Chapter 255: The Mover of Eras
The moon hung high, and lights were lit in the Hua Family Courtyard.
In the courtyard, Old Madam Hua spoke with her daughters-in-law and granddaughters, occasionally looking up at the courtyard gate. “It’s almost midnight, why aren’t Eldest Brother and the others back yet?”
Madam Yao also watched the courtyard gate, her expression troubled and somewhat worried.
The commotion caused by the Medical Affairs Department yesterday was too great; everyone in the Capital City now knew that a tall Altar of Alchemy had appeared in the Medical Affairs Department.
According to news from the Earl’s Mansion, that Altar of Alchemy seemed to have appeared because of Jiu Niang.
This seemed like a good thing, a joyous occasion?
But earlier at dinner, the head steward of the Earl’s Mansion had rushed to the Hua Family, summoning the Old Master and all the male members of the family to the Earl’s Mansion.
Because of the head steward of the Earl’s Mansion’s stern and tense expression, Madam Yao’s heart had been in her throat.
Jiu Niang rarely spoke about her situation at the Medical Affairs Department at home, and the Hua Family had no connections to inquire about specific internal news from the Medical Affairs Department. Nowadays, most of the news the family knew about Jiu Niang came from the Earl’s Mansion.
In the past year or two, the Earl’s Mansion had paid increasing attention to their family. Every time a clan meeting was held, the male members of the family were summoned, and every time, Jiu Niang was mentioned.
Madam Yao felt that this clan meeting was likely related to her Jiu Niang again.
“Creak.”
The courtyard gate was pushed open, with Old Master Hua leading the way, followed closely by Hua Minghe, Hua Ming’ang, and Hua Mingcheng, the three brothers, and then Hua Sanlang and other Hua Family grandchildren.
Seeing that all the male members of the Hua Family had grim expressions, Old Madam Hua, Madam Yao, and the other female family members’ hearts sank.
“Old man, did something happen?”
Old Master Hua ignored Old Madam Hua and walked straight into the Main Hall.
Seeing this, Old Madam Hua quickly followed, and everyone else also entered the room.
After everyone had entered the Main Hall, Old Master Hua snorted coldly, “Jiu Niang has caused a huge disaster!”
Upon hearing this, Madam Yao’s face suddenly turned pale. Before she could ask, Hua Minghe frowned and stepped forward to retort, “Father, it’s not Jiu Niang who caused trouble; it’s the Noble Families who are pressuring Jiu Niang.”
Old Master Hua glared at Hua Minghe, “That’s also because Jiu Niang acted recklessly. If she had sought help from the Earl’s Mansion, and the Earl’s Mansion had mediated, how could this situation have arisen today?”
“I’ve said it before, Jiu Niang is young and inexperienced. Her obtaining the Secret Realm is like a child walking down the street with a gold ingot; she can’t protect the ingot.”
“The Earl’s Mansion has extended an olive branch several times, wanting to help Jiu Niang manage the Secret Realm. I asked you to persuade Jiu Niang, but what did you do? You let Jiu Niang act as she pleased.”
“The Capital City is a deep and treacherous place. Even the Earl’s Mansion has to be extremely cautious if they want to make a move, let alone our family.”
“After Jiu Niang joined the Medical Affairs Department, she became increasingly arrogant. First, she didn’t take me seriously, and then when the clan members wanted to get close to her, she acted as if they were unworthy of her gaze.”
“All of that can be overlooked; it’s all internal family and clan matters. But now, she’s so arrogant that she doesn’t even put the Royal Family or the Nobles in her eyes.”
“If the Royal Family truly decides to deal with our family, do you think we have any room to resist? Do you want the entire family to be buried with the willful Jiu Niang?”
Old Master Hua had long been harboring a belly full of anger towards his granddaughter, Hua Changxi, who didn’t take him seriously and didn’t prioritize the family’s interests. Now, startled by the joint pressure from the Royal Family and the Nobles, he unleashed a torrent of words, venting all his dissatisfaction and worries.
Hua Minghe’s face darkened upon hearing this. He wanted to retort but had no grounds to do so.
