First Phoenix Lady - chapter 14

Chapter 14

The hour of Hai had quietly passed, and the hour of Zi arrived.

Shi Anxia saw that the old women and Maids had all entered the room, sitting before their own low tables, drinking tea and eating pastries.

Everyone’s face was full of spirit and energy.

Shi Anxia also sat cross-legged on the thick velvet carpet, smiling gently, “Let’s all share what we did today. How did you go about your tasks?”

The first to speak was Dong Li. “Miss, I went with Nanny Shi to the estate near Changfu Road in the Southern Suburbs…”

They visited the farming families who had been rescued, delivering warm cotton clothes and brown sugar, and each household was also given a subsidy of two taels of silver.

It wasn’t stinginess – two taels of silver was already equivalent to several months’ income for a farming family.

If they gave too much, it would seem like hush money.

At each house, during casual conversation, they repeatedly emphasized that the one who fell into the water was the Legitimate Daughter of their Marquis Mansion. The other girls in the water were Maids of the Wei Family’s young lady.

They also made a point to mention that although Miss Wei had caught a chill and didn’t get out of the carriage to help, she sent her Maids to save people, which was very benevolent.

The common folk all nodded in praise, saying Miss Wei was kind-hearted.

Some were even more perceptive, claiming they had personally seen Miss Wei coughing incessantly in the carriage, yet still leaning out to ask if anyone had been rescued.

Everyone chimed in, painting a clear picture of the scene.

Shi Anxia nodded, “Well done.”

Dong Li looked shyly to her side, “It’s all thanks to Nanny Shi’s guidance. If she hadn’t been there to instruct me, I couldn’t have been so thorough.”

Shi Anxia smiled and nodded again, “Nanny Shi has eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Her skills are well worth learning.”

Dong Li hurriedly agreed.

Nanny Shi’s eyes curved with a smile, sitting up straight. “Miss flatters me! It is my blessing to help ease your worries.”

Shi Anxia spoke seriously, “Though the Nannies here belong to the Duke’s Mansion, I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me. If I ever achieve success, I will repay each of you.”

The Nannies were all deeply moved.

They were all women who had seen much in the Duke’s Mansion, skilled in the ways of the inner court and reading people’s faces. Even if not experts, they were well-versed.

The Legitimate Daughter of the Marquis Mansion before them had a full and rounded forehead, delicate features, and a calm, steady gaze. No matter what she did, she was never hurried, always carrying an air of dignity and grace.

Just look at the things she’d accomplished in recent days-each required careful planning to succeed. Yet the young lady handled everything with ease, turning the tables and keeping all people and matters firmly in her grasp.

This was a young lady with great prospects!

The Nannies all stood up together, speaking as one: “We are willing to do our utmost for you, Miss!”

Shi Anxia certainly had her own considerations.

She had too few people she could rely on now, making it hard to get things done. Having the Nannies teach her five useful Maids was one thing, but more importantly, she might need these Nannies to help with even more tasks in the future.

With this warm-up, the following reports became even more lively.

Nanny Wang was the busiest, having accomplished three tasks with Xi Yue.

The first was delivering a letter to Lord Jiang.

Nanny Wang knew that delivering the letter was just a simple errand for them.

But simple as it seemed, it was not without its difficulties. The challenge was to clearly track Lord Jiang’s whereabouts within the specified time frame.

Wherever he was, the letter had to be delivered there.

The most impressive was the young lady. How did she know that as soon as Lord Jiang saw it was a letter from the Wei Family’s young lady, he would immediately pay attention?

But she didn’t ask, just followed the young lady’s instructions.

The second task was to take the deed of sale given by Madam and have the three young servants by Shi Yunxing’s side change their statement.

Xi Yue stood up to report, “After it was done, I personally escorted those three young servants onto the carriage to Pengcheng. The broker said they would be sold to the Zhao Family in Pengcheng, and shouldn’t be able to return to the Capital for seven or eight years.”
Shi Anxia nodded slightly.

