Blossom in Adversity

C178. Hua Jing Commits Suicide.

Chapter 178 - Hua Jing Commits Suicide

Every now and then, the long box on the table caught Hua Zhi's eye. She pursed her lips, reached out to open it, and was not surprised to find a hairpin inside. But when she held it in her hand, she was truly astonished.

It was heavier than she expected, similar to the one she had once used to harm someone. One of the pins on the hairpin was actually a dart, the tip seemed to have been opened. If her hand hadn't moved quickly, it would have been more than just a simple scratch. The dark, reddish color of the hairpin resembled the legendary black iron...

Hua Zhi stood up abruptly and walked outside. In the sunlight, the hairpin indeed had a red hue shining through the black. Could this really be the legendary black iron?

Black iron was known for its hardness, and as far as she knew, artifacts made of black iron were usually heavy swords or axes. To create something so delicate...

As the person emerged from the room, Hua Zhi considered asking if it was really black iron. But recalling the atmosphere between them earlier, she pushed aside the thought. She could ask later; today, she simply did not want to speak to that person anymore.

With a slight bow, Hua Zhi returned to the study.

Gu Yanxi watched with smiling eyes, his good mood unaffected by the impending return to the palace and a pile of affairs.

Walking behind him carrying bags and packages, Wang Rong lowered his gaze, feeling the need to show more respect to the Hua family's eldest daughter.

Hua Zhi placed the hairpin and the hairpin personally polished by Bai Lin together. Though she was of marriageable age, she currently had no desire to adorn herself with such items at home. She could still be whimsical for now, but as she grew older, not even wanting to style her hair would be allowed.

*

On a chilly night in early spring, as the world fell silent, in a dark alley, a figure struggled to stand by the wall. Her headscarf slipped, revealing the face of Hua Jing.

The former eldest daughter of the Hua family was now skinny and frail, her cheeks hollow, looking like she was barely clinging to life. Yet her eyes still burned with a fierce hatred, bright and intense.

On the roof, Wang Rong signaled for others not to act rashly, watching to see what Hua Jing intended to do.

Hua Jing leaned on a long stick, holding a stool in her hand as she slowly moved toward the front gate of the Hua family's estate. With a sneer, she took out a long white silk cloth from her pocket and loosely looped one end around the stick, sending the other end over to the beam above the gate after several unsuccessful attempts.

Breathing heavily, Hua Jing rested for a moment, then using the silk cloth to balance herself, she stepped onto the stool. Trembling hands tied a knot on the silk cloth, and with all her strength, she tightened the noose around her neck.

The Hua family betrayed her!

They all betrayed her!

She would die here, causing the Hua family's daughters to remain unmarried, tarnishing Hua Zhi's reputation, and making them all pay the price!

It was all the fault of the Hua family, all because of Hua Zhi. If it weren't for her, the Song family wouldn't have dared to treat her so poorly!

And her son, he would never have ignored her!

It was all because of Hua Zhi!

I'll show you by dying!

I'll show you!

With a fierce resolve, Hua Jing kicked away the stool. Gasping for air with each kicking motion, her breath grew weaker. Her features contorted in pain, and in a daze, Hua Jing seemed to travel back to the carefree days of her youth at her maternal home, where she was cherished and protected by her father, mother, and brothers. Those were truly good times.

How did it all turn into this?

Her eyes were wide with determination, tears streaming down her face, and Hua Jing gradually lost consciousness.

It was only then that Wang Rong appeared with his men. Swiftly, he took her down, and checked her pulse, still alive. He didn't stop Hua Jing from seeking death, but if he allowed her to take her last breath in front of the Hua family's gates, he knew he would face consequences.

Placing the limp body of Hua Jing on another man's back, Wang Rong whispered instructions. The man nodded and swiftly departed. Another followed with the white silk, stool, and the long stick. Wang Rong stayed behind to tie up loose ends.

At first, when he noticed someone in the alley, he only paid slight attention. The residents here were considered kind, and the patrolling guards rarely ventured into these narrow lanes. Occasionally, a brave beggar might sleep in the area, but who could have imagined that the Hua family's eldest daughter would harbor such a cruel heart, lying on the ground for so long?

Facing abuse at her in-laws' and choosing to hang herself at her parents' home, how ironic!

Thinking about the commotion tomorrow, Wang Rong chuckled.

*

Hua Zhi rose early and led her maidservants in a morning exercise routine. As she walked out of the courtyard, she saw the Sixth Prince and the children of the Hua family practicing martial arts together. The prince seemed to have some skill, on par with those who had been training for months. His movements and strength were impressive as if he belonged to the Hua family.

At the sound of hurried footsteps, Hua Zhi looked over to see Suyun Mama.

"Miss, there's news - Your eldest aunt has passed away."

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow, the news coming sooner than she expected. Seeing Suyun Mama hesitating, she inquired, "Is there more to this?"

"She... she was found hanged," Su hesitated before continuing, "hanged at the gate of the Song family."

Hua Zhi immediately felt something was amiss. No mother would disregard her children, especially in this era where children were everything. Even if Hua Jing didn't care for her daughter, she should have considered Song Chenghao. Her death by hanging with a white silk cloth seemed too sudden, a way to assert her defiance towards the Song family's mistreatment. However, her children bore the Song surname, and by leaving like this, their future wouldn't be bright. Dying at the Hua family's doorstep made more sense...

A chill ran down Hua Zhi's spine as several thoughts raced through her mind.

Seeing that the children's class had ended, she walked over and bowed to Wang Rong.

Wang Rong quickly dodged, unable to accept such a gesture.

"I dare ask, Mr. Wang, has anything happened to the Hua family that I don't know about?"

Wang Rong looked up in surprise. They all knew that the person the leader had his eye on must be extraordinary, but he hadn't expected that she would immediately think of that possibility.

Without hiding anything, he recounted the events of the early morning, including how they had hung the still-breathing Hua Jing from the Song family's gate.

Hua Zhi felt a rage bubbling up inside her as oil poured into boiling water. She longed to rush to the Song family immediately and whip Hua Jing's corpse!

How cruel!

To drag her birth family down to hell like this!

What had the Hua family ever done to her?!

"Miss, rest assured. We've covered all the tracks. The Hua family won't be implicated in this."

Hua Zhi took a deep breath to suppress her raging anger and bowed solemnly to Wang Rong. "Thank you, Mr. Wang. Otherwise, our Hua family would be tainted and unable to escape."

Wang Rong jumped back in fright. "Miss, please don't do that. We were just following orders."

Hua Zhi nodded to him and turned to leave. She knew who to thank for this.