Chapter 220: Erect a Memorial Arch? As if!

Old Madam Wu had already come to her senses. This plan was indeed unworkable. If Old Madam Yang were to be struck by a junior at a tea party hosted by the Wu family, and if the Wu family stood idly by, not only would Hua Zhi's reputation suffer, but the Wu family's would as well. The value of this Wu family garden would be significantly diminished.

"What are you thinking, eldest Miss? How could the Wu family wrongly accuse you? We all saw it with our own eyes. It was the old madam who tripped and fell herself. You can't be blamed for this, don't you all agree?"

Although they didn't know why the Wu family would say such a thing, this tea party was primarily hosted by the Wu and Yang families. Since the Wu family had spoken, they naturally followed suit, and for a moment, the atmosphere seemed quite harmonious.

Old Madam Yang's groans suddenly grew louder. Everyone tacitly stopped talking but did not go forward to help.

Old Madam Wu had no choice but to sit beside her and gently comfort her.

Old Madam Yang squeezed her hand tightly, her eyes blinking rapidly as if giving a signal. Old Madam Wu pretended not to notice. She had agreed to stand on Yang family's side, but she hadn't agreed to sacrifice the Wu family's reputation.

The physician arrived quickly, and coincidentally, it was physician Chu.

He paused slightly when he saw Hua Zhi there. Having traveled between many families, he was very cautious. He treated Hua Zhi no differently and bowed to everyone before sitting down and taking Old Madam Yang's pulse.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand and said, "Old Madam's liver fire is excessive. She should take some cooling medicine. I'll write a prescription, please send someone to get the medicine."

Miss Yang glanced at Hua Zhi and pressed, "Is that all?"

"If the young miss doesn't believe me, you can invite another physician to examine her. There's no need to write the prescription then." As he spoke, Physician Chu put the paper back into his medicine box. He had never shown any sign of annoyance, but everyone could see that Miss Yang's words had gone too far.

Physician Chu, quite renowned in the capital, was often invited to various noble households. His discretion and exceptional medical skills were highly valued, making him a well-respected figure. No one dared to offend such a physician, and he was always treated with great courtesy.

When the young miss expressed her concern for her grandmother's health, Old Madam Wu quickly interceded, “The young miss is simply worried about her grandmother and meant no offense. Please don’t hold it against her, Physician Chu. Please prescribe a remedy, and I shall send someone with you to fetch the medicine.”

With the hostess having spoken, Physician Chu couldn’t press the matter further and resumed writing the prescription.

No one paid attention to the young miss Yang’s expression of resentment, as if she had been deeply humiliated.

As soon as Physician Chu left, Hua Zhi also rose to her feet, “In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Zheng Shi, the mistress, tried to detain her, “There’s no hurry. Knowing you’re in mourning, I’ve specially arranged a vegetarian feast. Please don’t leave just because of this little incident. It would make this tea gathering seem rather pointless.”

“I probably won’t be attending such a wasteful gathering in the future,” Hua Zhi replied, unfazed by the change in everyone’s expressions. “I was quite curious before coming, but now I realize it’s all rather... ordinary.”

After a slight bow to everyone, Hua Zhi left.

“Wait,” Old Madam Wu called out instinctively, but once she had, she didn’t know how to proceed. She was worried that Hua Zhi might go and make things difficult for Haitang.

Hua Zhi adjusted her sleeves, “Before I came, Fourth Aunt told me that if you said anything unpleasant, I should forgive you for her sake. I wonder how you would face this kind of protection?”

If one is going to be a hypocrite, one shouldn’t pretend to be virtuous. While harming Fourth Aunt, she still put on a concerned act. Hua Zhi had no intention of comforting her and simply wanted to make her as uncomfortable as possible.

Curtsying once more, Hua Zhi left with a flourish.

No one noticed that Hua Zhi had been in control of the situation from beginning to end, and everyone had been following her lead.

