The Song Family’s residence was in the northern part of the city — as the Hua Family’s old manor had once been. But the Hua Family now lived in the south.

Through the wind and snow, Hua Jing walked as though each step were a torment.

She was the Hua Family’s eldest legitimate daughter, pampered from birth, and even after marrying into the Song household she had spent half a lifetime as the mistress of the house, living in comfort and ease. She had never known hardship like this. Afraid of being heard, she could only mutter her curses under her breath — cursing Hua Zhi for being disrespectful and ungrateful, for having no upbringing, cursing the Hua Family for having no one capable left so that a junior could run roughshod over her, cursing servants for overstepping their station.

Hua Zhi listened all the way through, and only as they neared the Hua Family home did she finally speak in her unhurried way. “A fine Hua Family daughter, reduced to behaving like a shrew. If Grandmother knew, she would be heartbroken.”

She let herself be helped down from the carriage by the servant women, stepped up onto the footboard, and looked down at Hua Jing — pale as a sheet — from above. “Ah, but I forgot. Grandmother can no longer be heartbroken. You made sure of that.”

“Hua Zhi! What are you implying?”

“Exactly what the words mean.”

Hua Zhi pointed to the small awning that had been erected just outside the gate. “Grandmother said that from now on, the Hua Family wants nothing more to do with you. Naturally, you cannot enter this household’s gate — but as a devoted daughter, how could you fail to observe mourning for your own mother? The Hua Family’s eldest legitimate daughter, choosing of her own free will to kneel on the bare ground and keep vigil for her mother — what a testament to her devotion. The Hua Family sees no reason to refuse. Aunt — please.”

Hua Jing’s eyes went wide with rage. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and tear Hua Zhi apart — but she was powerless. She was the Song Family’s eldest daughter-in-law. With her own family no longer able to back her up, she absolutely could not give that old witch any leverage against her. But to simply give in to this kind of coercion — that was nothing but a dream.

“Hua Zhi. I am your aunt. Before you do anything, you had best consider that you will marry someday. Does your aunt need to explain to you how important a woman’s reputation is?”

Hua Zhi looked momentarily enlightened. “I understand. I hear my cousin is already being considered for a match. Aunt should think carefully about whether, if you earn the reputation of having driven your own mother to her death, your daughter will still be marriageable.”

“You are making vile accusations!”

“If they are vile accusations, what are you so alarmed about?” Hua Zhi brushed a dusting of snow off her mourning robes, unhurried. “You may not enter the Hua Family’s home. Kowtow here at the gate if you wish — or you may return to the Song household.”

Hua Zhi turned away from her and walked through the main gate. The four stout servant women stopped flanking Hua Jing and followed her inside.

“Hua Zhi! Stop right there!” Seeing her actually walk away, Hua Jing panicked. She could not truly be expected to keep vigil out here — what would people think? But to return to the Song household — the old witch was just waiting for a chance to deal with her. If she didn’t even observe her own mother’s mourning—

It was the first time in her life that Hua Jing had known what it felt like to be truly afraid.

Yet Hua Zhi did not slow her steps for even a moment, and Hua Jing could only watch helplessly as she disappeared through the gate.

The wind rose. Snowflakes struck Hua Jing’s face, icy cold. She gripped her own arms and, clenching her teeth, stepped into the small awning at the side.

It was noticeably larger than Hua Zhi’s specification of room for only one person — this one could comfortably hold three or five.

On the ground was a woven grass mat. Beside it, a small stool. That was all.

Hua Jing’s vision nearly went black with fury. Hua Zhi was trying to kill her. Kill her!

Fine, fine — she would stay here. She would wait to faint from cold, and then see how Hua Zhi could pin the charge of disrespecting her elders on her!

As she was working herself up with this thought, there was movement behind her. Thinking it was Hua Zhi returning, she turned around with a cold sneer ready — and instead saw two servants carrying in a brazier, inside which coals burned vigorously.

Then came another person with a thick-looking but surprisingly light quilt, a box of cooled pastries, a flask filled to the brim with hot water, and even a small tin of tea leaves.

The servant’s voice rang out loudly enough to be heard from the next street over. “The Young Miss says that the First Aunt’s devotion in observing filial duty is admirable, but one must also mind one’s health. If the First Aunt needs anything at all, she need only tell the servants, and the Hua Family will do everything in its power to provide it.”

Hua Jing’s vision darkened in waves. Hua Zhi had just cut off every last escape route.

She could not jump up and declare that she hadn’t wanted to be here. She could not simply walk away. She didn’t even dare force her way through the Hua Family’s gate — she didn’t know whether the servants would stop her, and if they did, how would she ever explain that to the outside world? What would it mean for her in her husband’s household if it became known she was someone who couldn’t even enter her own family’s home?

The mere thought of it chilled Hua Jing to the bone.

Anyone passing by would think the Hua Family was being wonderfully considerate of their married-out daughter.

She could not believe that the niece she had never once thought worthy of her notice had turned out to be such a formidable opponent. No — that was impossible. It had to be the Third wife, or the Fourth — those two were the only ones with any spine. It had to be one of them!

Just you wait, all of you.

As Hua Zhi passed through the main gate, Steward Xu came forward to meet her, listening to instruction after instruction from the Young Miss with a deeply satisfying sense of vindication — though he also worried that her actions might harm her own reputation. He gently ventured, “The First Aunt is, after all, an elder. You—”

“The First Aunt is resolved to observe mourning for Grandmother with such sincere devotion. What does that have to do with a junior like me?”

Steward Xu’s mood brightened instantly, and his very steps felt lighter. “You are quite right. The First Aunt is being so filial — how could we possibly prevent that?”

Hua Zhi looked at the mourning hall already taking shape, and the heaviness in her heart did not lift even slightly. Whatever she did, whatever price Hua Jing ultimately paid, Grandmother would not be coming back.

Hua Jing — I will teach you what it means to cut flesh with a blunt knife.

“Have someone watch the First Aunt at all times and report back to me everything she does. And make sure to keep the coals supplied — do not give her an excuse to fall ill.”

“Yes. This servant will remember.” Xu Dongjin also asked, “If the Song Family sends someone, how should we handle it? And if the cousin and the others come—”

“Handle it as appropriate. Hua Jing knows what she ought to do.”

“Yes.”

Every surface of the residence was draped in white silk, so sharp against the eye that it made Hua Zhi’s vision ache. She quietly looked away, and made her way back to her own quarters.

Ying Chun was just stepping out of the courtyard at a brisk pace, and upon seeing her she bowed at once.

“Where are the others?”

“They are all busy. This servant will call them back.”

“No need. Send Fu Dong to me, and have someone bring hot water into the room.”

“Yes.”

Fu Dong had gone nowhere other than the kitchen, where she had been quietly simmering a broth for the Young Miss. Ever since learning that Hua Jing had returned and made those demands, Ying Chun and the others had kept watch over her like she was the most precious thing in the world, and would not let her go anywhere.

Fu Dong, who was usually the timid one, was oddly unafraid. She knew the Young Miss would protect her.

Fu Dong arrived with the broth in hand, and watching her mistress drink every last drop, a smile spread across her face.

Hua Zhi tried to return the smile, but exhaustion had settled over every part of her, and she simply could not manage it. She gave up. “Come help me change.”

Fu Dong, attentive as ever, could tell at a glance that her mistress was not well, and her every touch was feather-light. But when she saw the raw, bloody state of the inner skin of the Young Miss’s thighs, her tears came in a rush before she could stop them.

“It is nothing. Don’t make a sound.”