The Hua Family’s major rules remained unchanged, but the minor ones all followed Hua Zhi’s lead.
She was busy and often out, so meals were no longer gathered on even-numbered days in the main room as they once had been. Everyone was happy enough with the freedom, and all had come to understand that whenever the eldest young miss called for a joint meal, something important was certainly about to be announced. Those with schemes weighing on their minds had spent the entire stretch of the afternoon in a state of agitation ever since word reached them, fearing that whatever small plan they harbored might somehow have come to the eldest young miss’s attention.
The only one whose heart was truly at ease was Hua Xian. She was thoroughly content with the tranquility of her current days and had not harbored a single unnecessary thought. The third concubine grandmother, taking her cue from her, had taken to chanting sutras and copying scripture in her spare time. She had long since seen the truth of it: as long as one behaved and did not stir up trouble while the eldest young miss was running things, she would find no reason to drive one out. And even if management were to pass to someone else in the future, Sui An would be grown by then and capable of protecting his mother.
Everyone arrived early. When Hua Zhi entered, it was still the others waiting on her.
“Let’s eat first.”
Dish after dish flowed to the table. The Hua Family’s cooks had by now mastered a fine hand at vegetarian cuisine, yet there were few at the table who ate with any real appetite. Hua Zhi herself had been lacking in appetite of late — she put down her chopsticks after finishing a small bowl of rice and half a bowl of soup.
The moment her chopsticks came down, everyone else set theirs down as well.
After rinsing her mouth, Hua Zhi swept her gaze around the table. “Most of you seated here are my elders. Even though I am the one managing this household now, I have always tried to be considerate in my daily conduct and have delegated all matters of the inner courtyard to Fourth Aunt. Second Aunt and Third Aunt should know this best — we barely cross paths at all. Is that not so?”
Qi Shi and Xia Shi exchanged a glance, unease already beginning to stir in their hearts, yet all they could do at this moment was nod. It was the truth, and with so many eyes watching, they could not deny it.
“I have always believed that respect is mutual. I show you respect; you show me respect in return. Yet evidently, you have no awareness of this.”
Not a single one of the dozens of people standing or seated in the room said a word in response.
Hua Zhi did not seem to mind and continued, “Grandfather and the others are doing everything they can to find a way back. The children are working harder than they ever have before — they want to restore the Hua Family’s standing through their own efforts. I have wrung my mind dry trying to give the Hua Family what help I can. We are all making an effort. I have always believed that as long as we are putting in that effort, it is enough — all you need to do is conduct yourselves properly as wives and young misses, and that is the greatest support you can give us.”
The words were as cutting as they were humiliating, and Hua Zhi was done with deflections. Some people simply could not read between the lines — they assumed that whatever others did was only to be expected, and that whatever they themselves received was only their due. The world did not work that way.
Hua Zhi rose to her feet. The warmth that had come over her face in recent days, kindled by her brothers’ protection, had entirely dispersed, replaced by a serenity of utter indifference. “I do not ask you to hope for the Hua Family’s restoration. I do not ask you to make any sacrifice for this family, or even to do anything at all. If you feel that the Hua Family’s present circumstances are already as good as things can be, then please do your part to uphold what goodness exists — do not think about carving it up for yourselves. Without my consent, none of you will be carving up anything.”
Still the room remained as silent as death.
“Second sister, Third sister, and Fourth sister have a mind to ease my burden, and I am glad to accommodate them. The canned goods business is yours to manage.”
Though the three of them had already received their eldest sister’s private word, being announced publicly before the entire household still set their blood surging through them. All three answered in bright, clear voices, sweeping away a great deal of the room’s heavy oppressiveness.
“I have my own plans for my sisters’ marriages, and no one is to interfere. Furthermore, the rule against Hua family men involving themselves in business dealings does not change — whoever breaks that rule should not blame me for showing no mercy.” Hua Zhi began making an example. “Concubine Qin holds deep gratitude toward our grandmother and wishes to copy the Earth Treasury Sutra one hundred volumes in her memory. Mother, please accommodate her in this.”
