When Hua Zhi woke up, the sky had just begun to lighten. After making some brief arrangements, she led Shaoyao back to her own courtyard. After breakfast, she insisted Shaoyao lie back down to rest while she hurried to the front courtyard.
Sleep could be made up later, but lessons couldn’t be postponed.
Gu Yanxi immediately noticed her exhaustion, though he refrained from commenting. Even though he hadn’t been at the Hua family residence the previous night, he could easily imagine how taxing it must have been for her. In the Hua family, the capable ones were exceedingly capable, while the incompetent ones were truly incompetent—and the numbers were far from balanced.
Seeing him look at her, Hua Zhi assumed he was wondering why Shaoyao hadn’t come and explained, “Shaoyao was exhausted last night. I told her to sleep a little longer.”
Gu Yanxi nodded, not admitting that he hadn’t actually been thinking of Shaoyao just then.
Hua Zhi curtsied slightly toward Gu Yanxi. “Thank you, Lu Xiansheng.”
She didn’t specify what she was thanking him for, but how could Gu Yanxi not know? He gestured for her to rise. “There’s no need for such formalities, Eldest Miss. It was merely a small effort on my part.”
But your small effort was like sending charcoal in snowy weather to me, Hua Zhi thought to herself. From the lifesaving grace on that rainy night until now—from Lu Xiansheng to Shaoyao, and then to their master—when she thought about it carefully, she had lost count of how many favors she owed. Even if they turned out to be villains, if the time came to repay them, she feared she might end up aiding their wrongdoing. She could only hope her luck wouldn’t be that poor.
Watching Hua Zhi enter the clan school, Gu Yanxi brushed his sleeves lightly and departed at a leisurely pace.
The Hua family seemed no different from the day before—everywhere exuded an air of calm. Those who should study were studying, those who should practice martial arts were practicing, and those who should dress up were dressing up. The only change was the sound of a child crying from the Fourth Madam’s courtyard.
Wu Shi, wearing a headscarf, looked at the child in the wet nurse’s arms. Her spirits were still low; the price of surviving a brush with death had been steep.
Nanny Song brought over a bowl of chicken soup that had cooled to just the right temperature. After drinking half a bowl, Wu Shi pushed it away, finding it too greasy.
“Even if it doesn’t taste good, you should drink a bit more. During the month after childbirth, you need to replenish what you’ve lost, or you’ll suffer greatly later on.”
Wu Shi forced down a few more sips. “Next time, skim off some of the oil. It’s too rich—I really can’t stomach it.”
Nanny Song had no choice but to set the bowl aside.
“Where is Zhi Er busy now?”
“She’s at the clan school. I inquired a little—last night, the Eldest Miss and Miss Shaoyao both slept in the Old Madam’s courtyard and didn’t come out until daybreak. They didn’t look very well-rested.”
Wu Shi smiled wryly. “Even I was frightened like this by the thunder, let alone the Old Madam. Who knows how much they struggled last night.”
“Exactly. But no one could help. No matter how tired she was, she still went to the clan school first thing this morning.”
Wu Shi sighed. When the Hua family was prosperous, nothing seemed amiss. With two Hanlin scholars in the family, they were the only household in the capital to enjoy such honor, unrivaled in prestige. But once they fell from power, their weaknesses became apparent. One could describe them as outwardly strong but inwardly feeble.
Stripped of all their glory, with no men to shield them from the storms, the women of the Hua family had proven so weak, shortsighted, and unfit for serious matters.
This wasn’t just true of the three sisters-in-law above her—it included herself as well. Whether in their maiden families or after marrying into the Hua family, they had lived too comfortably and lost the ability to face adversity. What puzzled her was: where had Zhi Er, who had even less experience and exposure than they did, acquired such remarkable capabilities?However much she might be capable of, once her confinement period was over, she knew she must lend a hand with the household affairs. The thought of letting a junior bear the family’s burdens while she herself sought only personal gain was something she could never bring herself to do.
She paid no mind when the door was pushed open, but at the sound of "Nannan," she abruptly looked up, her eyes instantly reddening.
"Mother…"
"Don’t cry, don’t cry—be careful not to strain your eyes." Though she said this, Wu Shi herself was shedding tears. "How is your health? The messenger spoke vaguely, and I didn’t dare ask too much. Was everything… smooth?"
"I almost didn’t get to see you again." Wu Shi threw herself into her mother’s arms and wept bitterly, the terror of her near-death experience finally overwhelming her. Even now, she could hardly believe she had survived such a dire ordeal.
"What happened? What’s wrong? And the child? Is the child well?"
Nanny Song, wiping her tears nearby, recounted the events of that day. Wu Shi listened, repeatedly murmering "Amitabha Buddha," grateful that she had cast aside her reservations and come in person. She hadn’t realized how terrified her Nannan must have been.
"Why didn’t you send someone to inform me then? Even if I couldn’t help in other ways, couldn’t I have come to lend you some courage?"
Wu Shi shook her head gently. "Since I’ve cut ties with my maiden family, it wouldn’t be right to trouble them again. Besides, given yesterday’s situation, even if I had tried to send word, you probably wouldn’t have been able to enter."
"How so?"
"Mother-in-law has also fallen ill. The eldest young lady ordered all four side gates locked, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving."
For a moment, Madam Wu was unsure whether to inquire first about her in-law’s illness or to ask who this "eldest young lady" was.
Wu Shi dried her tears and softly explained the recent events in the Hua family, including how Hua Zhi had saved her life the day before.
Madam Wu fell silent for a long while, then let out a deep sigh. "I know the temperaments of your three sisters-in-law. I had feared this mess would inevitably fall on your shoulders, but according to tradition, seniority must be respected—it wouldn’t be proper to bypass them and put you in charge. I’ve been worrying about how you’d manage while carrying a child, never imagining things would turn out like this."
Then, as if seeking confirmation, she asked, "Is she truly the one managing everything now?"
"Without a doubt. Not just you—everyone in the household was stunned by her at first." Wu Shi leaned lightly against her mother’s shoulder. "Please keep this to yourself. Zhi Er isn’t one to seek the spotlight, nor does she care for empty fame outside."
"I understand. I won’t even mention it to your sister-in-law." Madam Wu gently touched her daughter’s cheek. "Don’t resent your sister-in-law. As a wife of the Wu family, her husband and children come before anyone else in her heart. Not just you, a married daughter—even her own family ranks lower."
"I don’t resent her. I’m glad she prioritizes the Wu family’s interests. Compared to how the in-laws of the other branches have reacted, Sister-in-law has been quite considerate."
Madam Wu sighed again. After spending some more time chatting with her daughter, she went to check on her ailing in-law. She declined to stay for a meal and departed, mindful of her obligations to the Wu family. She had arrived in an inconspicuous carriage and left discreetly, avoiding crowds.
When Hua Zhi received the report, she merely acknowledged it with a faint sound. She instructed Fu Dong to prepare some light yet nutritious food for Fourth Aunt, then seized the opportunity to catch up on sleep, utterly exhausted.After finishing the afternoon classes, Ying Chun came to report, "Miss, Second Aunt's people have arrived. As you instructed, I took them directly to Third Concubine's room."
"Was Third Concubine crying or smiling?"
"Crying. This humble servant observed that Second Aunt might not be doing well in her husband's family."
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