The funeral procession slowly walked out of the alley.
Hua Zhi was walking backwards and couldn't see what was happening behind her. When she heard a soft cry and the team carrying the coffin paused for a moment, her heart sank. She turned back immediately without caring about the rules. Everything in front of her made her breathing disordered.
On the main street in the south of the city, there is a small platform every other step. Incense and candles are lit and paper money is burned on the platform. The people behind the platform all wear silk scarves and small mourning pins, and their expressions are solemn.
Whenever the team reaches a certain position, the person standing at that position will prostrate himself on the ground and will not stand up until the team has passed by.
Hua Zhi and her brother returned the greetings one by one. The sad emotions seemed to come back again, and crying sounds gradually rose in the team.
Even those who came to watch the fun felt sad when they saw the once prosperous Hua family destroyed in just a few months. They felt a little grievance in their hearts. Even the Hua family, which had stood for a hundred years, collapsed so inexplicably. Who knew when it would be their turn
The worship procession continued to the vicinity of the Hua family's ancestral tomb. Hua Zhi did not receive any news and had no idea when an altar was built here. Incense, candles, and paper money were burning on the altar, and fruits and other offerings were placed on it. Although it was not big, it was full of thoughtfulness.
Hua Zhi led her brother to bow deeply, bowing to them for both their sincerity and righteousness.
Some of them may have been supported by their grandfathers, or received favors from their fathers, but the biggest reason why so many people came to the fore was that they were all scholars. They respected their grandfathers and the Hua family, a living signboard raised by scholars, and would rather risk the emperor's wrath to come and pay homage.
She accepted this favor on behalf of her grandfather and the Hua family.
Both sides bowed to each other with full sincerity.
According to the rules, unmarried girls are not allowed to enter the ancestral land. Hua Zhi did not argue about this. She handed the portrait to her cousin Bai Yu and knelt at the entrance of the ancestral land until the team disappeared from her sight before she stood up with the help of Yingchun.
At this time, the crowd had not yet dispersed. They were all looking at the eldest granddaughter of the Hua family. After a few days, it was no longer news that the late Mrs. Hua had passed over her four daughters-in-law and handed over the management of the family to her eldest granddaughter, bypassing her four daughters-in-law.
There were many wealthy and idle people in the capital, and they all sent people to inquire about Hua Zhi, but the information they collected was very limited. Apart from the fact that she broke off the engagement with the Shen family, there was nothing else for people to talk about.
Although she was born and raised in the capital, she was never seen attending girlish gatherings such as flower-viewing parties and garden parties, nor was she found to have any close friends. She was like an invisible person living in the inner courtyard of the Hua family until she suddenly showed up now.
Everyone was curious about her character and her appearance. If the people who went to worship had not seen her and heard that she was as beautiful as a fairy, they would have thought that the granddaughter of the Hua family didn't want to see people because she was too ugly.
At this moment, there are countless people hoping that a gust of wind will come and blow off her hood so that they can see how beautiful the eldest daughter of the Hua family is.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. The evil wind did not blow until Hua Zhi got on the carriage.
The carriage gradually drove away. Wang Rong in the crowd made a gesture, and several people hiding in the dark followed closely.
***
Although the residents in the south of the city cannot compare to the wealthy families in the north of the city, not everyone is qualified to live in this area. When the old lady left, they all set up a small altar to see her off, and two families even had their wives personally preside over the ceremonies.
Hua Jing was crying in the shed, and her crying voice was heartbreaking. Her image at this moment was not good at all. Her hair was disheveled, with white hair on her temples, her eyes were red and swollen, and wrinkles were all over her face. She looked miserable, and there was no trace of her usual majestic appearance.
She secretly hated Hua Zhi for causing her to become like this, and she was so ruthless that she didn't even bother to clean up. Instead, she deliberately made herself look even more miserable, just waiting for others to see it.
After what happened before, everyone now wanted to know what happened between Hua Jing and her parents' home. Soon someone came to comfort her and asked her what was wrong under the pretext of concern.
