Chapter 337: The Difference Between Men and Women

The Hua estate, a fortress in its own right, had tightened its defenses with a suffocating grip since Hua Zhi, the family’s pillar, was still entangled up north.

Hua family became even more cautious, with hardly anyone coming in or out on a daily basis except for necessary purchases.

Wu shi set aside the account book and looked at the industrious but orderly Yingchun and the others, Calculating days in her head like tally marks on a prison wall, she murmured, "The eldest daughter should be back any day now."

At her words, the senior maidservants' masks of dutiful calm cracked, revealing smiles of relief. The eldest miss—her presence wasn’t just comforting; it was a damn anchor. When she was around, even the most chaotic storms were navigable.

Liu Xiang walked in briskly, "Madam, Mr. Wang is here to see you."

Wu Shi’s brow twitched. Wang Rong. The family’s martial arts instructor, a man too proper for his own good, had an uncanny knack for avoiding attention—until now. She’d kept a deliberate distance, but if he was here uninvited, something urgent.

Wu shi composed herself and replied, "Please come in."

Wang Rong entered without looking around, bowing with a lowered gaze, and handed over a package, “The master asked me to deliver this on behalf of the eldest miss. The letter will explain everything, Madam.”

Wu Shi’s mouth thinned into a razor line. “Zhi’er hasn’t returned?”

“No, Madam.” His voice was low but firm, devoid of comfort.

Her fingers brushed the package as she nodded curtly. “Thank you, Mr. Wang.”

Wang Rong bowed and exited with the same precision he entered, leaving behind an air heavy with unanswered questions.

Wu Shi’s hands hesitated over the package, her heart battling between dread and curiosity. The letter resting on top was unmistakable—it bore her husband’s handwriting, as familiar as her own reflection.

The first few lines hit her with a wave of melancholy, but as she read deeper, sorrow turned into something sharper. Her breath caught, and her hands trembled so violently she nearly dropped the letter.

Yingchun and the others exchanged glances, feeling uneasy.

Wu Shi bit down on the inside of her cheek, forcing calm where there was none. Her fingers gripped the letter as if holding on for dear life, and then she read it again. Slowly. Deliberately. When she finished, she let out a shuddering exhale and passed the letter to Yingchun.

Her voice, when it came, was low and cold. “Your master is right. No one else can know of this. Zhi’er’s burden cannot be hers alone to bear.”

The room was thick with tension as Yingchun and the others leaned in, eager to catch the words inked on the letter. Bao Xia’s face twisted as her eyes scanned the top lines. Her voice wavered, but the bite was there. “Injured again? How could she be hurt again? Every time she steps out, she comes back like this. How is she supposed to endure all of it? Her body’s not made of iron.”

Wu Shi’s mind snapped back to the faint, bitter scent of medicine that clung to Zhi’er when she returned from her southern trip. Without missing a beat, she cut in. “Tell me—what happened last time? When she got hurt in the south. You were with her, weren’t you, Bao Xia?”

Bao Xia hesitated, but her resolve crumbled as the memory of her mistress’s struggles came flooding back. She wanted them all—every single person in this damned house—to understand what Zhi’er had endured. Her voice tightened. “It was over a deal. A local business with a filthy reputation didn’t take it well when Eldest Miss refused to cave to their demands. She avoided a confrontation, thinking she could let it slide. But that bastard didn’t back off. He targeted her, tracked her down. When we were leaving by the docks, they ambushed us. That’s when she got hurt.”

Wu Shi’s jaw clenched, her thoughts darting to a recent letter from her husband. She latched onto the one detail that had been gnawing at her since. “When did Zhi’er learn to fight? The Hua family’s never hired a martial arts instructor. How the hell did she pick it up?”

Yingchun shifted uncomfortably, her lips parting as if to shield Bao Xia from slipping up further. “Eldest Miss taught herself,” she said cautiously, voice barely above a whisper.

Wu Shi exhaled, a sharp breath that carried more regret than she’d ever admit. “Poor girl.” Her tone was harsh, but the weight of those words carried a deep undercurrent of sorrow. If Zhi’er hadn’t taken it upon herself to learn, the family would’ve paid dearly. Wu Shi couldn’t ignore the fact that her niece had been fighting battles alone, both outside and within these suffocating walls.

She straightened her spine and issued her orders. “This doesn’t leave this room. If anyone asks, Zhi’er’s only heading south again because my husband needs her care. That’s her wish, and it’s the story we’re sticking to.”

“Understood,” came the murmured chorus of agreement, though the weight of the truth still hung heavy in the air.

