First Phoenix Lady - chapter 4

Chapter 4

In her previous life, Shi Anxia fell ill after nearly drowning and remained unconscious for many days before finally waking up.

Madam Tang was strong-willed and refused to trouble her elder brother, insisting on handling Shi Yunxing’s Funeral Rites alone. In the end, she was left with nothing but complaints.

Old Madam Shi and Concubine Wen both felt that the Duke of State Protection Mansion had shown them no respect, and that the funeral was neither grand nor dignified enough.

Madam Tang, whose given name was Chujun, had been quiet and withdrawn ever since marrying into the Jian’an Marquis Mansion. Her heart was deadened, and the pain of losing her son made her fall ill with melancholy; it wasn’t long before she followed him in death.

Yet Shi Anxia always suspected her mother’s death was suspicious, though she had no evidence that Concubine Wen had used any means.

Shi Anxia carefully helped her mother to sit down, then instructed Nan Yan to bring over the bird’s nest soup, personally feeding her.

Ever since Tang Chujun learned the truth about the child swap, the suffocating grief in her chest had eased considerably.

Now, with some leisure, she truly felt hungry. She reached out to take the bowl and ate slowly, “Xia’er, is your brother settled? Did you call for a doctor to treat his injuries?”

Shi Anxia smiled, “Mother, do you still not trust Eldest Uncle to handle things?”

Tang Chujun heard this and a trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes before quickly vanishing, “Your Eldest Uncle is certainly reliable.”

Shi Anxia thought of Eldest Uncle Shi Chengyi’s warmth and generosity, and compared him to her own father-truly worlds apart.

In her previous life, she drifted through the deep palace, entering and leaving the Cold Palace several times. If not for Eldest Uncle and the others always protecting her and managing affairs outside the palace on her behalf, she would never have become Empress Dowager, the final victor.

Back then, she often thought how wonderful it would be if Eldest Uncle were her real father. He was her true support.

In this life, she would return all the honor that belonged to Eldest Uncle, and never let her useless father drag the Marquis Mansion’s glory through the mud.

Shi Anxia’s thoughts drifted far, but when she met her mother’s probing gaze, she sweetly said, “Mother, please rest assured. Eldest Uncle has already followed my instructions and settled my brother at Tong’an Clinic, with Doctor Shen looking after him. There shouldn’t be any problems. I will make sure my brother returns to you openly and honorably.”

“What if Concubine Wen comes to demand him from you?”

Shi Anxia raised her brow lightly, “You are the legitimate wife; aren’t all the sons and daughters of the Marquis Mansion yours? What right does a concubine have to demand anyone? Mother, from this moment on, we must stand tall.”

Tang Chujun was stunned by her daughter’s words, then sighed softly, “It’s because your mother is useless.” After speaking, she straightened her back, “It’s time to stand tall. Today, Concubine Wen was so angered by you that she was stomping her feet; I doubt she’ll let this go easily.”

Shi Anxia leisurely poured herself a cup of hot tea to warm her hands, completely unafraid, “I only fear she’ll give up quietly and do nothing.”

“Xia’er,” Tang Chujun put down the bowl and dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, looking at her daughter with concern, “You’ve just recovered from a serious illness after falling into the water; you shouldn’t overexert yourself. There will be many troublesome matters ahead-let your mother handle them.”

Shi Anxia pondered for a moment and asked in return, “Mother, do you truly know what kind of person Shi Yunxing was?”

“I-I think I do…?” Tang Chujun’s confidence faltered at her daughter’s words.

Whether or not Shi Yunxing was her biological son, she hadn’t been a very competent mother over the years.

It was only after Shi Yunxing died that she was tormented by the heart-wrenching pain of losing a child.

Only then did she truly understand that, even if she had no expectations for her husband and her heart was as still as water, her children were the ones she most deeply longed to be close to.

She thought for a moment and answered, “I only know that Xing’er was a child who liked to take shortcuts…”

Shi Anxia corrected her, “That’s not taking shortcuts, that’s acting recklessly. Mother, please continue.”

