Chapter 152: The Sheng Family

After seeing off the great merchant Zhuo, Hua Changxi returned to the backyard. She clearly sensed that her father's expression was off, so she asked with a smile, "Father, what's wrong?"

Hua Minghe laughed. "I didn't expect my Ninth Daughter to be such a capable businesswoman."

Hua Changxi smiled. "My management skills aren't that great; I don't have the time to handle many things."

Hua Minghe moved his lips, wanting to say that he could have the family help, but he swallowed the words in the end and instead brought up the matter of Hua Dalang's engagement.

"Your eldest brother is betrothed to the niece of the Count Dingyuan's second wife's maiden family."

Hua Changxi: "Was Eldest Brother's marriage arranged by the Count Dingyuan's Prefecture?"

Hua Minghe nodded. "The Count Dingyuan takes great care of your eldest brother now. After your brother entered the Demon Suppression Division, the Count specifically used some connections to arrange for him to serve under the Assistant Regional Commander Sheng Pengyun."

"The Sheng family is the maiden family of the Count's second wife, and the one betrothed to your brother is Sheng Pengyun's younger sister, Sheng Yuntang."

Hua Changxi: "To be able to marry into the Count's Prefecture, the Sheng family's status shouldn't be low, right?"

Hua Minghe: "The current head of the Sheng family, who is your future sister-in-law's father, is a third-rank official, the Left Vice Minister of the Heaven Department."

Hua Changxi's expression shifted. "With such a prominent status, how could the Sheng family look favorably upon our family?"

Hua Minghe was silent for a moment. "Your brother performed outstandingly in the Demon Suppression Army, and with the Count's Prefecture mediating, this marriage was facilitated."

Hua Changxi didn't find this reason very convincing. She didn't deny her brother's excellence, but there was certainly no shortage of capable people in the Demon Suppression Army. The Sheng family's reason for choosing her brother was definitely not just this.

As for the Count's Prefecture's mediation, in her view, it was actually an exchange of value. With her brother as the medium, there were surely some transactions involved that he didn't know about.

Although Hua Changxi thought these things, she did not voice them. She knew very well that, aside from the old master and old mistress, her parents had the highest expectations for her eldest brother.

"Then does Eldest Brother like the young lady from the Sheng family?"

Hua Minghe laughed. "Your brother has interacted with the Sheng young lady a few times, and they get along quite well. Your brother is satisfied with this match."

Hua Changxi nodded. "As long as Eldest Brother likes her, that's fine."

Hua Minghe looked at his daughter. "Regarding the Mid-Autumn Festival, what your grandfather said was all out of anger; it doesn't count. Don't take it to heart. The family has been busy with the engagement banquet these days. If you aren't busy, come home with Father today."

Hua Changxi lowered her head and fell silent.

Seeing her like this, Hua Minghe couldn't help but ask, "Why, are you really still angry at your grandfather?"

Hua Changxi looked up and stared straight at Hua Minghe. "Yes, Grandfather's words are branded on my heart and cannot be erased. In the Hua family, I cannot live according to my own ideas. I must conform to the requirements of Grandfather and Grandmother. Once I don't meet their wishes, the light punishment is being scolded, and the heavy one is being kicked out of the house."

"I don't want to live such days, and I don't want every conflict with the family to end with my concession and compromise to maintain the superficial harmony of the family."

Hua Minghe didn't expect his daughter to have truly developed a rift with the family, so he said anxiously, "Your grandfather is old..."

Hua Changxi interrupted directly: "Father, after Grandfather practiced body refining, his physique was greatly enhanced. He can easily live past one or two hundred years now, so don't use his age as an excuse."

She paused. "Father, you don't need to persuade me either. You cannot change Grandfather, and I will not obey Grandfather's arrangements to sacrifice myself and put the Hua family first in everything. You and Mother can just treat it as if I've already married out. In the future, when I go back, it will just be visiting relatives."

Hua Minghe said urgently, "What do you mean treat it as if you've already married out? You are a young lady staying in the boudoir; aren't you ashamed to say such things?"

"I have already talked to your grandfather about that side; he will no longer demand you do things you don't want to do. If your grandfather forces you again in the future, Father will stop him."