Old Madam Wu forced a smile and said to the others, “Today has been… perhaps we should all leave.”

Understanding the hint, the guests exchanged polite farewells and left one by one. Only Old Madam Yang remained, clearly wanting to say more. Seeing her mother-in-law’s expression, Zheng Shi knew that Hua Zhi’s words had upset her. She quickly pulled her mother-in-law aside and led her out, dismissing the servants.

As soon as the others were gone, Old Madam Wu covered her mouth and wept bitterly. Her daughter, her daughter…

*

Outside the Wu family gate, Physician Chu had not yet left. Just as Hua Zhi was about to greet him, a carriage suddenly rushed over and entered through the side gate. A man jumped out and said something to Physician Chu, mentioning his medicine chest. Physician Chu nodded to Hua Zhi and hurried after him.

Hua Zhi didn’t care if someone in the Wu family was ill. After all, they were not on the same boat, and it was none of her business if the boat sank.

Getting into her own carriage, Hua Zhi instructed, “Go to Green Moss Alley.”

This was the first time Hua Zhi had come here this year. She didn’t go inside but had the carriage stop by the river, watching the crowds in the lane as if they were piles of money.

Nian Qiu, who managed the accounts, knew better than anyone the profits this alley brought to the young mistress. A smile played on her lips as she spoke, "Manager Chen has mentioned several times about increasing our staff, but our household is short-handed. And after the Shi Zai was opened, we lost some. Sister Ying Chun didn't agree, but she's been training them intensively. I reckon they should be ready in about a month."

"She doesn't need to worry about this anymore. Suyun Mama, you're in charge of this. Have Zhao Mama and the others take care of it. They're experts in this."

Suyun Mama quickly agreed. They were indeed experts at breaking in new servants. She was fine, as she was always by the young mistress's side, but those older sisters were starting to feel restless from idleness.

"Nian Qiu, when you go back, remember to tell Ying Chun to continue buying people for the household. Have the mamas vet them."

"Yes."

Hua Zhi looked towards the alley on the other side of the inner canal, which was still closed off for now. Soon, she would have a shop front removed just like in Green Moss Alley and build a bridge over the inner canal. There would be no shortage of business.

But she needed to train another batch of people to make new snacks, and there was the seafood business, which couldn't do without Fu Dong.

How could she pull her away from the Shi Zai business?

Rubbing her forehead, she thought, if only she had trained more chefs earlier.

"Let's go to the Zhu family."

Even when the Hua family was at its peak, Hua Zhi would only visit her maternal family once a year during the New Year. At that time, the Zhu family cared more about Bailin, and they didn't mind so much whether she came or not.

After the Hua family fell on hard times, this was her first visit in almost a year.

Yes, it seemed like only yesterday, and yet the Hua family had been in ruins for so long. Hua Zhi was momentarily lost in thought, only returning to her senses when the carriage stopped moving.

The carriage stopped at the back alley of the Zhu family. When she got down, Hua Zhi had changed her appearance. The white flower in her hair was replaced with a silver hairpin, and a light blue outer robe replaced her plain white one. This was a more appropriate attire for a visit.

The Zhu family's servants, upon seeing her, quickly ushered her in, while another person ran swiftly to the back yard to report. By the time Hua Zhi reached the second courtyard, Old Madam Zhu was already waiting, with Zhu Shan by her side.

"Cousin."

Hua Zhi smiled and nodded at her, then curtsied to her grandmother.

Old Madam Zhu pulled her up, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "It's rare for you to visit. Is there something you need? You could have just sent someone to say so, there's no need to be so formal with your grandmother."

"I accepted my uncle's invitation to play a game of go with my grandfather and seek revenge on his behalf."

"You've chosen the wrong day. Your grandfather is at the imperial court today and won't be back until late afternoon." The old madam took her arm and led her inside. "Your second uncle is here. We'll have dinner together later."

"Yes."