Supported by her son, the Old Madam of the Zhu Family descended from the carriage. Looking up at the doorframe draped in mourning ribbons, her eyes reddened.

They were more than just family by marriage — they had known one another since their days as daughters in their respective parental homes. The Old Madam of the Zhu Family was two years the elder. Encounters at various gatherings of young ladies had been frequent, and while they could not be called intimate friends from the inner chambers, their bond ran somewhat deeper than ordinary acquaintance.

How fortuitous — and how strange — that after each had married, their respective husband’s families turned out to be old friends. The two households had grown closer with frequent contact, their relationship all the warmer for it. And it was precisely because she knew what kind of person the other woman was that she had dared to send her own rather unremarkable daughter to marry into the Hua Family.

Who could have imagined that someone two years younger than herself would suddenly be gone just like that?

A wail broke out nearby. The Old Madam glanced over — it was Hua Jing.

Having noticed that she had drawn attention to herself, Hua Jing bowed deeply to her in the manner of one in mourning. The Old Madam made a brief gesture to acknowledge her, but did not ask — as Hua Jing had clearly hoped she would — why she was standing outside in the cold.

At her age, having seen so much of the world, the Old Madam of the Zhu Family understood full well that where there is irregularity, there is something amiss. And in any case, she had never been fond of Hua Jing.

Among all the Hua Family’s children, she had the least regard for this bullying eldest daughter. Her own daughter had not suffered much at the hands of the mother-in-law, but had taken no small amount of grief from Hua Jing — and had it not been for the son-in-law standing firm in her defense, who knew what further mistreatment she might have endured. The Old Madam had never once brought the matter up openly, but she had never forgotten it either.

By this point, Hua Zhi had already come out to receive them, leading her brothers. The two of them crossed the threshold and knelt in prostration.

The Old Madam forgot all about Hua Jing. She stepped forward quickly and pulled them both to their feet with a hand to each, calling out to them over and again with the most tender terms of endearment, her affection spilling over without restraint.

Hua Zhi let the old woman hold her and speak for a while before she turned to greet Zhu Haodong. “Second Uncle.”

“No need for formalities.” It had only been a few months since he had last seen them, yet the two siblings had changed so much he scarcely dared to trust his own eyes. Compared to the change in Bailin — from impetuous to composed — what startled him more was the transformation in Zhi’er.

The Zhi’er he remembered had been quiet and soft-spoken, never one to seek the limelight, the very model of a well-bred young lady. The Zhi’er before him now still carried herself with that same distinguished manner — yet he could see the difference. The resolve and keenness in her eyes were things the girl he had known could never have possessed.

Or perhaps — they had all misjudged her.

The two siblings escorted the Old Madam to the mourning hall to pay their respects and burn incense. The younger generation of the Hua Family knelt in unison to express their gratitude. Zhu Haodong noticed the vague shapes moving behind the curtain at the side and looked twice.

The Old Madam held her handkerchief to her face and wept earnestly for a good while, then allowed the two siblings to lead their guests to the adjacent reception hall to rest. Madam Zhu was already there waiting.

The moment Madam Zhu laid eyes on her mother, she went to her like a swallow returning to its nest, weeping with a heartbreak that seemed to come from her very core.

Hua Zhi sank into a small bow. “Grandmother and Second Uncle, please rest here. Bailin and I must return to the mourning hall, and ask to be excused from attending to you.”

“Don’t worry about us — go and attend to your affairs.” The Old Madam did not send her own people to help — she had been watching from the moment they arrived, and everything was in perfect order. Not a trace of disarray. No need for anyone else’s hands.

“Stop crying.” The Old Madam motioned to her son to pull the door to, then settled half-embracing her daughter into a seat, lowering her voice. “Tell me carefully everything that has happened these past two days. Who is running the household?”

“It is Zhi’er. Mother-in-law left the household to Zhi’er.” Madam Zhu recounted the events of the past two days between sobs, with particular emphasis on the matter of Hua Jing.

The Old Madam slapped the table in outrage. “That beast — that absolute beast! How much more could Wan-niang have done for her? She guarded her like the apple of her eye, and this is how she repaid her? No wonder Zhi’er will not let her through the door — and rightly so. Xia’er, let me tell you: do not go speaking up for her in front of Zhi’er. That is putting Zhi’er in a difficult position. If she cannot even hold firm on something like this, how will she manage the household? How will she command respect? These disputes are born exactly this way.”

