First Phoenix Lady - chapter 19

Chapter 19

The household management of the Marquis Mansion had been in Concubine Wen’s hands for years; every family and courtyard had to act according to her wishes.

In the early years, Old Madam Shi had considered giving the authority over the household to Madam Tang, but Madam Tang had married her son reluctantly.

Besides, she was rather delicate and pampered. Since entering the mansion, she would claim illness every few days and hide away in her own courtyard, refusing to see anyone.

Old Madam Shi herself was a second wife. Her natal family in Gan Zhou had some standing, but in the Capital, it was not enough to command respect. How could she openly make things difficult for her daughter-in-law and risk offending the Duke of State Protection Mansion?

So, over the years, even though she had shifted her favor to another son, she never regretted it. Sometimes, she even felt secretly pleased-so what if Madam Tang was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of State Protection Mansion? Wasn’t she still at Old Madam Shi’s mercy?

But now, things were different. The struggle for the title was imminent. Fate Restoration (restoring one’s fate/status) was the method Old Madam Shi thought most likely to break the deadlock.

If some tactless people, like Chen Mama and her ilk, happened to spread the word at such a critical moment that the Marquis Mansion was actually allowing a concubine to handle household management, not only would her son’s official career be affected, but what face would the Marquis Mansion have left?

Even worse, someone with ulterior motives could accuse them of favoring a concubine over a wife. The Emperor valued both law and propriety-the consequences would be unimaginable.

Old Madam Shi looked at her usually unassuming granddaughter, whose actions always suited her wishes and pleased her in every matter. She began to consider, “Sister Xia, in a blink, you’re already fourteen. After your coming-of-age next year, you’ll be of marriageable age. For now, let’s temporarily hand over the authority over the household in our Marquis Mansion to you. How about you learn to manage the household?”

Concubine Wen could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Aunt, Sister Xia… cough, Miss Anxia is still so young, just a child. How could she manage the household?”

A faint, almost imperceptible hint of indifference appeared at the corner of Shi Anxia’s lips.

She had once held the cold imperial city, the palaces of the former and present courts, and even the entire Northern Wing in the palm of her hand-what was a mere Marquis Mansion to her?

She had little regard for the Marquis Mansion, but she would not let Concubine Wen take advantage either. Besides, this was a gift she would eventually present to her Eldest Aunt-why not accept it?

She stood up and bowed lightly to Old Madam Shi. “Your granddaughter respectfully accepts.”

Old Madam Shi looked at her granddaughter, calm in the face of favor or humiliation, and felt greatly comforted.

With such courage and conduct, how could she not find a good marriage? The position of Princess Consort of Jin was now vacant-perhaps it was not out of reach.

When Shi Anxia left He’an Courtyard, she saw Chen Mama kneeling on the ground, already covered in snow. Nan Yan sighed, “Chen Mama, why do you insist on this? Wouldn’t kneeling in Mingsong Hall be better? Why must you kneel here in the freezing snow? I pity your weak legs, yet you don’t appreciate it.”

Chen Mama regretted it deeply. Had she known, she would have obediently knelt in Mingsong Hall. At least there were soft mats there, and no snow.

Her anger was stuck in her chest, but she dared not show it on her face.

She was furious at Old Madam Shi’s ruthlessness. If pushed too far, she might just reveal those unspeakable secrets and see who would suffer!

Shi Anxia ignored the dark glint in Chen Mama’s eyes, instead casting a sidelong glance at Nan Yan, who walked past Chen Mama without any change in expression.

She showed neither concern nor the slightest bit of sympathy.

Shi Anxia felt reassured; at this point, Chen Jinfu must not have had the chance to sweet-talk Nan Yan yet. She had to keep a close eye on this foolish girl, lest she ruin her life.

At this moment, Nan Yan’s mind was entirely on her mistress, her mood bright and cheerful. “Old Madam Shi is actually willing to hand over the authority over the household to you, Miss!”

Shi Anxia smiled. “Silly girl, it’s not that easy. This household won’t truly be in my hands.”
“Old Madam Shi just said it, didn’t she?” Nan Yan murmured. “Could she possibly go back on her word?”

Nanny Zheng laughed, “Old Madam Shi only said that in a moment of impulse-it can’t be taken seriously. Once she calms down, she’ll think it over carefully. Just wait and see.”

Nan Yan pouted, “Oh. I just think our young lady is the best fit to manage the household.”

Everyone was amused by her, and the group gracefully made their way toward Begonia Courtyard.

Today, Shi Anxia’s visit to He’an Courtyard seemed like idle chatter, but in truth, she had stirred up the calm surface-there were always some who couldn’t keep their composure.

She didn’t know that at this moment, someone was staring at her back in a daze, eyes surging with towering waves.

That person wore a black fox-fur cloak, her figure delicate, standing motionless at the corner by the entrance of Begonia Courtyard.

This was Shi Anrou, quiet as a wisp of air. She dug her nails hard into her palm, forcing herself to appear completely normal.

But her fear of Shi Anxia was etched into her bones-carved deep into her soul.

Could it be that Shi Anxia had also been reborn, just like her?

Or was Shi Anxia already this meticulous at this time? But even so, she couldn’t possibly know about the switch between Shi Yunqi and Shi Yunxing.

If it wasn’t rebirth, why was the situation in this life so completely different?

She clearly remembered that in her previous life, Shi Anxia took a long time to recover after falling into the water.

Shi Anrou was filled with unease.

Half a month ago, she was reborn and recalled that her own elder brother, Shi Yunxing, was soon to meet his death.

She immediately wrote a letter to Concubine Wen, hoping Concubine Wen could stop Shi Yunxing from going into the water.

As long as Shi Yunxing didn’t die, he would be her support in the future, and even the Duke of State Protection Mansion could be her backing.

But for some reason, the letter was delayed elsewhere. It only reached Concubine Wen the day after Shi Yunxing’s death.

By then, it was too late for anything.

Last night, when Shi Anrou returned to the manor, Concubine Wen questioned her through the night, asking how she knew Xing Ge’er would drown.

She only said she’d had a dream, saw the scene in her dream, so she wrote the letter and hurried back to the capital.

In the end, Concubine Wen slapped her, blaming her for not writing more letters, and for not sending such a life-saving message by urgent courier.

Ultimately, in Concubine Wen’s heart, this daughter was never important-only her son mattered.

When Concubine Wen slapped her, Shi Anrou thought viciously that it was just as well Shi Yunxing died; he wasn’t anything good anyway.

In fact, last night, His Highness Prince Jin hadn’t brought Shi Anrou back at all. It was just Prince Jin’s carriage, which was sending a distant cousin from the Shi family on an errand, and she happened to run into him.

She’d met that cousin a few times, so she played a little trick, saying her carriage had broken down and asked if he could take her home.

That cousin was an aide to Prince Jin, and since his errand wasn’t urgent, he agreed.

Shi Anrou considerately didn’t let the cousin get out to escort her, creating the impression for the gatekeepers that His Highness Prince Jin himself had brought her home.

She wanted Old Madam Shi and Concubine Wen to know that she’d caught Prince Jin’s eye, so she wouldn’t have to become a favored concubine in Prince Jin’s manor like in her previous life.

It sounded nice to be called a concubine, but in reality, she was just a bed-warming maid.

Otherwise, when Prince Jin became Emperor Rongguang, why would he not even grant her a title? She spent her whole life unable to lift her head, bullied by any palace maid.

This life, she was determined to rise above others, to marry Prince Jin with honor and glory.”