Chapter 152: The Sheng Family

After seeing Merchant Zhuo off, Hua Changxi returned to the rear courtyard and immediately sensed something amiss in her father's expression; she smiled and asked, "Father, what's wrong?"

Hua Minghe laughed and said, "I never expected my Ninth Daughter to be such a skilled merchant."

Hua Changxi smiled and replied, "My business acumen is lacking; I simply haven't had time to manage many matters."

Hua Minghe moved his lips, wanting to suggest that family members could help, but ultimately swallowed the words and instead brought up the matter of Eldest Brother's betrothal.

"Your eldest brother is betrothed to the niece of the Second Lady of the Marquis's household."

Hua Changxi asked, "Was Eldest Brother's marriage arranged by the Marquis's household?"

Hua Minghe nodded. "The Marquis has been showing great favor to your eldest brother lately. After your brother joined the Demon-Suppressing Bureau, the Marquis specifically leveraged some connections to place him under the command of General Sheng Pengyun."

"The Sheng family is the natal family of the Marquis's Second Lady, and the one betrothed to your eldest brother is Sheng Pengyun's younger sister, Sheng Yuntang."

Hua Changxi remarked, "If they can form a marriage alliance with the Marquis's household, the Sheng family's status must be quite high, surely?"

Hua Minghe replied, "The current head of the Sheng family, who is also your future eldest sister-in-law's father, holds a third-rank position as the Left Vice Minister of the Heavenly Department."

Hua Changxi's expression shifted slightly. "With the Sheng family's status being so prestigious, why would they look favorably upon our family?"

Hua Minghe fell silent for a moment before saying, "Your eldest brother has performed exceptionally well in the Demon-Suppressing Army, and with the Marquis's household mediating from behind the scenes, this marriage alliance was finally secured."

Hua Changxi was not entirely convinced by this explanation; while she did not deny her eldest brother's excellence, the Demon-Suppressing Army certainly lacked no other capable individuals, so the Sheng family's reason for choosing him could not be solely this.

As for the Marquis's household's mediation, in her view, it essentially amounted to an exchange of value, with her eldest brother serving as the medium; there must certainly be some transactions within that he knew nothing about.

Although these thoughts crossed Hua Changxi's mind, she did not voice them; she knew clearly that apart from Grandfather and Grandmother, her own parents held the highest expectations for her eldest brother.

"Does Eldest Brother like the young lady from the Sheng family?"

Hua Minghe smiled and said, "Your eldest brother has met the Sheng young lady a few times; they get along quite well, and he is pleased with this marriage arrangement."

Hua Changxi nodded. "As long as Eldest Brother is happy, that is good enough."

Hua Minghe looked at his daughter and said, "Regarding the Mid-Autumn Festival incident, those words your grandfather spoke were merely said in anger and hold no weight; do not take them to heart. The family has been busy preparing for the betrothal banquet these past few days; if you are not too occupied, come home today."

Hua Changxi lowered her head and fell silent.

Seeing her reaction, Hua Minghe couldn't help but ask, "What is it? Are you truly still angry with your grandfather?"

Hua Changxi raised her head and looked straight at Hua Minghe. "Yes, Grandfather's words are branded upon my heart and cannot be erased. In the Hua family, I cannot live according to my own wishes; I must conform to Grandfather and Grandmother's demands. Once I fail to meet their expectations, I face light punishments at best, or being driven out of the family at worst."

"I am unwilling to live such a life, nor do I wish for every unpleasant conflict with the family to be resolved only through my own concessions and compromises just to maintain a superficial harmony."

Hua Minghe had not expected his daughter to truly develop resentment toward the family; anxious, he said, "Your grandfather is getting old..."

Hua Changxi interrupted him directly. "Father, after Grandfather refined his body, his constitution improved drastically; he can easily live another one or two hundred years, so please do not use his age as an excuse."

Pausing briefly, she continued, "Father, there is no need to persuade me further. You cannot change Grandfather, and I will not submit to his arrangements, sacrificing myself to always put the Hua family first. You and Mother might as well consider me already married; henceforth, when I return, it will be merely as a relative visiting."

Hua Minghe said urgently, "What do you mean by 'consider you already married'? You are an unmarried young lady; speaking such words should make you feel ashamed."