Tang Chujun felt as if she were a child being tested by her old governess, “He liked hearing others praise him.”

“No, he just liked being flattered by others.”
“He can be quite unruly and doesn’t care for his studies.”

“That’s just being ignorant and good-for-nothing.”

“He did show some talent when he was little.”

“That was my brother Shi Yunqi’s talent. Every poem and essay he ever presented was written by my brother.”

“Ah! Truly?” Tang Chujun exclaimed in surprise and delight.

But then, remembering how her son had suffered under her very eyes for sixteen years without her ever realizing it, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She laughed and cried at the same time, her emotions in turmoil.

Shi Anxia rubbed her brow, suddenly understanding a little better how her mother had been manipulated by Grandmother into marrying her father, Shi Chengxuan.

She really was… far too naïve.

Shi Anxia straightened her expression and said, “Shi Yunxing drowned because of his own actions. He has no one to blame but himself.”

Not only was he ignorant and idle, but he was reckless, dissolute, and utterly shameless.

Earlier, he had taken a fancy to Wei Cailing, the legitimate daughter of Director of the Ministry of Works, Wei Zhongshi. Yet he considered her family background beneath him and refused to marry her properly, only wanting to take her as a concubine.

Wei Zhongshi might have only been a sixth-rank minor official in the capital, but his family was upright and respectable.

The Wei family prided themselves on their integrity-how could they allow such a scoundrel to humiliate them? Not to mention becoming a concubine, even if she were to be married in with all due ceremony as a principal wife, they would never agree.

That day, Shi Yunxing heard that Wei Cailing was going to Wanfo Temple to offer incense. He harbored wicked intentions, planning to seize her and ruin her reputation.

That way, the girl would have no choice but to enter the Marquis Mansion as a concubine.

Shi Yunqi somehow learned of this and hurried to warn Shi Anxia. Together, they rushed to save her.

But as soon as they reached Changfu Road in the Southern Suburbs, they saw Wei Cailing leap into the river. The Maids she had brought with her jumped in after her, and for a moment the river was filled with the girls’ terrified screams.

Relying on his swimming skills, Shi Yunxing also plunged into the water.

The current was swift, and one of the girls was swept farther and farther away.

Without thinking, Shi Anxia ran along the riverbank for a stretch and jumped in as well, trying to pull the girl to safety.

She managed to grab the girl’s hand, but she was too weak to pull her out.

At the same time, Shi Yunqi also jumped in to help.

With all the commotion, villagers from the nearby estates gathered to watch, and with many hands, they managed to pull all the girls out of the water.

Only then did Shi Anxia realize that Shi Yunxing was the only one who hadn’t come ashore.

By the time someone ran back to the Marquis Mansion for help, what they pulled from the river was Shi Yunxing’s lifeless body.

Outside, the wind howled and snow whirled, blurring the world beyond the window. Shi Anxia recounted Shi Yunxing’s deeds to Tang Chujun, laying out every detail.

Tang Chujun was so shocked she could hardly recover.

She had never known the full story.

She knew her son was unruly and disliked studying, but she never imagined he could be so shameless. She had no idea that Concubine Wen taught him one way in public and another in private, keeping her completely in the dark.

If not for her daughter’s words, she might have remained deceived for the rest of her life.

She remembered that her daughter had once hinted at it, saying her brother’s conduct outside was improper and urging her mother to keep a closer watch.

But at the time, she thought her son was just a mischievous youth and only gave him a token scolding.

What she didn’t know was that her son had immediately turned around and scolded Shi Anxia, warning her not to meddle or complain, or she would suffer for it.

Seeing her mother unwilling to intervene, Shi Anxia gave up and simply avoided this troublemaker whenever she could.

Now that Tang Chujun knew the truth, she felt utterly humiliated. After all, this was a child she had raised herself-how was he any different from a street thug?

She cursed again and again, “That unfilial son! That unfilial son! How dare he?”

Shi Anxia pushed a cup of hot tea toward Tang Chujun and smiled gently. “Mother, why are you so upset? He isn’t even your real son!”