Though it was already the warmth of the third month, the capital still held not a trace of green. After a spell of freezing rain, a chill penetrated every corner, leaving everything desolate.

Freezing rain had always been a southern occurrence, and even in the south it was uncommon. No one could explain why it had come to the capital this year — but it had, driving away what had been tentative signs of warming and plunging the city back into cold.

It was at this time that word spread of Hua Jing being cast off by her husband. The Hua Family itself learned of it only after the news had already made its way through every street and alley.

“Did I not already say that Hua Jing had nothing more to do with the Hua Family? Can it be that everyone took that as something said in jest?” When the Xu Steward came to report the news, Hua Zhi was in the middle of a conversation with Wu Shi. She listened without so much as an extra blink of her eyes. “Since she has no ties to us, what does her being cast off have to do with the Hua Family? Surely no one actually expects me to be magnanimous enough to welcome her back.”

Wu Shi, though indignant, could only nod. There were indeed many at this moment thinking exactly that.

“Then I’m afraid everyone is about to be disappointed. I am a woman of the inner household — I cannot claim to be especially magnanimous. Repaying ill with good is something for those truly great people to do. It doesn’t need to be me.”

Wu Shi deeply admired this attitude of hers, but she also worried it might bring adverse consequences for the Hua Family, for Zhi’er. “If we simply set aside a small courtyard for her to live in, I imagine the other members of the household would have no objections.”

“They may have none — I do. Fourth Aunt, it’s not that I insist on pressing Hua Jing down and keeping her there out of spite. First, this was Grandmother’s dying wish — I have no grounds to disregard it. Second — do you truly think that if she came back, she would be content to quietly keep to a single corner?”

She would not. Wu Shi knew very well what kind of nature the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hua Family had. If she came back, the Hua Family could forget any semblance of peace — she would never rest until she had taken back control of the household. The family would fall into disarray in ways no one could predict.

Wu Shi liked the Hua Family as it was now. Though there were no men to anchor the household, the degree to which everyone was united was nothing like before. If at the beginning she had harbored some disbelief, now she trusted wholeheartedly that Zhi’er would lead the Hua Family out of its difficulties.

So Hua Jing absolutely could not return. On this point, Wu Shi was unusually firm. “I’ll go speak to those other households myself.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Fourth Aunt.”

The Hua Family’s complete silence on the matter drew a wave of commentary and gossip. People are naturally inclined to sympathize with those who appear weak, even if that person was once imperious and untouchable. When word then spread that Hua Jing was seriously ill, the talk grew even more voluble.

Hua Zhi was not about to sit and take it. She struck back directly, having people raise once again the matter of how Hua Jing had provoked Old Madam Hua to her death. Many who had been speaking fell immediately silent.

In the Daqing court — where even smiling during a mourning period could invite censure — provoking one’s own mother-in-law to death was something so far beyond “unfilial” that the word itself could not contain it. And with the old madam’s dying words already known, no one could fault Hua Zhi for anything either.

Yet even so, there was still a group of people who doggedly continued their attacks against the Hua Family. Without even investigating, Hua Zhi could guess who was behind it.

Shao Yao sat chewing a sprig of medicinal herb and propping up her cheek with one hand, unaware that she had smeared medicinal residue across her face. “Hua Zhi, I can’t work out what he’s trying to accomplish. Surely he doesn’t expect to be reconciled with the Hua Family.”

Hua Zhi reached over and wiped the smear away with her handkerchief. “Why couldn’t he? As long as the Hua Family accepts Hua Jing back, it signals that the family has forgiven her. As her son, naturally no one can say anything about him anymore — wouldn’t that page simply be turned over?”

“Where does he get the confidence that you would forgive him?!”

“Perhaps in his mind I am just that easy to deal with.” Hua Zhi smiled. She was rather pleased to be thought of as so gentle and kind.

Shao Yao rolled her eyes to the heavens. Easy to deal with — Hua Zhi might be, but not to those who had wronged her. Did he take Hua Zhi for a fool?

