Chapter 218 Tea Party (2)

The pavilion was open-air, and those inside saw Hua Zhi and Zheng shi approaching from a distance.

There were quite a few people seated. The hostess, Old Madam Wu, was there with her two granddaughters. Old Madam Yang had also come with her own granddaughter. The wives from the Feng, Liang, and Cheng families had come, either with their daughters or their nieces.

Today's topic was Huazhi, so naturally, the discussion revolved around her.

The target of today's gathering was clearly Hua Zhi, and naturally, the conversation would revolve around her.

Old Madam Yang, thinking of her eldest son's grievance, wanted nothing more than to tear Hua Zhi apart. Naturally, she would not give her a good face. "I thought she had three heads and six arms, but she's just like that."

The Feng and Hua families had always been at odds. Wang shi, the Feng family's wife, covered her mouth and laughed, "You say that, but three heads and six arms are for gods. How can she compare?"

These words pleased Old Madam Yang. She scoffed, "That's true. She's just an unmarried girl. If she didn't have such a good appearance, where would she get such a big reputation? It's just that the Hua family is well-off. If it were any other family, they wouldn't be able to stand her being so troublesome."

"That's right. Speaking of this, I'm so angry. My son actually told me he wanted to marry the eldest Miss Hua. It made me so angry." The Liang family and the Wu family were in-laws and had always had a close relationship. If it weren't for the fact that the old lady happened to be unwell, it wouldn't have been her eldest daughter-in-law, Zhao shi, who had come today.

At first, she had no ill feelings towards Hua Zhi and even thought she was quite pitiful. But when she heard her son's thoughts, coupled with someone whispering in her ear, she really believed that the Hua family was planning to help the family by marrying off their daughter.

Otherwise, why would Hua Zhi have caused such a big scandal?

Wasn't she just trying to raise her value so that she could get a higher price?

Once she had a preconceived notion, naturally, she thought the worse of her. When she heard that Hua Zhi had even expelled her eldest aunt from the Hua family after Hua Jing's death, she felt even more that she was cold and ruthless. The Liang family couldn't afford to provoke such a person.

When Hua Zhi entered the pavilion, all eyes fell on her. However, they had to admit that Hua Zhi did indeed have a good appearance, especially since her mourning attire added to her charm.

However, her attire immediately offended Old Madam Wu. Although she was in mourning and should wear plain clothes, who would wear a full set of mourning clothes to someone else's house?

Plain clothes didn't have to be only white!

She endured it for a while but couldn't hold it in anymore, "Miss, your attire is really eye-catching."

Hua Zhi pretended not to understand and bowed to everyone, "I am in deep mourning, please forgive me, Old Madam."

Forgive her!

Of course, she had to forgive her!

She had invited the person herself, so what could she do if she didn't forgive her?

Old Madam Wu felt a lump in her throat and lowered her eyes to drink tea without looking at her again, as if she had forgotten her manners.

Hua Zhi would not wrong herself. Seeing that no one invited her, she sat down herself and then took the initiative to start a topic, "Mrs. Wu said it was a tea party, I wonder what you want to talk about. Don't laugh at me, everyone, I rarely go out and don't understand these things."

"Speaking of this, I have some curiosity and would like to ask Miss Hua to explain." Miss Wu blinked her coquettish eyes, and her round face looked very cute and innocent.

If she couldn't see the calculation in her eyes, Hua Zhi would also feel happy about such a face. "Don't dare to be called sister by Miss Wu, please speak."

"Sister is already of marriageable age, why have you been able to resist not going out for so many years? I have always lived in the capital but this is the first time I have seen you! I have met the other two sisters of the Hua family."

"What's so strange about that? Some people like the hustle and bustle, others prefer peace and quiet. Some like the plain, others enjoy the rich. Some love making friends, others are content to guard their own little world. Just because others are curious about me doesn't mean I should put myself on display for everyone to see."

"That... that makes sense," Ms. Wu murmured, unsure of how to respond."

"Miss Hua is truly a remarkable young woman," Zheng shi interjected with a smile. "No wonder she's so favored by the old matriarch of the Hua family. Even someone as unpleasant as Hua Jing couldn't get the better of her."

"Speaking of Hua Jing," Wang shi sighed, "she used to be the apple of the Hua family's eye. Who would have thought she would end up like this."

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Is today's tea gathering really all about Hua Jing? My apologies, but if that's the case, I must excuse myself."

"We were just chatting casually," Old Madam Wu dismissed the topic lightly, her eyes flitting to Jiang shi and her daughter, who had remained silent.

Jiang shi pretended not to notice. If she had known that the purpose of this gathering was to attack Hua Zhi, she wouldn't have come.

Although the Cheng family wasn't on the same side as the Hua family, there was no animosity between them. There was no need to be so eager to trample on someone. Now that she saw Hua Zhi, she rather liked the young woman. If her daughter could learn half as much as Hua Zhi, she wouldn't suffer in any marriage.

After making some light conversation, Wang shi, taking a cue from Old Madam Yang, brought up the main topic. "It's not proper for outsiders to meddle in the affairs of the Hua family, but it's unusual for a married daughter to live in her natal home for so long. Miss Hua, do you have anything to say about this?"

"This matter?" Hua Zhi looked at Wang shi, her expression sincere. "What matter?"

"..."

Old Madam Yang took over. "I'm talking about my daughter-in-law, Hua Xian. Could it be that Miss Hua has forgotten that there is such a person in the Hua family?"

"My second aunt?" Hua Zhi laughed. "What a thing for the old matriarch to say. My second aunt is no longer a daughter-in-law of the Yang family. Your eldest son wrote the divorce papers with his own hand. Did he not tell you when he returned?"

How dare she?!

How dare she admit it so casually?!

Old Madam Yang was furious. "So you're saying that my son was beaten by you and forced to write the divorce papers?"

"Old matriarch, just saying 'beaten' doesn't make it so. Do you have any evidence? Or does your eldest son has any injuries? Even the yamen wouldn't convict someone based on mere hearsay. If you want to accuse me, please bring forth evidence."

"You're just making excuses! My son couldn't have willingly written the divorce papers and delivered them to you!"

Hua Zhi smiled calmly. "Why not? He wronged my second aunt first, then deceived her. Now that he has a change of heart and realizes he owes my second aunt, he has set her free. Everyone in the Hua family is grateful to him."

If some people had been doubtful of Old Madam Yang's words before, Hua Zhi's response convinced them that things were indeed as Mrs. Yang had said. Such a ridiculous excuse, who would believe it?

She might as well have admitted to doing it herself!

"You, you, you..." Old Madam Yang pointed at her, her finger trembling. She stammered for a long time but couldn't say anything. She stood up and lunged towards Hua Zhi, her hand raised as if to strike.

Everyone gasped, but no one stepped forward to stop her.

Nianqiu and Suyun Mama stepped forward to protect their mistress, but Hua Zhi pushed them back. She didn't get up, but grabbed Old Madam Yang's wrist when her hand was about to land, her head slightly raised as she met the old woman's furious gaze. "Using your age to bully others won't work on me, old matriarch. I'm not Hua Xian, someone you can mold and shape as you please. See clearly."

———TN: Badass Hua Zhi!!!