Looking at her anxious father, Hua Changxi couldn't say anything too decisive and fell silent for a moment.

Hua Minghe looked at her. "If you have things to be busy with, go back on the 23rd. After all, it is your eldest brother's engagement. If you aren't there, he will definitely be disappointed."

Hua Changxi: "... Alright."

Seeing his daughter willing to go home, Hua Minghe finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, thinking of something, he looked apologetic. "Ninth Daughter, Father needs to apologize to you."

Hua Changxi looked over in surprise. "Apologize for what?"

Hua Minghe looked uncomfortable. "I copied a version of the Qihuang Body Refining Technique you gave the family and gave it to the Six Doors. When I gave it, I wanted to tell you beforehand, but I couldn't find you."

Hearing that it was this matter, Hua Changxi looked indifferent. According to her understanding, the things in the Qihuang Pavilion were meant to be taught to everyone. Moreover, the body refining technique revealed by the No. 8 Qihuang Pavilion was only the first chapter, the Skin Refining Technique, so giving it away was fine.

"Father, you can give the Qihuang Body Refining Technique to anyone you want."

Seeing that his daughter didn't mind, Hua Minghe felt relieved. Then, thinking of something else, he hesitated for a while and probed, "Then what about the Skin Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art'?"

Hua Changxi looked at him. "The Skin Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art' can be considered my gift as a daughter of the Hua family to the Hua family, but I will not give the subsequent chapters. If the family wants to continue practicing, they can, but besides taking a heart demon oath to never leak it, they must also pay a certain reward."

Hearing this, Hua Minghe opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't.

Hua Changxi thought for a moment. "Of course, if you and Mother want to practice, you don't have to give anything, and I will even prepare medicinal baths for you... The three brothers don't have to either, but they must prepare the medicinal baths themselves. After all, practicing such things shouldn't be left to others."

After hearing this, Hua Minghe sighed. "It seems you have truly become estranged from your grandfather and grandmother."

Seeing that he only mentioned the old master and old mistress, Hua Changxi knew what he meant and smiled. "Father, the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art' becomes harder to practice the further you go. Grandfather and Grandmother's bodies cannot withstand it; it would be better for them to practice the Qihuang Body Refining Technique."

Once Hua Minghe heard this, his expression immediately relaxed. "You are right. Your grandfather and grandmother could barely hold on when practicing the Skin Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art'. For the subsequent practice, I must let them switch to the Qihuang Body Refining Technique."

As for the Count's Prefecture wanting the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art', Hua Minghe didn't even mention it. In his view, their family sharing the Qihuang Body Refining Technique with the clan was already enough.

Afterwards, the father and daughter chatted about some family matters. Seeing that it was getting dark, Hua Minghe left.

After Hua Minghe left, Hua Changxi went to the alchemy room to refine pills.

The Hua family courtyard.

Seeing Hua Minghe return alone, the Hua family members all had different expressions.

Yao Shi was worried. "Didn't you see Ninth Daughter?"

Hua Minghe shook his head. "I saw her."

Hearing this, Old Master Hua suddenly looked up, his face sinking. "Ninth Daughter is unwilling to come back?"

Hua Minghe: "That's not the case; she has things to be busy with."

Old Master Hua felt that his eldest son was using an excuse to dismiss him. "She is just a young lady; what could she be busy with?"

Hearing this, Hua Minghe thought of what he saw in the pharmacy today and blurted out a rebuttal: "There are many things Ninth Daughter has to be busy with. She has to refine pills, receive guests, and manage eleven pharmacies. How could it possibly be an easy task?"

As he spoke, he looked solemnly at Old Master Hua. "Father, regarding Ninth Daughter's affairs, don't interfere in the future. Dalang is her own brother; since she is getting engaged, she will definitely come back."

"Regarding the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art', don't keep thinking about it either. Make it clear to the Count's Prefecture as soon as possible to avoid misunderstandings later."

After finishing, Hua Minghe turned around and returned to his room. This was the first time he had so openly slapped Old Master Hua in the face. Such an attitude shocked everyone in the Hua family. ===== CHAPTER 153 =====