Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C361. Matchmaker?

Chapter 361: A Matchmaker’s Meddling?

With a storm brewing in her mind, Hua Zhi decided, for the moment, to put the seafood business on the back burner. There was, after all, still time to reel that in later. Besides, as much as profit margins mattered, the situation with Hao Yue carried a weight that tipped the scales—and she wasn’t about to let a deal outrank her priorities.

However, that didn't stop other issues from knocking at her door.

The next morning, just as Hua Zhi stepped into the front yard, Liu Xiang intercepted her with a tone that could only mean trouble: “Miss, Miss Qin has come to see you.”

“Miss Qin?” Hua Zhi’s brow twitched slightly. “Hua Qin? Fine, I’ll head to the backyard.” She began to rise, ready to face whatever fresh ordeal her visitor had brought.

But Liu Xiang, ever the harbinger of minor inconveniences, cut in again, “Miss Qin hasn’t gone to the backyard; she’s waiting outside.”

Hua Zhi paused, barely disguising her irritation. “Then bring her in,” she replied, voice clipped but laced with the kind of polite finality that brooked no argument.

“As you wish,” Liu Xiang answered, turning on her heel.

Not long after, Hua Qin entered the room, moving with a poise reminiscent of Hua Zhi's younger years. Yet, her demeanor carried a refinement, a seasoned elegance that only life’s experiences could bestow—something that youth, no matter how radiant, simply could not replicate.

“Cousin,” she greeted, her tone as polished as her appearance.

"You seem to be in good spirits,” Hua Zhi remarked, gesturing towards the seat across from her. At her signal, the maidservant quietly entered, setting down tea before disappearing with the kind of efficiency that made her presence almost forgettable.

“Is there something on your mind?” Hua Zhi inquired, her voice calm but carrying the slightest hint of curiosity, or perhaps wariness.

Hua Qin’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I could tell from the snippets I’ve heard—many people seem to seek your counsel. It must be quite exhausting, having so much attention and so many conversations to manage. But today, I’ve come with a matter of my own.”

“Go on,” Hua Zhi replied, her tone as light as a feather, though her gaze hinted at steel beneath.

Hua Qin was well aware that her esteemed cousin preferred to cut to the heart of a matter without unnecessary embellishments. So, with no inclination to waste time on pleasantries, she said plainly, “I’m here to discuss the marriages of our younger sisters.”

It was a topic Hua Zhi had already anticipated. After the debacle with Hua Yan, she understood there were responsibilities she could no longer ignore. In an era where the stigma of withdrawing from an engagement could push a young woman to dire extremes, Hua Zhi was determined not to let history repeat itself.

“And how do you propose we handle it?” she asked, her tone as calm as ever.

Hua Qin hesitated but eventually ventured, “I’ve heard about Hua Yan’s… situation. Everyone in the capital has, to some degree. Cousin’s swift and resolute actions ensured the matter was resolved without undue scandal, preserving the reputation of the Hua sisters. My aunt, however, was quick to remark that if it had been left to her, she might have granted Hua Yan nothing more than a length of white silk. Not that it would have made any significant difference in how the public perceives her.”

Hua Zhi’s smile was faint, inscrutable, and utterly unmoved. What was done, after all, was done. As far as she was concerned, the outcome was all that mattered.