family. However, with the Hua family’s current circumstances... it would be a shame to let the Pure Conversation Gathering, held only once every three years, simply fade away. Thus, the Wei family has taken the liberty of hosting it. If there are any oversights, we beg your forgiveness. The hour is still early, and not all have arrived yet. Please, feel free to enjoy yourselves in the meantime."
Zhu Ziwen found these words grating and the sight of the wine even more offensive. Suppressed anger tinged his tone as he remarked, "Serving wine at a Pure Conversation Gathering—do they think we aren’t frivolous enough?"
The pavilion was occupied by familiar faces: Zhu Ziwen, along with his two close friends Xu Zhenghe and Tan Qingsong, Hua Zhi and her sister, and Yu Xiasheng.
Yu Xiasheng then asked, "Were there no drinks at previous gatherings?"
"Last year, I shamelessly tagged along with my grandfather to the Hua family’s gathering. Their Pure Conversation Gathering had none of these extravagances—just a few servants bringing in tea. If they were too busy, those who were thirsty helped themselves to water. That was how a Pure Conversation Gathering ought to be!"
As he spoke, the sound of strings and flutes arose. Three boats approached from afar, carrying musicians playing the qin, dizi, xun, and zheng. Scholars leaned over the railings to watch, and those in high spirits clapped along to the rhythm, creating a lively atmosphere.
Wei Chenze smiled with satisfaction, his gaze drifting toward another pavilion that remained quiet. He let out a meaningful, soft chuckle.
Hua Zhi was also watching, though not the performance, but the people in the pavilion. Those invited today were all young talents who had earned a place on the secondary list—confident and spirited. Yet, it was precisely because of their youth and early success that they needed to be grounded, not further praised. The Hua family’s Pure Conversation Gathering served exactly that purpose: allowing them to voice their opinions freely, while her grandfather guided them to recognize their own shortcomings.
The Wei family’s approach, however, was nothing short of destructive.
Yet, human nature leans toward pleasure, and many would likely embrace the Wei family’s methods. Truth be told, the direction the Wei family had chosen wasn’t entirely misguided. If he endorsed this approach... Hua Zhi sneered coldly. Even if he managed to complete that canal within his lifetime, he would still be a sinner to the Great Qing Dynasty.
"Eldest Miss."
Hua Zhi turned to see Chen Dayi striding in and quickly rose to greet him. Chen Dayi’s expression was grim. After a hurried bow, he marched to the edge of the pavilion, glaring at the people on the boats. Slapping the railing in fury, he exclaimed, "This is a disgrace to refinement! An utter disgrace! What kind of Pure Conversation Gathering is this? It’s nothing but a pleasure outing!"Hua Zhi was still pondering how to respond when she saw him turn around and speak rapidly, "Are you just going to stand by, Miss? Watch them ruin the Pure Conversation Gathering? Destroy the pillars of Daqing?"
How... naive! Hua Zhi laughed, "Lord Chen, please enlighten me—what can I do, and what should I do?"
"I..." Chen Dayi fell silent. Indeed, what could be done even with indignation? She could barely keep the Hua family from collapsing—could she possibly preside over the Pure Conversation Gathering? Even if she were willing, others would never allow it.
Yet, "How heartbroken our mentor would be if he knew."
Hua Zhi rose and stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Dayi. How could she not be heartbroken? Even without her grandfather's level of conviction, she found the current scene unbearably glaring.
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