Chapter 362: Candidness

Although Hua Qin was eager to assist, Hua Zhi couldn’t bring herself to place the enormous responsibility of an entire family’s future entirely in her hands. After taking a short rest at midday, she organized her affairs and set off for the Zhu family residence.

When Old Madam Zhu, who was chatting with her daughter-in-law, heard of Hua Zhi’s unexpected visit, she was taken aback. “What brings you here at this hour?” she asked, surprise lacing her tone.

The eldest daughter-in-law, Zheng Shi, couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. Ever since a past incident, she’d always been a little wary of Hua Zhi. Sensing the pressure of the moment, she quickly stood up and muttered, “I’ll... go make the arrangements.”

But Old Madam Zhu wasn’t about to let her off so easily. With a sharp glance, she chided, “What are you scurrying off for? She’s busy managing both family and external affairs—she doesn’t have time to dwell on petty grudges. Now that she’s here, show her the courtesy of a proper aunt, but don’t forget the lesson from last time. If it had been anyone else, your thoughtless actions would’ve made you an enemy by now.”

Zheng Shi flushed with embarrassment, bowing her head as she murmured her compliance.

Old Madam Zhu sighed inwardly. Between her two daughters-in-law, neither seemed up to the task of running the household. Zheng Shi could only focus on what was right in front of her, lacking any sense of foresight, while the younger daughter-in-law was far too cunning and calculating. Ever since the second son had taken charge of the family’s sizable business, even her words had grown sharper and harder to handle. For all her careful selection, it seemed none of them had the natural ability to truly manage a family.

The moment the doorframe darkened, the old lady saw her granddaughter walk in, and instantly, any lingering thoughts were brushed aside. She reached out and pulled the girl, who was about to curtsy, close, her smile teasing as she spoke, "You never come here unless there's something important on your mind. The moment I see you, I can't help but wonder if there's some urgent matter you're here for."

Hua Zhi didn’t really worry about formalities with people she was close to, but she still maintained a level of respect for the Zhu family’s eldest daughter-in-law. "I came to pay my respects, but also to discuss something," she replied.

Zheng shi, with a playful hint in her tone, mimicked a formal salute before smiling warmly. "As soon as the eldest miss arrives, our old lady's heart is filled with joy. Why don’t you stay for dinner tonight? They’ve all been coming home late these days."

"Don’t tease me, Auntie. I actually came with the intention of freeloading," Hua Zhi admitted candidly.

At that, Zheng shi's smile softened into something more genuine, and she stood up, her tone light and comfortable. "Alright, I'll go make the arrangements. You stay and chat with Mother."

"Yes, thank you, Auntie."

The old madam, who had been quiet until now, didn’t interrupt the exchange. Once Zheng shi left, she finally spoke up with a smile. "She’s still feeling a bit awkward about what happened before, isn’t she? But really, our eldest daughter-in-law isn’t so petty, is she?"

Hua Zhi chuckled and, with a hint of playfulness in her voice, replied, "Since you've said so, of course, I’ll trust your judgment."

The old madam pinched her cheek affectionately, her smile fond. "You must have something important to discuss with your grandfather. He’s been coming home late these days. I’ll have someone send word to him right away."

Hua Zhi didn’t refuse.

After taking care of the arrangements, the old madam spent some time chatting with her granddaughter before Hua Zhi brought up another pressing matter concerning the Hua family.

"There are plenty of marriageable girls in our family," she began, her tone casual but serious. "Hua Yan’s reckless behavior was bad enough, but we can’t let anything like that happen again. Just today, Hua Qin came to me, offering to help lighten the load on our family. But let’s be realistic—we can’t expect her to handle the responsibility for all the girls. I was hoping, if it’s not too much trouble, Grandmother could help us connect with some suitable families. I'm not overly concerned with their social status, but I do care a lot about the people themselves."

The old madam sighed, clearly weighing her words. "I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, but you've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off, barely having a moment to breathe. I didn’t want to add any more weight to your shoulders."

