Blossom in Adversity

C200. Weaving the Network.

Chapter 200: Weaving the Network

Although the second floor was designed as private rooms, it looked very spacious overall. Surrounded by greenery, even the beams and rafters were adorned with branches and leaves, adding a touch of freshness to the otherwise unadorned building, which was a rare sight in a world where greenery was not commonly used for decoration.

The Old Madam Zhu nodded repeatedly, trusting her granddaughter, but truly seeing it with her own eyes brought her peace of mind.

As the beads on the door curtain jingled, the matriarch of Sun Family was escorted out by the Sixth Prince. The two seniors exchanged greetings and bowed respectfully.

Madam Zhu remarked, "I didn't expect you to come too, Shang Zhen."

Shang Zhen was Madam Sun's name, seldom used now, and upon hearing it, the other woman paused for a moment before breaking into a smile, "It's been a while."

With a glance and a touch of hands, there was no need for further explanations.

The others all greeted the Sixth Prince, who reciprocated with dignified nods. Unbeknownst to many, they assumed he was accompanying the matriarch, showing no surprise. The Sixth Prince also deliberately maintained a bit of distance from Hua Zhi, fearing to cause trouble for her.

As the host, Hua Zhi knelt in a bow and said, "Today, let's all be at ease. Elders in one room, brothers in another, sisters in another. How does that sound to everyone?"

None of the young people wanted to be constantly watched by the elders, and the aristocratic youths were eager to explore. Old Madam Zhu, in support of her granddaughter, chimed in, "That works for me. I just want to have a good chat with Shang Zhen."

Madam Sun kindly invited, "Shall we go inside?"

The two entered the room hand in hand. Meanwhile, Zhu Haocheng and his group shared a smile and ushered each other into another room.

With the absence of the elders, the younger generation grew lively. Zhu Ziwen suggested, "This feels much more relaxed. Shall we also go?"

The Qin family and the Zhu family had a longstanding relationship, so they immediately agreed. Following previous instructions, Lu Shuangrui readily assented. Zhu Ziwen then invited the Sixth Prince, to which Hua Zhi subtly nodded. Organizing such a dinner was one of her goals in bringing the Sixth Prince closer to them.

Since Gu Yanxi had that intention, relying solely on an idle and uninvolved relative was clearly insufficient.

A signal was exchanged between Hua Zhi and Zhu Ziwen. Zhu Ziwen blinked at her, and she responded with a smile. She murmured a few words to Ying Chun before heading to her uncle's room.

As the eldest uncle of Hua Zhi, Zhu Haocheng sat at the head of the table, maintaining a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere for his niece. Upon her entrance, all three pairs of eyes focused on her.

Hua Zhi knelt in a bow, allowing them to scrutinize her openly, without a hint of discomfort.

"I now believe the rumors circulating in the capital," Qin Gongyang chuckled, admiration unmistakable in his eyes. "It is indeed true."

More than just rumors, there was now a gambling scene in the capital, as people awaited to see who could get close to the beautiful lady and win the elusive rose in their hands. Rumor had it that many noble youths were participating, and as an elder, Zhu Haocheng had heard about it and even slammed his hand on the table in frustration.

However, there was nothing he could do. Although his own family held high status, there were others in the aristocratic circle with even higher status. Getting involved in that kind of competition would only invite ridicule.

But who could be happy seeing their own daughter treated as mere entertainment?

If the girls' families were willing participants in this game, it would be different. However, in Zhu Haocheng's family, which carried the burden of a large household and lived in a serious manner, they were clearly being underestimated.

Thinking about the busy schedule of his younger brother, Zhu Haocheng sighed inwardly. Regardless, the Zhu family had to shoulder some extra responsibility.

The heir of the Duke Anguo, Lu Boxi, was also observing Hua Zhi. The situation of the Lu family was indeed not good, but if it weren't for the fact that this matter was linked to Gu Yanxi, he wouldn't be sitting here today.

Over the years, there were those who sought to ally with the Lu family for their own gain. The reason the Lu family declined was simply that they did not see the benefit. The Lu family had not reached a point of desperation where they needed to leverage the influence of the Duke's household for wealth and prosperity.

While Hua Zhi's business setup was somewhat unique, it did not stand out enough to impress him. What he valued was Gu Yanxi's role as the intermediary.

At the very least, this indicated one thing: his reclusive nephew and the Hua family, or rather Hua Zhi, were connected in some way.

Rather than this business venture, he was more interested in the underlying situation.

Lu Boxi watched Hua Zhi, and neither he nor his father believed that the child who had once harbored so much hatred, nearly committing patricide, would easily let go of that animosity. They had always been skeptical that the "reclusive and simple" façade was just a ruse.

Religious?

He had a mother who had been devout for many years, but in the few limited encounters he had with his nephew, he had not sensed a shred of spirituality.

If their suspicions were correct, he wanted his now independent nephew to know that the Lu family was always behind him. The fact that the Lu family was aware of this matter through him showed that they were trying to help resolve it, which was a sign of their concern for the Lu family.

Giving the Hu family some protection?

The Lu family would provide it!

"What does the Lu family need to do?" Lu Boxi asked bluntly.

Zhu Haocheng and Qin Gongyang were a bit surprised by Lu Boxi's words, exchanged a glance, and lowered their eyes to drink tea.

Hua Zhi took her seat at the lower end of the table as if facing an official inquiry, but she did not show any sign of weakness. "In business, we seek wealth. The Lu family only needs to make it known that behind this Shi Zai Feast establishment is the Duke Anguo's residence. Not everyone can take a bite as they please."

"Just that?" Lu Boxi inquired.

"Just that."

Seeing her not trying to show off, Lu Boxi nodded, "If there's anything, feel free to send word to the Lu family."

"Understood."

Zhu Haocheng and Qin Gongyang understood now. The Lu family was the backing that Hua Zhi had found. Upon further reflection, it made sense. Despite Duke Anguo's retirement for many years, the Duke's residence was an established institution, one of only two in the Great Daqing Dynasty with such a long history. Their network was deep-rooted, difficult for other noble families to match.

Moreover, Duke Anguo had a natural advantage - the royal family owed him a daughter. Over the years, the emperor had shown great favor towards the Lu family, with even the emperor's grandson receiving special attention. In recent years, despite his reclusive nature, the rewards kept flowing to the heir's manor, with the most notable being the Shizi’s absence from royal family ceremonies for several consecutive years due to his dislike for the Prince Ling.

Seeing the Buddha's face while ignoring the monk's face, as long as the emperor reigned, the position of the Duke Anguo's residence remained unshakable.

However, it was notoriously difficult to enter the Duke Anguo's residence.

The question remained - how had Hua Zhi managed to establish such connections?

Both Qin Gongyang and Zhu Haocheng were curious, with Zhu Haocheng giving his niece a second glance.