Hua Jing shook her head and cried even louder, calling for her mother.
Seeing her crying miserably, people naturally leaned towards her, "What can't be said? It's too much to bully a married woman like you before the old lady's body is cold."
"No one bullies me, no..."
"So many people saw it. How can a younger generation treat an elder like this? There is no such rule, don't you think?"
A few more women came outside the shed. They all lived nearby. They came over obviously wanting to hear some things about the Hua family that outsiders didn't know. But living in the capital, they were not stupid, so they just said "yeah" and didn't express their opinions at all.
Hua Jing didn't need them to express their opinions, she just needed to use their mouths to spread the news.
After hesitating for a while, Hua Jing finally spoke with sobs, "Before my mother passed away, she asked me to go back home and told me to help her family in the future. I didn't expect that she would pass away within a few days. I really didn't get anything. The Hua family is already in such a state, how could I bear to take anything from my family? Why don't you believe me? I am also a daughter of the Hua family who got married!"
It is a common drama in aristocratic families to fall out for the sake of profit. Because it is so common, it is particularly easy to believe. What's worse, they all have an expression of "as expected" on their faces. Obviously, this does not surprise them. They just didn't expect that such a thing would happen in the Hua family, which has always been famous for its good rules. If this gets out, its reputation of a hundred years will be ruined!
The expressions of several people were filled with hidden excitement. The pleasure of destruction stimulated their senses. They even raised their voices unconsciously. "Is it the eldest daughter of the Hua family? Isn't she the head of the Hua family now? I don't know what the old lady was thinking. She actually passed the family to her without her daughter-in-law."
Hua Jing neither admitted nor denied it, but just cried even louder.
A few people still didn't understand, so they looked at each other, and someone stepped forward to persuade them: "The innocent are innocent. The Hua family treated you like this, but you still kept filial piety in this icy and snowy place, which shows your sincerity. If the old lady knew about this, she would definitely be pleased that her love for you was not in vain."
"You're right. Those who are innocent will be innocent." Hua Zhi got off the carriage, as if she didn't see their embarrassed expressions. She didn't go closer, but stood beside the carriage and asked, "Aunt, are you saying that your niece bullied you?"
Hua Jing thought she had the upper hand and that no matter what Hua Zhi said, she would not be able to change it. After all, she was the elder. But when she heard her say this so bluntly, she felt a little uneasy.
Without waiting for her to reply, Hua Zhi nodded and said, "You are not wrong. It is true that I do not allow you to enter the Hua family."
The onlookers stepped back a little, but their ears pricked up. They looked at Hua Zhi in surprise. Her face under the hood was not very clear, but from the half of her face that was revealed, one could tell she had the beauty that was rumored. The only thing was whether she only had a pretty face.
Hua Jing didn't know what Hua Zhi was planning, but she couldn't let go of this good opportunity to interrupt her. She raised her haggard face and choked up, "I just want to go home and keep vigil for my mother. I don't have any other intentions."
"In compliance with my grandmother's will, from now on the honor and disgrace of the Hua family has nothing to do with Hua Jing, and Hua Jing is not allowed to set foot in the Hua family!"
Hua Jing opened her mouth slightly and suddenly felt scared. She was afraid that Hua Zhi would say something even more unpleasant. She wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
"You can't control your man, but when your grandmother was seriously ill, you asked her to let your niece's maid serve as your husband's mistress. Your grandmother was so angry that she vomited blood and died. Aunt, who is bullying whom?"
"I didn't, you... you're slandering me!" Hua Jing panicked. This shouldn't be the case. How dare Hua Zhi be so bold! Isn't she afraid that the girls of the Hua family won't be able to get married in the future? Isn't she afraid that no one will want her? How dare she!
Hua Zhi looked at her coldly, "Hua Jing, I will never forgive you."
I will make you suffer twice as much as how sad your grandmother was at that time. No, double is not enough. It will not be enough at least eight or ten times.
Let’s take it slow.
PS: The third update. This chapter has a lot of words again. I always feel that it is not well written. My brain is a little dull. Please bear with it.