Chapter 389: Hua Rong's Marriage

Hua Rong returned to her room, collapsed onto her bed, and wept into the sheets. It wasn’t just about worrying over her future—it was fear, raw and unrelenting. She had always dreaded the possibility that their grandmother might use marriage as a bargaining chip to salvage the Hua family’s fortunes. And just when she’d thought she was safe from that fate, life threw her another curveball.

Her fear now wasn’t about the idea of marriage itself; it was about marrying wrong. Given the Hua family’s precarious standing, any prospective in-laws would hold all the cards, leaving her powerless to push back. And yet, she never thought her own mother would sink so low as to suggest she become a secondary wife.

Yes, technically, a secondary wife was still a legitimate wife on paper. But the reality was much darker—she would spend her entire life bowing to the memory of another woman, a deceased first wife she could never outrank. No matter what, someone would always loom above her, haunting her days. A true mother, one who truly cared for her daughter’s happiness, would rather marry her off to a less prestigious match than force her to endure this kind of humiliation. Especially since she was a daughter of the Hua family—a name that still carried some weight.

How could her birth mother, Concubine Qin, stoop so low?

How could she be so cruel?

The news traveled fast, and it wasn’t long before it reached Wu Shi. Ever the pragmatic one, she had no intention of letting such distractions unsettle Zhi’er’s focus. Reputation be damned—she poured all her energy into managing the affairs of the inner courtyard. She knew of the matter, of course, but dealing with it required a delicate touch. After all, Qin Shi belonged to the main branch, and while the eldest sister might not concern herself with the details, someone had to protect the family’s face.

“Is the eldest miss still in the front yard?” Wu Shi asked, her tone calm but pensive.

“Yes, Madam,” a servant confirmed.

Wu Shi tapped her fingers against the table thoughtfully. “If I recall correctly, didn’t a maid from Qin Shi’s maternal family visit her a few days ago?”

Song Mama entered the room with a steaming pot of tea, setting it down gently. “Yes, Madam,” she replied. “It was four or five days ago. She claimed to be from Qin Shi’s family.”

Qin Family?

Wu Shi sipped her tea slowly, her mind running through the implications. If things were indeed as they seemed, Zhi’er needed to be informed. The Qin family, though barely in touch with the Hua family in recent years, had still paid their respects at the old lady’s funeral. It was a distant relationship, true, especially since Qin Shi’s maternal ties with the Qin family were tenuous at best. But if the Qin family was pulling the strings behind this mess...

The thought made her restless. Without hesitation, she locked the account book securely in its box and stepped out.

Hua Zhi, meanwhile, was poring over the autumn report, carefully tallying the dispatched goods and the expenses incurred. When she saw Wu Shi approach, she waved her hand, signaling her to speak. "What brings you here, Fourth Aunt?"

Wu Shi wasn’t surprised to see Hua Ling lingering nearby, attending to the eldest miss. "I need a word with you," she said, keeping her tone measured.

Hua Ling rose from her seat with a quick bow. "Eldest Sister, I’ll go check on the storeroom."

As the younger girl left, Wu Shi’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Training a little helper, are we?"

Hua Zhi glanced after Hua Ling, her expression neutral. "She’s eager to learn. I don’t see why not."

"Not everyone will see it that way. Some might call it favoritism," Wu Shi remarked casually.

"Let them," Hua Zhi replied, massaging her sore wrist with an air of nonchalance. "If they’re willing to learn, I’m willing to teach. But I can’t force anyone to take an interest. Now, what’s on your mind?"

Wu Shi hesitated for a moment, weighing her words carefully. "It’s about Hua Rong. Qin Shi wants to marry her off to the Xie family—as a secondary wife. Hua Rong’s against it, of course, and there was a row. Qin Shi even struck her."

Hua Zhi’s sharp mind caught on immediately. She understood why Fourth Aunt had brought this to her attention, but she wasn’t fazed. "The daughters of the Hua family are not pawns for a concubine to play with. If she thinks she can overrule my mother, she certainly can’t do the same to me. As for the Qin family’s involvement, I’ll look into it."

Wu Shi blinked in surprise. "You mean to investigate directly?"

"Why not?" Hua Zhi’s smile was sharp, almost cutting. "They’ve already shown their hand by handling this so sloppily. Even if they are behind it, they’ll deny everything when confronted. And if it’s not their doing, then this becomes strictly a Hua family affair. Who’s going to force me to agree to something I don’t condone?"

