Chapter 522 Haoyue's Speculation
Zhu Ziwen strode toward Fan Ziming.
Just as Fan Ziming was about to explain, Zhu Ziwen's fist had already struck his face, sending him stumbling backward until he fell to the ground.
"Brother Zhu..."
Several other classmates quickly gathered around to restrain him, and one of them hesitated for a moment before helping Fan Ziming up out of their shared bond as classmates.
Zhu Ziwen pushed away those holding him back, shaking his sore hand as he said, "My cousin was right. I was blind and foolish to consider someone like you a friend."
"Brother Zhu, I just couldn't help myself..."
"How is Ruo Hong Guniang? Have you abandoned Qingshan Meimei?" Seeing Fan Ziming's widened eyes, Zhu Ziwen sneered coldly. "There are many you 'couldn't help yourself' with. Don't you dare count my cousin among them. Even mentioning you in the same breath as her feels like sullying her. If I hear of this again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Fan Ziming's background was not inferior, given that he could associate with Zhu Ziwen, but it still fell short compared to the Minister of Revenue who held real power. Only then did Fan Ziming begin to feel afraid. His father had instructed him to befriend Zhu Ziwen to strengthen ties with the Zhu Family. If his father found out he had not only failed but had also offended Zhu Ziwen...
He didn't dare think further and hurried after Zhu Ziwen. The remaining classmates exchanged bewildered glances, recalling the classmate still at home guarding the wine jars, waiting for them to bring back food. They glanced at the alley behind them, unsure whether they should buy some food to drown their sorrows in drink and forget everything that had happened by the next morning.
Having lost her mood for outings, Hua Zhi went straight home without going anywhere else.
"Is Shaoyao back?"
"Not yet." Ying Chun wrapped the young lady's hands in a warm cloth to help them warm up.
Two days had passed, and Hua Zhi was growing concerned. Yu Lao had already prepared the ointment, but Shaoyao's wounds still needed treatment beforehand. Since the Emperor had forbidden Yu Lao from leaving the palace, Shaoyao had to go into the palace instead. Hua Zhi wondered how she was faring now.
She hoped the scars could be minimized as much as possible. People always judge by appearances first. Only then could Shaoyao's life have a chance to become vibrant.
Rumors came and went in waves, and the latest wave had shifted to the eldest young lady. The story of how she had silenced someone who confessed his feelings to her on the street had spread throughout the capital, even reaching the depths of the palace.
Haoyue closed the dossier she had read several times and stood up with the support of a palace maid to pace around. Hua Zhi's existence seemed flawless on the surface—just like in her previous life, she was betrothed to the Shen Family. Similarly, after the wedding date was set, the Hua family encountered disaster. It was from this point that Hua Zhi began to change. She stepped forward from among the women, shed her disguise, and had been striving tirelessly for the Hua family ever since.
Moreover, Hua Zhi had taken the initiative to break off the engagement with Shen Qi. In her previous life, it was around this time that the Shen Family had called off the engagement with the Hua family.
What astonished Haoyue the most was that the men of the Hua family had not died and that it was Hua Zhi who had saved them. Haoyue couldn't help but wonder: Could Hua Zhi be like her?
If that were truly the case, then she must not be allowed to live!
The advantages she held from her foreknowledge were dwindling, while Hua Zhi's time of return remained unknown. Even if Hua Zhi had only outlived her by a single day in her previous life, the advantage would lie with her. Reflecting on this, Haoyue realized that her greatest threat was none other than Hua Zhi!
"Go and tell him that Hua Zhi must not be spared. He must act quickly."
"Yes."Picking up the dossier again and reading the last few lines, Haoyue frowned slightly. Though she had been reborn into this life, she couldn't imagine being so ruthless toward someone who admired her. This Hua Zhi was completely different from the person she remembered from her previous life. Or perhaps she had been mistaken?
If it wasn't what she thought, then what could explain Hua Zhi's completely changed behavior?
"Your Highness." The palace maid entered carrying a basket. "The Empress Dowager... refused to see me. Aunt Yu Xiang said that the Hall of Fortune and Longevity would no longer permit my entry and that I should not return."
Haoyue's face twisted momentarily. That old hag!
"Continue going every day from now on. Even if you carry an empty basket, it doesn't matter. As long as the Emperor knows about it."
"Yes."
As soon as the first lunar month ended, good news arrived one after another. The Lu and Sun families made superficial efforts in land transportation before relinquishing control, successfully securing water transport instead. Similar to the salt administration, the Emperor established water and land transportation as a separate department called the Transportation Department.
The Cai family found two suitable marriage prospects, one of which was the Yuan family recommended by Old Madam Zhu. Hua Zhi, having her own preferences, reserved the Yuan family—whom both sides considered favorable—for her second younger sister. After investigating the backgrounds of the other three families, she assigned them to collateral branches. She didn't involve herself further in these matters, as several grandaunts were more experienced in such affairs.
Hua Zhi accompanied her maternal grandmother to visit the Yuan family. Coincidentally, the head of the household was considered half a student of her grandfather and had once attended the Hua family's Scholarly Discussions. He had no objections to the marriage arrangement. The lady of the house didn't appear to be overly assertive, so her second younger sister wouldn't face difficulties after marrying into the family.
With her second younger sister's marriage settled, Hua Zhi arranged a meeting with Yu Furen.
"The Spring Examination is in April. I wonder what Madam Xia's thoughts are regarding the timing?"
"I naturally hope for it to be as early as possible. If he is fortunate enough to pass, staying in the capital wouldn't pose any issues for the wedding timing. However, if he's assigned to a provincial post, everything becomes inconvenient." Yu Furen sighed. "I have full confidence in my son's knowledge, but his temperament is such that unless he remains in the Hanlin Academy, he's bound to face difficulties. Yet his grandfather hopes Xia Sheng can be appointed to an official post outside the capital to temper him through local experience. Easier said than done."
"If the Hanlin Academy were still under the Hua family's control, it would be fine for him to simply serve as a Hanlin scholar. But that's no longer the case, and entering now wouldn't be suitable. Yu Lao has served as an official for many years—his judgment surely isn't mistaken."
"That's true in principle, but what mother would want her son to suffer far from home?" Shaking her head, Yu Furen changed the subject. "Has the Yuan family set a wedding date?"
Hua Zhi smiled. "What a coincidence—the Yuan family's son and your husband are fellow provincial graduates. He will also take the Spring Examination in April, so both families face similar timing issues. I mentioned my third younger sister's situation to them. They suggested having both sisters marry simultaneously, which was kind of them, but I had to decline. Since this happens only once in a lifetime, it's better for each to have their own separate celebration."
Yu Furen appreciated Hua Zhi's protective nature. Given the Hua family's current circumstances, having both sisters marry together wouldn't be considered shameful, yet Hua Zhi still refused to let them share even their special day. This demonstrated her magnanimity as the family head.
"In that case, the wedding dates will have to be arranged urgently. Does the Yuan family have any objections?""I have already discussed it with them, and they have no objections. According to convention, there is nearly two months between the announcement of the results and the official appointment. If we hurry, we should be able to arrange this joyous event." Hua Zhi was quite pleased that both families were reasonable people, which showed they were not difficult to deal with. For a bride-to-be, this was a very good thing.
PS: Third update. I've revised it for a long time but still feel the foreshadowing isn't quite right. I'll take another look tomorrow—my head is spinning now.
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