First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 37

The coachman also kept a watchdog at home, so he wasn’t afraid. He continued forward and tossed a piece of Plum Blossom Cake in front of the big black dog. “Eat up, eat up. Eat it and let us pass, will you?”

Unexpectedly, the big black dog didn’t even sniff at the Plum Blossom Cake. Instead, it wagged its tail with difficulty, stepped forward, and bit the coachman’s trouser leg, trying hard to drag him toward the nearby alley.

The coachman was surprised and quickly turned to look at his young lady.

Shi Anxia waved at him. “It means no harm. Just go with it and see.”

The coachman agreed, patted the big black dog’s head, and followed it into the alley.

A moment later, the coachman hurried out of the alley to report, “Miss, there’s someone passed out in the snow inside.”

The big black dog followed him out, anxiously circling around. Perhaps knowing that the person in charge was in the carriage, it barked hoarsely and urgently at the carriage a few times.

Seeing how intelligent the big black dog was, Shi Anxia felt a wave of tenderness rise in her heart. She thought, anyone who could raise such a dog surely couldn’t be a bad person.

She looked up at the sky-it was still snowing. If no one helped, that person would likely freeze solid in just a few hours.

After a moment’s thought, she ordered the coachman and the young servant walking beside the carriage to carry the person and place him inside.

Her carriage was very spacious, with two couches facing each other and a small collapsible table in the middle.

The coachman hesitated a little. After all, his young lady was an unmarried girl. If a strange man was put in the carriage, it could harm her reputation.

But Shi Anxia was bold and cheerful, joking, “Saving a life comes first. Buddha will protect me. Besides, Nanny Tan and Bei Hui are both here-what are you worried about?”

The coachman felt that her smile dispelled all the winter chill, so he quickly led the young servant into the alley.

The big black dog, dragging its weary body, followed them.

Only then did Shi Anxia notice that the big black dog’s leg was bleeding, leaving bright red drops in the snow.

When the servants managed to drag the unconscious man from the alley and curl him up on the couch, Shi Anxia finally saw that he was a pale-faced young man.

His eyes were closed, long lashes resting on his eyelids. His lips were cracked and bleeding, and there were several knife wounds on the back of his hand, oozing blood.

Nanny Tan said worriedly, “This… he’s probably a trained fighter, being hunted down. Miss, let’s just take him to the clinic and not get involved, so we don’t bring trouble upon ourselves.”

Shi Anxia had originally thought the same, so she gently agreed.

Right now, her attention was all on the big black dog.

The big black dog very sensibly curled up beside its master’s couch, as if afraid of taking up too much space, trying its best to make itself smaller.

Even so, the big black dog still took up a large part of the footrest in the middle.

Shi Anxia instructed the coachman to head to Tong’an Clinic, and the carriage rocked and swayed through the night.

Shi Anxia reached out and stroked the big black dog’s head, her eyes full of tenderness.

It reminded her of the dog called Mo Bao’er from her previous life, who had leapt in front of her and shielded her from a deadly poisoned arrow.

It died in her arms, and as it drew its last breath, it slowly wagged its tail and licked her hand.

In this life and the last, she often felt a sense of disorientation.

When they arrived at Tong’an Clinic, the young servant carried the man inside, and the big black dog followed closely behind.

Shi Anxia was an old acquaintance of the manager at Tong’an Clinic. After chatting briefly about Doctor Shen’s recent situation at the Marquis Mansion, she instructed, “Please use the best medicine you can for him. I’ll pay ten taels of silver up front-if that’s not enough, come to the Marquis Mansion for the rest. Oh, and that big black dog as well-please treat its wounds as best you can, all right?”
The shopkeeper asked, “Now that he’s recovered, should I have him go to the Marquis Mansion to find you?”

Shi Anxia shook her head decisively. “No need, and don’t mention the Marquis Mansion to him.”

The shopkeeper agreed, understanding that the young lady did not wish to stir up gossip.

The next day, after Shi Anxia woke up and finished her morning toilette, the old women and Maids came in to report on the matters they had handled over the past few days.

They were only halfway through when Chen Mama from He’an Courtyard came again to summon her.

This time, she was much more respectful, only daring to announce from outside the curtain, “Miss, the Old Madam Shi asks you to come over.”

Bei Hui lifted the curtain and replied, “Understood. Our young lady will be there shortly.”

Chen Mama cast a resentful glance inside through the half-open curtain, seeing the room full of people, and rolled her eyes inwardly.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were already managing the household! Practicing already! Hmph!

Bei Hui frowned. “Chen Mama, I think you’re cursing our young lady in your heart!”

Chen Mama was startled. “This old servant didn’t say a word!”

Bei Hui was very certain. “But you are cursing our young lady in your heart!”

Chen Mama: “…” She was so angry she didn’t want to speak. What I think in my heart, you want to control that too!

Bei Hui raised her eyebrows. “If you don’t want to kneel in the snow again, you’d better leave quickly! Last time, our young lady was kind enough to plead for you. If you don’t know how to be grateful and curse our young lady in your heart, don’t blame the Xia Shi Courtyard for being ruthless.”

As soon as she finished, Dong Li came out, cracked her knuckles, and the joints made a crisp sound.

Chen Mama fled in panic. Only after running a long way did she spit and mutter, “Bah! Bullying others with your master’s power! Your mistress hasn’t even said anything, and you two are already jumping up and down!”

By the time Shi Anxia strolled unhurriedly to He’an Courtyard, half an hour had passed.

Just as she reached the door, she heard a domineering voice from inside, “Sister-in-law! I call you sister-in-law today out of respect for you! Today you must…”

Then came Tang Chujun’s indifferent voice, “You don’t have to call me that, nor do you have to respect me. There’s nothing I must do.”

“Mother! Look! Look at her!” The person shouted even louder. “What kind of attitude is this!”

Nanny Li timely reported, “Old Madam Shi, Miss Anxia has arrived.”

As the words fell, Shi Anxia stepped into the room.

She had slept well last night; her eyes were bright, her brows lightly made up, and her gaze was clear and lively-the true spirit of a young maiden.

She wore a light pink brocade cloak, the pink fur collar setting off her rosy cheeks like peach blossoms in spring.

At her waist hung a fine green jade pendant, making her appear even more vibrant and lively. Her hair was styled in the most fashionable yet simple flower-bun, adorned with playful hairpins and pearls-elegant yet fresh and youthful.

She had dressed up carefully before coming. How else to show she was in a good mood?

“Greetings, Grandmother, Mother, Aunt,” Shi Anxia smiled as she paid her respects one by one, then allowed Nan Yan to remove her cloak.

Underneath was a pure white gold-embroidered cloud brocade skirt and jacket, the edges trimmed with matching fur, making people stare in awe.

Tang Chujun smiled and pulled her to sit by her side. “My daughter is truly beautiful.”

The woman addressed as “Aunt” was Shi Wanzhen, Shi Chengxuan’s younger sister and the Old Madam Shi’s youngest daughter.

She was clearly shocked. Was this the same Shi Anxia who had only been brought back from outside two years ago? That timid, awkward girl who couldn’t even appear in public! How could she have become this graceful and noble young lady now?