Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C355. Meeting at Night.

Chapter 355: The Night's Rendezvous

After leaving Fourth Aunt to calm down the rest of the crew, Hua Zhi took it upon herself to personally escort her grandmother home. But before she could get too comfortable, there was the matter of bidding farewell to Li Mama, who’d been riding in the same carriage.

Graciously accepting the favor, Hua Zhi kept her charm on full display throughout the trip, making sure to be as pleasant as one could muster—because, of course, it would have been simply unacceptable not to reciprocate Li Mama's "kindness." When they reached their destination, Hua Zhi even saw it fit to help Li Mama out of the carriage, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Li Mama, the picture of graciousness, smiled back, fully aware of the unspoken strings attached. After all, she’d been by the Empress Dowager’s side for years. With the Empress Dowager’s favor still lingering over the Hua family, there was more than a hint of mutual benefit, wrapped up in pleasantries.

Finally, as the carriage pulled away, leaving no one around to witness the performance, Hua Zhi, tired of all the pretense, let out a breath and leaned casually against her grandmother’s shoulder, as if all that charade had been a simple passing moment, easily brushed aside.

Old Madam Zhu affectionately patted her arm, her hand resting lightly on her granddaughter’s arm as she exhaled a wistful sigh. "And how’s your father these days? Managing all right, is he?"

"He’s doing well enough," came the composed reply, a hint of restraint softening the words. "He’s teaching now, which means life’s been relatively kind to him, so he hasn't suffered too much."

"Ah, that’s good to hear, very good," Old Madam Zhu murmured with approval, her satisfaction a subtle undercurrent in the air. Her son-in-law, after all, was a manageable presence in her family’s narrative—a necessary anchor for her daughter’s rather... unpredictable inclinations. Heaven forbid that woman be left to her own devices. "Your approach to Hua Yan earlier—dare I say, it looked almost merciful."

"I couldn’t afford to be too heavy-handed," the younger woman responded, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "One brushstroke doesn’t make two 'Hua' characters, after all. I needed to make my position clear, yes, but pushing her into a corner would do us no favors. The Hua family’s reputation would be dragged through the mud alongside hers, and frankly, I’d rather not hand people that kind of ammunition against us. Besides," she added with a languid shrug, "even if Hua Yan does find herself in the Feng household, does anyone truly believe she’ll fare well? The so-called ‘true love’ she’s banking on won’t mean a thing when Feng Changyu’s main wife steps in—and she will step in. Let’s be honest, how many concubines actually live happily ever after? And even if Feng Changyu’s reputation as a philanderer holds true, he’s no fool. He’ll toe the line when it matters, and Hua Yan? She’ll be left to fend for herself."

A pause, deliberate and laced with a sharp undertone, followed. "Besides, with the longstanding feud between the Hua and Feng families, sending someone like her into their hands is practically gift-wrapping an opportunity for them to twist the knife."

Old Madam Zhu let the words settle, her sharp eyes catching the faint glint of strategy behind her granddaughter’s calm demeanor. "So, you’ve cut off her escape route without dirtying your hands. A wise move, I must say."

"I have more important things to do than her affair." Hua Zhi didn't want to discuss this further and lifted her head, "Is it a rest day today? It feels like it's been a while since I've been out."

"It should be a rest day, but there has been severe flooding in the south recently, and the court is preparing disaster relief. Your grandfather, as the Minister of Revenue, has been busy these days and can't rest."