The third matter was handled by Nanny Wang. “This old servant has just asked someone to write storybooks overnight. By tomorrow, they should be delivered to the storytellers at all the major teahouses.”

Shi Anxia asked, “Is the person writing the storybooks trustworthy?”

Nanny Wang nodded. “Rest assured, Miss. He is my own grandson. He grew up as a study companion to the young master of the Dingguo Mansion, and he is very close to me.”

Shi Anxia smiled. “Nanny Wang, you are truly blessed.”

Wrinkles appeared on Nanny Wang’s smiling face. “Thanks to your good fortune, Miss.”

Shi Anxia took a silver ingot from the desk and handed it over. “Nanny Wang, take these ten taels of silver and let your grandson have some tea.”

Nanny Wang hurriedly accepted it with both hands. “This old servant thanks Miss on behalf of my grandson.”

“He deserves it,” Shi Anxia replied with a faint smile.

Next, it was Bei Hui’s group’s turn. They had handled two matters.

The first was that she and Nanny Tan were responsible for coordinating with Master Yangxuan.

“It was amazing,” Nanny Tan recounted animatedly. “Master Yangxuan really could tell that there was an incense altar set up in Concubine Wen’s room. I suggested we send someone in to check first, but he said there was no need-the Luopan would indicate it.”

Clearly, Nanny Tan was very convinced by Master Yangxuan. “He just looked at my face and said that I would have a new grandson in my family this year. Ha! He was spot on!”

Shi Anxia also laughed. “Master Yangxuan does have some real skills.”

“But he actually listens to you, Miss,” Nanny Tan said, being Shi Anxia’s staunchest supporter because she trusted Master Yangxuan. “I followed your instructions and told him, and he agreed right away. He even said that you were using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and asked if you could assign him more important tasks in the future.”

Everyone listened intently.

Mainly because Nanny Tan’s expressions were so captivating. “Heavens, assign! He said to let Miss assign him tasks!”

Shi Anxia deliberately revealed a little, “Mm, Master Yangxuan and I are old acquaintances.”

All the nannies present became solemn and even more respectful of Shi Anxia from the bottom of their hearts.

The second matter was that Bei Hui timed her visit to the restaurant to find their Second Master, Shi Chengxuan, and had him hurry to the Wei family to meet Lord Jiang.

Too early would not do, too late would not do either. The timing had to be just right for things to succeed.

After that, the groups led by Nan Yan and Hong Que had accompanied Shi Anxia to the Wei family. Everyone chimed in, vividly describing Concubine Wen’s embarrassment at the time.

Everyone burst into laughter.

As each group recounted their part, it became clear that all these seemingly small matters had together accomplished the great thing Miss wanted to achieve.

If any link had gone wrong, today’s outcome would not have been possible. Not to mention, there was even an unexpected bonus at the end-Concubine Wen had stirred up public anger on her own and caused such a scene that it needed to be taken to the authorities.

Everyone happily reviewed each detail, talking over each other, and the Maids especially benefited greatly.

When they dispersed, everyone was satisfied.

Especially the nannies, who were as energized as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

They had served their masters and handled affairs all their lives, but never had they experienced a night like this-reporting to their Miss as if they were officials reporting to the Emperor, learning from each other, offering suggestions, and sharing their own ideas.

As for Shi Anxia, it felt as if she had returned to her previous life, sitting on the throne as Empress Dowager, with a group of ministers below her offering strategies and advice.

Since her rebirth, she had never felt as confident as she did now, ready to open up a new chapter in this life.

Just then, Bei Hui returned in a hurry to report, “Miss, Anrou has returned from Gan Zhou.”

Shi Anxia looked up. “She’s back, so be it. Is that worth reporting?”

Bei Hui leaned in mysteriously and whispered, “No, Miss, she was personally escorted back to the mansion by Your Highness Prince Jin.”

Shi Anxia’s heart gave a heavy thump-Prince Jin!