The Hua Family’s collateral branches had not benefited from the Empress Dowager’s protection. After the confiscation of the family estate, they had first rented cheap lodgings in the eastern quarter of the city. Later, as the main branch gradually found its footing, the elder matriarch had arranged for them to rent larger and finer premises in the southern quarter. After that, when Hua Zhi took charge of the family’s affairs and had no shortage of funds, she instructed the Fourth Aunt to pay their rent each month on her behalf.

She had considered buying the properties outright for them, but purchasing all three large residences would require a considerable sum — money she currently needed for other purposes and could not afford to sink entirely into this.

Because of this joyous occasion, the Fourth Household had been busy for some days. What had seemed set to be a modest affair had, with the main branch’s support, taken on a proper and generous air. The other households, main branch included, had all arrived two days prior to lend a hand.

On this auspicious day, even the main gate that normally stood shut was thrown wide open, with people coming and going in a constant stream.

Hua Zhi’s carriage rolled directly into the front courtyard. With Nanny Su accompanying her, the household staff instantly surmised who had arrived. The steward dispatched someone to carry word to the rear quarters and hastened forward himself to receive the guest.

“Greetings, Nanny.”

Nanny Su was an old hand of the Hua Family and held a station unlike that of ordinary servants — it was entirely appropriate for her to receive this bow. She returned a half-bow, then turned and lifted the carriage curtain. Ying Chun stepped forward and helped Hua Zhi as she ducked and descended from the carriage. As Hua Zhi swept her gaze around the courtyard, every servant whose eyes met hers quickly lowered their head.

The steward bent deeply at the waist. “This one is Liu Xin. Greetings, First Young Miss.”

“Please rise.” Hua Zhi stepped down from the mounting block. She was dressed that day in a lake-blue outer robe, her hair arranged in a soaring immortal’s coiffure adorned with only small clusters of white flower ornaments — nothing else. Her appearance remained, as ever, understated and plain.

“If First Young Miss would be so informed, the household’s mistresses are all presently in the rear courtyard…”

“Lead the way.”

“Yes.”

This was Hua Zhi’s first visit here. Looking around, she found the residence not small by any means, yet it could not be called refined — and this was already after they had moved to better quarters. She could scarcely imagine what kind of place they had been living in at the very beginning, when they had only just fallen from grace.

“First Young Miss has arrived.” Passing through the inner gate, she saw Fourth Madam leading the whole of the Fourth Household’s mistresses — great and small — to welcome her.

Hua Zhi dipped in a bow and addressed her as Fourth Aunt.

Fourth Madam smiled warmly and drew her upright, insisting that she accept the bows of the other ladies — some of whom were, in terms of generation, her senior aunts.

After receiving their bows, she inclined herself and returned a half-bow to each. Station was one matter; seniority by generation was another entirely.

Fourth Madam was even more gratified by this. For the main branch to have a person at its helm who knew both how to advance and how to defer, and who could shoulder real responsibility, was a blessing for the collateral branches too.

“Everyone is here and waiting inside — shall we go in?”

Hua Zhi agreed, and the two walked side by side toward the interior. Along the covered walkway, paint had peeled away in places. Though everything had been kept scrupulously clean, the sight of it still stirred a faint ache.

Once, the Hua Family had been at the very height of its glory — even the collateral branches had been raised amid wealth and comfort.

“I have accumulated some savings, though for the time being I cannot arrange better lodgings for you. Partly because I need the capital to generate more capital, and partly because I don’t want to attract undue attention.”

Fourth Madam’s gaze drifted to the same worn column, and she sighed. “First Young Miss, there’s no need to explain yourself to me. I may have spent my whole life confined to the inner quarters, but I understand the principles that matter. Life is not what it used to be — yet compared to the He Family, we are so much better off. Just recently I heard that the old He family residence, preserved at such effort and expense, has been sold off, and the whole household has moved to the eastern quarter. We managed to move away from there, while they can only move in. With that comparison before me, how dare I be greedy? I count my blessings.”

Looking at Fourth Aunt — thinner than before, yet with a spirit more vital than ever — a smile came to Hua Zhi’s face. It was precisely because the Hua Family was made of such people that she was willing to exhaust herself on their behalf. That feeling deepened as she entered the main courtyard and saw the rooms full of smiling faces — and she felt that no amount of hardship could be anything but worthwhile.

Greetings were exchanged all around. Hua Zhi was ushered into the main hall and then pressed by the gathered ladies to take the seat of honor. She smiled and declined, instead going to her mother’s side and settling into a lower seat with her. “There is no reason for me to sit above while Mother is seated below. This suits me perfectly well.”

The whole room laughed, and no one pressed her further. In truth, Hua Zhi’s gesture pleased them all the more.

The Fourth Household’s eldest daughter-in-law smiled and said, “I’ll go and fetch Qin’er.”

Hua Zhi quickly stopped her. “I know how heavy the ceremonial dress is — don’t trouble her. I’ll go and look in on her myself shortly.”

The words were spoken without any particular intention, but to those who heard them, they carried a different weight entirely. Indeed — had the Hua Family not suffered its misfortune, the First Young Miss of the main branch should have been married off two months ago. A wedding gown took long months of preparation; it had likely been completed by the time of the confiscation. Of course she would know the weight of a ceremonial dress.

Seeing her mother turn her head aside to wipe her eyes, Hua Zhi realized only then that she had misspoken. She clasped her mother’s hand and steered the conversation elsewhere. “With everyone gathered, this is a good opportunity to mention something — in four days I intend to head north…”

One of the Fourth Household’s daughters-in-law gasped. “Again?”

Hua Zhi let the interruption pass without minding it and nodded. “Going forward, I will make the trip once every half year — keep that in mind and prepare accordingly if there is anything you’d like sent. For this mid-year trip, you may prepare more generously. I will have the household guards escort the goods. The year-end trip will have to be kept as simple as possible, given the weather. There is also something else that all of you must keep in mind.”

Hua Zhi’s expression turned solemn, and the assembled ladies felt a collective tightening of nerves. “In any letters you send, not a single word is to be written about Grandmother’s passing. They all know by now that I am managing the Hua Family’s affairs — if they ask about anything, refer them to me.”

As for why it could not be mentioned, those present understood without needing to be told. The one who truly needed to be kept unaware was none other than Grandfather Hua himself. He and his lifelong companion of decades had been separated by circumstances — and she had passed while he was not there. How could any man come to terms with that?

Third Madam dabbed lightly at the corner of her eye and forced a smile. “Don’t worry — we all know.”

The others nodded in agreement.

As this was a joyous occasion, Hua Zhi did not dwell further on anything that might dampen the mood, and moved on to share the fruits of her southern journey.

Upon hearing that the family was to acquire yet another business venture, everyone was delighted. In matters of commerce, they placed absolute and unwavering trust in the First Young Miss. Every business the Hua Family had put its hand to was profitable — take Green Moss Lane, for instance, which dealt in nothing more than small trades, yet it had become a place that visitors from out of town made a point of seeking out. From morning till night, the queues stretched on endlessly, rain or shine.

Thoughts of Green Moss Lane led everyone to think of Oriole Lane, which was by now nearly ready. The Third Household was closer to the main branch, and so, emboldened, they ventured a tentative inquiry: “Will Oriole Lane need extra hands from us?”

“The staff for Oriole Lane has been training at home for well over a month already.” Just as disappointment began to register on the faces around her, Hua Zhi continued: “But the new venture will need people — ten from each household.”

Third Madam immediately clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! First Young Miss, rest assured — we’ll send you only our very best.”