First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 33

Bei Hui was not very old either, only fifteen. It was her first time killing someone, and her whole body was trembling.

Shi Anxia was even more frightened, stunned like a mute wooden figure, struggling to drag the corpse up the mountain.

It was at this moment that two people came down from the mountain.

Bei Hui wanted to hide. But Shi Anxia kept dragging the corpse forward, moving faster and faster.

Bei Hui was so scared she burst into tears, and cried out her name, “Chujun! Chujun! Stop! Chujun, stop!”

It was these few shouts that made the two people quickly approach them.

One of them was her uncle, Shi Chengyi.

Old Madam Shi was hearing these things for the first time, so shocked that her hair stood on end and her back was covered in sweat.

Her granddaughter, however, remained calm, and even the maid Bei Hui standing behind her wore the same indifferent expression.

Shi Anxia asked, “Grandmother, do you suspect your granddaughter’s bloodline is impure?”

Old Madam Shi felt a chill in her heart. “No, I do not suspect it.”

Shi Anxia gave a cool smile. “It’s normal for Grandmother to have doubts, but this heart-shaped birthmark on the back of my neck has been verified by the imperial physicians; it cannot be faked. Besides, this face of mine is a complete replica of my mother’s. Grandmother need not worry.”

Old Madam Shi knew she was telling the truth.

Even without the birthmark, if mother and daughter stood together, anyone with eyes could see they were truly mother and daughter.

In fact, what she was worried about was something else. “You should be very grateful to your uncle.”

Shi Anxia did not deny it. “Yes, if not for Uncle, I would still be wandering the world, suffering humiliation. However,” she paused, then continued slowly, “gratitude is one thing, but I care more about my future status and position. If our Second Branch inherits the title, whether it’s marriage or anything else, my life will be completely different. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Of course,” Old Madam Shi nodded in approval. “You are much more clear-headed than your mother.”

“My mother does not like my father, so naturally she only wishes for peace and quiet.”

Old Madam Shi, “…” That was a bit too direct.

Shi Anxia continued, “So even if our Second Branch inherits the title, we must still show enough tolerance to Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle. When the Marquis Mansion prospers, everyone prospers; when it suffers, everyone suffers. No great family ever stands alone. Only when the whole clan thrives can the Marquis Mansion flourish.”

Old Madam Shi was deeply shaken, feeling for the first time that the glory of the Marquis Mansion was so close to her.

She raised her head, widening her eyes to get a clear look at her granddaughter before her.

The child’s features were truly identical to Madam Tang’s.

But the difference was, Madam Tang was too thin, always gloomy, and her face carried a trace of bitterness.

Her granddaughter, on the other hand, had a round, bright face, and every frown and smile revealed determination and courage. Her gaze was deep and calm, as if nothing could disturb her.

Sometimes, even her occasional smile made the world seem to burst into bloom.

“If you were to manage the household, what would you most like to do?” Old Madam Shi’s guard had already dropped. Asking this was only out of curiosity.

Shi Anxia replied in a steady voice, “I wish to establish a Clan School for the Marquis Mansion, not only so that all the younger generation of the clan can study, but also to make a name for ourselves in the Capital. The students of the school will participate in the Competitive Examination, take the path of the Imperial Examinations, and bring honor to the Marquis Mansion. What does Grandmother think?”

Old Madam Shi had imagined many things, but never expected her granddaughter to have such ambitions.

Shi Anxia was not done painting her vision. “I also want to teach according to each person’s ability, let clan members learn business and martial arts. If I’m not mistaken, the Marquis Mansion has been running a deficit for years and is already living off its capital.”

What she didn’t say was that Concubine Wen, who managed the household accounts, only cared about lining her own pockets and not the survival of the Marquis Mansion as a whole.

But how could Old Madam Shi truly not know? Just now, she had been counting on her fingers, realizing that the silver on the books would only maintain appearances for three more months.
She truly suffered!

