Chapter 281: Heartless?

"I heard that the Qiu family has rented a storefront to start a food business," a voice announced.

Qiu Shi's sobbing faltered. A sense of foreboding washed over her.

Hua Zhi met her gaze and smiled. "Bao Xia, bring those food recipes to Fu Dong. Have her refine them and send them to Li Lai Lane. When the shop opens, we'll use them as a giveaway. Buy two items, get one free."

"..."

Qiu Shi was stunned. If this were to happen, if this were to happen... What had she gained from all her efforts, besides dragging her family into this mess?

Steward Xu gestured for the maidservants to bind Qiu Shi. No longer resisting, Qiu Shi was led out of the hall. She suddenly recalled the timid woman she had been when she first entered the Hua family.

The master had doted on her, and even though the legitimate wife disliked her, she would simply ignore her. She was never short of anything she needed. The Hua family was respectable, and the legitimate son and legitimate daughter always greeted her politely, calling her "Aunt Qiu."

How happy she had been then.

Lifting her head to gaze at the clear blue sky, Qiu Shi laughed bitterly. If she had a child of her own, if her older brother and sister-in-law hadn't persuaded her so strongly, if, if the master were still here...

At that moment, the only sound in the entire Hua household was Qiu Shi's shrill, mournful laughter. The fact that someone who had lived under the same roof for so many years had come to such an end filled the other concubines with a profound sense of sorrow.

"I hope there won't be a repeat of this," Hua Zhi said as she rose and walked towards the door. Pausing upon seeing Ying Chun and Nian Qiu kneeling outside, she did not let the fact that they were her personal maidservants sway her judgment. "You will have your monthly allowance docked for half a year. If this happens again, you can no longer serve me."

With reddened eyes, the two women replied in the affirmative.

Once the noise outside had subsided and the footsteps had faded away, the women in the room exchanged glances, filled with a mixture of awe and fear towards Hua Zhi. No one thought she was wrong, but they also felt that she was too heartless, making it difficult for others to approach her.

Hua Bailin understood the situation. He wanted to chase after her, but Yang Sui'an, who was standing beside him, grabbed his arm and shook his head in reassurance. He then gently pushed Hua Bailin towards the Eldest Lady.

Understanding his cousin's intentions, Hua Bailin gritted his teeth and went to help his mother up. Yang Sui'an also went to help his own mother, and the mother and son pairs left together. The others followed suit one by one.

After leaving his mother's courtyard, Yang Sui'an was not surprised to see his cousin waiting for him outside. Dismissing the servants, the two of them walked along the corridor.

"Back then, I didn't want you to..."

"I understand," Hua Bailin interrupted his cousin, his voice muffled with discontent. "I understand what you're saying, but Cousin, don't you think this is too harsh on Eldest Sister? Who is Eldest Sister doing all this for? She's been running around outside for so long, and as soon as she returns, she has to deal with this mess without even a moment's rest. Now they know to sympathize with Qiu Shi, but it was Qiu Shi who did wrong. Shouldn't she pay for her actions? As the head of the family, shouldn't Eldest Sister simply let this go and wait for it to happen again and again in the future?"

"I know you feel sorry for Eldest Sister, but don't you think it's good for Eldest Sister to have such an imposing image in the Hua family?"

Hua Bailin was stunned. He hadn't thought of it this way. He just felt that those people were too heartless. They enjoyed Eldest Sister's protection but thought she was heartless and were afraid of her. How could that be right?

Yang Sui'an leaned against the pillar, his arms crossed, his phoenix eyes, similar to Hua Xian's, filled with cold sarcasm. "If it weren't for Eldest Sister's thunderous methods, this matter would have been like turning on a switch, and the Hua family would have had to be on guard against thieves every day. It is precisely because Eldest Sister has acted in this way that she has extinguished any glimmer of hope that might have arisen in the hearts of those who were awakened by Qiu Shi. Haven't you noticed? Eldest Sister has never liked to manage the inner courtyard and has always kept a distance from the various branches. Since that's the case, what's wrong with people being a little afraid of her? Will you or I be estranged from her because of this? Have the younger brothers disliked her or distanced themselves from her?"

No, everyone loved Eldest Sister more than words could say, and they couldn't wait to show off in front of Eldest Sister, hoping to be praised by her. Hua Bailin had come to understand, but he was still a little unhappy.

Yang Suian understood his little annoyance. In fact, he also thought that some people were ungrateful. If it weren't for Eldest Sister, where would their peace and stability come from?

Look at the He family, look at the Zhen family, which family hadn't fallen apart after losing the man who supported the household?

"Cousin."

Yang Sui'an looked at his cousin, who was frowning and hesitating to speak.

"There's a medicinal scent on Eldest Sister."

Yang Sui'an's heart skipped a beat, and his body tensed. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. "Although Eldest Sister has lost some weight, she doesn't look sick. She doesn't seem to be ill."

Looking at the tranquil Hua Family, just as it had always been, Hua Bailin said, "I know Eldest Sister was injured once. At that time, she was originally supposed to stay at the manor for a few days, but ended up staying for over a month before returning. Later, when I made a mistake and was punished by Eldest Sister to go to the manor, I accidentally learned from the servants that bandits had broken into the manor. Eldest Sister was injured. From what I heard, Eldest Sister knew a bit of self-defense. She was the one who tripped the bandits, giving everyone a chance to escape. Eldest Sister ordered everyone to keep quiet, so I pretended not to know and didn't tell anyone. This time, Eldest Sister returned a few days later than usual, and the smell of medicine on her body was the same as the medicine she used when she was injured last time."

Yang Sui'an paced back and forth, unable to contain himself. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Right, Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu went with Eldest Sister. Let's ask him."

Hua Bailin jumped up. "Yes, Xiao Liu. How could I forget about him? But he should have returned to his own home by now. Let’s ask him when he comes back. He dare not lie!"

The two brothers exchanged a glance, then let out a sigh of defeat. What good would knowing do? They couldn't help in any way.

Hua Bailin rubbed his face vigorously, "Let's go back to our room and read."

"Alright, let's go."

Hua Zhi didn't bother with the two who were clearly pleading for forgiveness. She happily took a bath first. She hadn't had a proper wash since her injury and felt as if she reeked.

"Splash!"

Liu Xiang, holding clothes, emerged from behind the screen and looked at her young mistress who had stood up. "Miss?"

Hua Zhi sat back down, her brows slightly furrowed. "Have you ever smelled medicine on me before?"

Liu Xiang's gaze drifted down to the pink scar exposed on her shoulder. "Yes."

"Very obviously?"

"If you got close enough, you could smell it."

Sure enough, Hua Zhi scooped up a handful of water and poured it over her head. What was wrong with her today?

How could she have overlooked this?

Since she returned home, quite a few people had been close to her—Mother, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Bai Lin...

However, none of the interactions had lasted very long, and the medicine that Shao Yao had prescribed for her had a very faint scent. Was it possible that no one had noticed?

No longer in the mood for a bath, Hua Zhi stepped out of the tub. "Apply the medicine."

Bao Xia was nowhere to be found, and the other two were still kneeling outside. Liu Xiang's hands trembled as she gently sprinkled the powder onto the wound and smoothed it over, then wrapped it with a soft cloth. She couldn't help but think of that night on the manor. This was already the second time. May the ancestors of the Hua family bless her young mistress so that there would never be another.

——— TNote:

In ancient Chinese society, there was a strict hierarchy within families.

The children born to the primary wife held a higher social status and inherited more rights and privileges compared to those born to concubines.

This system was based on the concept of 嫡庶之分 (dí shù zhī fèn), which literally means "the distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate."