First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 40

Shi Wanzhen screamed, her face contorted, “A thousand taels! Why don’t you go rob someone! I am your real Aunt! How dare you demand a thousand taels from me!”

Tang Chujun was the first to laugh, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “When it comes to compensation, you’re suddenly the real Aunt! But when you looked down on my daughter all those days, did you ever remember you were her Aunt?”

“Well! No wonder Xia can speak so sharply and harshly-it turns out she learned it from her sister-in-law! Such fine upbringing, such good manners!”

Tang Chujun gazed at her own daughter with eyes full of tenderness. “I am quite satisfied with my daughter’s conduct. At least she never thought of harming her own family!”

“You!” Shi Wanzhen’s eyes were bloodshot.

Shi Anxia pressed on, “Madam Song, give us a word-will you pay or not? If you pay, hand over the silver and I’ll drop the case. If not, I’m going to see the magistrate right now. It’s not good to keep the officials waiting.”

Shi Wanzhen burst into tears, all her noblewoman’s composure gone. “You can’t do this to me! I don’t have any silver! I have no money!”

Shi Anxia turned to leave, ignoring her completely.

“Xia!” Old Madam Shi called out, her eyes heavy with sorrow. “Must it come to this? She is your father’s sister, your grandparents’ own daughter! Even if you disown her, you can’t change the fact that she is your Aunt.”

Shi Anxia slowly turned back. “Grandmother, the decline of the Marquis Mansion was never a matter of a day or two. A thousand-mile levee collapses from an ant’s nest. Your indulgence today will be the root of tomorrow’s disaster. I demand this thousand taels not out of greed, but to make her remember that harming your own family comes with a price.”

Old Madam Shi suddenly seemed to age several years. Her hand trembled as she tried to pick up her teacup, but she simply didn’t have the strength.

In that moment, she saw clearly the calm and unwavering resolve in Shi Anxia’s eyes.

She was actually a little afraid.

Shi Anxia continued, “Grandmother, the reason I still respect you today is not because you are my Grandmother, nor because you are still the matriarch of the Marquis Mansion. It’s because I have always known that, in your heart, you truly wish the best for the Marquis Mansion, that you hope for its bright future.”

Old Madam Shi’s ears rang, and a part of her heart suddenly collapsed, softened, and shattered.

It was as if, for the first time, someone understood that even though she was only a second wife, she wished for the Marquis Mansion’s prosperity more than anyone.

Shi Wanzhen was also terrified to realize that her own mother had been persuaded by her niece.

She truly panicked, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. “Xia, let’s talk! We can work something out! Do you know what I’ll face if I can’t settle this today?”

Shi Anxia was unmoved. “You should have thought of today’s consequences when you did what you did. The silver you gained by harming your own family all went into your husband’s pocket. He spends it drinking and carousing outside, keeping concubines at home. When trouble comes, he pushes you out to face your own family! If one day he throws you out, where will you go? Who will you be able to rely on?”

With that, she turned and headed straight for the main banquet hall without looking back.

The two officials had actually come to ask: if the case involved relatives of the Marquis Mansion, should they make the arrest or not?

A five-hundred-tael case was neither too big nor too small. If the main accuser was willing to let some involved parties off, the presiding official could use discretion.

Shi Anxia replied, “Arrest them!”

With her confirmation, the two officials saw no need to complicate things. “One of the involved parties, Wen Huiyi, is in the Marquis Mansion. It’s inconvenient for us to enter the inner residence, so we ask the young lady to bring her out.”

Shi Anxia agreed readily and signaled to Bei Hui and the others, who immediately went to carry out the task.

Meanwhile, Concubine Wen had no idea disaster was about to befall her and that she was about to be taken to the authorities.

Having been beaten on the buttocks, she could only lie on her stomach on the bed, groaning softly.

