Blossom in Adversity

C107. Mourning (1).

Chapter 107: Mourning (1)

After the passing of her grandmother, Hua Zhi had to observe deep mourning and refrain from eating meat for a hundred days.

Fu Dong tried to make the meals more appetizing, and although Hua Zhi couldn't taste the food, she forced herself to eat a bit more. Taking advantage of a break when everyone was resting, she managed to sleep for half an hour.

However, she realized that the more she slept, the more fatigued she felt.

Seeing her mistress struggling to keep her eyes open, Ying Chun couldn't help but feel sorry. She advised, "Everything outside is taken care of, you should rest a little more."

Hua Zhi shook her head, put on her shoes, and got out of bed. If she lay down again, she wouldn't be able to get up for the night.

"Has anyone been looking for me?"

"Fourth Lady came by, but she saw you sleeping and instructed the maids not to disturb you."

"Did she say anything important?"

"No." Ying Chun helped her sit down and began to remove her trousers. "Let me apply the medicine for you."

Although she had already applied medication before eating, the gruesome sight had frightened the maids. If Hua Zhi hadn't reminded them that the medicine was hard to come by, they might have poured the entire bottle directly onto the wound.

After reapplying the medicine and putting on a white cloak, Hua Zhi stepped out into the front courtyard.

The entire Hua residence was brightly lit, bustling but organized. Everything seemed to be in order.

Fourth Aunt was supervising the servants clearing the snow from the walkway. Upon seeing Hua Zhi, she hurried over. Observing her pale face in the white attire, Fourth Aunt frowned and hoarsely advised, "I can manage for now, go rest. We will be moving the body at midnight, and you won't have a chance to rest then."

In truth, Hua Zhi enjoyed the current state of the Hua family. Everyone was too busy tending to their grandmother's affairs to dwell on trivial matters. Their unity was unparalleled.

If the Hua family maintained this unity, she was confident they would thrive and go far.

"I've rested for a while, feeling better. Fourth Aunt, take Bai Jun back for the first half of the night, and return when it's time to move the body."

Wu shi shook her head, "As the youngest, it's improper for me to rest while all three elder sisters are keeping vigil. You need to be fair in such matters, handling them impartially."

"I won't neglect them. We will need to keep vigil for seven days, and everyone can't go without rest for that long. Take a two-hour break, in shifts."

Wu shi agreed, realizing the necessity of the arrangement.

Hua Zhi entered the house, scanning her mother and two aunts before settling on her second aunt, the weakest among the sisters-in-law.

"Second aunt, go back to rest for two hours, but be sure to return afterward." She then looked at her mother and third aunt, "After the second aunt and Fourth Aunt return, you and the third aunt can take a break for two hours."

No one objected.

"Bai Lin, make sure to take turns resting. You'll organize the schedule."

"Yes, eldest sister."

After making further arrangements, the room quickly emptied, leaving only a few people to keep watch.

Hua Zhi adjusted the lamp wick and, under the fearful gazes of Hua Xin and the others, sat on the edge of the bed and touched her grandmother's stiff, cold fingers. Treating her like she had just fallen asleep, she pulled the bedding up a bit.

For a long time afterwards, she sat there, lost in her thoughts, with no one daring to disturb her.

Hua Zhi was different from them, feeling this way deep down from that evening onwards.

The appointed time to move the spirit had arrived, and the monks began their ceremonies in the hour of Chou.

To move the spirit, the monks had to come to the inner courtyard.

Hua Zhi instructed all the women, including the maids, to retreat to the rear courtyard. As the head of the family, she had to stay to oversee everything.

Zhu Shi tightly held her hand, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head. Hua Zhi pried her hand away and placed it in the hands of Fourth Aunt, "Close the doors. No one is to come in or out without my command."

The news of the eldest daughter taking charge was met with enthusiastic cheers from the four robust maids who had accompanied her to the Song estate. They were eager to gain her favor and pleased that the eldest young lady had chosen them.

Of course, there was no room for joy at this time.

The door slowly closed, and those left inside peered through the shrinking crack, watching Hua Zhi's slender figure walk away. Some quietly wept, relieved that their reputation was intact, but what about Hua Zhi?

What about their eldest daughter of the Hua family?

Hua Zhi was not alone. The four head maids led by Ying Chun refused to back down, following her every step of the way. The elderly maids such as Suyun Mama subtly shielded her, offering her as much protection as possible. Not to mention Hua Bailin standing in front of his sister like a hungry cub protecting its prey, but they were not tall enough to block the view of others.

In this moment, everyone had to admit that the Hua family was a united family.

The sound of wooden fish grew nearer, and the forty-nine monks led by Ven. Prajna entered the household through the second gate, then into the courtyard of the old lady.

Eight monks followed Ven. Prajna inside the old lady's room, while the other monks sat in an orderly manner in the courtyard, chanting in unison.

Following Steward Xu's signal, Hua Zhi led her brothers into the room to kneel down. Steward Xu handed each of them a straw mat to kneel on, offering some relief from the bone-chilling cold.

The room had been cleared of all unnecessary items, and Steward Xu and the others respectfully transferred the old lady from the bed to the spirit bed made of wood. Nine monks encircled the spirit bed, chanting words that Hua Zhi did not understand, their voices blending with the forty people outside.

This ceremony continued until the hour of Yi and Yin, finally completing the transfer of the spirit.

Hua Zhi was helped to her feet by Ying Chun, and she first paid her respects to Ven. Prajna before instructing Steward Xu to take them to rest. She then walked to the right side of the memorial hall and called for Suyun Mama, instructing her, "Hang the curtains here. Second sister and the others will keep vigil here."

Suyun Mama had never heard of women keeping vigil in the memorial hall, and she opened her mouth to advise against it. But ultimately, she said nothing and went to prepare. Just because it had not been done before did not mean it could not be done now; the court etiquette of the Great Daqing Dynasty did not dictate that women could not keep vigil in the memorial hall.

Not only were curtains hung, but straw was laid on the ground, covered with mats, bed sheets, and old blankets. Women were delicate, and Hua Zhi did not intend to put them through what Hua Jing had endured.

Thinking of Hua Jing, Hua Zhi decided to put aside her current tasks and walk outside.

The snow continued to fall gently, accumulating to almost two inches on the rooftop. The alleyway in front of Hua Jing's hut had been cleared multiple times, leaving it spotless. However, all the cleared snow had been piled around the hut, turning it into an icy prison.

"Whoever came up with this idea, it's a good one."

Suyun Mama glared at the shed, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "The Sixth Young Master came up with it," she said with a touch of malice. "Late last night, he had his servants dig a rather large hole behind the shed and fill it with water. Once the water froze and was covered with a layer of snow, no one would be able to tell anything was amiss."

"It seemed there was more than one icebox." Hua Zhi wasn't surprised that this idea had come from Bai Lin. Before the downfall of the Hua family, all the other young masters combined hadn't caused as much trouble as he had alone.