Hua Xian stared in disbelief at the letter of release Zhi’er handed her, her hands trembling as she held it, tears streaming instantly down her face.

The husband’s household that had bound her for half a lifetime had finally, truly, freed her.

Third Concubine’s eyes reddened as well. She didn’t dare even ask how the eldest young miss had obtained this letter. Having entered the Hua Family’s door, she was not a woman of little understanding. Having spent so many years at the side of the Elder Master, she knew very well what it meant when a great tree falls and the monkeys scatter — the Yang Family had already dared lay hands on Xian’er, and they would never have released her without bleeding the Hua Family first.

She did not know what price the Hua Family had paid so that Xian’er could reclaim her freedom.

Hua Xian was barely coherent. “Zhi’er, I — I —”

“I’ll have Fourth Aunt arrange a separate courtyard for you. From this day forward you are still a daughter of the Hua Family, and have no further connection to the Yang Family whatsoever.”

“I can stay right here, it’s fine…”

“Thank you, eldest young miss, for all the trouble you’ve taken on Xian’er’s behalf.” Third Concubine cut in at just the right moment, her voice faintly trembling. “It is entirely thanks to you. If not for you, I fear the Yang Family would have truly dragged Xian’er to her end.”

“We are family — there’s no need to say such things. I have matters to attend to up front and should head over now. Fourth Aunt will have the little aunt’s courtyard ready — little aunt, whatever you’d like can be discussed with her.”

Hua Zhi gave a small curtsy and took her leave.

Hua Xian was still entirely in a daze. She pinched herself, then called out pathetically, “Mother…”

Third Concubine shot her a look — though the smile on her face robbed that look of any force. This great matter was resolved. She truly had nothing left she wished for in this world.

“When can’t you come to me whenever you like? But only with a courtyard of your own are you truly returned to the Hua Family. That will be entirely your territory — not simply an extension of mine. And in the future Sui’an will truly have a place to call her own.”

“I’ve already caused the Hua Family so much trouble — I thought it wouldn’t be right to ask for anything more…”

Third Concubine opened her mouth to say more, thought it over, and let it go. Her daughter’s nature was simply like this and could not be changed. As long as she stayed well at her side, that was worth more than anything. She would protect her for as long as she lived, and when that day came, there would still be Sui’an — and the eldest young miss would certainly not abandon her. Things had come this far, and she was truly grateful.

Night had already fallen. On ordinary days Hua Zhi would have returned to the rear courtyard long since, with the inner gate bolted shut. But today was different — busy as they’d been, none of them had yet eaten.

In the side room, a table had been laid with dishes, still weighted toward vegetable dishes as usual.

Shao Yao had been eating with her head down for quite some time before she suddenly looked up. “Hua Hua, who replaced Fu Dong?”

“I thought you didn’t care anymore.” Hua Zhi smiled and used the serving chopsticks to add to her bowl, then served some to Yan Xi as well. “There’s a little maidservant who followed Fu Dong for four or five years. She can’t match Fu Dong’s creativity, but she’s picked up a measure of Fu Dong’s skill — she’s perfectly capable of cooking for me.”

“No wonder it tastes about the same, but Fu Dong’s cooking is still better.”

Hua Zhi understood what she meant. Same ingredients, same steps, same heat — and yet the taste was still different. You could say it was a lack of heart, or you could say some people are simply born with a natural affinity for this craft and the results just come out differently. Fu Dong was the latter kind.

With one great matter resolved and a scheme neatly pulled off, Hua Zhi was now in the mood to brew tea.

Whenever Gu Yan Xi watched her with eyes downcast, an air of quiet and gentle docility about her, he was seized by the urge to take up a brush and capture the image. Even having just witnessed Hua Zhi’s ruthless side moments before, seeing her like this now struck him as not the slightest bit incongruous.

Either face of her seemed to him exactly as it should be. Hua Zhi ought to be exactly this — ruthless toward enemies, yet utterly tender toward those she cared for.

“Teach me this tea-roasting method.”

Hua Zhi glanced up at him and slid the cup across to his side. “You have time to bother with this?”

“You’re running low on tea.”

Indeed she was. Hua Zhi looked at the few remaining canisters and sighed inwardly. “Starting now there won’t be time to catch the spring harvest — being able to get autumn’s new tea is already not bad. Choose a few people and I’ll have Yingchun teach them.”

“Alright.”

Meanwhile, quite a commotion was underway at the Yang household.

The moment Yang Qi arrived home he charged straight for his parents’ courtyard, wailing loudly about how much he ached all over, his voice hoarse. Lady Yang, the matriarch, was heartsick with worry and pressed him repeatedly to explain.

In the Yang household, the matriarch had always favored her eldest son.

Yang Zheng sat scowling and said nothing.

“Hua Zhi — the Hua Family’s Hua Zhi hired people to abduct me and beat me, then fed me poison and forced me to write the letter of release!” Thinking back on his wretched state earlier, Yang Qi’s features contorted with hatred.

“That heaven-cursed Hua Zhi — I’ll tear her apart!” The old matriarch slapped the armrest of her chair, then immediately turned back to fuss over her son. “Where are you hurt? Let me look. My lord, quickly send your card for someone to bring a physician.”

Yang Zheng, deep down, did care for his son. He rose to fetch his visiting card — but at that moment Yang Qi lifted his robe, and the pale, unbroken flesh of his torso bore not a single mark. Where was the injury?

Yang Zheng’s expression instantly darkened. “Yang Qi — this is the injury you’re showing me?”

“Yes — my stomach is in agony.” Even as he said it Yang Qi looked down himself, and his eyes went wide. How was this possible? How could this be? Fists like iron, landing blow after blow on his abdomen — he was still in pain right now. How could there not be a single mark?

In disbelief he pressed down, and cried out sharply with the pain.

“Qi’er…” The matriarch saw this and believed him at once. She turned to Yang Zheng with tears at the corners of her eyes. “My lord, Qi’er may be foolish about many things, but he would never deceive you with something like this — think about it, what would he gain from it? Word has long since gone around that this Hua Zhi is not someone to provoke. A dog that bites doesn’t bark — she’s a venomous snake, and something like this is hardly surprising coming from her.”

Yang Zheng looked at his son. “The letter of release — you wrote it?”

“I wrote it.” Seeing his father’s expression darken, Yang Qi quickly scrambled to defend himself. “If I didn’t write it she’d keep feeding me that poison — I would have died there!”

“She wouldn’t have the nerve to take your life.”

“But she could make me wish I were dead!” Yang Qi stiffened his neck and pushed back. He wanted even more to say that it wasn’t his father’s body in pain — let him be put through that same ordeal and see if he fared any better. But he didn’t dare. No matter how furious he was, he didn’t dare.

He knew all too well from whom his comfortable life derived.

Yang Zheng ultimately had the household steward take his visiting card to summon a physician. But no matter how the physician took his pulse, the conclusion was the same: “Your distinguished son’s pulse is rising from a deep position. The young master would do well to exercise restraint — excessive indulgence is harmful to the body.”

“……” Yang Zheng politely saw the physician out, then turned a withering glare on his son. “What do you have to say for yourself now?”

Yang Qi finally understood. No wonder Hua Zhi dared do what she did and still let him go home. She had already calculated every contingency before she ever moved against him.

“Whether or not you believe me, Father, the fact is I did write that letter of release. From this day forward, Hua Xian has no further connection to our Yang Family.”