Although she was born the legitimate daughter of a prominent family in Gan Zhou, all she ever learned from a young age were needlework, the four arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and the teachings of supporting one’s husband and raising children. At most, she could excel at managing the inner residence.

It was only after marrying the Old Marquis as his second wife that she realized the Marquis Mansion was but an empty shell.

By the time it reached the Old Marquis’s generation, the Marquis Mansion had achieved nothing and possessed no military merit. Not only did they hold no real power, but even the family property was not worth mentioning.

Over the years, Old Madam Shi had invested much of her own dowry, as well as a considerable portion of the late first wife’s dowry, just to barely maintain the dignity of the Marquis Mansion.

She could feel her own strength waning day by day, and Madam Tang cared for nothing.

Thinking that Xing was, after all, Concubine Wen’s own flesh and blood, and that Concubine Wen would surely stand by Xing’s side in the future, Old Madam Shi handed the Household Management Authority over to Concubine Wen as a token of goodwill towards her own family.

She reckoned that even if Concubine Wen lined her own pockets a bit, it was merely moving money from one pocket to another; in the end, it would all fall into Xing’s hands, so she let things be.

But the situation was different now. Xing was dead, and Qi had become the legitimate son.

Not only would Concubine Wen not help Qi, she might even try to trip him up.

Old Madam Shi would never allow such a thing to happen.

She wanted to seize power, but what she hoped for was the prosperity of the Second Branch.

As long as the Second Branch flourished and inherited the title without trouble, why would she bother with internal strife? Naturally, she hoped the entire Marquis Mansion could develop, and ideally, all the clan members would come to support their Second Branch.

At the end of the day, she was selfish and shortsighted, but her wish for the Marquis Mansion to thrive was also genuine.

Shi Anxia understood her grandmother’s thoughts well, which was why she spoke so earnestly to her.

In her previous life, Old Madam Shi had successfully secured the inheritance of the title for her son, Shi Chengxuan, making him the new Marquis of Rong’an.

Indeed, marquises of the current dynasty could not fully inherit the title without merit.

To maintain balance, the Emperor would demote the title, gradually weakening the power of established noble families until they finally faded into dust in history.

After Shi Chengxuan inherited the title, it was only a few years before he caused a scandal that could not be resolved.

At the time, Shi Anxia, who was still Prince Jin’s Side Consort, took the opportunity to enter the palace and petition the Emperor to replace him, directly elevating her uncle, Shi Chengyi, to become the new Marquis of Rong’an.

Shi Chengyi was also admirable; with his own effort and means, even if it meant exhausting the last drop of the clan’s blood, he was determined to protect Shi Anxia all the way to the pinnacle.

In the end, things did turn out as Old Madam Shi wished: the entire clan came to support their Second Branch. But she did not live to see that day.

Shi Anxia knew well that the people of the Marquis Mansion were neither lacking in courage nor in talent, but their wings had been clipped and their development stifled by a shortsighted woman like Old Madam Shi.

Seeing the deeply moved look on Old Madam Shi’s face, Shi Anxia knew her words had struck home.

She continued to paint a vision: “Those with talent in the martial arts can pursue the path of generals; those with a knack for commerce can earn wealth for the family. We are born at a good time-His Majesty now allows merchants to hold office. But the various noble families care too much for their reputation, believing that engaging in commerce tarnishes their noble status, so they only conduct business in secret, never gaining real momentum. But I don’t see it that way. I have known poverty; I know how important silver is, and I also know no one ever complains of having too much money. So I wish to become the one and only Imperial Merchant.”

Imperial Merchant! Old Madam Shi’s ears rang at the words. Though she knew her granddaughter was painting an enticing vision, it did not stop her from imagining a beautiful future.

Especially when she saw how calm and steady her granddaughter’s speech and manner were-this heart, once filled with doubt, gradually found peace.

With emotions surging, she left Xia Shi Courtyard and said to Nanny Li, who accompanied her, “Go and call for Nanny Xing. It’s time Wen Huiyi’s accounts were settled.”