First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 30

Old Madam Shi was indeed involved in the child swap, but she had never intended for Qi to suffer like this.

Whether in the palm or on the back of her hand, it was all her own flesh and blood, both were her grandsons. No matter how ruthless she might be, she would never wish for her own grandson to endure such cruel torment.

She only wanted to allocate more resources belonging to the legitimate son to her own maternal family, hoping that her bloodline could benefit a little from the glory of the Duke’s Mansion.

She also hoped for the Marquis Mansion to prosper!

Old Madam Shi was consumed with anger and anxiety, struggling to catch her breath. “Such sin! Such sin!”

Tang Chujun’s expression was icy as she reiterated, “I, your daughter-in-law, have long neglected the affairs of the mansion and have failed to manage the inner quarters, which has allowed the concubines to develop vicious habits. From this day forth, I must reestablish proper rules in the Marquis Mansion. I ask for Mother’s support.”

Old Madam Shi’s mind was in turmoil, unable to describe her feelings. Looking at Madam Tang, who had suddenly become assertive, she did not know if this was good or bad.

She felt a strange sense of having her mind clouded, as if some invisible force was pushing her forward.

Turning her head, she saw Wen Huiyi’s ashen face. She had no time to think further, and raised her cane, bringing it down on Wen Huiyi’s head.

The strike was firm and landed squarely on Concubine Wen’s head.

A shrill scream sounded as Concubine Wen clutched her bleeding forehead. The wound on her forehead had never healed, and now it ached unbearably.

Yet the pain in her body was nothing compared to the terror in her heart.

Concubine Wen knew Shi Yunqi’s injuries could no longer be hidden. She had no choice but to kneel and sob, “Qi’er, Mother did this for your own good, afraid you would amount to nothing, afraid you would not turn out well, so I strictly disciplined you… Qi’er, Mother was wrong! I am just a concubine and have no status in this Marquis Mansion. I only wanted to push you to succeed, and didn’t dare let you slack off even for a day… Qi’er, Mother was wrong. Please, forgive Mother.”

Tang Chujun frowned, her voice cold, “Slap her!”

Nanny Zhong stepped forward and delivered several slaps to Concubine Wen’s face.

Tang Chujun continued, “As a lowly concubine, what right do you have to call yourself ‘Mother’? From now on, when referring to Young Master Qi, you must address him as ‘Young Master Qi’! If you can’t remember, then you’ll be beaten until you do!”

This time, Old Madam Shi did not shield Wen Huiyi.

She was thoroughly enraged. Others might not know this niece’s true nature, but she certainly did.

In the past, they were all in the same boat, so she had turned a blind eye. But now Wen Huiyi wished to prevent Qi from becoming the legitimate son-she could not allow that.

Especially when she saw the unbearable wounds on Qi, anger surged in her heart. She brought her cane down again, striking Wen Huiyi’s right shoulder.

Concubine Wen, in pain, fell to her knees and threw herself before the bed, grabbing Shi Yunqi’s hand. A flash of viciousness flickered in her eyes as she clung tightly, “Young Master Qi, you are mine-no, you are your concubine mother’s dearest. Even if I die, I will never let you leave my side.”

Shi Yunqi, terrified, struggled to pull his hand free, his gaze full of hatred.

He was born to be a legitimate son. Even if he didn’t care for the glory that came with it, he would still care what sort of person his own mother was.

He had indeed been humble and felt inferior before.

But it was not because of his status as a concubine’s son, but because he had a venomous birth mother.

He pulled down his clothes, bracing himself to sit upright, then raised his cold eyes and said, “Concubine Mother did it for my own good, so she didn’t let me eat my fill? In summer, she cut my finger and rubbed salt in the wound; in winter, she wouldn’t let me sleep at night, making me kneel in the snow in thin clothes… And more. When I was twelve, Concubine Mother had Widow Ding… come and, and force herself upon me…”

He felt a wave of humiliation and bitterness rise in his throat.

But he did not cry. He forced himself to hold back, staring unwaveringly at Concubine Wen, his eyes filled with overwhelming hatred. “I refused Widow Ding, so Concubine Mother had a pit dug and tried to bury me alive… Tell me, what kind of mother would do this to her son? I truly wonder if I am even your biological child!”
Concubine Wen’s heart gave a violent thump.

