"Old Madam, the eldest young lady has arrived."
Amidst the faint rustling sounds from the outer chamber, Hua Zhi was attended to by the Zhu Family's maid who helped her change shoes, removed her heavy cloak, and replaced it with a noticeably pre-warmed mantle.
Knowing this was her grandmother's consideration for her sensitivity to cold, warmth blossomed in Hua Zhi's heart. Some people become family not because of blood ties, but because they care.
As the curtain connecting the outer and inner chambers was lifted, the two faces that came into view brought an unconscious smile to Hua Zhi's lips. "Grandmother, Mother."
"Come in quickly. I've prepared a brazier for you - the thawing snow makes it much colder than when it's actually snowing." Although most wealthy households in the capital had underfloor heating systems, this still wasn't quite enough for Hua Zhi. Even at home she would cling to her hand warmer, so an additional brazier was never too much.
Zhi Niang added two more pieces of charcoal to the brazier while a maid promptly brought over hot tea. Plates of assorted fruits were served one after another. Hua Zhi smiled contentedly as she let her grandmother direct the maids and matrons to fuss over her - this was the elderly's unique way of doting on the younger generation, and she needed only to accept it graciously.
Wu Shi never held back her words in front of her mother. "Mother, you didn't make such a fuss when I returned the other day."
The Old Madam could neither laugh nor cry as she poked her daughter. "Are you really competing with your own daughter now?"
"You're being too partial," Wu Shi retorted softly, then noticed her daughter's icy hands and immediately pulled them toward the brazier. "Why didn't you wear more? How did Lin Shuang deliver the message? I told you Ziwen would bring me back. It's not far - why did you have to come fetch me in such cold weather?"
Hua Zhi replied gently, "Since Berlin isn't home, of course I had to come. With the year's end approaching, it's time to deliver New Year's gifts anyway. I would have had to come sooner or later, so it worked out perfectly to bring you home."
Though Wu Shi didn't handle household affairs, she understood what needed doing at year's end and nodded in agreement. It was a bit early, but acceptable.
The Old Madam watched the mother-daughter exchange with smiling eyes. If in the past she had worried about how her daughter might suffer if her husband developed wandering eyes in her later years, she now had no such concerns. Even if the Hua family regained its former status, with such children by her side, no one could ever bully her daughter.
After comforting her mother, Hua Zhi turned to her grandmother, whose sickly pallor showed through despite the rouge and powder. Upon arriving at the Zhu residence, she had been brought directly here. She had expected to find her grandmother resting in bed, but instead found her properly dressed and waiting.
After a moment's thought, Hua Zhi understood her grandmother's intention - she didn't want to use her illness to make a scene. If Hua Zhi insisted on demanding an explanation from Zhu Shan, her grandmother would stand by her.
But Hua Zhi had never intended to trouble Zhu Shan. The one who had let this minor matter escalate had always been her eldest aunt.
"Grandmother, may I speak with both my aunts?"
The Old Madam was taken aback. Zhi Er's reaction wasn't what she had anticipated.
Thinking her daughter meant to stand up for her, Wu Shi tugged at her hand. "Mother is fine. It was just a child speaking thoughtlessly. At my age, how could I possibly hold a grudge against her?""The issue does not lie with our cousin." Hua Zhi turned to her grandmother. "Some matters are better addressed clearly rather than left to fester inside. Endless guessing will never lead to mutual understanding. Since we're all in the same boat, we should be pulling together in the same direction. Don't you agree?"
After some thought, the Old Madam nodded slowly. "You're right. There's no sense in our own people hindering each other. Zhi Niang, go tidy up the side room and light the stove. Send someone to fetch those two troublesome ones."
"Yes." Zhi Niang cast a grateful look at the young mistress. She knew better than anyone how distressed the Old Madam had been these past days. If this matter could be resolved, the Old Madam's illness would surely improve.
Holding her granddaughter's delicate hand, the Old Madam sighed deeply. "I was just telling your mother not to trouble you with my affairs, and here we are - the words barely faded, yet you're already involved."
"You've worried over me so much - can't I spare some thought for you in return?" Knowing the old woman was feeling troubled, Hua Zhi changed the subject. "Earlier I asked you to help find suitable matches for my younger sisters. Have you found any promising families?"
The Old Madam immediately perked up. "With the New Year approaching, I planned to discuss this after the festivities. I have indeed found several good prospects. They may not be from the highest nobility, but they're all scholarly families. Such matches would be most suitable for the Hua family's daughters. After the New Year, I'll take you to meet them."
Hua Zhi fully agreed. Regardless of the Hua family's current circumstances, in the eyes of scholars and literati, the Hua family remained a model of scholarly virtue. Marrying into such families would ensure the Hua daughters wouldn't be looked down upon. As for social status, she trusted her grandmother's judgment wouldn't lead them astray.
"Please tell me about these families. I'll have someone investigate their backgrounds."
This seemed more prudent. The Old Madam immediately listed several families and names, which Hua Zhi carefully noted down before eliciting more information from her grandmother about what she knew of these families. Just then, Zhi Niang entered to announce, "The two madams have arrived."
Hua Zhi stood and practically insisted on helping her grandmother to the bed. "Just rest. Everything can be resolved - it's nothing serious."
The Old Madam patted her hand and stopped resisting.
Wu Shi came over. "Go attend to your matters. I'll look after things here."
Hua Zhi acknowledged this, adjusted her cloak, and went to the adjacent room.
Listening to the door opening in the next room, Wu Shi sat on the edge of the bed, her face full of pride. "My daughter is truly capable."
"The most capable thing you've ever done was giving birth to Zhi Er and Berlin."
Wu Shi didn't mind her mother's teasing - she thought the same herself.
In the adjacent room, the two anxious sisters-in-law were surprised to see Hua Zhi enter. They had expected their mother-in-law to summon them for a scolding and had prepared countless apologies, none of which seemed relevant now.
Watching the maid close the door behind them, the elder madam thought of what had happened with her daughter earlier and hesitantly began, "Zhi Er, you..."
"I don't blame Zhu Shan for disrespecting my mother. Though she acted impulsively, the root cause lies with you." Hua Zhi bowed politely to both women before taking a seat in the lower position. Uncertain of the situation, the two women could only follow suit and sit down."I've asked Grandmother for this opportunity to speak frankly with both of you," she said. "What I'm about to say might not be pleasant to hear—you may even find it embarrassing. But I believe none of us want to see the Zhu Family thrown into turmoil with brothers turning against each other. For the sake of your own children, I beg you to bear with me and have this open conversation."
The two sisters-in-law, who had always been at odds, exchanged glances. They weren't sure whether to agree, yet neither made a move to leave. Though neither believed herself to be at fault, the reality was that they had incurred their in-laws' displeasure—a situation that demanded careful consideration.
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