Chapter 26: Backing Up

"Fifth Sister!"

Seeing that Fifth Sister Hua had already boarded the bridal sedan chair, Hua Changxi didn't have time to greet the elders and ran straight toward the sedan.

However, when she was still two or three meters from the sedan, she was stopped by the arrogantly-faced Madam Shen: "Time's up. Concubine Hua should leave now."

Hua Changxi: "I just want to say a few words to my fifth sister."

Madam Shen flatly refused: "No. You've already delayed for a long time. The Third Mistress is waiting back at the marquis's manor."

Hua Changxi said patiently: "Just a few parting words, it won't take long."

Madam Shen grew angry: "Don't you understand plain speech, girl? I said no, so it's no."

Hua Changxi furrowed her brows and looked at Madam Shen with a blank expression: "Who are you?"

Madam Shen was a bit annoyed by Hua Changxi's attitude but still raised her chin and said: "I am the confidante of the Third Mistress of Wuyi Marquis Manor."

Hua Changxi gave a contemptuous laugh, "Oh, so you're just a servant." With that, she tried to go around Madam Shen to the sedan.

Madam Shen was stung by Hua Changxi's word "servant."

She was a servant, but even so, she was a servant of Wuyi Marquis Manor. Families like the Hua, who had fallen on hard times, she wouldn't even deign to look at on ordinary days.

This family's daughter actually dared to disregard her so openly and mock her to her face—how utterly outrageous!

Face turning livid, Madam Shen reached out again to block Hua Changxi, but instead of addressing her, she turned her gaze to Hua Tai and his wife, sneering:

"The Hua family's discipline truly opens one's eyes. A young miss so ignorant of propriety—I have never heard of such a thing. Today has been an education."

"The Third Master used to tell the Third Mistress that the Hua family knows how to raise daughters, and that Concubine Hua was humble and obedient. But looking at this young miss's behavior, Concubine Hua's character truly gives cause for concern."

"When I return to the manor, I'll have to have a good talk with the Third Master and Third Mistress, lest they be deceived."

At these words, all the Hua family members showed anxious expressions.

Fourth Aunt Hua, worried that Hua Changxi offending Madam Shen would make things difficult for Fifth Sister Hua in the manor, hurried forward to pull her away: "Changxi, stop causing trouble."

Hua Changxi stood still and lowered her voice: "Fourth Aunt, the manor is so overbearing—clearly they don't take us seriously. If we back down at every turn and look like easy prey, do you really expect them to treat Fifth Sister well?"

Upon hearing this, Fourth Aunt Hua hesitated.

Seeing that Fourth Aunt Hua couldn't pull the girl away, Zhong Shi stepped forward directly, grabbed Hua Changxi's arm, and started pulling her back, while simultaneously smiling apologetically at Madam Shen:

"Madam, please don't be angry. The Hua family failed to teach their daughter well. Rest assured, Fifth Sister's character is absolutely fine. As for this girl, we will certainly discipline her properly."

Hua Changxi was not so polite with Zhong Shi; she directly shook off her hand and looked at Madam Shen with sarcasm: "Is it that I don't know the rules, or is it that Madam is bullying others by relying on your master's power, like a fox using a tiger's might?"

"I'd like everyone to judge: my elder sister is getting married, and I, her younger sister, come to see her off. What kind of family is so overbearing that they won't even allow sisters a moment to say goodbye?"

"Oh, and by the way, Madam is from Wuyi Marquis Manor. The manor is a noble house, always lording it over others, so high and mighty that they won't even let others consider human relationships."

Steward Kong, who was standing with Hua Tai, heard these words and his expression immediately changed.

The Third Master was taking a concubine, and the Third Mistress was simmering with resentment. Sending Madam Shen to pick up Concubine Hua was meant to intimidate her from the start.

Steward Kong had already decided to ignore this.

Fortunately, the Hua family were honest and hadn't done anything excessive, and with the help of Hua Tai and his wife, he had thought it would be easy to bring Concubine Hua into the manor. He never expected that at the very end, a stumbling block would suddenly appear.

Steward Kong looked at Concubine Hua's ninth younger sister. This young miss was formidable. With that word "servant" she had provoked Madam Shen into a rage, and now she had rendered Madam Shen completely speechless.

