Hua Zhi had been running about outside all morning, and by now it was already close to noon. Old Madam Wu quickly instructed the servants to add several more vegetarian dishes, then sent Zhu Shan to summon her second uncle. The entire household bustled about in a flurry of activity.

Hua Zhi simply watched with a smile, making no move to stop them.

The old woman fussed over her so because she missed her — all Hua Zhi needed to do was accept it graciously, and the old woman would be content.

“You, ah — your maternal grandmother knows you never visit without reason. In a moment I’ll have someone go and inform your maternal grandfather, so he can finish up and come home early.”

“There is indeed something I wished to discuss, though it’s not urgent. Oh, and while we’re alone, let me ask you — what are your thoughts on the matter between Cousin and Bailin?”

“I am ten thousand times in agreement — the Zhu Family has no objections either. We’re only waiting for your word.” Old Madam Zhu smiled warmly at her granddaughter, whom she found more admirable the longer she looked at her. “Do you have thoughts on the matter?”

“Since the Zhu Family is so gracious as to not mind, and the two of them have always gotten along well, I am of course willing to draw the two families even closer through marriage. But after all, this is two people spending a lifetime together. I was thinking of first letting Bailin know, and there is no reason to deceive Cousin on the Zhu Family’s end either. Drawing our families closer through marriage is a fine thing, but it would never be my wish to force a resentful pair together.”

“What you say is reasonable — though what you’re really worried about is your eldest maternal aunt.” Old Madam Zhu sighed quietly to herself. Her eldest daughter-in-law was good in every way, except that she was still a little shortsighted. The Hua Family could no longer compare to the Zhu Family now, but look at Zhi — look at those bright, driven young members of the Hua Family. When they grew up, it would be the time for the Hua Family to rise again.

Do not bully the old while neglecting the young — and what the Hua Family had left were precisely the young. Never mind the others; just take Bailin. He was extraordinarily clever to begin with. Even when his heart hadn’t been in those Confucian texts before, he could still give his tutors nothing to fault. Now that he had set his mind on making something of himself, how could he fall short?

And the Hua Family was harmonious now, with none of that messy internal strife. The mother-in-law would be his paternal aunt, and though Zhi was capable, she was also reasonable — and it was plain to see she was not the sort to clutch tightly to household authority and refuse to let go. Moreover, with the Zhu Family’s standing, who wouldn’t hold Shan in higher regard after she married in? When the Hua Family eventually recovered, how could Shan not thrive as well?

Such a plainly obvious matter — and yet she still needed it broken apart and spelled out before she could be made to see. How could one trust this household to her management?

With all these thoughts swirling privately in her mind, Old Madam Zhu kept pace outwardly without missing a beat. “She came around long ago — it’s just that pride made it difficult for her to come to you and say anything. You simply forget that whole affair; let it go. We’re all family — there’s no need to let it breed distance.”

“You are right. It was I who was being unreasonable.”

“Who would dare call you unreasonable? Your maternal grandmother certainly would not allow it.” Old Madam Zhu gave her hand a light pat, her eyes and face both full of smiles. “We shall treat this as mutually understood, then — when the time is right, we’ll settle it properly.”

Hua Zhi stroked her grandmother’s still-soft hands and said gently, “I still wish to first ask the two young ones their own feelings. After all, they are the ones who will spend their lives together.”

The old madam shook her head in fond exasperation. “All right, all right — as you wish. I’ve never seen anyone indulge a younger brother the way you do. In every other family, a son or daughter’s marriage is decided by the elders. If we let young people decide everything for themselves, the world would be turned upside down.”

Hua Zhi accepted the reproach cleanly and without argument, offering no further explanation. Different beliefs, different upbringings, different circumstances — no matter how much one talked, neither side could ever truly persuade the other.

The sound of footsteps approached. Both women assumed it was Zhu Haodong, but the face that appeared was that of the Zhu Family’s eldest daughter-in-law.

Hua Zhi rose and curtseyed. “Eldest Maternal Aunt.”

The eldest daughter-in-law helped her up and cast a sidelong glance at her mother-in-law, and felt some relief upon seeing an expression of approval on her face. Because of the falling out with Hua Zhi, she had not had an easy time of it at home these past days — her husband’s visits to her quarters had even grown less frequent.

