Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C379. Gentleness.

Chapter 379 - Gentleness

The carriage rolled out of the alley at a steady pace and rounded a corner. Only then did Hua Zhi glance at Hua Ling, who was sitting unnaturally still, her body tense. She spoke softly, her tone soothing, "It's alright."

Hua Ling turned her head with visible difficulty, her voice rasping as she called out, "Eldest sister..."

Hua Zhi couldn’t begin to fathom what her sister had endured, but right then, she wasn’t interested in asking. Without a word, she reached out, pulling Hua Ling into her arms. She pressed her close to her shoulder, running a gentle hand over her head, her voice low and comforting, "It’s all in the past now. Nothing will happen. You don’t have to worry."

Tears welled up in Hua Ling’s eyes, and she buried her face in her eldest sister’s shoulder, her body shaking as she sobbed silently. Every now and then, a strangled sob escaped her, an involuntary release of the fear and trembling that had consumed her.

Her eldest sister would never know how utterly desperate she had been. A woman who had been taken by a man, no matter how innocent, would always be marked—tainted in the eyes of others. At one point, Hua Ling had felt there was no way out.

But then her cousin from the Zhu family had arrived, telling her of her eldest sister’s tireless efforts to protect her honor, of how she’d witnessed the coffins lined up, and how Hua Zhi had been willing to sacrifice herself for her. It was in that moment that Hua Ling realized she had to keep living—no matter what was to come. She had to live.

To do otherwise would mean betraying all that her eldest sister had done, dishonoring her sacrifice and the love her brothers had shown her.

In her eldest sister’s embrace—someone who, while not especially strong, radiated warmth—Hua Ling felt as though she were transported back to the Hua family’s most prosperous days. Safe and sheltered, she finally recognized the true gentleness of her eldest sister. Hua Zhi wasn’t outwardly soft or prone to sharing her feelings, yet there was a deep, quiet kindness about her—a gentleness that ran beneath the surface, not seen but deeply felt.

She was no longer afraid. Not at all.

Tears had soaked through her clothes, yet the warmth from them seemed to seep deeper, right into her heart. Hua Zhi, with the gentleness only she could muster, patted the young girl who had once been so proud, so determined to pull away.

The tension swirling in Hua Ling’s mind made her dizzy, unsettled, and despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her, she couldn’t seem to tie them together. She closed her eyes slowly, a quiet barrier to hide whatever emotions she was feeling, keeping them from her ever-watchful attendant.

Time seemed to stretch—long, yet almost a blink—and the carriage finally came to a stop.

Hua Ling, now trying to gather herself, felt a pang of embarrassment. She stayed close to her eldest sister, not wanting to move away. This rare closeness, so foreign yet comforting, felt precious, and she couldn’t bear the thought of letting it slip away. It was as if she knew this moment might never come again, and so, she clung to it as long as she could.

But of course, she couldn’t keep up the pretense for long. Straightening up, she grabbed her handkerchief to dab at her face, trying to regain some composure. The maid rushed to her side to help, but no matter how much she fussed over it, Hua Ling’s swollen eyes refused to cooperate.

Fortunately, the carriage had stopped right in the front courtyard, so no one could see her distress.

Hua Zhi stepped out of the carriage first. Her legs wobbled slightly, and with Ying Chun’s steadying hand, she managed to stand tall, hiding any weakness behind her composed demeanor. When she spotted the household ladies waiting anxiously in the yard, she smiled, reassuring them, “It’s fine, no need to worry.”