First Phoenix Lady - chapter 3

Chapter 3

According to the customs of the Northern Wing Kingdom, on the third day after a person’s death, monks must chant sutras to pray for blessings, guide the departed soul, and settle the spirit.

Shi Anxia spoke gently, “Last night, I invited Master Hongda to the Marquis Mansion in the name of the Duke of State Protection Mansion to perform the rites. Who would have thought that after Master Hongda saw my brother’s birth date and eight characters, he shook his head and said he could not perform the rites, then left. Afterwards, I sought out Master Yangxuan. He examined my brother’s remains and said my brother should not have died so young, but he could not withstand the sudden, overwhelming fortune that came out of nowhere. By forcibly altering his fate, he met with this calamity.”

The air in the room was so tense that even the drop of a needle could be heard.

Shi Anxia lifted her confused eyes and looked at Old Madam Shi, “Grandmother, what does Master Yangxuan mean by this? What does it mean to forcibly alter one’s fate?”

Old Madam Shi awkwardly touched her forehead cloth, avoiding her granddaughter’s gaze, “You should only believe half of what a Feng Shui master says, never all of it.”

Shi Anxia nodded obediently, “Grandmother is right. But it’s better to believe it than not. Since this concerns Grandfather and Grandmother’s longevity and the fortune of the Marquis Mansion, I still listened to the Feng Shui master’s advice…”

Madam Tang timely burst into tears again, wiping her eyes in grief, “I disagree! I do not agree with you doing this!”

Shi Anxia hurriedly knelt down, leaning toward Old Madam Shi, her eyes red as she persuaded, “Mother, we must see the bigger picture. Though my brother is important, Grandfather and Grandmother’s health cannot be ignored, and the fortune of the Marquis Mansion must not be neglected.”

Old Madam Shi was confused-how did this matter come to involve her and Old Marquis’s health and the mansion’s fortune? She pulled Shi Anxia to her side and asked, “What exactly did Master Yangxuan say?”

Shi Anxia wiped away a tear, put away her handkerchief, and replied clearly, “Master said the Funeral Rites for my brother must be stopped immediately, and he cannot be buried in the ancestral tomb. Two men who can influence the fortune of the Marquis Mansion must personally bury my brother on Ling Mountain in the western suburbs. Otherwise, it will shorten Grandfather and Grandmother’s lifespan and affect the future prospects of the Marquis Mansion.”

Old Madam Shi feared death the most; cold sweat broke out on her back as she listened, “Then what are we waiting for? Hurry and find someone to bury him!”

Shi Anxia replied, “Originally, I wanted Father and Yun Qi to do it, but Father is not in the mansion. Master Yangxuan said there is no time to delay, so I could only ask Eldest Uncle and Yun Qi to send my brother to Ling Mountain.”

Concubine Wen was furious! What kind of place was Ling Mountain? It was the site of the mass grave! Only those of low birth were buried there!

Before she could speak, Madam Tang cried out again, “I disagree! I do not agree with you doing this! My Xing Ge’er was raised with care since childhood-how can he be buried in a place like Ling Mountain?”

Old Madam Shi waved her hand, “You said it yourself, Xing Ge’er was raised with care! Now that he is gone, it’s just right for him to nurture his soul on Ling Mountain-maybe he’ll be reborn into a good family.”

At this moment, she had figured it out-a fallen illegitimate son was nothing compared to her own longevity and the future of the Marquis Mansion.

Concubine Wen was stunned and couldn’t get a word in. Everything she wanted to say had already been voiced by Madam Tang.

Shi Anxia glanced at Concubine Wen, lowered her head to hide the indifference in her eyes, “Yes, after all, the living are more important. Mother, as my brother’s birth mother, you must not secretly set up a memorial altar in your room, or it will also affect the Feng Shui of the Marquis Mansion.”

Madam Tang trembled with anger, “That! That is your own brother! How can you, how can you be so… I should never have entrusted Xing’er’s funeral to you.”

Shi Anxia shrank back toward Old Madam Shi, looking frightened after being scolded.