“So what are you going to do about it — should we…”

“You can banish that thought right now.” Hua Zhi looked at her with an expression that was at once amused and exasperated. Before news of Hua Jing’s dismissal had even spread, the biggest story in the capital had been Chen Zhi being cornered, stuffed in a burlap sack, beaten, and doused in filth. Apparently his face had been beaten so swollen it was unrecognizable. In the bitter cold, even after washing until a layer of skin came off, the stench still clung to him.

The moment she heard about it, Hua Zhi had known there would be trouble. When Shao Yao had come before her to claim credit, she truly had no words for the feeling that came over her.

After the affair of Chen Zhi and Yu Zhengyao broke open, the Hua Family had been standing firmly on the moral high ground. Everyone agreed those two were despicable. But the moment Chen Zhi was beaten, even though the Hua Family was a household of women, they were the first to fall under suspicion — what, they couldn’t fight themselves, so they couldn’t have someone else do it? Elder Hua might not have had disciples in every corner, but he had more than enough to respond in force with a single call.

A perfectly good position, thoroughly ruined by this foolish girl — and she had even come seeking praise for it. Hua Zhi had confiscated every last one of Shao Yao’s refreshments for the day on the spot.

If Song Chenghao were now beaten as well, the Hua Family truly could not wash themselves clean even if they threw themselves into the Yellow River.

Shao Yao grinned shamelessly. Wasn’t the direct approach the most satisfying?

“This matter needs no further attention. The Hua Family’s stance has long been clear to all. Let whoever wants to talk, talk. If the Hua Family changed its position in response to a few people’s loose words, that would be what truly made us look weak.” Hua Zhi fixed Shao Yao with a steady gaze. “You are not to do anything — do you understand?”

“Nothing, nothing — and honestly I don’t even feel like doing anything. I scrubbed myself three times when I got back and still felt dirty.” Shao Yao’s voice grew smaller and smaller. She had let others carry out the dirty work, but the one who actually threw the punches was her — that much she owned.

Hua Zhi had never truly been able to blame her, and now that she knew Shao Yao would leave Song Chenghao alone, she quickly shifted the subject, not wanting to let her dwell on it. “Have we learned anything about that child’s identity yet?”

“No.” Shao Yao leaned in a little closer to Hua Zhi, and her hands latched on, wrapping around Hua Zhi’s arm and refusing to let go.

Hua Zhi let her rumple her sleeve and covered Shao Yao’s hands with her own. The warmth of her touch passed through, and slowly, steadily, it eased the agitation within Shao Yao.

Shao Yao ended up leaning against Hua Zhi’s shoulder. Her voice dropped to something close to a murmur. “There are always some people who don’t deserve to exist in this world.”

“Even if they don’t deserve it, it should not be you who acts as their executioner.”

Shao Yao lifted her head and looked at Hua Zhi.

Hua Zhi gave a soft, gentle smile and opened Shao Yao’s palm. From years of working with medicinal herbs, Shao Yao’s hands were not fair or soft — there were calluses in places, and small, scattered cuts everywhere. But if one folded back her sleeve just a little, the flawless, lustrous skin of her arms came into view.

If not for the disfigurement, Hua Zhi believed Shao Yao would have been an exceptionally beautiful young woman. Perhaps she would have had a distinguished background as well — bound by her parents’ arrangements and a matchmaker’s word, wed to a well-matched husband of equal standing.

Now, all of that was just an empty dream.

So she understood the hatred that lived in Shao Yao’s heart.

“If killing carries karmic consequence, then I hope theirs falls upon their own heads — not on yours, consuming your good fortune.”

Shao Yao bit her lip. Her eyes reddened. She buried herself in Hua Zhi’s arms. She would die for Hua Zhi, she would do anything for Hua Zhi — she swore it.

Hua Zhi stroked her head and looked up into the open air above. Death was an ending — and for some people, it was far too easy a one.