First Phoenix Lady - chapter 1

Chapter 1

When Shi Anxia woke up, she found herself reborn at the age of fourteen, just as the Marquis Mansion was holding the funeral for her brother Shi Yunxing.

She wore a white fox fur cloak, walking slowly through the winding corridors of the Marquis Mansion. The white lanterns hanging beneath the corridor gently swayed with a flick of her fingers.

The Maid Nan Yan hurriedly stuffed a hand warmer into her hands, whispering, “Miss, don’t be too sad. Take care of your own health first.”

Sad? Shi Anxia looked up at the bleak sky and smiled.

She was not sad at all. The one who died was not her real brother, but Concubine Wen’s son.

Back then, Concubine Wen and Shi Anxia’s mother, Madam Tang, gave birth on the same day. Concubine Wen swapped her own son and had him pose as the Marquis Mansion’s legitimate heir, while Shi Anxia’s real brother, Shi Yunqi, became a concubine’s child and was tormented by Concubine Wen from a young age.

Shi Anxia went to the Memorial Hall and saw Madam Tang, her eyes swollen from crying, kneeling on the prayer mat in grief.

“Mother, I heard you haven’t slept for days. Let me help you back to your room to rest.” Shi Anxia signaled the Maid with her eyes and forcefully took Madam Tang away.

Madam Tang cried and struggled all the way, “Xing’er! My Xing’er! I won’t go back. I want to stay with my Xing’er.”

Shi Anxia helped Madam Tang onto the bed, tucked her in, dismissed the Maids, and then leaned in to whisper, “Mother, don’t cry. Shi Yunxing is not your son, nor is he my real brother.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Tang choked halfway through her sobs. “You! What nonsense are you saying?”

Shi Anxia sat by the bed, took Madam Tang’s hand, and, with eyes as deep as an ancient well, clearly explained once again, “I’m saying, Shi Yunxing is not your son at all. He is Concubine Wen’s son.”

Madam Tang’s tears hung on her cheeks, and she was so shocked she couldn’t speak for a long while.

Shi Anxia was not anxious. She waited for her mother to slowly digest this shocking news, gently stroking her slender back.

After a good while, Madam Tang finally raised her swollen eyes, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and asked, “Xia’er, how did you find out?”

Shi Anxia had long prepared her answer. “I was about to pay respects in Grandmother’s courtyard when I happened to overhear Grandmother talking to Concubine Wen.”

“Grandmother knows too?” Madam Tang’s tears streamed down once again.

“She knows more than that! Concubine Wen is Grandmother’s own niece. Back then, you and Concubine Wen gave birth on the same day. If Grandmother hadn’t interfered, how could she have switched the two children so easily?” Having lived another life, Shi Anxia was no longer angry, but rather relieved that everything could still be set right.

Madam Tang’s doubts were dispelled, but she could not swallow her anger. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, her voice hoarse as she said, “I’m going to get to the bottom of this and demand justice!”

Shi Anxia quickly stopped Madam Tang. “Mother, don’t be rash. Justice can be sought slowly. If Grandmother stubbornly denies it, what can we do? What’s most urgent now is to openly and rightfully bring Brother Yun Qi back. I heard Brother Yun Qi was whipped nearly to death by Concubine Wen and is still locked up in the Firewood Shed.”

Madam Tang felt a tightness in her chest.

As the principal wife of the Second Branch of Marquis Mansion, she had never mistreated concubines or their children. She had even quietly shown kindness to the boy named Shi Yunqi.

That child was truly pitiable: thin, frail, silent, and reserved.

She once personally overheard Concubine Wen scolding her son, “You are just a lowly concubine’s son. If you want a good life in the future, you must always respect Young Master Yun Xing above all. Even if he wants you dead, you must accept it!”

At that time, Madam Tang was quite moved upon hearing those words.

For a concubine to go so far was indeed rare in the world.

So, this is the truth! That so-called “lowly concubine’s son” was her own flesh and blood!

Madam Tang’s heart was torn with pain-worse even than when she learned of Shi Yunxing’s death. No matter how she wiped her tears, they kept flowing. “Xia’er, then what do you think we should do now?”

