First Phoenix Lady - chapter 17

Chapter 17

Shi Anxia’s seemingly casual words deeply struck at Old Madam Shi’s sore spot.

She was the second wife of the Marquis Mansion, and had only one son, Shi Chengxuan, as well as two daughters.

Within the Marquis Mansion, the Old Marquis had four sons in total.

The eldest, Shi Chengyi, was born of the first wife; the second was Shi Chengxuan. The third and fourth sons were born of concubines.

Years ago, the Old Marquis had wanted to request the title of heir apparent for his legitimate eldest son, so that he could inherit the title smoothly.

Old Madam Shi panicked and came up with a way to make him fall ill before he could enter the palace to request the title. He was bedridden for half a year.

During those six months, Old Madam Shi stayed by his bedside day and night, and Shi Chengxuan also showed great diligence.

Old Madam Shi would constantly whisper in the Old Marquis’s ear, saying that the eldest son, Shi Chengyi, was always out drinking and feasting, living a debauched life and never caring about his father’s wellbeing.

After recovering, the Old Marquis was disheartened and never brought up the matter of requesting the heir apparent’s title again.

Old Madam Shi had schemed for over twenty years, all for Shi Chengxuan to become the heir of the Marquis Mansion.

Now, the Marquis was old and frail, bedridden, spending seven or eight days out of ten in a daze, ignoring worldly affairs.

A few days ago, when the Marquis heard that his grandson had died, he rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot. Even now, he drifts between lucidity and confusion, and no one knows if he might suddenly pass away.

Old Madam Shi must ensure that her son, Shi Chengxuan, secures the position of heir while the Marquis is still alive.

Yet reality is just as Shi Anxia said-Shi Chengxuan is utterly useless, spending all his time indulging in the affairs of the inner residence. He has seven or eight concubines and chamber maids, sometimes visiting several courtyards in a single night.

But didn’t Master Yangxuan say yesterday that her son’s career would be smooth, that he would soar to great heights and become a powerful minister? Then again, could it be that the privately set incense altar had truly wiped away all her son’s luck, leaving not a trace of good fortune?

For a moment, she felt both joy and sorrow, her heart filled with anxiety. She resolved to invite Master Yangxuan to resolve the matter, no matter the cost.

Old Madam Shi put down her teacup and took Shi Anxia’s hand, gently stroking it. “Sister Xia, it’s hard on you to worry about the family at such a young age. Grandmother knows you’re a good child, and will surely choose a good marriage for you in the future. Speaking of which, though the heir’s position is merely nominal, it will certainly benefit your future marriage prospects. Grandmother is old, and her greatest wish is simply for you all to be well.”

“Does Grandmother mean that we must fight for Father’s sake?” Shi Anxia looked up with innocent, bright eyes, soft and considerate.

Old Madam Shi nodded. “Grandmother had it all planned-once your brother grew older, he would directly… But man proposes, Heaven disposes, and now he’s gone.” As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

This was no pretense; after all, Shi Yunxing was sweet-tongued and always made her happy.

That rascal was also a master of double-dealing-shameless and wild outside, but once home, he appeared learned and ambitious, deceiving not only Madam Tang, but Old Madam Shi as well.

Shi Anxia was determined to tear away this veil of shame. “My mother spoils my brother too much. The attendants she chose for him are all schemers who lead him astray. I’ve investigated-my brother has long been rejected by all the major academies. No teacher is willing to instruct him.”

“What?” Old Madam Shi could not accept this.

Though her grandson was gone, in her heart he was still a talented youth, entrusted with the future of the Marquis Mansion.

And now she was being told that he was nothing but an ignorant, idle good-for-nothing?
Shi Anxia sighed deeply, her eyes lowered. “It’s not just that. Last year, my brother even got involved in a murder case. It took eight hundred taels to barely settle it.”

Old Madam Shi’s heart skipped a beat. “Eight hundred taels?”

Standing to the side, Concubine Wen’s expression changed dramatically.

Shi Anxia pretended not to notice and continued speaking at her own pace. “Yes, my brother took a fancy to a newlywed woman. She was virtuous and steadfast, refusing him to the death. In the end, my brother colluded with a group of ruffians and defiled her. The woman, overwhelmed with shame and anger, threw herself into a well the next day. Her husband took the jade pendant my brother had left behind and went to the yamen to accuse him. In the end, my brother used eight hundred taels of silver to hush up the matter.”

In her previous life, the woman’s husband, knowing that the powerful would protect each other and unable to avenge his wife, took the eight hundred taels and quickly left the Capital. He eventually worked hard and became an Imperial Merchant.

Eight years later, when Shi Anxia was treading on thin ice in the palace, this man, together with the imperial consorts, framed her, and she nearly died in the Cold Palace.

It was also said that every one of the ruffians who had once joined Shi Yunxing in defiling the woman died a miserable death.

In this life, she was already too late to save that poor woman, but she certainly did not want to become mortal enemies with this formidable future Imperial Merchant.

Every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor; whoever committed the sin should bear the consequences.

Shi Anxia asked sincerely, “Grandmother, was it you who paid that silver? My mother said she never gave that money.”

Just thinking about the eight hundred taels made Old Madam Shi’s teeth ache-it had come from her own private coffers.

Wasn’t it supposed to be for apprenticing under a great scholar? How did it end up settling a lawsuit?

Last year, when Concubine Wen came to Old Madam Shi for silver, she said Xing Ge’er wanted to apprentice under a great scholar and needed to buy a famous painting as a gift to please him.

That great scholar was Fang Yuchu, who had once been the Emperor’s enlightenment teacher. Later, due to old age and waning energy, he retired to enjoy his family and his twilight years.

Old Madam Shi was overjoyed at the name “Fang Yuchu,” thinking that if her legitimate grandson could apprentice under such a scholar, it would be much easier to have him granted the title of heir in the future.

She had originally planned to have Madam Tang provide the silver. But Concubine Wen said Madam Tang could not know about this, because Fang Yuchu had a personal grudge against the Duke of State Protection Mansion. She claimed she had pulled many strings to get the great scholar to agree.

Somehow, Old Madam Shi believed her and, with great reluctance, took out her own private silver to support her legitimate grandson.

At the time, her good grandson had sworn solemnly that he would work hard, make a name for himself, and be filial to his grandmother in the future.

But she never imagined the truth would be so disgraceful.

Old Madam Shi was so angry she wanted to smash a teacup over Concubine Wen’s head, but looking at the tea in the cup, she forced herself to hold back and asked in a low voice, “Speak! Was that eight hundred taels really used to settle a lawsuit?”

Concubine Wen’s legs gave out in fear, and she knelt before Old Madam Shi, crying, “Aunt, Xing Ge’er made a mistake and didn’t dare go to his mother, so he came to me. Could I just stand by and do nothing? I was afraid of frightening you, so I made up that story to deceive you.”

Shi Anxia glanced at Concubine Wen, her eyes utterly calm. She rose to take her leave. “Grandmother, you and Concubine Wen should talk. I must go check on my mother’s health, lest she be too upset.”

As she reached the curtain, she seemed to remember something and turned back. “By the way, I’ve called all the boys in the mansion to Begonia Courtyard. I thought they could spend more time with Mother, and then we can choose a suitable one to be raised under her name to fulfill filial duties. Our Second Branch of Marquis Mansion can’t possibly go without a legitimate son, don’t you agree?”