Old Madam Shi found her granddaughter especially pleasing today, putting the elders’ longevity above all else. She couldn’t help but take Shi Anxia’s hand to comfort her, “Don’t be afraid. With Grandmother here, no one can bully you.”
She raised her voice and ordered, “If anyone in the Marquis Mansion is found to have set up a private altar or incense table, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

Madam Tang wanted to say something more, but in the end, she held back, only lowering her head and silently shedding tears.

Concubine Wen could not understand no matter how hard she tried-how could the Old Madam, who had always doted on her legitimate grandson, become so heartless?

But at this moment, she dared not speak, only secretly making up her mind that she must find a way to kill Shi Yunqi and throw him to Ling Mountain to accompany her own son.

Seeing that everything had been explained clearly, Shi Anxia took the opportunity to support her mother and take their leave.

As they left, Madam Tang, still stifled with anger, shook off her daughter’s hand, refusing her support.

Shi Anxia could only look back helplessly at Old Madam Shi and purse her lips.

Old Madam Shi nodded and raised her voice in comfort, “There is no lasting grudge between mother and daughter. Be more understanding toward your mother.”

Shi Anxia obediently replied, “Grandmother, rest assured. I will stay by my mother’s side these next few days and not let her overthink.”

Old Madam Shi was relieved. With her granddaughter watching over her, Madam Tang would probably calm down a bit.

Once the mother and daughter had gone far, Old Madam Shi dismissed the servants and instructed her trusted Nanny Li to investigate the truth.

After Nanny Li left, Concubine Wen seized the opportunity to speak in a sorrowful tone, “Aunt…”

Old Madam Shi, furious, slapped her across the face. “It’s all your fault! Back then, you insisted that I help you swap the children. And what was the result? Your son’s wretched life couldn’t bear such overwhelming fortune and died young! What a sin! You even ruined the feng shui of my Marquis Mansion!”

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case!

Ever since the two children were swapped, nothing had gone smoothly in the Jian’an Marquis Mansion. Her son, Shi Chengxuan’s official career, was a complete mess, making it hard for her to even ask the Marquis to name Shi Chengxuan as heir.

Concubine Wen covered her face. “Maybe that girl just made it up to deceive you?”

“Fool! How could she possibly use something like this to deceive me?” Old Madam Shi rebuked angrily. “Xing Ge’er is her own brother, Tang Chujun’s own son! No one wants Xing Ge’er to be well more than they do!”

Concubine Wen wanted to say that perhaps something had leaked, and they had learned the truth, so they were deliberately acting this way. But looking at Old Madam Shi’s selfish and harsh face, she forcibly swallowed her words.

Back then, when she proposed swapping the children, Old Madam Shi immediately agreed at the thought that the Marquis Mansion’s legitimate grandson would be of her own bloodline, without the slightest hesitation.

Now that something had gone wrong, all the blame was placed on her alone. Tell me, as a mere concubine, could she have swapped the children so easily?

Nanny Li lifted the curtain and entered, lowering her eyes and reporting softly, “Master Hongda did indeed come to the Memorial Hall last night. He didn’t stay for even half a stick of incense before leaving in a hurry with the monks. Later, Miss Anxia sent someone to invite Master Yangxuan, but he was difficult to invite, so Miss Anxia personally went out of the mansion at midnight to bring him back.”

Although Shi Anxia had surrounded the Memorial Hall, there were still quite a few Marquis Mansion servants working inside. These matters were not hard to inquire about and could not be faked.

Old Madam Shi had not suspected much to begin with, and now, having received the report, her last bit of doubt was dispelled.

Nanny Li added, “I heard that Master Yangxuan is now accommodated in the guest courtyard. Miss Anxia said she wants Master Yangxuan to check the feng shui of our Marquis Mansion and see if anything needs adjusting.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shi felt completely at ease.

Master Yangxuan had once refused her invitation. Now he was actually residing in the Marquis Mansion, most likely out of respect for the Duke of State Protection Mansion.

She also thought of how decisive her granddaughter was-when it concerned the elders’ longevity and the future of the Marquis Mansion, she withstood the pressure and swiftly removed the mourning hall, showing she was someone who could shoulder responsibility.

Old Madam Shi couldn’t help but nod. “This girl is better than her mother.”

Concubine Wen wept with hatred but dared not say a single bad word about Shi Anxia.