Shi Anxia reached out to wipe away Madam Tang’s tears. “Mother, if you trust me, leave it to me. I will handle everything properly.”
Madam Tang always felt that her daughter before her eyes was somehow different from before. Those eyes were deep and calm, like an ancient well that had stood for a thousand years-without ripples or waves, yet inexplicably reassuring.

She nodded, her eyes reddening again as she lowered her gaze.

Shi Anxia pondered for a moment and asked, “Who is handling the Funeral Rites now?”

Madam Tang replied, “Your Grandmother wants me to use the influence of the Duke of State Protection Mansion to make the Funeral Rites grand, so she has entrusted everything to me.”

So that’s it. Then let’s make good use of the Duke of State Protection Mansion’s power! Shi Anxia’s eyes flickered. “Mother, could you lend me Nanny Zhong for a while?”

“Anyone from Begonia Courtyard, you may command as you wish.” Madam Tang’s gaze showed a hint of urgency. “Can you bring your elder brother over sooner?”

“Mother, don’t worry. I will arrange it. Just don’t let anyone notice anything unusual,” Shi Anxia whispered, “Now that Concubine Wen’s spies are everywhere in the Marquis Mansion, we cannot make a single misstep.”

Madam Tang suppressed her anxiety and agreed obediently, “Xia’er, Mother will listen to you.”

Shi Anxia immediately sent Nanny Zhong to the Duke of State Protection Mansion to deliver a message to her aunt.

As dusk fell, more than thirty people arrived in grand procession from the Duke of State Protection Mansion. Old women, Maids, guards, and stewards-all dressed in white mourning clothes-came to the Marquis Mansion’s Memorial Hall and busied themselves.

The dark night completely enveloped everything. The Memorial Hall was no longer open for anyone to enter or leave at will.

In Qiangwei Courtyard, Concubine Wen’s face was full of sorrow, and she had been crying continuously. “Nanny Liu, have you found out what Madam Tang is up to?”

Nanny Liu replied, “Concubine, don’t panic. Madam Tang has fainted several times from grief and has now returned to her courtyard to rest. I heard that Miss Anxia is now in charge of the Funeral Rites. The Duke of State Protection Mansion has sent people to help, apparently to welcome Master Hongda.”

Only then did Concubine Wen’s expression ease. “It should have been this way long ago. Xing’er is their grandson from the Duke of State Protection Mansion-how could they not care? Inviting Master Hongda to perform the soul-calming rituals shows they are finally taking it seriously.”

“Concubine, rest assured. With Master Hongda’s blessing, Young Master Xing’er will surely be reborn into a good family in his next life, enjoying endless wealth and honor.”

Upon hearing this, Concubine Wen was overcome with grief. She had schemed and waited for sixteen years, and just as her plans were about to bear fruit, the person was gone-in the end, it was all for nothing.

A moment later, Nanny Liu reported again, saying that although Master Hongda had arrived, he stayed less than half an incense stick’s time before leaving with the monks.

Concubine Wen was puzzled. “Soul-calming and transcendence rituals should take at least an hour. Why was it so quick?”

Nanny Liu shook her head. “I couldn’t find out any more. The ones guarding outside are all from the Duke of State Protection Mansion. This old servant couldn’t get in and doesn’t know what is happening inside.”

“Let’s go and have a look.” Concubine Wen tidied her hair, put on her outer cloak, and braved the wind and snow to the Memorial Hall.

A strange old woman blocked her way. “Please stop. Without Miss Anxia’s orders, no one may enter the Memorial Hall.”

Concubine Wen’s face darkened. She had managed the household affairs of the Marquis Mansion for years and was always at ease in the mansion; which servant did not show her respect?

Now, she was actually blocked by a servant-she could not swallow this insult. “Go and call Shi Anxia out! I want to see if she dares stop me from entering!”

The old woman remained calm and firmly blocked the way. “May I ask who you are in this mansion? Judging by your attire, you seem to be a concubine. For a concubine, in the eyes of a legitimate young lady, you are just like us-servants. What rule allows you to call the young lady by her name?”

Concubine Wen was so angry her eyes turned green.

A servant from the Duke of State Protection Mansion dared to call her a servant! What servant could wear such fine brocade and luxurious clothes? How could she look like a mere concubine?

In her fury, she instinctively raised her hand to slap.

But that slap hung in the air, unable to fall for a long time.