“It’s rare that you’re willing to go out. You look like you’ve grown a little thinner — even though you’re in mourning, you must still eat more.”

“Yes.” Hua Zhi replied obediently. Seeing that her eldest aunt was also uncomfortable, she offered up a topic of conversation. “Today I originally went to attend a Hongmen Banquet at the Wu Family’s invitation — once it was over and I saw the hour was still early, I came over here.”

Old Madam Zhu immediately picked up the thread. “The Wu Family — connected to the Hua Family through marriage?”

“Yes.”

“What are they up to? Do they think that now that the elders are gone, they can bully you, a young girl?” Old Madam Zhu grew indignant as she spoke. Wu Zhen had relied on the Hua Family’s backing plenty in the past — and this was barely any time later. He was already getting restless?

“It’s nothing more than the Yang Family stirring up trouble. What’s there for you to be angry about? Do you think I could possibly come out the worse for it?” Hua Zhi first invited her eldest aunt to take a seat, then settled herself back beside her grandmother.

The old madam was hardly to be so easily put off. Even when she saw her son enter, she gave him only a glance before pressing on. “Is it because of your younger paternal aunt’s matter? Could it be that the rumors circulating a few days ago had some truth to them?”

Hua Zhi first paid her respects to her second maternal uncle before responding. “I did use certain means to obtain the letter of separation. The Yang Family wished to use my younger paternal aunt as a foothold to reach for whatever little remained of the Hua Family’s foundations — I could hardly agree to that.”

Only now did the old madam realize the rumors might well have had a grain of truth to them. She tapped Hua Zhi’s forehead and asked no further questions. Turning her head, she called out to the elderly nanny: “Go and check on the meal — why isn’t it ready yet? And where is Shan? You went to fetch her and somehow lost her in the process.”

“She apparently made something for Zhi and went to bring it over,” said Zhu Haodong with a smile, looking at his niece. “The other day your second maternal aunt’s niece from her family came to visit, and she kept asking about you — you could tell she was dying to come to the Hua household and meet you in person.”

“People will likely say I’ve led all the young ladies of the capital astray.”

“Only a fool would say such a thing. Zhi, you are underselling yourself. Those of us in families like ours may seem prosperous, yet no one knows what tomorrow holds. Who wouldn’t pray for a family member like you — someone who can take the helm in a critical moment? As long as there is someone like that in the household, the ship cannot sink to the bottom. I’ve noticed that families everywhere are now taking their daughters’ upbringing far more seriously.”

“Now that can truly be counted as Zhi’s great merit.” Old Madam Zhu began by smiling, then sighed. “This world is far too harsh on women. If it could loosen its grip even a little, that would be a blessing for women — the only fear is that some people will use Zhi as a pretext to say unpleasant things.”

“Why pay them any mind? Those who think far enough ahead know exactly what they ought to do.”

Hua Zhi sat to one side, listening with a gentle smile — as though the person everyone was speaking of had nothing to do with her. The old madam caught herself and laughed until she was helpless.

Zhu Shan came in carrying a bundle. Seeing everyone looking at her, and already having a guilty conscience to begin with, she turned even more bashful — but remembering her cousin’s character and manner, she did not spin around and flee. She put on an air of composure, stepped forward, and offered up the bundle with both hands. “I made outfits for Auntie, Elder Cousin, and Younger Cousin — all from this spring’s new fabrics. Elder Cousin, rest assured, the colors are all subdued, perfectly suitable to wear.”

Hua Zhi studied her expression and understood at once — this one was likely already partial to him.

“Cousin has been so thoughtful. I came empty-handed, which is quite rude of me — I’ll treat you to a meal at the vegetarian restaurant another time.”

A look of delight crossed Zhu Shan’s face. “Elder Cousin must keep her word.”

The old madam laughed. “Your elder cousin’s word is as weighty as the most sacred of oaths.”

The whole room laughed together.

Hua Zhi kept the old madam company through a warm and joyful lunch, then saw her back to her room. Grandmother and granddaughter lingered together in private conversation a little longer, and only when she saw signs of fatigue cross the old woman’s face did Hua Zhi take her leave.