First Phoenix Lady - chapter 2

Chapter 2

Concubine Wen’s hand was tightly pinned in midair by that unfamiliar mama, unable to move.

A stern voice rang in her ear, “A concubine from the Marquis Mansion who can’t even appear in public, yet dares to casually strike someone from the Duke of State Protection Mansion-did you learn your manners from a dog?”

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Nanny Liu hurried forward to help her mistress break free from the restraint. “It seems the rules of the Duke of State Protection Mansion aren’t much better-a mere servant dares to…”

Shi Anxia concealed the cold glint in her eyes and slowly stepped out from the shadows. “Nanny Zeng was invited here from the Duke of State Protection Mansion with great effort to help us. Is it Nanny Liu who has an opinion, or Concubine Wen? Perhaps we should discuss this in front of Grandmother?”

At this, Concubine Wen calmed down.

To keep arguing with a servant would only damage her reputation. Besides, the other party was from the Duke of State Protection Mansion-if things escalated, she would be the one to suffer.

She forced a conciliatory expression, looking quite aggrieved. “This is all a misunderstanding. Let’s leave it at that and not disturb the Old Madam’s rest.”

Shi Anxia’s lips curled into a faint, indifferent smile. “Concubine Wen, you’d best not make things difficult for people from the Duke of State Protection Mansion in the future. They were invited here with great difficulty, for the sake of my mother’s reputation. The Marquis Mansion is short-handed these days-you should know that better than anyone.”

A few days ago, Madam Tang had requested that the Marquis Mansion send more people to help with the Funeral Rites, but Concubine Wen wanted the Duke of State Protection Mansion to send people to give Shi Yunxing more face. She used the excuse of being short-staffed and told Madam Tang to figure it out herself.

Concubine Wen was left stifled, unable to find a reason to retort, and could only change the subject awkwardly. “Did Master Hongda just come by?”

Shi Anxia gave no clear answer, unwilling to reveal anything.

Concubine Wen pressed, “Then why did he leave in less than half a stick of incense?”

Shi Anxia gathered her long cloak and replied coldly, “Concubine Wen, please return. Don’t ask about what you shouldn’t, and don’t meddle in what isn’t your concern. Some matters are not for a concubine to worry about.”

“You!” Concubine Wen was so angry she nearly fainted. “Shi Anxia, don’t forget who is in charge of this household…”

“Pa!” Nanny Zeng couldn’t hold back and slapped Concubine Wen across the face. “No manners! Do you think you, a mere concubine, can call the young lady by her given name?”

Shi Anxia looked on coldly. “Indeed, a concubine who doesn’t act like one! Or do you mean to say that the dignified Marquis Mansion is run by a concubine like you?”

Concubine Wen, furious and flustered, covered her face, unable to utter a word in rebuttal. She could only snap, “Nanny Liu, let’s go!”

It was true she had managed the household for years, but on the surface, it was always the Old Madam who took the lead. If word got out that the Marquis Mansion was run by a concubine, the family’s reputation would be ruined.

The Old Madam had repeatedly warned her to keep a low profile and never give others a handle against her. The servants in the mansion had also been strictly admonished.

She had only tried, in a moment of desperation, to use her authority as housekeeper to suppress Shi Anxia. After all, they only ever treated her as a concubine.

That wretched girl-who knows what got into her-suddenly started going against her.

She was never like this before. Perhaps she had tasted the sweetness of authority and, having just gained the right to oversee the Funeral Rites, was already getting cocky.

Truly, such a shallow girl!

Concubine Wen walked slowly, and heard behind her Shi Anxia instructing Nanny Zeng, “I need to leave the mansion now to invite Master Yangxuan to perform rites for my brother. I’ll trouble you and Steward Liao to take care of things here.”

Nanny Zeng replied respectfully, “You flatter me, Miss. This old servant will do her utmost. Before we left, our madam instructed us to follow your orders in all things.”