Zhu Xiuxia thought of what she herself had done before, and guilt made her bow her head.

The Old Madam saw it at once and understood everything. Though she was frustrated to see her daughter so spineless, she could not bring herself to say anything truly harsh. She tapped her daughter’s forehead. “Did I not tell you before to let Zhi’er handle Zhu Family matters as she sees fit? You were to do as she said and nothing else. And it all went in one ear and out the other?”

Madam Zhu’s tears came rushing down. “But she is Zhi’er’s own aunt! If she goes out and says harsh things about Zhi’er, who would not believe her? Wouldn’t that ruin Zhi’er’s reputation?”

The Old Madam was momentarily at a loss for a reply. She was right — if an aunt spoke ill of her niece, people would not assume the aunt was deliberately smearing the girl’s name. They would assume the niece truly was that bad. Her daughter’s concern was not without reason.

Zhu Haodong, who had been sitting to the side and listening without a word, asked, “How does Zhi’er herself see it?”

“Zhi’er said…” Zhu Xiuxia lowered her head, and her voice dropped with it. “Zhi’er said she cannot retreat. She said she cannot let the Hua Family end up like the He Family.”

That girl, who had always seemed to carry so little presence, had actually understood everything more clearly than anyone. Zhu Haodong was moved, and more convinced than ever that he had misjudged her. “If she retreats, this Hua Family might well end up bearing the surname Song before long.”

“But the Hua Family has nothing left to be coveted…”

The Old Madam shook her head in helpless resignation. The way her daughter had turned out was entirely her own fault as a mother — she had simply not raised her well.

Zhu Haodong explained to his younger sister, “The name ‘Hua Family’ alone is enough to draw people in. You cannot imagine the network of connections and relationships the Hua Family has built over a hundred-odd years of standing. They may not be visible right now — but that is only because there is no occasion to use them. No one would approach the Hua Family women at a time like this to show their connections. To do so would not be helping — it would be bringing them harm. There is another reason as well: no one wishes to confirm the charge that the Elder Patriarch of the Hua Family was building a faction.”

Zhu Xiuxia still did not understand. “But none of the wives from any household has come forward to help us…”

That is because one must first look after oneself before helping others. Zhu Haodong shook his head and decided to say no more about these complex matters of human relationships. He made a mental note, however, to speak with Zhi’er once all this had passed. The Hua Family had not only old friends — it had no small number of political enemies as well. The Elder Patriarch had cherished talent, and many scholars had benefited through his patronage — but it was precisely for this reason that he had also made many enemies. When one weighed the two sides, Zhu Haodong suspected that once the Hua Family gradually faded from attention, those enemies would start making quiet moves.

“Just follow Zhi’er’s lead. Whatever decision she makes, stand by her side. Do not obstruct her — even if you think it may not be good for her, do not try to dissuade her. She knows what she is doing. If only for your sake and Bailin’s sake, she will never truly let herself suffer. Do you understand?”

Zhu Xiuxia nodded repeatedly. “I will remember.”

The Old Madam was more concerned about the reactions of the others in the Hua Family. “And your sisters-in-law — have any of them taken issue with Zhi’er being the one to manage the household?”

“The other two I cannot read well, but the Fourth Sister-in-law seems to have no objections. She and Zhi’er have always gotten along well. These past two days she has been following Zhi’er’s arrangements.”

At least there was one person who could offer some assistance. The Old Madam felt a small measure of relief for her granddaughter. “I cannot go inserting myself into the Hua Family’s affairs — that would invite gossip. And as for Zhi’er’s temperament, I have more or less taken her measure by now. She is a strong and enduring kind who will carry the weight herself. She is not one to easily ask others for help. Keep a close watch; if she runs into difficulties, tell Lin Shuang to come find me. Whatever help I can give, I will give with all my heart.”

She said herself — not the Zhu Family. The Old Madam had chosen her words with care, leaving room. Zhu Xiuxia did not catch it, but Zhu Haodong heard perfectly. He watched his younger sister nod in trusting compliance, then quietly turned his gaze away.

The Old Madam’s expression grew quietly melancholy as she saw her son’s reaction, but she had no other recourse. She was the Zhu Family’s matriarch first, and only after that could she be Xiuxia’s mother.

Author’s Note: Kisses to you all, dear readers.