"I have already spoken thoroughly with your grandfather; he will no longer demand that you do things against your will. If Grandfather tries to force you again in the future, I, your father, will stop him."

Looking at her father's anxious expression, Hua Changxi found herself unable to speak such decisive words and fell silent for a moment.

Hua Minghe looked at her and said, "If you have matters to attend to, then return on the twenty-third at least; after all, it is your eldest brother's betrothal, and if you are not present, he will surely feel disappointed."

Hua Changxi replied, "...Very well."

Seeing his daughter agree to return home, Hua Minghe finally breathed a sigh of relief; then, recalling something, he said with an apologetic expression, "Ninth Daughter, your father owes you an apology."

Hua Changxi looked at him in surprise. "An apology for what?"

Hua Minghe appeared somewhat uneasy. "Regarding the Qihuang Body-Refining Technique you gave the family, I copied a version and handed it to the Six Doors. When I gave it, I intended to tell you beforehand, but I could not find you."

Hearing that this was the matter, Hua Changxi showed no concern; in her understanding, the contents of the Qihuang Hall were meant to be taught to everyone, and moreover, the Body-Refining Technique revealed by Qihuang Hall Number Eight was only the first chapter, the Skin-Refining Art, so giving it away was of no consequence.

"Father, you may give the Qihuang Body-Refining Technique to anyone you wish."

Seeing that his daughter did not hold it against him, Hua Minghe felt relieved; then, thinking of something else, he hesitated for a moment before probing, "What about the Skin-Refining chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art'?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "The Skin-Refining chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art' counts as my gift, given freely to the Hua family as their daughter. However, I will not provide any subsequent chapters. If family members wish to continue cultivating, they may do so, but besides swearing a Heart-Demon Oath never to leak it externally, they must also pay a certain compensation."

Hearing this, Hua Minghe opened his mouth as if to speak, yet no words came out.

Hua Changxi thought for a moment and added, "Of course, you and Mother may practice without paying anything; I will even prepare medicinal baths for you. As for my three elder brothers, they also need not pay, but they must prepare their own medicinal baths, since cultivation is something that cannot be done by others on one's behalf."

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

Noticing he mentioned only Grandfather and Grandmother, Hua Changxi understood his implication and smiled. "Father, the later stages of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art' become increasingly difficult to practice; Grandfather and Grandmother's bodies cannot withstand them. It would be better for them to cultivate the Qihuang Body-Refining Technique instead."

Upon hearing this, Hua Minghe's expression immediately relaxed. "You are right; Grandfather and Grandmother already struggled somewhat while cultivating the Skin-Refining chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art,' so for the subsequent stages, we must have them switch to the Qihuang Body-Refining Technique."

As for the Marquis's household's desire for the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art,' Hua Minghe did not mention it at all; in his view, sharing the Qihuang Body-Refining Technique with the clan was already more than generous.

Afterwards, father and daughter exchanged some casual conversation; as dusk approached, Hua Minghe departed.

After Hua Minghe left, Hua Changxi went to the pill-refining room to refine medicines.

At the Hua family compound.

Seeing Hua Minghe return alone, the Hua family members all displayed varied expressions.

Lady Yao, with a furrowed brow and worried look, asked, "You didn't see Ninth Daughter?"

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

Hearing this, Old Master Hua suddenly raised his head, his face grim. "Ninth Daughter is unwilling to return?"

Hua Minghe replied, "That is not the case; she has matters to attend to."

Old Master Hua felt his eldest son was making excuses to dismiss him. "She is just a young lady; what busy matters could she possibly have?"

Hearing this, Hua Minghe recalled what he had witnessed at the pharmacy earlier that day and retorted immediately, "Ninth Daughter has many matters to attend to: refining pills, receiving guests, and managing eleven pharmacies; how could any of this be easy?"

Speaking thus, he looked solemnly at Old Master Hua. "Father, regarding Ninth Daughter's affairs, the family should no longer interfere. Eldest Brother is her biological brother; for his betrothal, she will certainly return."

"As for the matter of the 'Nine Revolutions Profound Art,' do not dwell on it anymore; clarify this with the Marquis's household as soon as possible to avoid future misunderstandings."

Having said this, Hua Minghe turned and headed straight to his room; this was the first time he had so openly defied Old Master Hua, and such an attitude stunned everyone in the Hua family.