Old Madam Shi’s heart also skipped a beat.

No one noticed the bottomless determination and chilling coldness in Tang Chujun’s dark eyes.

It was as if her son’s words had pierced a gaping hole in her heart, letting in a biting wind. Her voice was equally icy as she spoke: “Someone, drag Concubine Wen out and give her twenty strokes with the rod! Let this serve as a warning to others!”

Very soon, a servant stepped forward to seize Concubine Wen.

Concubine Wen screamed, pushing the servant away, and threw herself at Old Madam Shi’s feet. “Aunt, save me! Young Master Qi is slandering me! He hates me because I whipped him in a fit of anger after he failed to save Young Master Xing. He’s just saying this out of spite! Aunt, save me…”

“Chujun…” Old Madam Shi thought, with twenty strokes, even if she didn’t die, she’d lose half her life.

Tang Chujun looked over coldly. “Mother, this punishment must be carried out today. Otherwise, if the other concubines follow her example and treat the Marquis Mansion’s heirs like this, won’t everything fall into chaos?”

Old Madam Shi forced an awkward smile. “That… that’s not likely…”

“If Mother insists on shielding this lowly concubine today, then I, your daughter-in-law, will request a separation and leave the Marquis Mansion, never to concern myself with its affairs again!” Tang Chujun’s tone was cold and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Old Madam Shi’s heart trembled. She suddenly recalled how Xia had just said Tang Chujun was wholeheartedly planning for her husband’s sake, and immediately changed her stance. “There’s no need to go as far as separation. Chujun, you are the principal wife. You should have shown the bearing of the principal wife long ago and properly rectify the atmosphere in the Marquis Mansion.”

Tang Chujun sneered and bowed slightly. “I will naturally obey Mother’s wishes!” Then she shouted in a deep, angry voice, “Drag Concubine Wen out! Beat her!”

The word “beat” frightened Concubine Wen out of her wits, leaving her limp and powerless.

It was the first time Old Madam Shi had witnessed the authority of the Duke’s Mansion’s legitimate eldest daughter-no longer gentle and indifferent as before, but burning with furious anger.

For a moment, she wondered if Tang Chujun had discovered the truth about the child swap. Otherwise, why would she be so furious over a concubine’s son?

But she quickly dismissed the thought.

She reasoned that if Tang Chujun truly knew the truth, she wouldn’t have taken Yun Shu in to raise by her side.

Soon, screams echoed from the courtyard.

Thick rods landed one after another on Concubine Wen’s buttocks, each blow sounding dull and heavy.

Her outer cotton trousers were stripped off, leaving only a thin layer of white underpants for modesty.

After ten strokes, blood began to seep out. By the fifteenth, blood and underpants were already stuck together.

Fortunately, the punishment was carried out in the Marquis Mansion, and the servants wielding the rods were careful, striking only her buttocks and not causing internal injuries.

Thus, after twenty strokes, Concubine Wen fainted, but her life was not in danger.

Yet Tang Chujun’s anger was still not vented, her whole body tense with suppressed fury.

She hated herself! For so many years she had drifted through life, lamenting the passing of spring and autumn. Her son had been so close, yet forced to live in humiliation and misery for sixteen years!

Her heart shattered once again.

Old Madam Shi inexplicably saw a strange gloom in Tang Chujun’s eyes, making her heart palpitate for no reason. But when she looked again, she wondered if it was just her imagination.

Shi Anxia returned from handling affairs outside. By the time she hurried to Begonia Courtyard, the punishment was over and Concubine Wen had been sent back to Qiangwei Courtyard.

Only Old Madam Shi and Tang Chujun sat in the main hall, locked in silent confrontation.

After paying her respects, Shi Anxia gently tried to ease the atmosphere. “Grandmother, Mother has been feeling guilty these days. She keeps saying that if she had paid more attention to managing the inner residence, my brother wouldn’t have acted so recklessly and lost his life, and Yun Qi wouldn’t have been so badly hurt with no one knowing.”