The logic behind it was solid, but what kind of family would lay everything out so openly?

Wu Shi couldn’t help but feel a blend of admiration and satisfaction. She realized that her own cautious way of doing things was no match for Zhi’er’s bold and straightforward approach.

Her confidence was absolute, leaving Wu Shi momentarily speechless. There was no need for further discussion; Hua Zhi had already made up her mind.

“There’s no need to rush. Let’s wait for Qin Shi to bring it up herself,” she suggested.

“Sounds good,” came the easy reply.

Yet, before the Qin family could even make an appearance, it was Hua Rong who showed up the very next day.

Though the swelling on her face had gone down, she looked visibly worn out, with an air of unease about her. Hua Ling, ever tactful, made herself scarce, leaving Hua Rong to face her eldest sister alone.

“Eldest Sister, I…” Hua Rong’s voice wavered as she lowered her head, nervously twisting the handkerchief in her hands into a mangled knot. Her words seemed trapped, unable to flow. She held her eldest sister in deep respect, but that respect was tangled with a thread of fear—fear that left her unsure of how to speak.

After all, Concubine Qin was her mother, and any misstep on her part might strain that delicate balance. She feared her legitimate mother’s disapproval, feared that her eldest sister would grow weary of both her and Concubine Qin. The list of fears weighed heavily on her, paralyzing her thoughts. Just sitting in front of Hua Zhi had drained what little courage she’d managed to muster.

Hua Zhi, calm as ever, set aside what she was doing and waited. Her quiet patience was unnerving.

In the heavy silence, Hua Rong’s fragile resolve began to crack. Gathering whatever scraps of courage she could find, she stammered, “I’m only twelve, with three older sisters ahead of me. Even if we were to take turns, it shouldn’t be my time yet. Eldest Sister, can I… can I put off the talks of marriage for now?”

It felt like scaling an impossible mountain just to get those words out. Her chest heaved as though she’d just run a marathon. The air hung thick as she awaited Hua Zhi’s response—one that could shape the course of her future. She dared not say too much, knowing that if her eldest sister agreed to delay the marriage, it would be enough to quiet Concubine Qin. Even if she secretly wanted the marriage, challenging Hua Zhi was out of the question.

Meeting Hua Rong’s worried eyes, Hua Zhi spoke with a composed, almost disarming tone, as though she truly had no knowledge of Concubine Qin’s actions. “I’ve already reached out to the Zhu and Cai families to help find a suitable match for you. They might not hail from grand, prestigious backgrounds, but they are unquestionably honorable. The Hua family has never needed to use marriages for personal gain, and we won’t start now. So, you can relax.”

Her words were calm, measured, and unmistakably reassuring. Yet, she added, almost as an afterthought, “The arrangements aren’t set in stone, though. Besides, we’re still in mourning, and I hadn’t intended to discuss this so soon.”

Hua Rong’s heart pounded uncontrollably, her chest tightening as if overwhelmed by an unfamiliar warmth. So, even while keeping everything under wraps, her eldest sister had been quietly making plans for their future?

“Don’t overthink it,” Hua Zhi added, her voice soft but steady. “I simply want to ensure I can tell Father that I haven’t overlooked your marriage.”

Overcome with emotion, Hua Rong pressed her hands over her eyes, trying in vain to stem the flood of tears. Yet, rather than joyous, her tears felt awkward—an odd mixture of relief and unshakable melancholy.

Hua Zhi, true to her nature, didn’t attempt to console her with flowery reassurances. Sometimes, silence carries more empathy than words ever could.

Minutes ticked by before Hua Rong composed herself. Her face was puffy and tear-streaked, but her spirit seemed lighter, rejuvenated after such a cathartic release.

She took a deep breath, her voice steadier now, though tinged with vulnerability. “Eldest Sister, would it be alright if Third Sister and I joined you to learn how to manage the family business?”

Hua Zhi raised a brow, intrigued but not entirely surprised. “What’s brought this on?”

“It’s not sudden, really.” Hua Rong fidgeted with her hair, hesitating. “A few months back, Second Sister, Third Sister, and I talked about this. We all thought it might be a good idea to pick up some skills so we could help out at home. But with how busy you always are, I didn’t dare bring it up—at least not until Third Sister got her way.”

Hua Zhi rested her chin on her hand, her expression thoughtful. After a brief pause, she gave a small nod. “Alright. Let’s involve Second Sister too. I’ll have Ying Chun teach you the basics, and when you’re ready, the canned food business will be yours to manage.”