Chapter 300: Meeting Again

The meeting point was set, and the group wasted no time heading straight for the Hua family’s estate.

Hua Zhi, perched on her horse, couldn’t help but press her legs slightly against its sides, urging it to pick up speed. Yet her grip on the reins remained tight, a tug of indecision that left the animal faltering—breaking into hesitant steps only to slow again. She wanted to go faster, to close the distance, but something held her back.

The destination was near.

Then, in the distance, her eyes caught movement—five figures walking ahead. Their postures were upright, their frames lean and resolute. Hua Zhi instinctively tightened her grip on the reins, and the horse neighed sharply, unsure whether to charge forward or hold back. It shuffled awkwardly, mirroring her inner tension.

As the group came closer, Hua Pingyang, walking alongside Hua Zhi, glanced over his shoulder. His gaze locked onto her, and his entire demeanor shifted. His steps faltered, and his expression morphed into a blend of disbelief and joy. Turning fully, his voice cracked as he called out, trembling, “Zhi’er!”

The others in his group stopped abruptly. Four pairs of eyes turned in unison, scanning, searching. And then they found her. Their expressions hardened with emotion, fists clenching unconsciously as they stared at the figure approaching on horseback.

Hua Zhi slid off her horse with practiced grace and dropped into a deep bow, her voice ringing clear and strong: “Zhi’er greets grandfather, father, second uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle on behalf of the Hua family in the capital.”

Hua Yizheng, her grandfather, trembled as he stepped forward, his hands reaching to help her rise. “You… child… how…” His voice wavered, unable to finish the sentence. He wanted to ask why she had come, but the words caught in his throat. The truth was, he had been waiting—waiting and hoping that this granddaughter of his, the one who always managed to surprise him, would show up again. Would tell him, face-to-face, that all was well back home.

And here she was.

Her father, Hua Pingyu, stood nearby, his fist tightly clenched behind his back. His other hand covered his mouth as he coughed, masking his emotions poorly. His face betrayed a mix of pride and awkwardness. “Why are you dressed like this? It’s… ugly,” he muttered stiffly, the words tumbling out almost involuntarily.

Hua Yizheng snapped his head toward his son, his glare sharp. “What nonsense are you spouting? Zhi’er looks good no matter what she wears!”

Hua Zhi's eyes were slightly red, but her face carried a calm, practiced smile as she spoke up to excuse her father's irritable mood. "Dad's just worried about me. The north is windy and full of sand, so dressing like this is more comfortable," she explained, brushing off his sharp remarks. Her voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the underlying tension in her words.

Her attire was far from tidy. Beneath a loose, sun-bleached black-and-white shawl, she wore tight, practical clothing that hinted at her constant movement. The shawl was clearly an afterthought—more for shielding herself from the harsh northern elements than for style. After an entire day of travel, she didn’t look like much of the polished young lady her family remembered. But Hua Zhi didn’t care about appearances, not anymore.

She understood her father’s moodiness. She saw the worry behind his harsh tone. After spending years in isolation, she’d come to realize how much she had missed—missed moments, missed people, missed the subtle weight of familial concern.

“Patriarch Hua, is the young lady of the Hua family here again?” The question came from a familiar voice—someone they’d encountered just a few days ago in town.

Hua Yizheng, standing tall and proud, didn’t hide the slight satisfaction in his tone. “I didn’t expect her to visit again. She didn’t mention it in her last letter.” His eyes flicked over the crowd beginning to form around them. “Let’s head back. We’re blocking the road.”

The reply was swift and deferential. “No, no, the road’s plenty wide! Please, go ahead.”

Hua Zhi didn’t linger on the conversation. Instead, she moved toward her grandfather, who was waiting nearby with an unreadable expression. A figure emerged from the house to greet them, and Hua Zhi instinctively inclined her head toward the inn behind her, signaling something. The small motion wasn’t lost on the family. Her silent gesture sent a ripple of unease through them, especially when paired with a brief glance at Mr. Lu.

The meaning was clear—something significant had happened in the past six months, something she hadn’t shared. Hua Yizheng felt a sinking sensation in his chest, a growing weight he couldn’t quite name.

The formalities began soon after. Hua Zhi handed over a bundle of letters and made her way to the main hall, bowing low before her grandfather.

“Enough, enough. We can skip all of this,” Hua Yizheng said gruffly, stepping forward. But then he paused, remembering. There were no maids in the house now. He’d kept them at a distance, unwilling to let anyone unfamiliar get close to Zhi’er. She hadn’t brought a maid with her either.

Before he could act, Hua Zhi had already finished bowing, her movements fluid and deliberate. As always, she was a step ahead, leaving her family to wrestle with the unease that followed in her wake.