Hua Yan’s situation was genuinely regrettable. If only she hadn’t rushed things and had remained patient within the Hua family, she might have avoided the path she feared most.

"The Cai family has wide-reaching connections. If they’re willing to help us, it would be perfect. Don’t worry, I’ll treat this like it’s my own problem."

"I knew I could count on you for this kind of thing." Hua Zhi gave a warm smile, not bothering with the usual pleasantries. The old madam appreciated that—Hua Zhi treated her like family, no need for empty formalities.

"And what about you? What are your own plans?"

"Hm?" Hua Zhi blinked, caught off guard.

"Your marriage," the old madam said, serious now. "A family like the Shens doesn’t come around every day, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Zhi’er, you're different from the other girls in the Hua family. You’ve got more options than they do."

Hua Zhi was puzzled. "Why would I have more options? Is it because I know how to handle business? But doesn’t it seem like noble families frown on women who make public appearances?"

"That depends on how you carry yourself," the old madam explained. "Sure, you go out more than most women, but not everyone knows you’ve been to Yingshan Pass. To those with a sharp eye, you don’t go out that often at all. In noble families, it’s not just about status—it’s about the person. You’re intelligent, capable, and responsible. In their eyes, you’re the ideal candidate for a first wife. Serving the emperor is like walking a tightrope—no one knows for sure how long their luck will last. If your family hits hard times, having you at home could keep it from falling apart. So, don’t sell yourself short. If you want to get married, trust me, there are plenty of families who would be eager to have you."

Hua Zhi felt a chill run through her, like she was being treated like a piece of livestock. Picked, prodded, and if she was deemed good enough, bought back home.

She shivered involuntarily. "If it’s really going to end up like this, maybe I should have just married into the Shen family and kept the engagement going."

"Grandmother, please, don’t worry about me," Hua Zhi said, trying to ease the tension.

The old madam's eyes shot open in disbelief. "I worry about you even when I'm half a world away, and you're telling me not to worry?"

"I've... found someone I admire," came the soft but firm response.

The old madam blinked, clearly taken aback. She shot a quick glance toward the door, signaling for the head maid to stand guard outside. Then, turning back to her granddaughter, she seized her hand, eyes narrowing with concern. "What family is he from? Where did you meet him? Does he know about you? Have you been seeing each other?"

"Don't worry, you've met him before. It's Mr. Lu."

The name hit the old madam like a cold slap. Her mind instantly conjured the image of a man with a facial scar—hard to forget, that one. But the moment she realized who it was, her worry deepened. A disfigured face meant he would never be able to break into official circles, no matter how much the Zhu and Hua families tried to pull strings for him.

Despite her strong reservations, the old madam held her tongue. Instead, she asked, her voice laced with curiosity, "He's still working as a martial arts instructor at the Hua residence? How did you...?"

Hua Zhi, ever the one to repay kindness, had a way of getting to the heart of the matter. The Zhu family had treated her well, and now she was committed to doing the same. She hesitated for a moment, then shared something even her mother didn’t know. "He has another identity. The man you know as the martial arts instructor at the Hua residence is actually one of his subordinates. We've been seeing each other in private. He came with me on both my trips north and helped me a great deal. My grandfather and the others have met him too. I told Grandpa about us during this last trip."

The old madam’s eyebrows shot up. "So, it's... out in the open?" she asked, a mix of surprise and concern in her voice.

"Then what about the three matchmakers and six betrothals...?"

"Not yet," Hua Zhi replied, squeezing her grandmother's hand gently. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. He’s not trying to deceive me. You're the only one who worries so much about me, but honestly, I don’t have much to offer anyone."

The old madam sighed, shaking her head slightly. There were plenty of things she could want, after all. She patted Hua Zhi’s hand and decided not to press further. The girl didn’t seem to be acting on impulse; maybe, just maybe, she knew exactly what she was doing.