Regardless of the turmoil brewing outside, Hua Zhi paid it no mind. After returning from the Lu family, aside from visiting the branch families, she no longer went out. She moved some items from the study to Yan Xi's room and spent most of her time there.
She also summoned Little Six. Since she had formally become his master through a ceremonial apprenticeship, she felt obliged to teach him more diligently than before.
This continued until the fifteenth day of the lunar month.
In the Daqing Dynasty, the New Year was not considered fully over until after the Lantern Festival. On this day, the curfew was lifted, and lantern festivals were held for public enjoyment. However, the Hua sisters, lacking the protection of elder brothers, were unable to attend this year.
Having traveled extensively across the country and journeyed both north and south over the past year, Hua Zhi often felt a peculiar sense of pity for the women of this era. Seeing the Hua family's young ladies deprived of even this rare opportunity to venture out openly, she decided to host a lantern festival within their own household.
Of course, she only provided the idea. The actual arrangements were still handled by Wu Shi, while Ying Chun and Bao Xia were dispatched to assist with the preparations.
"Young lady, the three branch families have arrived."
Hua Zhi set down her brush and blew gently on the ink to dry it. "These riddles should suffice. Liu Xiang, how are the lanterns coming along?"
"Each of the masters has made a few, and the young ladies from the branch families have brought some as well. With the ones made by our sisters, it should be enough."
"That should be plenty. Little Six, help write a few more—just for fun."
Little Six agreed cheerfully with a smile.
Hua Zhi stood up and glanced at the man who had already grown tired of lying in bed. Draped in an outer robe with his hair loosely tied, he looked entirely at ease in his homely attire. "I’ll be busy now. Have dinner a little later and wait for me."
Gu Yanxi nodded with a faint smile. They both knew that such leisurely days were likely limited to this one, and they intended to cherish every moment they could spend together.
A considerable number of people from the branch families had arrived, and the long-quiet Hua residence was suddenly filled with a lively atmosphere. Hua Zhi exchanged greetings with the three grandaunts, then delegated the women to Fourth Aunt, the young ladies to Hua Xin and her sisters, and the boys to Bai Yu. In no time, everyone was settled into their respective groups.
Fourth Aunt chuckled, "How efficient! Why didn’t I think of this before?"
"That’s why there’s only one eldest young lady in the Hua family," Second Aunt teased, covering her mouth with a laugh. Turning to Hua Zhi, she frowned slightly. "Most people put on weight over the winter, but Zhi Er, you haven’t changed a bit."
"I hide my weight well—it doesn’t show on my face," Hua Zhi replied lightly. Unaccustomed to idle chatter, she was well aware of her shortcomings and had come prepared. She produced a deck of playing cards and said, "I have a new pastime here. Please keep it among yourselves, grandaunts, and don’t mention it outside. These aren’t available for sale yet, but I’ll send you each a set when it’s convenient."
Hua Zhi taught them a three-player card game called "Guan Pai," which was easy to learn and, most importantly, didn’t require her participation.
She wasn’t worried they would spread word of it. Since playing cards weren’t yet sold outside, even if they tried to make their own from paper, the flimsy result would quickly lose its appeal after a few rounds. Moreover, after nearly a year of guidance, they had become quite obedient. If she said not to mention it, they wouldn’t.
The three quickly got the hang of it and became engrossed in their game.This was exactly the effect Hua Zhi wanted. After greeting them, she walked out of the courtyard and followed the sounds of laughter. On the covered corridor, the Hua family's young ladies, bundled up warmly, were hanging various lanterns together with their maids.
"Elder Sister."
Hua Rong was the first to spot her. At her call, the others turned to look and greeted her as Elder Sister in unison. Those who had been standing on chairs to hang lanterns quickly climbed down.
"I just came to see how you're doing. Continue having fun—do whatever makes you happy. There aren't so many rules today."
"Yes," the girls replied sweetly, exchanging glances before bursting into laughter again.
Hua Rong ran over with a lantern and handed it to her. "Elder Sister, this is for you."
It was a lotus-shaped lantern with painted designs. Glancing at her younger half-sister's expression, which seemed to beg for praise, Hua Zhi understood. "Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, I made several. This one turned out the best."
"It's very beautiful. I'll gladly accept the best one then."
Hua Rong beamed even more brightly and ran back to continue hanging lanterns.
Hua Zhi found a sheltered spot to sit, leaning against a corridor pillar as she watched them laugh and play. In both her past and present lives, this was the first time she had witnessed such a scene. While the Hua family was harmonious compared to others, privately, there were always calculations and rivalries among them—like the repeated arguments between Hua Xin and Hua Ling. Such genuine, joyful harmony had never existed before.
Just watching it felt incredibly heartwarming.
I must be starved for affection, Hua Zhi mocked herself inwardly. She stood up, carrying the lotus lantern, and left.
She didn't see that behind her, the girls who had been laughing moments earlier grew quiet, their smiles fading as they watched her retreating figure.
Hua Rong whispered, "I wanted to ask Elder Sister to join us, but I couldn't bring myself to say it."
"Me too," Hua Xin said, pretending to casually wipe the corner of her eye. "She's not much older than me, yet she feels like she's from a different generation."
Hua Xin still remembered how Elder Sister used to be. She never joined them—never composed poetry, never went out. Even among sisters, they didn't see her every day. But whenever her presence was required, she was always there—never stepping out of line, never overstepping, always adhering to the rules. To put it bluntly, she was rigid. Such an Elder Sister posed no threat, so Hua Xin had always viewed Hua Ling as her only rival.
She used to look down on this eldest sister who, despite her privileged status as the firstborn, was as silent as a closed gourd and lacked any temper. Now, looking back, she felt ridiculous. Truly capable people never flaunt their abilities. When it was time for her to step up, she was more reliable than anyone.
What does it mean for an elder sister to be like a mother? For the current Hua family, the eldest Hua daughter embodied it.
Hua Zhi wandered around the backyard with the lantern but eventually returned to the front courtyard. It seemed only here that she didn't feel out of place. I've really grown old, she thought. That sense of world-weariness can't be concealed by age.
Only Yan Xi was in the room. Carefully setting the lantern aside, Hua Zhi went over and leaned against his shoulder without a word.
Gu Yanxi put down his book and wrapped an arm around her. "Are you unhappy?"
Hua Zhi shook her head, unsure how to describe the feeling.
Gu Yanxi kissed her forehead and didn't press further. "Shall we play a game of chess?"
She would have preferred a round of sand table deduction over chess, but she decided against mentioning it. Yan Xi's relaxed demeanor existed only within these walls. The moment he stepped outside, he had to put on his formal facade again—just watching it exhausted her.After setting up the chessboard, Hua Zhi took the black pieces and made the first move. Perhaps due to her pent-up frustration, her playing style became noticeably more aggressive than usual. Gu Yanxi, however, adopted a cunning strategy, setting traps one after another—truly a match between equals.
Hua Zhi completely forgot her earlier distress, pouring all her concentration into the chessboard as she battled Yanxi to a stalemate.
Seeing her no longer brooding, Gu Yanxi dared not let his focus waver. Given A Zhi's skill level, even going all-out might not guarantee him a victory—he certainly didn’t want to lose too embarrassingly in front of A Zhi.
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