The Hua family's door was shut heavily, blocking out all prying eyes.
Hua Yi was looking at the familiar plants, trees, corridors and pillars in the yard. His heart, which had been wandering outside for two years, seemed to have found its home and finally felt at peace at this moment.
He looked at his eldest granddaughter, his eyes showing some worry, "Is your grandmother ill?"
At this point, Hua Zhi no longer concealed the truth. She knelt on the ground and forced out the words that were difficult to say, "My granddaughter failed to fulfill her promise. On November 24th of the previous year, when I returned from Yinshan Pass, my grandmother passed away."
Hua Yi's body was shaking, his mind was blank. When he didn't see anyone outside, he thought that her body might be broken, and she would show up whenever she could. But he didn't expect... He didn't expect that she couldn't make it through the first year.
That woman, who was not particularly capable but still had some kindness and goodness in her heart even after becoming a grandmother, did not wait for him to come back. He couldn't imagine how regretful and worried she must have felt under that situation.
"Father..." Hua Pingyu, who was also hit by the bad news, looked at his daughter who was still kneeling on the ground and came back to his senses. He couldn't help but shout. This matter could not be blamed on Zhier.
Hua Yizheng looked at his eldest son blankly, then followed his gaze and gradually regained his composure. He helped him up and said in a hoarse voice, "So for more than a year, almost two years, you have been responsible for everything."
"Of course, there is more. Mother and my three aunts take care of the affairs of the inner house. I rarely manage them. As you know, I have several capable maids who take care of the business. Bolin takes care of the brothers, and the sisters have also made progress... We have achieved what we have today because of our concerted efforts."
"It's the elder girl's credit."
Wu was the first to speak up and Hua Bolin followed up, "It's all thanks to my eldest sister."
Then everyone spoke in unison, "It's the eldest sister's credit."
Hua Zhi shook her head and stopped talking.
She felt she couldn't face her grandfather. She had said that the Hua family would not be reduced in number, but she caused her grandfather to lose his first wife.
Hua Yi was walking towards the ancestral temple, and the others followed in silence.
Amid the smoke of incense, Hua Yizheng first worshipped his ancestors and inserted the incense into the incense burner. Then he picked up three more incense sticks, lit them, walked to the tablet beside him and inserted them into the small incense burner. Looking at the tablet that was obviously newer, he asked after a moment of silence, "Did she wait for you to come back?"
"Yes, grandma left with peace of mind after handing the house over to her granddaughter."
"Reassurance?"
"Yes, I feel relieved." Hua Zhi looked up at the tablet, as if she was back to that day when the snow was flying. She was so happy to finally return home, but what was waiting for her at home was bad news. "I promised my grandmother that I would let the Hua family live in peace, and those who need to study can study and those who need to embroider can embroider. I will let the men of the Hua family come back. One day, the Hua family will surely restore all its glory."
Hua Yi was stunned. He remembered the day when his once extremely lazy granddaughter made a sonorous promise in the wind and snow. At that time, he thought that he believed she could do what she promised. Wan Niang probably felt the same as he did after receiving this promise, so she could leave with peace of mind.
"Grandfather doesn't blame you." Looking at his granddaughter who looked ashamed, Hua Yizheng sighed, "I thought that with your grandmother keeping the family in check and balancing the relationships among the families, and with your ability to assist, the family should be able to remain stable. But I didn't expect that your grandmother passed away so early, leaving such a huge burden on you. Zhier, this is not your fault. No one can do better than you."
Hua Zhi pursed her lips and replied softly, "Yes."
"What disease? What disease did your grandmother... suffer from that made her pass away so hastily?"
Hua Zhi no longer concealed anything and told Hua Jing everything that she had done, even how she later dealt with the Song family.
Hua Yi was thinking it was ridiculous. It was because of such an unfilial daughter? She was so healthy when he left, but she died of anger? He wanted to dig Hua Jing out and whip her corpse!
Hua Zhi supported her grandfather, whose chest was heaving violently, as they left the dimly lit house. She motioned to Berlin to invite Old Yu, who was asked by Yan Xi to stay at the Hua family temporarily, "Grandmother has already been pissed off by her, are you going to cause her another irritation?"
Hua Yi was looking down at his hands that were shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't understand why, as the eldest daughter of the Hua family, she was raised by the Hua family and married off with great fanfare. Why was she so ungrateful? Not only did she not help her family at that time, but she also wanted to get benefits from them? Did she think of the Hua family as another He family
"She's already dead, Grandfather. People can't die a second time." Hua Zhi helped the person to sit down on the veranda. "Her children were unfilial, her husband was unfaithful, and she didn't have a good end. This is the greatest punishment for her."
Looking at his granddaughter whose skin was becoming paler under the sun, Hua Yi felt a pain in his heart. The emotions that he had been unable to calm down gradually calmed down. Yes, how could he let Zhier go to so much trouble to comfort him at this moment.
"Master Taifu."
Hua Zhi was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Ever since she became the Grand Tutor, her family had never called her by this official title. Now that her grandfather suddenly called her that, she felt like she was showing off her sword in front of Guan Gong.
Hua Yizheng smiled. The dreamlike feeling he had felt since he learned of his wife's death finally faded away. With his back against the pillar, he teased, "Before, there were only two Hanlin scholars in the family. Now, there is also a first-rank Taifu. Such an honor is unique in Daqing."
"I don't need to attend court and I'm not allowed to participate in government affairs. It's just an empty title. When the emperor gets married in three years, my duties will be fulfilled. This was personally agreed by the late emperor, and later the empress dowager also promised it. I think no one will make a fuss about it."
"Have you ever thought about continuing on this path of official career for a long time?"
"Grandfather..." Hua Zhi didn't know what to say when she saw her father coming out. There were three nobles in the family, and everyone could understand it in a short time, but if it lasted for a long time, everyone would hate the Hua family to death. What's more, she never had that intention.
Hua Pingyu sat on the other side of his daughter and said, "I know that you are now the Grand Tutor. We discussed this on the way back. I, your father, can..."
"Father!"
Hua Pingyu waved his hand and said, "Listen to me. I have gained a lot in Yinshan Pass for two years. Compared with being a noble Hanlin, I am more interested in being a teacher. If you want to pursue a career in government, I will find an opportunity to retire and do what you like. Don't think that I am doing this to help you. In fact, I am doing this to help myself."
"My daughter doesn't have that idea, not at all."
Hua Yizheng smiled, "I told you Zhi'er would never let you get what you want, but you didn't believe me."
Hua Pingyu blushed when his past was exposed in front of his daughter. "It would be a shame if Zhi'er's talent was left unused."
"It's not impossible for father to retire."
Hua Pingyu looked at his daughter expectantly, and even Hua Yizheng thought that his granddaughter had changed her mind and sat up straight.
Hua Zhi looked at the young man who was like a poplar and hurried over with Old Yu. "Berlin will be your companion in the future. If father has no intention of retiring from the government, it would be good for him to retire early."
The father and son looked over together. Yes, after this incident, the boys in the family were obviously depressed, especially Berlin.
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