Only after walking some distance did Concubine Wen ask, “Master Yangxuan? That famous feng shui master in the Capital? Last time the Old Madam asked me to invite him to look at the house, it took several days of sending invitations before he finally replied that he was unavailable. Now, going to invite him at this hour-can he really be persuaded to come? Let’s hope it doesn’t delay the auspicious time for the soul-calming rites.”
Nanny Liu echoed, “Yes, we mustn’t delay the hour. But if Miss Anxia goes to invite someone in the name of the Duke of State Protection Mansion, perhaps it might work.”

Concubine Wen was flustered and distraught, tears streaming as she whispered, “I hope it works… My poor son!” By the end of her crying, she grew fierce, her eyes bloodshot. “That Wei Family Girl must be buried with my son!”

That night, wind and snow raged, and the Marquis Mansion was brightly lit.

Concubine Wen finally heard good news: Master Yangxuan had arrived.

Her heart was finally at ease. Being able to perform the soul-calming rites before midnight was considered an auspicious time.

Just as she dozed off from exhaustion, dawn was nearly upon them.

Shi Anxia did not sleep the entire night.

At dawn, the Memorial Hall in the Marquis Mansion was dismantled, and the coffin was carried out through the back door, its destination unknown.

When Old Madam Shi and Concubine Wen received the news after sunrise, even the white lanterns and plain gauze along the Covered Corridor had been thoroughly removed.

Shi Anxia, supporting Madam Tang, had just stepped into the old madam’s courtyard when she heard Concubine Wen complaining loudly, “Aunt, what exactly are Madam Tang and her daughter trying to do? It’s only the fourth day! Everything’s been removed! All the people are gone, and all the funeral items have been taken away.”

Concubine Wen could not be bothered to hide her feelings now, sobbing and wailing in grief. “Four days! It’s only the fourth day! The Funeral Rites aren’t even halfway done, and it’s all been handled so carelessly, so hastily…”

Shi Anxia and Madam Tang perfunctorily saluted Old Madam Shi, whose face looked extremely unpleasant, then sat down on the chairs to the side.

Shi Anxia dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice tinged with fatigue and hoarseness. “Concubine Wen truly cares deeply for Brother Yun Xing. Someone who didn’t know might think it was Concubine Wen’s own son who died.”

Concubine Wen was startled by these words, her wailing abruptly stuck in her throat.

Old Madam Shi, hearing this, felt guilty and tried to smooth things over. “Who in this mansion doesn’t care about Xing Ge’er? Concubine Wen is the softest-hearted, so her grief is understandable.”

Shi Anxia sneered inwardly, but her face remained obedient. “Grandmother is right. Concubine Wen was so distraught over my brother’s death that she personally whipped Brother Yun Qi. It shows Concubine Wen respects the legitimate line and understands propriety, and her feelings are sincere.”

Mentioning this, Concubine Wen gritted her teeth in hatred, the anger in her heart having nowhere to go. “I wish he could have died in Xing Ge’er’s place!” She then looked at Shi Anxia with resentment. “If he hadn’t gone to save you, he wouldn’t have neglected Xing Ge’er’s life!”

Madam Tang said calmly, “My Xia’er’s life is a life too.”

Concubine Wen blurted out without thinking, “Of course the legitimate son’s life is more important.”

Madam Tang ignored her, only raising her eyes to look at Shi Anxia, instructing, “After all, it was Qi who saved your life. From now on, you must treat Brother Qi as your own brother, do you hear me?”

Shi Anxia obediently replied, “I understand, Mother. I will treat Brother Yun Qi well.”

Concubine Wen was nearly driven mad by the mother and daughter’s back-and-forth.

But Old Madam Shi saw things differently.

Last night, she heard that the Duke of State Protection Mansion had sent people to help with the Funeral Rites, and that Master Hongda had been invited to perform soul-calming rites. She was satisfied with Madam Tang and her daughter.

But somehow, overnight, the Memorial Hall was dismantled and the coffin was gone.

She thought there must be something hidden behind this, so she asked Madam Tang, “Tell me, why were the Funeral Rites withdrawn before the period was complete?”

Before Madam Tang could reply, she began to cry sincerely.

Shi Anxia had no choice but to step forward, comforting her mother while answering Old Madam Shi, “Grandmother, here’s what happened…”