After that game of chess, Zhu Haocheng had already formed an initial impression of his niece, and he was not surprised that she had identified the crux of the matter so keenly. He nodded. “You’re right — Bailin will be their target. But compared to those several, there are actually two others whose positions are even more convenient to exploit.”
“Chen Zhi and Yu Zhengyao?”
“Correct.” Zhu Haocheng could not conceal his admiration for his niece. “If they only wish to carve out some personal advantage for themselves, that is manageable — they won’t dare make any sweeping moves. The real fear is if they are drawn in and allied with those several others. The Hua Family cannot withstand even the slightest upheaval anymore.”
Hua Zhi had thought of this as well. She turned abruptly and gave an instruction: “Go and ask Bailin to come.”
Liu Xiang slipped out with quiet steps, yet moved with remarkable swiftness.
“These matters concern Bailin directly — he ought to know.” Zhu Haocheng lifted his teacup and took a sip. “Earlier your maternal grandmother mentioned to me the matter of Bailin’s marriage prospects. He is already ten years old — it is time to begin looking for a suitable family.”
“Bailin still has a year of mourning to observe, and he is still young. The Hua Family is in its current state — this is not an opportune time to discuss a betrothal.” Hua Zhi had seen much in life, yet she could not bring herself to accept this happening to Bailin — a betrothed bride lined up for a ten-year-old boy.
“It is not another family. It is Shan’er.”
Hua Zhi paused. Zhu Shan? Great-Uncle’s youngest daughter? Setting aside the question of whether they were too closely related — and close-kin marriages were far too common here for that to be the issue — she simply wanted to ask one thing: “Does Great-Aunt know of this matter?”
“Before I came, your maternal grandmother said you would certainly use your great-aunt as an excuse to block this matter — and indeed she was right.” Zhu Haocheng smiled. “You need not worry about her. There are things I choose not to pursue that does not mean I am unaware of them. Even setting that aside, I would see this through properly for the sake of your concerns. But this is not a matter for her to object to.”
“Great-Aunt’s love and protectiveness toward her family is not wrong. It is simply that Bailin and I did not have the fortune of becoming the family she holds in her heart. I do not blame her. A betrothal is no small matter — it is better that everyone is in agreement. Most importantly, there is Cousin Shan — Great-Uncle might do well to ask her opinion as well.”
“The commands of parents, the words of the matchmaker — every family is the same.”
“And that is precisely why there are so many ill-matched couples in this world, so much discontent and unhappiness.” Hua Zhi understood her great-uncle’s good intentions, and she did not refuse outright. Her thoughts turned quickly, and she said, “How about this: let them spend time together first, on a few occasions. If both of them are willing, I have nothing to say against it. If neither of them has any inclination, there is no need to force the matter. Fortunately, both are still young — Cousin Shan is only twelve. A year or two’s delay will not affect her from finding a good match in due course. What does Great-Uncle think?”
“As you wish. The young misses of the Hua Family are blessed.”
To have a head of household like this — they would never be used as bargaining chips and married off, never carelessly promised to some unsuitable family. They were far more fortunate than many women. With such an elder sister, and with Bailin as sensible as he was, Zhu Haocheng suddenly felt that Shan’er marrying into the Hua Family would make her far happier than becoming a daughter-in-law in any other household. The desire in his heart grew even stronger than before.
“Elder Sister… Great-Uncle! You’ve come!” Hua Bailin, a beat late in noticing their great-uncle, quickly presented his respects.
Zhu Haocheng regarded Hua Bailin with the appraising eye of a prospective father-in-law, and the more he looked, the more thoroughly satisfied he felt. Smiling warmly, he said, “Young Master Bailin makes quite the teacher.”
Hua Bailin’s face flushed, and he stole a glance at his elder sister — only when he saw that she too was smiling did his heart settle.
Hua Zhi patted the spot beside her. “Come sit down. Listen carefully. Remember well.”
“Yes.” Hua Bailin sat down and looked expectantly at his great-uncle. He had no idea whatsoever what his great-uncle intended to say — and even less that at this very moment, his great-uncle was quietly plotting to secure him as a son-in-law.