Wu Shi let her eyes fall back to the letter, her fingers tightening around the edges as she read it again. Her breath caught as resolve bloomed in her chest.

From now on, she would have to pay more attention to the affairs of the Hua family's inner household, even if people said harsh things about her. As long as she could make Zhi’er could focus on the world beyond these walls, so be it. Wu Shi would stand tall, and she’d see to it that no one else dared to lay a hand on her niece.

*

Entering August, the temperature in Yingshan Pass was noticeably cooler, especially at night, when even a thin blanket felt a bit cold.

Not being in the imperial city, without the need to be cautious at every moment, and with people around her who were not female relatives and a child requiring her constant protection, Hua Zhi finally felt some relaxation. Even her sleep improved a lot during this healing period, and she had even put on some weight.

The happiest during this period were the younger generation of the Hua family. They no longer had to go to work, although they had adapted to it over the past year, not having to chip stones or carry them was truly a relief!

Want to practice equestrian archery?

No problem, they had some prior experience, although not very skilled.

Learning military strategy?

Great, military strategy was just like reading a book, and they had all read a few.

Sand table simulations?

Fantastic, this was much more enjoyable than some of the games they played in the capital!

The formerly quiet Hua family became lively, with Hua Zhi studying military strategy books and observing battles everywhere. She had gotten to know everyone's strengths and weaknesses quite well. Wu Yong also kept his promise, giving each member of the Hua family a special token, and allowing them to freely enter and exit the military camp based on their face and token.

Feeling that she should reciprocate the kindness, Hua Zhi copied Mr. Siqing's military strategy book twice, keeping one for her own family and giving the other to Wu Yong. However, she only copied the first volume, as she had only completed reading the first volume so far and hadn't fully grasped it yet. She did not rush through her readings.

Wu Yong, naturally appreciating the gift, found it impossible to refuse such a generous gesture. He even hoped to receive the second volume.

"Next time, I'll have General Wu a copy."

Wu Yong gave her a deep look and bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Miss, for your generosity."

"General Wu, there's no need to thank me. I'm just returning the favor. Mr. Siqing wouldn't want his hard work to go to waste."

The two were locked in polite chatter, a dull, calculated dance of words that Shao Yao, listening from the sidelines, couldn't bother pretending to enjoy. She let out a loud yawn, unapologetically broadcasting her boredom. They were as stimulating as a wet matchstick.

Wu Yong caught her disinterest and smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Care to play a few rounds?”

At the offer, Shao Yao’s eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet with the kind of energy that only appeared when mischief was afoot. “Sure, but let’s switch things up. Let's play in a different terrain today."

Wu Yong gave a slight bow and followed her lead, his movements crisp, deliberate.

“General Wu,” came a voice sharp as the snap of a whip.

He halted mid-step and turned, his expression neutral but his eyes alert. “Miss Hua, do you have something on your mind?”

“It’s nothing pressing,” Hua Zhi replied, her tone deceptively light as she absently massaged her wrist, worn from too many hours gripping a pen. “Shao Yao is childish at best, General. Your time might be better spent focusing on your duties rather than indulging her whims. My health has improved; I can entertain her myself.”

Wu Yong straightened, his gaze steady. “I assure you, Miss Hua, I’ve been delayed by nothing. Sparring with Shao Yao isn’t a chore—it’s a practice. Every duel hones my skill. I’d gladly play a round or two with her daily.”

Hua Zhi arched an eyebrow, her smile as thin as a blade. “General Wu, have you forgotten something?”

A flicker of wariness crossed Wu Yong’s face, and he wisely held his tongue.

“The distinction between men and women, perhaps?” she pressed, her voice soft but cutting. “I can weather idle gossip, but there are limits. Shao Yao is still a woman, General, and when it comes to matters of consequence, she takes the lead. Don’t mistake her carefree nature for naivety.”

Rumors had already begun to weave their way through the social circles—that Wu Yong’s frequent visits to the Hua residence were more than mere courtesy. Whispers hinted at his interest in the eldest daughter of the family, and though the speculation seemed harmless enough, Hua Zhi found it irrelevant. She let the talk roll off her back, refusing to address it even when Hua Pingyu suggested as much.

But one thing was clear: she wasn’t about to let Wu Yong get too familiar with Shao Yao. The girl was reckless, yes, but a woman nonetheless—one in her prime, at that. The last thing Hua Zhi needed was for Shao Yao’s boundless enthusiasm to twist into something foolishly sentimental. Feelings, after all, had a way of complicating everything.

———TN: Hua Zhi, you’re barely younger than Shao Yao, yet somehow you’ve managed to snag yourself a boyfriend while she’s still flying solo?

Care to explain how that works?