Zhu Shi had no idea when Concubine Qin had suddenly decided to copy scripture for her late mother-in-law, but of course she would heed her daughter’s word. She nodded at once. “Accommodate her, of course I will. Concubine Qin is truly devoted — how very thoughtful of her.”
Behind Zhu Shi, Concubine Qin’s eyes went wide. She — when had she ever said she would copy scripture a hundred volumes over? But she was not foolish. The eldest young miss saying so meant she had found out about the small maneuvering she had done. Copying scripture a hundred times was her punishment. Even if it meant biting her own tongue, she had to accept it.
But a hundred volumes — how long would that take!
“Does Concubine Qin not wish to copy scripture for grandmother?”
Concubine Qin lowered her head. “I am willing. This concubine is willing.”
“Then please have them ready before the anniversary of grandmother’s passing.” Leaving Concubine Qin no room to object, Hua Zhi continued, “For the sake of the Hua Family’s stability, Concubine Qin need not see her family members from now on. I have already spoken with Elder Madam Qin, and I trust that Concubine Qin’s family knows what they should do. Of course, Concubine Qin has another choice.”
Every heart in the room seized with tension.
Hua Zhi’s red lips curved slightly, and she spat out three words in a cold, flat tone: “Return to your family.”
Concubine Qin’s legs gave way and she sank to her knees. She knew better than anyone what conditions were like in that household. When the Hua Family had been in its glory, she had been the treasure of her parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law. But now, were she to dare go back, they would not even open the door for her. Even if she died on their doorstep, they would probably send her remains back to the Hua Family and call her a Hua household person.
Never mind that the Hua Family was thriving once more — even if it had truly fallen into ruin, she would not have dared to leave.
“I will only tolerate this once. If there is a next time — whoever it concerns — I will have that person removed.” Hua Zhi turned and walked outside. The sky was nearly dark, and the wind came howling in gusts; her heart seemed to go cold along with it.
Ying Chun fastened a light cape around her miss’s shoulders. Hua Zhi pulled it close and looked back at the room full of people who still had not moved. “When you find unwanted thoughts arising, take a walk to the family school and listen to the sound of reading — it may wash those thoughts away.”
She dipped her head slightly and stepped out.
If cold composure and firmness were what it took to keep them in line, then cold composure and firmness it would be.
On the day of the autumn provincial examinations, it seemed as though the scent of ink hung over the entire capital. Outside the examination halls, the scene was lively beyond description — some young with spirit and ambition set high, others with frost upon their hair making one final bid — all for the chance to leap through the dragon’s gate and make their name in one stroke.
Achieving the rank of provincial graduate already made one half an official. Only by becoming a provincial graduate did one have a foot halfway into the world of officialdom. After decades of painstaking study, this was the final hurdle — and every man there was determined to clear it.
Hua Zhi summoned Hua Baiyue. “Go offer incense to the sages on their behalf, and pray for the sages to watch over them so that all goes smoothly.”
Once every three years, grandfather had always offered incense for them, joking that he harbored no ambition of them all passing — he only prayed the sages would see them safely through the nine days and seven nights without their health breaking down, for that alone would be a blessing. Now that grandfather was gone, this incense still needed to be offered.
Hua Baiyue received the order and left — the half-grown boy growing steadier by the day.
Hua Zhi turned and made her way toward the front courtyard. She had barely passed through the moon gate when she saw Bao Xia picking up her skirts and hurrying toward her. “Miss, the ship has arrived!”
Finally — it had arrived!
Hua Zhi had been carrying this matter as a weight on her heart; until the ship docked, she would not have a moment’s true ease. She had worried about something going wrong along the way, and worried about trouble arising in Zhenyang. Had it been another four or five days without word, she had already been planning to use Gu Yanxi’s connections to send an inquiry.
“Prepare the carriage — I’m going to the docks.” While walking toward the gate, Hua Zhi continued issuing instructions: “Send word to the Seafood establishment and let Nanny Chen know they should be ready to receive the goods. And inform Fu Dong as well.”
“Yes.”