Blossom in Adversity

C179. Malicious Intent.

Chapter 179: Malicious Intent

Inside the room, Hua Zhi's hands clenched into fists, her chest heaving with anger as old grievances resurfaced.

That despicable excuse of a person, not even worthy of being called human, had driven her to lose her composure.

It was infuriating!

Hua Zhi closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths to calm her trembling body. "Suyun Mama."

Silently approaching from the corner, the nanny, Suyun Mama, responded, "Miss."

"Song Chenghao's situation won't be good. Knowing his temperament, he won't simply accept this fate. He might turn his attention towards the Hua family. I suspect he will be the one to come and report the death to our family." Hua Zhi sneered, "Not every grudge can be settled by death. As long as I am alive, the Hua family, Hua Jing, and her children will never find peace."

Tears welled up in Suyun Mama's eyes. Having served the old lady for a lifetime, her emotions ran deep. She loathed Hua Jing for pushing the old lady to her death, feeling the same anger as her mistress.

Hua Zhi, seething with rage, gulped down a cup of tea before continuing, "Inform the gatekeeper that if he comes to report his mother's death, the Hua family will not open the doors, provide hospitality, or acknowledge him."

Suyun Mama looked up at Hua Zhi, "Will this decision not stir up gossip?"

"What's there to fear? It wasn't the Hua family that drove her to death or made her desperate. It wasn't our debt to her. It was her, always trying to drag down her maternal family. However, a visit is necessary." Hua Zhi's eyes gleamed with cold determination. "I remember the Hua family has the tradition of engraving birth dates on wooden plaques for the ancestral hall. I'll retrieve them, and on the sixth day of mourning, you'll..."

A sudden realization struck Hua Zhi, making everything clear. Hua Jing a daughter-in-law of the Song family, had been unwell for some time.

How could she have gone out on her own?

Even if Hua Jing managed to leave by herself, where did she go?

Why hadn't she returned, and why was no one searching for her?

Were all the members of the Song family deceased?

If this had any connections to the Song family...

"I'll go myself," Hua Zhi declared, rising to her feet.

Suyun Mama was surprised. Rumors in the capital portrayed Hua Zhi as a salt-free beauty, and many longed to see her appearance. If she indeed appeared at the Song family...

"Miss, let this old servant go. It's just a small matter, but my presence should suffice," Suyun Mama offered.

Hua Zhi shook her head slightly. She didn't plan on letting too many people know the details of Hua Jing's intended suicide at the Hua family's premises. "I must go."

Suyun Mama grew anxious, "Miss, you usually avoid being in the spotlight unnecessarily. There's no need to break your composure over someone unimportant."

"I've been to the northern lands. What's showing my face in the capital compared to that? There are many things I dislike, but there are duties that must be fulfilled, just like meeting people you dislike sometimes." Hua Zhi's disdain for Song Chenghao was palpable.

Wasn't the situation of the Second Aunt in the Yang family worse than that of Hua Jing?

Despite having a weak character, the aunt endured because of her son's support. Song Chenghao was much older than Su'an, how could he not protect his own mother?

Perhaps, among those who bullied Hua Jing, he was also to blame.

Hua Jing's fate was retribution, but as a son, Song Chenghao didn't deserve to live.

Outside the door, Liu Xiang reminded her, "Miss, it's time for your lessons."

Hua Zhi didn't want her emotions to impact the children. After composing herself, she walked out, with Suyun Mama seeing her off before hurrying to the gatekeeper's lodge.

*

Ignoring the chaos in the Song family, it was in the afternoon when the person bearing the news arrived at the Hua family as expected - Song Chenghao.

Song Chenghao hadn't anticipated the Hua family to be so resolute. Even in such a situation, they refused to open their doors. But no matter how resentful and angry he felt, he could only swallow his pride. His grandfather was already upset with their family, his father blamed his mother, and the second and third branches were considering splitting from them. To establish his standing in the Song family, he needed to showcase his uniqueness. He wasn't adept at scholarly pursuits, so he had to find another path.

He had heard about the Hua family's business ventures, especially their production of canned sweets, which had quickly become profitable. Moreover, he discovered that the business in the Green Moss Alley also belonged to the Hua family. The alley, where people had to queue even in the harsh winter, was evidently a lucrative business venture.

Though the Hua family appeared to be falling apart, they still hid a talented entrepreneur within. With his mother gone and the grudges settled, if he could reconcile with the Hua family and learn some money-making secrets, once he made a fortune, would the Song family dare to treat him this way?

The more he thought about it, the clearer it became. Song Chenghao swallowed his pride, left the items on the threshold, offered a few bows outside, and left.

In the ancestral hall, Hua Zhi lit incense and bowed three times before retrieving Hua Jing's wooden plaque. Gazing at the small sign, she addressed the room full of ancestral tablets, "If our ancestors in the underworld see Hua Jing, let her suffer another death. She is unworthy of the Hua surname."

For many years, Hua Zhi had not been this angry over a single issue. From the moment she received the news until now, the anger had been stuck in her throat, unable to rise or fall.

If it wasn't indeed someone arranged by Mr. Lu who diverted Hua Jing's success, others might find her actions excessive, but the consequences would have to be borne by the Hua family.

The Hua daughters would find it harder to marry, and the sons of the Hua family would struggle to find wives in the future. Hua Jing, using her death to seek revenge on the Hua family, demanded the family to pay for her burial!

The pain in her chest from anger was unbearable for Hua Zhi. She couldn't imagine the plight the Hua family would face if Hua Jing's wishes were fulfilled.

Leaving the ancestral hall, Hua Zhi stayed in her courtyard for a while before heading to the front yard. At least outwardly, she appeared calm and composed.

"Hua Hua!" Just as she crossed the moon gate, a figure rushed towards her. Instinctively, Hua Zhi opened her arms, but before Shao Yao could reach her, she was grabbed by the neck and tossed aside.

Shao Yao flipped in the air and landed steadily, glaring angrily at Gu Yanxi, "Yan Ge!"

"You can fly, why not let Ah Zhi fly too?" Gu Yanxi quipped.

Realizing she might have been a bit too excited earlier, Shao Yao rubbed her head and sheepishly ran over to Hua Zhi, leaning against her with a contented smile.

Hua Zhi patted her head, "You two deliberately came here just before mealtime, didn't you?"

Shao Yao nodded without hesitation, "Of course, Hua Hua, make sure to bring me dinner too. The palace food is not tasty at all."

"..."

The imperial kitchen has the best chefs from the Daqing Dynasty. Hua Zhi felt she should give a little extra praise to Fu Dong, otherwise it would be unfair for the hasty compliments given earlier.

Gu Yanxi interjected casually, "If it's not too much trouble, bring some for me too."

Hua Zhi made a mental note to give Fu Dong a raise.