Knowing that Fourth Aunt had gone to the Yang family, Hua Zhi was not at all surprised when she returned not only empty-handed, but carrying a body full of barely-contained fury.

“Zhi’er, you have no idea what manner that old woman of the Yang family put on — her nose practically pointing at the ceiling. Has she forgotten that I know exactly what she was like before?”

“It’s precisely because she used to have to bow and scrape before Grandmother and smile pleasantly in your presence that she’s now putting on this show of authority.” Hua Zhi had seen far too many people of this sort and understood their nature completely. “They won’t agree?”

Zhu Shi practically ground her teeth. “Won’t agree is putting it mildly. They said: if a divorce is what we want, the Yang family will issue a letter of repudiation.”

Hua Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly. How brazen — did they truly think the Hua family had no choice but to let them do as they pleased?

“Zhi’er, there are still so many young ladies in the Hua family waiting to be betrothed. We absolutely cannot accept that letter of repudiation.”

“I know. Rest assured — what Little Aunt receives will be a letter of release.”

Zhu Shi could not imagine where her confidence came from, but ever since Zhi’er had taken charge of the household, there had not been a single thing she had failed to accomplish. That faith had taken root in everyone in the Hua family — a kind of unquestioning trust. Hearing her say so felt like assurance enough that she would indeed manage it.

Once Zhu Shi had gone, Bao Xia could not hold herself back. “Young lady, the Yang family has gone too far.”

“It’s not surprising. This is what people are like.”

Hua Zhi calculated the days. Tomorrow happened to be a rest day. “Bao Xia, take a calling card to the Yang family for me — for Old Master Yang. I’ll pay him a visit early tomorrow morning.”

Bao Xia was momentarily taken aback. “Old Master Yang? Not the old mistress?”

“The old mistress already sent Fourth Aunt back humiliated. If I go, she’ll certainly want to put on the full airs of a senior relative in front of me. Why would I go out of my way to be made uncomfortable? Sending a calling card to Old Master Yang is different — this is a meeting between the heads of two households. No matter how diminished the Hua family’s circumstances, as long as the Yang family has no intention of making a clean and open break with us, they will see me.”

Just as she had anticipated, Bao Xia returned with the calling card — now bearing a response in bold, vigorous brushstrokes that made clear it had not been written by a servant’s hand.

Hua Zhi flicked the card lightly. Very well, then — let the battle begin.

Gu Yanxi came, as was his custom, arriving precisely at dinnertime to join the meal without invitation. Over idle conversation, he heard A’Zhi mention the matter and asked: “What is your plan?”

“I’ll first read Yang Zheng’s position. If he has any sense, he should know that a letter of release serves the interests of both families. Sui’an is still there — the two families need not become enemies. But if he insists on pressing things to an extreme, I won’t agree to it either.”

She glanced at the man beside her. “How much longer until Shao Yao can leave the palace?”

“Just these past couple of days. Do you have need of her?”

“I’d like to borrow her medicines.”

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. Was she planning to take a harder approach?

“There are no clean officials in the Great Qing — I could find some trouble to bring Yang Zheng’s way.”

Hua Zhi shook her head. “Public matters are public; private matters are private. I don’t deal in those.”

“Then take me along.” Gu Yanxi thought again of that rainy night, and realized it had been quite a while since he’d seen A’Zhi like that. He didn’t want to miss it.

The next day, the weather turned suddenly.

Wind-driven rain swept in from shifting directions, and the sky that had seemed to be clearing grew cold again. Hua Zhi put on an extra layer of clothing before heading out.

When Ying Chun brought out a brand-new outer garment, Hua Zhi declined it. “My everyday clothes will do. It’s not a social call.”

The Yang family certainly did not treat it like a social call either. Old Mistress Yang even muttered a few unpleasant words under her breath, and Yang Qi sat there with a face like a storm, looking as though he was ready to take his displeasure out on anyone who happened to cross his path.

Yang Zheng had long since given up entirely on this eldest son of his — he didn’t even bother with a word of reminder anymore. He turned instead and instructed his wife: “Stay out of sight today.”

Old Mistress Yang agreed with obvious reluctance. She had been planning to summon the girl before her and deliver a little lecture — what sort of way was this for a young lady to conduct herself, with her name forever on everyone’s lips?