Shi Anrou sat by the bedside, feeding her Snow Fungus Soup.
This was the one hundred and eighth time Concubine Wen had cursed someone. “Aren’t you supposed to be able to dream? Why didn’t you dream that I’d get beaten with a board?”

Shi Anrou was silent, feeling utterly exhausted.

She had repeatedly warned her mother not to provoke Shi Anxia; that was someone they, as mother and daughter, could not afford to offend.

But her mother simply wouldn’t listen, insisting on pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth, and now blamed her for not dreaming well enough?

Seeing her daughter standing there like a wooden post, Concubine Wen grew even more irritated. She waved her hand in frustration, “I’m not eating!”

Shi Anrou hadn’t steadied the bowl, and with that wave, a bowl of Snow Fungus Soup spilled onto the fine brocade quilt.

“Smack!” Concubine Wen, burning with anger, slapped her daughter’s face. “Useless! You can’t do anything right! And you still want to be the Princess Consort of Jin! You!”

Shi Anrou stared in shock, clutching her face, motionless.

Her mind buzzed. Never before had she regretted so much telling her mother such a sensational thing.

Was this something to shout about?

She was still an unmarried girl, yet her mother pointed at her nose and accused her of wanting a man. If outsiders heard, how could she ever hold her head up again?

Concubine Wen was stunned too, regretting her words as soon as they left her mouth.

She was just in a foul mood, used to scolding and hitting Qi’er in the past, and couldn’t hold back this time.

But to apologize? That was impossible for her.

She kept a cold face. “What, I can’t even scold you or hit you now? When did you become so precious?”

Shi Anrou still covered her face, saying nothing, her heart chilled.

Just then, Bei Hui entered with a group of old maids. “Take Concubine Wen away!”

Concubine Wen was shocked. “Outrageous! Since when do you…”

Several maids pushed Shi Anrou aside, grabbed Concubine Wen roughly, paying no heed to her injured hip, hastily dressed her in a skirt and jacket, and dragged her out.

Concubine Wen screamed like a slaughtered pig. “It hurts! Ahhh… Be gentle… Where are you taking me… Ahhh…”

Shi Anrou finally snapped out of it, hurriedly running over to block their path. “Sister Bei Hui, where are you taking my mother?”

Bei Hui replied, “Concubine Wen is involved in fraud, and the officers are waiting outside to arrest her. If Anrou has any questions, she can ask our lady directly. I must take her over to report, so I won’t delay.”

Shi Anrou answered and stepped aside to let them pass.

But she heard Concubine Wen shriek, “Let me go! Let me go! Do you know my daughter will be the Princess Consort of Jin one day!”

Shi Anrou’s heart pounded wildly; she wished she could rush over and cover her mother’s mouth. Her mother was trying to destroy her! She didn’t even bother with the word “Consort” anymore!

Concubine Wen was like a madwoman. “You’ll regret this! Treating me like this, you’ll all regret it! When my daughter becomes the Princess Consort of Jin, you’ll all die! All of you! Rou’er! Go find Prince Jin to save your mother! Hurry!”

At that moment, Shi Anrou was utterly hopeless, slowly sinking to the ground in the courtyard, unmoving. It was a feeling of helplessness against fate, hatred for her own mother, and disappointment in her own weakness.

She had lived a second life and should have been happier than anyone, yet now everything was a mess, even worse than her previous life.

Nanny Liu rushed into the courtyard, shouting at Shi Anrou, “Oh dear, miss! Your mother has been taken away, why are you just standing there? Aren’t you going to find someone to save her?”

Shi Anrou raised her tear-filled eyes. “Nanny Liu, are you ordering me?”

Nanny Liu froze, forcing an awkward smile. “No, I wouldn’t dare! You’re the mistress…”

“Good that you know.” Shi Anrou turned and left the courtyard. Unconsciously, she walked to the entrance of Xia Shi Courtyard, her breathing inexplicably heavy.

A chill crept up from the soles of her feet… She was still, deep down, afraid of Shi Anxia.