Chapter 670: The Hua Family Reunion
Hua Pingyang had originally resigned himself to fate, but the trials of the past two years had ignited within him the ambition and fighting spirit befitting a man. Thus, when his father spoke those words, he couldn't help but feel a lingering discontent.
Wasn't he clearly more suited for the officialdom than his elder brother? The past two years had proven he could excel—so why, after overcoming countless hardships to return, must he revert to being the useless Young Master Pingyang?
The reason, it turned out, was precisely because he was too capable?
Hua Pingyang's smile was uglier than a grimace. "Must I hide away for over a decade like you?"
"It's not the same," Hua Zhi shook her head. This was the difference between unwillingness and willingness. She would gladly hide for a lifetime, yearning for peaceful, stable days, waiting only for the joy of a house full of children and grandchildren in her old age. But Fourth Uncle was clearly unwilling at this moment.
"It's not impossible," she continued. "As Grandfather said, you could leave the family and establish your own branch. Father intends to retire, and Berlin will need at least three more years before he's ready. You could take Father's place. As for afterward... In three years, I will have retired, and you'll have left the clan. By then, no one should be able to find fault with the Hua family."
Hua Pingyang looked at the person who spoke of retirement without the slightest reluctance. "Setting aside the Hua family's rules and various reasons, do you truly wish to retire?"
"If I said I want to return to being a commoner right now, would Fourth Uncle believe me?"
Thinking of his once notoriously indolent niece, Hua Pingyang laughed. He believed it. What others clung to, she avoided like the plague.
"I never considered leaving the family."
"One brushstroke can't write two different 'Hua' characters."
"But I still want to be the fourth son of the Hua family. You're right—what the Hua family needs now is someone who can bide their time." Even with regret, the obsession in his heart dissipated. It wasn't that he wasn't good enough or inferior to others; it was because he was too capable that he couldn't be the one to shelter the Hua family. What more could he say? He couldn't very well fill his own head with foolishness.
With this thought, Hua Pingyang felt somewhat relieved. "So you really took that Zeng boy under your wing?"
"I now have not one, but two disciples."
Hua Pingyang was surprised. "You not only took the Son of Heaven as your student but also accepted the Zeng boy as your disciple?"
Hua Zhi lifted her chin slightly, a look of pride on her face. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"Impressive," Hua Pingyang sincerely gave a thumbs-up. One the Son of Heaven, the other a genius—no one else's entire academy of students could compare to her two.
Hua Zhi was pleased. She felt a bit proud too, though she usually had to maintain her Grand Tutor's dignity. Today, she finally got to show off in front of her family.
Seeing his eldest niece like this, Hua Pingyang smiled silently. An eighteen-year-old first-rank Grand Tutor—how many could be found throughout history? If it were him, he would find it hard to abandon such a promising future. Yet, Zhi Er could speak lightly of retiring in three years, truly without the slightest attachment. Who could match such a state of mind?
It made him, the uncle, seem rather inadequate. Hua Pingyang shook his head. So be it. What was wrong with being the carefree Young Master Pingyang? No need to rise before dawn for court duties, no trivial matters to trouble him, just eating, drinking, and enjoying himself every day—it was perfectly fine.Having completely let go of his worries, Hua Pingyang teased his niece, "Earlier you saw the Heir... no, I should address him as the Regent now. Why didn't you invite him in? The Hua family has never treated him as an outsider."
"His presence would be inappropriate on such a day."
"Why does it seem to me that our eldest young lady is feeling shy?"
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Does Fourth Uncle think such words would make me blush?"
Hua Pingyang laughed heartily, feeling utterly delighted.
At the moon gate connecting to the garden, Hua Yizheng stood with his hands behind his back. Seemingly infected by the joyous atmosphere, a faint smile appeared on his face. He knew his youngest son had suffered grievances, but when it came to matters of family legacy, no one had the right to act willfully.
The family banquet began at half past three. Hua Zhi was invited to sit at the main table beside her grandfather. The seat on Hua Yizheng's other side remained empty, with a complete set of bowls and chopsticks arranged neatly—this was reserved for the Old Madam.
Looking at the full gathering and seeing the excited, beaming faces, Hua Yizheng swallowed his usual formal remarks and declared loudly, "The Hua family is reunited."
After a moment of silence, everyone burst into unrestrained laughter. Having endured, waited, and hoped day after day, they were finally reunited. What could bring greater joy than this?
In this moment, no one dampened the mood by mentioning the Old Madam.
In this moment, everyone acted as if someone occupied that empty seat—they were truly reunited!
Hua Zhi lowered her head, blinking away the stinging tears in her eyes. How wonderful, to be reunited. How wonderful.
She had lived up to her grandfather's trust and fulfilled her promise to her grandmother. How wonderful, indeed—she felt as light as a feather.
Filling her grandfather's wine cup to the brim and pouring half a cup for herself, Hua Zhi raised her cup and clinked it with her grandfather's. "It's so good to have you back safe and sound."
Hua Yizheng smiled and drank it all in one go, swallowing along with his indescribable sorrow. In two years, he had lost his lifelong partner, forced his comfort-seeking granddaughter to become the Grand Tutor, and brought the Hua family to its peak. But the cost was too great—his once healthy, rosy-cheeked granddaughter was now skin and bones, her body constantly on the verge of collapse. He wished desperately that time could be reversed, that he could have been more cautious and prevented the late emperor from finding an opportunity to target the Hua family.
The Hua family didn't need Zhi Er to bring it glory. He only wanted this granddaughter, who had grown up little by little before his eyes, to live peacefully according to her wishes—drinking tea, reading books, and creating those strangely named yet delicious foods. Just seeing her content would make him happy.
Not like now, like this drained version of her.
Hua Zhi poured wine for her father and uncles at the same table, drinking a bottom's worth with each in turn. From the beginning to the end of the banquet, the smile in her eyes never faded. Everyone could see she was genuinely happy, especially when she had someone bring out the tea set that hadn't been used for a long time.
Her fluid movements showed no sign of rustiness. After preparing the tea, instead of pushing the cups toward each person, Hua Zhi called Zeng Han, whom she had brought along, to her side. She instructed him to hold the tea and step forward one by one to perform a bowing ceremony. Normally, there was no such ritual for students, but Xiao Han had no family—she wanted to give him a home.
The leading men of the Hua family understood her intention perfectly. They readily accepted the tea, drank it all, and each offered words of encouragement in their capacity as elders.
"Alright, go find Berlin now. They should be in the garden at this time. No going to the Library today.""..." Zeng Han, who had originally intended to head to the Library, had no choice but to obediently comply and respectfully take his leave.
Hua Yizheng chuckled, "He takes after you."
"You flatter me. I don't possess Xiao Han's talent. With my limited abilities, I'm truly afraid of holding him back." Hua Zhi pushed the divided tea toward the several people present. "I'll likely have to trouble Grandfather and my esteemed elders frequently in the future."
Everyone laughed immediately. Hua Pingyang teased, "So is this your student or the Hua family's student?"
Hua Zhi replied playfully, "Well, my surname is Hua too, so it makes no difference."
The laughter in the flower hall grew louder, and the servants attending inside and outside joined in the mirth.
PS: First update. Previously, a reader pointed out an obvious mistake I made - Zeng Han performed the apprenticeship ceremony twice. That was my error. Chapter 374 has been revised. It should be visible after the editor reviews it tomorrow when they return to work. I've also made additional revisions to many chapters regarding typos and phrasing. Readers who look back may notice them, though the first few dozen chapters can't be modified anymore, which is regrettable.
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