The steward came to report: “The eldest young lady of the Hua family has arrived.”

Yang Zheng gave his instruction. “Show her to the formal reception hall.”

“Yes, sir.”

Yang Zheng glanced once more at his son and felt compelled, despite himself, to say a few more words. “Where Sui’an is concerned, make some effort. There is no enmity between father and son that cannot be mended overnight. Take your other sons — every one of those concubine-born boys put together cannot match that one.”

“Then I’ll simply father a few more.”

Yang Zheng nearly choked on the insolence of it. Old Mistress Yang hurriedly intervened. “I can see that Sui’an’s heart has already moved to the Hua family…”

“He carries the Yang name! And that name determines everything!” Yang Zheng looked at his wife and son with weary eyes, shook his head, and walked toward the reception hall.

Yang Qi still looked as though he had something more to say. Old Mistress Yang quickly stopped him, shaking her head. The old master was already on the verge of losing his temper — he must not say another word.

In the reception hall, Hua Zhi sat in the lower-ranked seat, her expression composed as she sipped her tea. Behind her stood Ying Chun and Bao Xia — the only two senior maids she had brought on this outing.

The maids attending in the room kept sneaking glances at this young lady who had garnered such an extraordinary reputation. She certainly had a fine appearance — but nothing about her gave any outward impression of being particularly formidable. Though the maids standing behind her were, somehow, subtly different from themselves. Without quite realizing it, they began to imitate: hands held properly, spines straightened, heads bearing the precise angle of respectful attention — neither too lowered nor too raised…

Footsteps sounded. The moment Yang Zheng’s voice was heard, they instantly resumed their former posture — heads bowed, bodies inclined slightly forward in deference.

“Forgive me for keeping the eldest young lady waiting.”

Hua Zhi rose to return the greeting. It was rather amusing — in most households, “eldest young lady” referred to rank within the family. For her, it had become a title of its own, used by men and women, young and old alike.

A few pleasantries were exchanged. Hua Zhi moved directly to the matter at hand.

“Yesterday, my Fourth Aunt came to the Yang family to discuss the matter of Little Aunt’s divorce — only it seems the old mistress may have misunderstood the Hua family’s meaning, and indicated that the Yang family would be willing to issue a letter of repudiation. I find this deeply puzzling. On what grounds does the Yang family intend to repudiate my Little Aunt? Has she failed in the proper conduct expected of a wife, or has she committed some other unforgivable transgression that the Yang family now seeks to shame her with a letter of repudiation?”

Yang Zheng had heard the rumors about Hua Zhi. But hearing and facing her directly were entirely different things.

Not a single word she had spoken was a direct accusation of the Yang family — and yet every word was an accusation. Others might not know the full story, but both families knew exactly in what state Hua Xian had returned to the Hua family home. A shameless man might deny it all outright, but to do so to someone a good many years his junior — Yang Zheng, despite himself, found he could not bring himself to open that mouth.

So he sidestepped it entirely. “The eldest young lady’s desire to protect her family is something this old man well understands. But the saying goes: it is better to demolish ten temples than to destroy one marriage. Matters between husband and wife have not yet come to complete ruin.”

Hua Zhi smiled. “You say yourself that I am protecting my family — naturally I cannot stand by while my Little Aunt is beaten until her whole body is covered with wounds. Yes, Little Aunt is timid and soft — but timidity is not a crime, and it is certainly not grounds for being tormented this way. Allow me to speak frankly: if your own daughter had been married into a household and treated as my Little Aunt has been, could you have borne it? Whether or not you could — I cannot. I have not come today to negotiate whether or not there will be a divorce. I have come to ask that the Yang family issue a letter of release. If nothing else, for the sake of the many years of friendship between the Hua and Yang families — please, give my Little Aunt her dignity.”

As she spoke, Hua Zhi rose from her seat and offered Yang Zheng a graceful bow.

Yang Zheng made a gesture as though to help her up, yet he did not incline his head in agreement. It was not only Yang Qi who had his eye on the Hua family’s hidden foundations — Yang Zheng himself wanted to take a bite out of it as well.

After several more rounds of back-and-forth, Hua Zhi could see plainly what he was about. She laughed inwardly with cold clarity.

If the gentle approach would not work, then it was time for the harder one.