Hua Zhi stepped forward and bowed deeply to her father and three uncles. Even the reluctant among them had no choice but to accept the gesture, as her persistence left them no room to refuse. This was more than a simple bow—it was a statement. In this moment, she wasn’t just speaking for herself; she was representing the entire household. This act wasn’t optional. It was essential.

Summer evenings stretched long, but the night was already advancing. Hua Pingyu, seeing his daughter exhausted and covered in dust from the journey, held back the flood of questions burning inside him. Instead, he said calmly but firmly, "There’s no need to rush. Let Zhi’er rest first. Father, you don’t need to head to the yamen tomorrow. I’ll go in your place."

Before he could continue, Hua Pingyang cut in decisively. "No. Tomorrow, I’ll handle it. I’ll request leave for all of us directly from the official."

"Good. Then, younger brother, it’s yours to handle," Hua Pingyu agreed.

Hua Yizheng turned his gaze toward his granddaughter. "Are you staying at the same inn as last time?"

"Yes," Hua Zhi replied evenly.

"Then as before, your fourth uncle will accompany you," he declared with finality.

Hua Zhi glanced at her fourth uncle, her expression unreadable but acknowledging his involvement with a faint nod.

"Go rest. We’ll discuss more tomorrow," Hua Yizheng said, his tone softening slightly.

Hua Zhi stood up, straightened her posture, and delivered a solemn bow. "Rest assured, everything at home is fine. Everyone is well."

But her words landed differently. The unresolved ache in Hua Yizheng’s heart flared. After a grueling journey spanning a thousand miles, this was all she brought—a single sentence. He had waited for this message, craved it even, yet its simplicity stung as much as it soothed.

"Go," he said, dismissing her with a tightness in his voice.

As Hua Zhi left the main hall, the younger generation lingered, watching her. These were the children the elders had raised through hardship, molding them into individuals of quiet dignity and scholarly refinement. Among them were those both older and younger than Hua Zhi, but she made no distinctions.

She bowed to each one in turn, her tone steady and unyielding as she repeated, "Everything at home is fine. Everyone is well. Don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll return and explain everything in detail."

Hua Baili and Hua Baixiang, her younger half-brothers, were the loudest in their responses. Of course, they would be—she was their eldest sister, after all.

As they left the courtyard, Hua Pingyang spotted an opportunity to speak privately with his niece. But just as he prepared to approach her, he appeared—the same insufferable man from before. Their last encounter still lingered vividly in Hua Pingyang's mind. While his concern for Zhi’er never faded, there was an odd mix of relief stirring within him.

As a man who knew better than to trust other men at their word, Hua Pingyang couldn’t fully shake the nagging feeling that this one might actually be different. No man would willingly accompany a woman on a grueling journey unless he truly cared. And that gaze—soft yet steady—directed at Zhi’er was not the look of someone shallow or insincere. It spoke volumes, and Hua Pingyang couldn’t help but wonder: what exactly was going on between them?

The silence broke when Gu Yanxi greeted him with a formal bow. “Hua Fourth Master.”

Hua Pingyang returned the gesture just as stiffly. “Mr. Lu.”

Hua Pingyang noted with a twinge of unease that Zhi’er now called him Yanxi, abandoning the more distant formality she once used. Gu Yanxi, ever composed, glanced briefly at her before addressing the matter at hand. “The rooms are prepared. I’ve also arranged accommodations for Hua Fourth Master.”

Hua Pingyang nodded, offering a nonchalant thanks, though his sharp eyes didn’t miss the subtle interplay between the two. The dynamic between them irritated him.

To Hua Pingyang, it felt like a protective father sizing up the audacious man who dared to steal his daughter away. The thought gnawed at him, and Hua Zhi, seemingly sensing the tension, quickly redirected the conversation.

“Fourth Uncle, how is everyone back home? Has everything been well?”

The question softened Hua Pingyang’s stern expression. “All is well,” he said, his tone lighter now. “Your doctor friend is remarkable—completely eradicated my illness. Everyone else’s minor health troubles have been resolved too. I’ve joined the guard commander’s residence, and your father and eldest brother have made significant progress under Wu Yongjiang’s guidance. They’ve fortified Yingshan Pass, and the Hua family finally has the means to defend itself.”

Hua Zhi’s face lit up with genuine relief. “That’s wonderful news,” she said with a bright smile. As long as her family stood strong here, she was content. Whatever challenges awaited her in the capital, she would handle them on her own.

———TN: Chapter 300 is here, slamming the door on 2024 for good!

Let’s use these last few minutes of the year to focus hard—pray, manifest, and lock in our goals for 2025.

More health. More wealth. More peace.

That’s what we’re aiming for, and nothing less. The clock’s ticking, so let’s make it count.

We’ll hit the ground running next year, folks—see you on the other side!