“Chen Zhi was the old master’s eldest disciple — the one who followed him the longest. Many people recognize his face, and if he wishes to accomplish something, there are many who would defer to him. Yu Zhengyao is the second disciple, and in terms of position he does not have Chen Zhi’s advantage — but he possesses one thing Chen Zhi does not.”
Zhu Haocheng looked at the elder and younger sibling. “He is not only a disciple of old Master Hua, but also the son-in-law of Academy Head Liang Jinshan. Though Academy Head Liang has since passed away, he left behind connections and former students spread throughout the realm. If all those resources were gathered into Yu Zhengyao’s hands, Chen Zhi might not be able to overcome him.”
Hua Zhi looked toward her younger brother. Zhu Haocheng, noticing this, followed her gaze.
Hua Bailin pressed his lips together lightly. “Whatever other identities they may hold, one of their identities is that of our grandfather’s disciples. Others can stand to one side and do nothing — they cannot. On this matter, they have no ground to stand on.”
Zhu Haocheng nodded. “And then?”
Hua Bailin instinctively looked toward his elder sister, and meeting her encouraging gaze, felt boundless courage surge within him. “A disciple is like a second son — their conduct amounts to a lack of filial piety, a grave violation of a scholar’s moral character. Furthermore, they are excessively protective of their own reputations, which will also breed resentment among other students and scholars. If they wished nothing for themselves, then perhaps nothing could be done to them. But if they seek to leverage our grandfather’s name and prestige, the scholars of the realm would be the first to refuse.”
“Remarkable, that you could think of all this at such a young age.” Zhu Haocheng was all the more determined to lock this boy down while he still could. “But it is not enough. The problems you have described can all be resolved. Chen Zhi and Yu Zhengyao have been keeping a very low profile recently — he can claim he was away from home, claim he was so ill he nearly died and barely managed to claw his way back. They have every manner of excuse to exonerate themselves. Do something that pleases people’s hearts and the matter is smoothed over. People forget easily — don’t count on them to hold these grievances on behalf of the Hua Family forever.”
“What if we were to fix their crimes in place right now, before they can be forgotten?” The corner of Hua Zhi’s mouth curved slightly. “Given time, people will forget — but right now, their hearts are still running hot. We cannot seek redress for our grandfather’s wrongs, but we can let others rid the house of those who dishonor his name.”
“Elder Sister, how is that to be done?”
“After the forty-ninth day of mourning has passed, go yourself to Chen Da’yi’s home and kneel outside his gate to thank him for his loyalty and righteousness.”
Hua Bailin looked thoroughly puzzled. “Is that enough?”
“There is no need to do more. Others will fill in the rest.” Hua Zhi looked at her younger brother, her expression serious. “Bailin, remember this: a stratagem used openly is called a direct scheme. If the other party still ends up constrained by you, that only means they lack the ability to do otherwise. But if you resort to underhanded plots and covert tricks to trap others, that is playing by the lowest rules — and once others seize on that, even if the fault is not yours, it becomes yours, and all the consequences are yours to bear.”
“Yes, Elder Sister. I will remember.”
“This matter — Elder Sister will no longer manage it. You take it over.”
“Yes.”
Zhu Haocheng nodded to himself in quiet approval. He had now worked it out clearly: the reason this boy could bring the Analects to life and illuminate them with insight had nothing to do with Hua Pingyu, and likely little to do with old Master Hua either. It was entirely Hua Zhi who had shaped him. One could easily imagine what kind of accomplished and upright gentleman Bailin, raised under such an education, would grow into.
“With their reputations in ruins, such scholars hold no further value — even if the Hua Family’s name were placed right before them, they could not so much as touch it. That removes two threats.”
Hua Zhi spoke of it all too lightly, as though it were a trivial matter, leaving Zhu Haocheng with the peculiar feeling that it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Yet for men of letters, reputation was worth more than life itself. Hua Zhi had placed her fingers on exactly the right vein.