First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 31

Tang Chujun’s expression did not soften in the slightest at her daughter’s explanation; she simply sat in silence, sulking.

Old Madam Shi, however, nodded and sighed deeply, following the thread of the conversation to offer comfort. “Chujun, Xing has already left us. It was his misfortune; don’t dwell on it.”

As she spoke, she was completely calm, without a trace of attachment to her grandson.

Just a useless person!

Tang Chujun sneered inwardly, but outwardly pretended to choke back sobs. “Yes.”

Seeing that Tang Chujun was willing to listen, Old Madam Shi’s tone softened considerably. “Qi and Xing were born on the same day and are the same age. The fact that you’re upset for Qi shows you’re a kind-hearted legitimate mother. Qi is pitiful. Since that’s the case, why not allow this poor child to be raised at your knee? If he thrives, you’ll have someone to rely on in the future. Isn’t that good?”

Tang Chujun did not reply, instead looking at Shi Anxia.

Shi Anxia understood and gently persuaded, “Mother, although Brother Yun Qi is Concubine Wen’s son, you’ve seen for yourself how poorly Concubine Wen treats him. Their mother-son bond has long been severed. Besides, Brother Yun Qi is grateful and knows how to repay kindness. If you treat him well, he will feel it. You needn’t worry too much.”

Tang Chujun nodded silently, seeming to acquiesce.

Old Madam Shi breathed a sigh of relief and remarked, “All children born to concubines should originally be considered the children of the legitimate wife.”

Tang Chujun suddenly asked seriously, “Mother, you seem quite concerned about whether your daughter-in-law will accept Qi.”

Old Madam Shi, though somewhat guilty, answered with confidence this time. “Qi is exceptionally talented, a promising child, and the only one who can bring glory to our Marquis Mansion. If he is registered under your name, I can rest assured.”

Tang Chujun thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “Mother is right. Relying on my husband is unreliable; it’s already fortunate if he doesn’t squander the Marquis Mansion.”

Old Madam Shi, “…” You really know how to provoke me-your husband is at least my only son!

Tang Chujun agreed, “It’s not impossible for Qi to become the legitimate eldest son, but I must amend the family register and host a banquet for the noble families, so that all the influential people in the Capital know that my son is Shi Yunqi.”

Old Madam Shi looked troubled. “Amend the family register…” That’s very difficult!

The ancestral records of the Northern Wing’s noble families are different from traditional ones.

Traditional genealogies have always held that only one surname is allowed per record, listing only the male line, with women mentioned briefly or even omitted.

But the Shi family’s genealogy is not an ordinary one; it is the record of a noble family.

Since the founding of the Northern Wing, any family granted titles or peerage has had a special genealogy to record their lineage.

It includes not only the male line but also the female line.

Women who have made no contribution to the family are simply glossed over. But those who hold a significant position in the family have a dedicated page, recording their descendants to bring honor to their maternal family.

For example, if a daughter of a noble family becomes Empress and gives birth to a Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince ascends the throne to become Emperor, then her maternal family becomes the Empress’s family, the Emperor’s foundation.

This is the importance of the noble family’s genealogy, which makes it very difficult to amend. Especially in the early days of the Northern Wing, the stability of the court and the nation depended entirely on the strength of the noble families, making it even more impossible for them to alter their genealogies at will.

In short, amending the genealogy is, in a word, difficult!

Seeing this, Tang Chujun immediately became displeased. “If the genealogy isn’t amended, he can’t be considered my son! I won’t take on the thankless task of being the legitimate mother!”

“You! Why do you always…”

Tang Chujun looked as if she refused to suffer any loss. “If Mother agrees, I will raise Qi as my own son and even ask my father to let Qi attend the Clan School at the Duke’s Mansion. If not, tomorrow I’ll have Qi move out! From now on, I’ll devote myself to raising Shu!”

Old Madam Shi’s heart rose and fell. “Fine, fine, I agree. I’ll go discuss amending the genealogy with your father in a moment.”

She had once advised Madam Tang to let Xing attend the Clan School at the Duke’s Mansion, but Madam Tang refused, preferring to spend more silver on outside academies.

