First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 34

Bei Hui asked in a low voice, “Miss, this time Grandmother should willingly hand over the Household Management Authority, right?”

Shi Anxia smiled and shook her head. “Difficult! You don’t understand what kind of person Grandmother is. But the cake has already been drawn so big for her; if she doesn’t hand it over, she’ll feel uneasy. It’s just that once the Household Management Authority is given up, it’s truly hard to take it back. What a pity, this Marquis Mansion is nothing but a mess!”

“Since it’s a mess, why does Miss still want to take it over?” Bei Hui was puzzled.

In her opinion, Miss’s mother is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of State Protection Mansion. If she doesn’t take over this mess, she could live much better-why bother with all this effort?

Shi Anxia gazed at the dark sky outside the window and murmured, “It is indeed much easier to look after oneself alone…”

But she couldn’t forget how her uncle’s Maternal Family had given everything to support her in her previous life; nor could she forget her aunt, her third and fourth aunts’ families, and the good sons of the Shi family.

The Marquis Mansion was not good, even just an empty shell. Yet for many families, it was still a prestigious noble house that was hard to reach.

For example, her uncle’s Maternal Family had ancestors who were all merchants-wealthy, but without status. Marrying a daughter into the Marquis Mansion, being able to form such a connection, even in business outside, brought many benefits.

Unfortunately, her uncle’s mother died in childbirth, and this glory did not last long. This was a regret in the hearts of many in his Maternal Family.

Shi Anxia herself had plans, and so she began to slowly lay them out.

Let the ambitious sons display their talents, let the girls marry ideal husbands, and let the family regain its former glory-only then would she not waste this reborn youth.

As for wealth, power, and status-she had fought for them all her previous life, and it was enough. Besides, there was actually another world hidden within this Marquis Mansion.

Thinking this, her heart settled.

Bei Hui still had some doubts. “Miss, why did you reveal that we killed someone? Didn’t the young master say to keep it secret, so as not to tarnish your reputation?”

Shi Anxia’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Grandmother will keep it buried in her heart. She fears more that I would tarnish the Marquis Mansion’s reputation, so she won’t let a word slip. Especially now that Concubine Wen is no longer trusted by her.”

Bei Hui complained, “Miss, it was clearly me who killed the person, why do you insist on taking it upon yourself?”

“Because… even I have killed someone. Grandmother will know I’m ruthless and won’t dare to easily provoke me or my mother.”

The next day, Shi Anxia reported to her mother that she was going out to handle some affairs.

Tang Chujun agreed, only reminding her to take more people along, so she wouldn’t be bullied.

Shi Anxia smiled and complied with her mother’s wishes. Besides bringing Nanny Tan and Bei Hui, she also took several young attendants with her.

Soon, the carriage steadily drove out of the Marquis Mansion’s main gate.

The gatekeeper was especially attentive today. “Miss Anxia, take care. The weather is cold and the roads are slippery-please be careful on your journey.”

Shi Anxia lifted the carriage curtain, her bearing noble and elegant. She nodded slightly, then let the curtain fall.

A figure caught a fleeting glimpse and immediately ran toward the distant carriage.

“Miss, the young lady of the Marquis Mansion has finally left the house.”

“Go, follow that carriage,” came a gentle voice.

At the same time, Shi Anxia asked Bei Hui, “Is the carriage following us?”

Bei Hui replied, “Miss, it’s following.”

“Then hurry and get in the carriage, don’t catch a chill.” Shi Anxia always worried about Bei Hui’s poor health, her joint pains, and how she couldn’t stand the cold.

Actually, Bei Hui was quite healthy at this moment. She jumped into the carriage and playfully hugged her beloved Miss. “Don’t worry, Miss, Bei Hui won’t catch a chill.”
Shi Anxia could hardly distinguish between her past and present lives; all she knew was that seeing Bei Hui made her heart ache, and she couldn’t bear to see her suffer from the cold. Noticing the chill on Bei Hui, she hurriedly stuffed the hand warmer into her hands.

Bei Hui promptly returned the hand warmer to her. “Oh, my good girl, can’t you take better care of yourself? Ever since you fell into the water, the cold has invaded your body, and your cough hasn’t stopped.”

Shi Anxia listened to her nagging all the way, never growing impatient. She smiled gently, feeling that all the world’s beauty was contained in these words of concern.

Upon arriving at Fugui Tower, Shi Anxia chose the innermost private room to sit in.

Before long, the person from the carriage behind came looking for her.

The young lady was graceful and beautiful, her every gesture revealing excellent upbringing. “Cailing greets Miss Shi.”

Shi Anxia looked up, secretly startled once again, as if she had seen the relentless Consort Wei from her previous life.

Yet the beauty before her was gentle and unassuming, entirely without aggression, utterly different from Consort Wei.

“Miss Wei has waited outside my Marquis Mansion for several days. Is there something you wish to discuss?” Shi Anxia had Bei Hui pour a cup of hot tea and place it before her, speaking calmly, “Miss Wei, please sit and speak.”

Wei Cailing sat down as instructed, lowering her head and not daring to meet the noble lady’s eyes. “Cailing is deeply grateful to you, Miss Shi. Words cannot express my feelings. A few days ago, I went to the temple and prayed for a peace amulet, which I wish to give you as a token of my gratitude.”

What she didn’t mention was that she had knelt and copied scriptures for a whole day and night, moving Master Jiyuan, who happened to pass by.

This peace amulet was personally drawn by Master Jiyuan.

Shi Anxia took the amulet and glanced at it, her eyes subtly changing. Master Jiyuan had come to the Capital?

Master Jiyuan was the one who had sent her off at the end of her previous life.

At that time, Master Jiyuan had pressed his palms together at her deathbed. “The Empress Dowager has saved the nation from the brink, rescued countless people from disaster, and is a person of great merit. She is the blessing of the Northern Wing, the fortune of the people. May the Empress Dowager receive all she wishes for in her next life, untouched by wind and snow, unhurt by rumors, and live her years in peace.”

In fact, after her rebirth, Shi Anxia had once used Master Jiyuan’s name for personal matters.

When Master Hongda was invited to perform rites for Shi Yunxing, Shi Anxia had Bei Hui secretly deliver a letter.

The letter instructed Master Hongda to simply make an appearance at the Marquis Mansion and then leave, without staying to perform rituals.

The signature bore Master Jiyuan’s special mark, and Master Hongda did not suspect a thing.

Who would have thought that Wei Cailing could obtain a peace amulet from Master Jiyuan? She was truly a person of fate.

Shi Anxia smiled and said something rather enigmatic, “The cycles of fate are truly wondrous.”

Wei Cailing was deeply shaken, feeling as if she understood, yet also as if she didn’t. She stood and took a step back, bowing deeply to Shi Anxia, preparing to take her leave.

But Shi Anxia said, “I’ve said that I felt an instant kinship with Miss Wei, and I’d like to make that true.”

Wei Cailing was flustered. “Cailing dares not presume. Cailing knows Miss Shi only wishes to protect my reputation…”

“No, Miss Wei, you’re overthinking it.” Shi Anxia interrupted with a smile. “I simply think you are intelligent and kind, and worth befriending.”

Wei Cailing was overwhelmed by the favor, her ears turning red as she sat back down.

“I have some questions I’d like to ask Miss Wei.”

“Cailing will answer everything she knows, and hold nothing back.” These past few days, whenever Wei Cailing went out, she heard people discussing how the Miss Wei had bravely saved someone, and she blushed fiercely.

Now that Miss Shi had need of her, even if it meant braving fire and blade, how could she not do her utmost?