Compared to the other younger generation in the family, Jiu Niang was indeed a bit unruly.
Madam Yao was extremely anxious and tugged at Hua Minghe, “What exactly happened to Jiu Niang?”
Hua Minghe sighed and quickly recounted how Hua Changxi had erected the Oath Tablet and announced the recruitment of Apprentices.
After hearing this, Madam Yao was a bit confused, “Jiu Niang’s actions in these two matters don’t seem to be problematic?”
Hua Ming’ang said loudly, “They are a huge problem! Sister-in-law, do you know that by doing this, Jiu Niang has angered everyone?”
He then explained in detail to Madam Yao and the rest of the Hua Family how Hua Changxi had infringed upon the interests of various parties.
After hearing this, Madam Yao said in a low voice, “The Secret Realm belongs to Jiu Niang. Can’t she make her own decisions about how to recruit people?”
Hua Ming’ang replied, “Yes, the Secret Realm belongs to Jiu Niang, but the Medical Affairs Department is still a department of the Imperial Court and is under the jurisdiction of the Royal Family. If the Royal Family dislikes Jiu Niang, it’s too easy for them to deal with her.”
Madam Yao fell silent.
Seeing that Hua Minghe and Madam Yao remained silent, Hua Ming’ang glanced at Old Master Hua and continued, “Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, when you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head!”
“Jiu Niang is being jointly boycotted by the Royal Family and the Nobles. Not only will she be unable to recruit anyone, but she will also implicate the entire Hua clan, causing them to suffer consequences.”
“In my opinion, you should quickly go and see Jiu Niang and persuade her to voluntarily bow down to Prince Shou. As long as the Royal Family relents, there won’t be any further trouble.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Minghe and Madam Yao both furrowed their brows simultaneously.
Asking Jiu Niang to bow down to Prince Shou would be tantamount to asking Jiu Niang to hand over the management rights of the Secret Realm. It was unlikely she would agree!
Old Master Hua also knew his granddaughter’s temperament and said, “Jiu Niang is too young and impulsive; she has no sense of proportion when dealing with people. The Earl said that if Jiu Niang is willing to bow her head, he is willing to step in and negotiate with Prince Shou, and she won’t suffer too much.”
Seeing that his eldest son and daughter-in-law remained silent, Old Master Hua became angry, “Things always need to be resolved!”
“Now that the matter has just occurred, the sooner we resolve it, the less the repercussions will be. Do you really want to wait until our family and the clan are severely damaged before you discipline your precious daughter?”
Hearing this, Hua Minghe and Madam Yao both showed expressions of helplessness.
After a while, Hua Minghe spoke, “Father, I will go and persuade Jiu Niang.”
Old Master Hua replied, “Go first thing tomorrow morning.”
Hua Minghe let out a muffled ‘hmm’ and left the Main Hall. Afterward, others also excused themselves.
After everyone had left, Old Madam Hua looked at Old Master Hua, “Did Jiu Niang really make a mistake?”
Old Master Hua sighed deeply, “Wealth stirs hearts. To gain wealth but be unable to protect it is a mistake!”
All parties wanted to carve up the Resources in Jiu Niang’s Secret Realm, yet Jiu Niang even created an Oath Tablet, not allowing any party to gain any advantage. Who else would they target if not her?
Old Master Hua had grown up an orphan, and it was only through great fortune that he was able to marry and have children. Now, with a house full of children and grandchildren, he absolutely did not want to see anything happen to the Hua Family.
Regarding his granddaughter who caused trouble for the family, even though she was the most outstanding member, at this moment, the Old Master couldn’t bring himself to like her at all.
“If Jiu Niang doesn’t change her ways, she’s going to stumble badly!”
“Before, her minor troubles were her own to bear, but now, her actions are escalating. I truly fear that one day, our family and the clan will be brought to great disaster because of her!”
Old Madam Hua also showed a worried expression, “Then what should we do? Eldest son and his wife probably won’t be able to persuade Jiu Niang.”
Old Master Hua was also very helpless; he didn’t know what to do either. He once again regretfully thought that it would have been better if the promising junior in the family wasn’t Jiu Niang.
