Knowing that Old Madam Hua had come to recuperate, the various masters and mistresses of the Hua family paid their respects upon arrival but did not disturb her further afterward.
Whether Old Madam had truly let go of her worries or buried them deeper, she spent her days leisurely chatting with her daughter, never mentioning family affairs. Gradually, her spirits seemed to improve.
Hua Zhi made time to visit her daily but remained mostly occupied with matters in the front courtyard.
"Miss, Second Madam and Third Madam are here."
Hua Zhi set down her brush, picked up the ink-covered paper, blew on it gently, and handed it along with several others to Bao Xia. "Deliver these to Fourth Aunt. All these items need to be prepared—tell her to select the finest quality."
"Yes."
After giving instructions, Hua Zhi rose from behind her desk and bowed to her two aunts. "I apologize for troubling you to come. I should have paid you a visit instead, but since it concerns the same matter, I thought it best to have you both come together."
Qi Shi and Xia Shi had an inkling of what this might be about and quickly assured her it was no trouble.
Hua Zhi picked up a booklet from her desk, flipped through it, and handed it to Second Aunt. "Please take a look. I’ve drafted identical dowry lists for both younger sisters—two copies prepared together. See if they meet your approval."
Qi Shi was pleasantly surprised. As part of a branch family, she had expected her daughter’s dowry to be somewhat less than that of the third branch. Yet here were identical lists—didn’t that mean they would receive the same? She lowered her head and examined the list carefully, her pace quickening as she went further down. She never imagined it would be so lavish!
Xia Shi was equally delighted after reading it. Though it couldn’t compare to the Hua family’s standards before their downfall, such a dowry was by no means shabby.
She bowed slightly. "Eldest Miss, you’ve been most thoughtful—far beyond my expectations."
Hua Zhi sidestepped the gesture. "Third Aunt, you flatter me. As the one managing the household now, it’s only right that I consider their interests. However, I lack experience in this matter. If you feel anything is missing, please speak up so I can make arrangements."
The two sisters-in-law exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison. "It’s already very comprehensive—more than enough."
Every essential piece of furniture was included, all major items accounted for, multiple sets of jewelry, shops, and two hundred acres of fertile land. In the Hua family’s heyday, this might have been unremarkable, but under current circumstances, presenting such a dowry would surely earn others’ respect.
After all, it had only been a little over a year since the Hua family was raided and exiled. All this had been earned by Eldest Miss in that short time.
With this thought, Xia Shi grew somewhat concerned. "Might it be too conspicuous?"
"If we can’t even produce a dowry like this, how can I live up to my reputation for 'turning stone into gold'?" Hua Zhi had already considered this thoroughly and found further contemplation a waste of time. "Second Aunt, my maternal grandmother has identified several suitable families—all respectable, scholarly households. Second Sister’s marriage won’t be delayed long, so you needn’t worry."
Qi Shi clutched her handkerchief and nodded repeatedly, her mind now completely free of any other concerns.
As for Xia Shi, she had already received Hua Zhi’s promise of an additional thousand taels of silver for Hua Ling’s private funds, so she didn’t feel slighted. Seeing that Xia Shi bore no resentment over the equal treatment of main and branch families, Qi Shi felt a surge of gratitude and spoke with noticeably greater warmth afterward.
Hua Zhi watched the two women exchanging pleasantries without interrupting, sipping her tea leisurely. If a little silver could foster harmony and goodwill among them, she was more than willing to provide it.When Gu Yanxi arrived, Hua Zhi mentioned the matter, "Second Aunt hopes to receive the same treatment as the main branch, while Third Aunt wishes to outshine the secondary branch. If each is satisfied, that would be fine."
"Not every family can manage that."
True enough, there has always been a distinction between main and secondary branches. In their eyes, the concept of equality simply doesn't exist. Hua Zhi snuggled deeper into her man's embrace—having a boyfriend who was like a warm stove was truly a blissful thing. The increasing harmony within the Hua family was also a great blessing.
"Personnel have already entered Jin Yang."
"Has the public candidate been decided?" Hua Zhi looked up just as Gu Yanxi lowered his head. Their lips were only inches apart, their breaths mingling. Without any hesitation, Hua Zhi lifted her head and kissed him.
Gu Yanxi was a beat slower but immediately deepened the kiss. As they whispered intimately, his eyes and heart held only her.
Once their breathing steadied, Gu Yanxi lowered his head and gently nipped the tip of her nose. "I promised your Fourth Uncle that I would keep our affections restrained and proper."
"No worries, I'll tell Fourth Uncle that I seduced you." Hua Zhi laughed without a hint of restraint—and her actions were just as unrestrained. When Yanxi bit her, she immediately bit him back.
Gu Yanxi's heart felt both sweet and tingling. A woman with a temperament like A Zhi was probably one of a kind in this world. Peel away that prickly outer shell, and inside she was clingy and soft, making it impossible to escape—and even more impossible to want to.
After shamelessly teasing him, Hua Zhi got down to business. "Who was chosen for Jin Yang?"
"The Peng Family, a mid-tier clan. They have an inherent advantage." Gu Yanxi pulled her closer into his embrace. "The Peng family's third son, Peng Fangming, is twenty years old. A year ago, he had a conflict with a nephew of the Zhu Family and was sent away by his family. The Peng Family also paid a hefty compensation as a result, and they have significant friction with Zhu Family's circle. It makes perfect sense for Peng Fangming to return home after a year away with a new form of entertainment. Moreover, the Peng Family's roots aren't crooked. They were originally a prominent clan in Jin Yang but declined after losing the competition for the chief administrator position to Yuan Shifang many years ago. Now, with an opportunity to restore their family's prosperity, they know what to do."
After considering the cause and effect, Hua Zhi nodded. Having a grudge against Yuan Shifang indirectly confirmed the family's integrity. Competence was secondary; with the Seven Constellation Bureau providing strategies behind the scenes, even the incompetent would become capable. The most important thing was not to alert the enemy.
"Will you be going over?"
"I'll make a trip after the New Year. If we delay any longer, Jin Yang might become the Chao Li Tribe's territory."
"Even if we resolve the trouble with the Chao Li Tribe, figuring out how to restore order afterward will be a major challenge. Once habits form, they're incredibly difficult to change." Hua Zhi looked up and met Yanxi's gaze, teasing, "Has the world become yours? Why are we always the ones worrying about these matters?"
Gu Yanxi gently tidied her hair while remarking coolly, "As the Emperor says, the capable bear more burdens."
"I could stand to be less capable."
"So could I." Gu Yanxi lowered his head to rest against her forehead. "How about we elope?"
"Don't tempt me. Even if I could run away, you couldn't." Hua Zhi snorted. "The Jiangshan belongs to the Gu Family. If you're not here, it might just end up with the surname Chao Li."Gu Yanxi sighed, "Both the imperial family and the court rely too heavily on the Seven Constellation Bureau. They always believe the bureau can solve any problem, showing little urgency even when aware of the Chao Li Tribe's resurgence. Yet the bureau has limited manpower and monitors far more than just this matter. I wonder where their confidence comes from. A Zhi, I wish to let the Seven Constellation Bureau end with me."
Hua Zhi gently stroked the nape of the man's neck in a rhythmic motion. She had always believed the current existence of the Seven Constellation Bureau brought more harm than good.
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