How could outside academies compare to the Clan School at the Duke’s Mansion? That school was established generations ago by several Duke’s Mansions working together, all to ease the Emperor’s burdens.
Students who graduate from the Clan School of the Duke’s Mansion can be valued and promoted even if they do not participate in the Imperial Examinations.

Old Madam Shi has coveted this for many years.

However, since she had promised her daughter-in-law to amend the genealogy, how could she bring this up with the clan elders of the Shi family? Worried, she returned to He’an Courtyard to rest for a while, then went to the Old Marquis’s quarters.

The Old Marquis was not in good spirits. When he saw his wife arrive, he forced himself to sit up, leaning crookedly against his pillow. “Has something happened?”

Old Madam Shi saw the Old Marquis’s eyes clouded and his hair even whiter than before. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and she could only sigh, “It suddenly occurred to me that I’ve been married to you for more than forty years. How quickly time flies.”

The Old Marquis was taken aback and grunted in response.

“Old Marquis… have you ever regretted marrying me?” Old Madam Shi reached out and held the Old Marquis’s bony hand, feeling a wave of sadness.

The Old Marquis frowned, coughed a few times, and asked again, “Did something happen today?”

Old Madam Shi shook her head, forcing back her tears. “You are overthinking it. I just feel… feel… tired.”

Besides being tired, there was also regret.

She should not have, out of selfishness, been persuaded by Wen Huiyi to switch the children, causing such a grave mistake. If she hadn’t done those things, perhaps today would not be as it is.

From the accounts handed over by Nanny Xing in recent days, it was clear that the Marquis Mansion had been running a deficit for years. Even with the utmost frugality, the silver on the books could only maintain a facade of prosperity for at most three months.

Even if Wen Huiyi returned what she had embezzled, it would be a drop in the bucket.

So she had planned to use Tang Chujun’s dowry, but after seeing Tang Chujun today, she became afraid.

That fear came from deep within her bones, the natural dread that those from humble backgrounds have toward the powerful families of the Capital.

Especially as a mother-in-law who first ruined her daughter-in-law’s marriage and then switched her son.

If the truth were ever revealed, she felt Tang Chujun would have her, the mother-in-law, flogged in public.

Exhausted and fearful-that was her current state.

But she could not find the slightest comfort from the Old Marquis, and suddenly wondered, for whom had she been toiling and worrying all these years?

She wanted to ask the Old Marquis if he could plead with the clan elders to amend the genealogy.

Before she could speak, she heard the Old Marquis say, “If you’re tired, then rest. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; let them make their own plans. The title can still be inherited for one more generation. As long as I don’t make any mistakes, I’ve done right by our ancestors.”

Old Madam Shi: “…”

Not a word in common! Look at him-this lifeless attitude, that’s how he’s lived his whole life!

She got up and left.

The Old Marquis, however, was thinking about that question: “Have you ever regretted marrying me?”

Regret? Of course he regretted it!

After his first wife died, he married Wen Ruqin as his second wife.

The reason for marrying her was rather laughable: when he was on assignment in Gan Zhou, he happened to meet her and found that she resembled his late wife.

It wasn’t that his feelings for his late wife were particularly deep, but in those days, he kept dreaming of her agonized cries during childbirth, making it impossible for him to sleep at night.

He thought it might be some kind of omen.

Besides, for him, there were no good marriage prospects left in the Capital, so marrying the legitimate daughter of a prominent family from another region was considered a good match.

Later, he realized that insomnia was just insomnia-marrying anyone wouldn’t cure it.

After she entered the household, the Old Marquis noticed the difference.

An outsider is still an outsider; even the legitimate daughter of a prominent family from another region still had a petty air about her.

Scheming, yet foolish-completely incomparable to the noble ladies of the Capital.

To say he didn’t regret it would be a lie.

Especially with the Shi clan elders constantly nagging in his ear, making him even more annoyed.

After Old Madam Shi left, she wandered around the Marquis Mansion for a long time, only to find withered branches, faded furnishings, and a sense of decay everywhere.

By contrast, the Begonia Courtyard she had just visited was full of vitality, appearing especially bright and warm.

She paused in her steps and saw another beautiful scene.

On the plaque above the main gate of the courtyard, clusters of red plum blossoms were inlaid, and several large characters danced in the wind and snow: Xia Shi Courtyard.