Wuyi Marquis Manor taking a concubine, bullying others with power, not even allowing sisters to bid farewell—if word of this got out, people in the capital would spread stories of how overbearing the manor was.

Steward Kong knew he could no longer sit idly by. He immediately stepped forward with a smile: "Madam Shen, this young miss wishes to bid farewell to Concubine Hua. Please be generous and give them a little time."

As Madam Shen's expression changed, he continued with a smile, "Although picking up Concubine Hua has indeed taken some time, rest assured, when we return to the manor, I will personally accompany you to apologize to the Third Mistress."

Although this smoothed things over and allowed Hua Changxi and Fifth Sister Hua to say goodbye, it also pinned the blame for the delay firmly on the Hua family.

Steward Kong was the Third Master He's man, so Madam Shen had to give him face. With a stiff expression, she moved aside.

Hua Changxi did not immediately go to see Fifth Sister Hua. Instead, she smiled at Steward Kong: "Steward Kong, are you one of Third Master He's men?"

Steward Kong was somewhat surprised, but still smiled and nodded.

Hua Changxi also smiled, glancing at Hua Tai beside him: "Seeing how warmly Steward Kong and my grand-uncle were just chatting, one might think my fifth sister was my grand-uncle's granddaughter."

At these words, everyone present stiffened.

Once the high-sounding fig leaf is torn away, exposing the dirty scheming underneath, no one can maintain their composure.

The faces of the Hua family members were all rather embarrassed; Steward Kong and Mammy Shen’s contempt for them was utterly undisguised—it was clearly their daughter who was marrying out, yet the pair only spoke to Hua Tai and his wife.

As for Hua Tai and his wife, their expressions were not good either. They had thought that without that stubborn ox Hua Minghe around, they could push around the rest of the Hua family as they pleased. Unexpectedly, with Hua Minghe gone, his daughter had popped up instead.

Steward Kong’s face was also stiff as he looked at Hua Changxi with a bit more gravity.

Hua Changxi paid him no further attention. She quickly went to the side of the bridal sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and said, "Fifth Sister, I'm sorry I came back late."

Since she had gotten into the bridal sedan, Fifth Lady Hua’s tears hadn’t stopped. Hearing Ninth Lady parrying with Mammy Shen outside, though she worried about her situation in the marquis’s household, there was some relief in her heart.

The marquis’s estate had come to pick her up, and their slight toward her was laid out in the open, yet none of her family members had stepped forward to back her up.

Deep down, she was actually quite disappointed.

Luckily, Ninth Lady had returned!

Fifth Lady Hua held Hua Changxi’s hand. "Not late at all. I’m so happy just to see you."

"Ninth Lady, you, Seventh Lady, and Twelfth Lady must take good care of yourselves. Don’t end up like me, understand?"

Hua Changxi nodded, pressed the body-strengthening pills that Master Xu had given her into Fifth Lady Hua’s hand, and said in a low voice, "Fifth Sister, you’re still young. After entering the marquis’s household, don’t rush to get pregnant."

"Since I joined the Medical Bureau, my medical skills have improved a lot. Wait two years for me—once I finish my apprenticeship, no matter how many children you want to have, I’ll come to deliver them all."

"If anything happens in the marquis’s household, don’t ever bear it in silence. Be sure to inform the family."

Hearing Hua Changxi’s caring and heartfelt words, Fifth Lady Hua nodded through tears and laughter.

"We said it would just be a few words. Why is this dragging on and on?"

Mammy Shen’s impatient voice cut off Hua Changxi and Fifth Lady Hua’s farewell.

Fifth Lady Hua said quickly, "Ninth Lady, don’t go against Grandfather and Grandmother. If you can’t get used to it in the Servants’ Hall, just come home; don’t force yourself. Don’t worry—I’ll be fine in the marquis’s household too. We must all be well."

At Mammy Shen’s repeated urging, Fifth Lady Hua reluctantly let go of Hua Changxi’s hand and lowered the sedan curtain.

Hua Changxi didn’t lift the curtain again. She stood for a moment, then turned and walked toward Steward Kong.

Seeing her approach, Steward Kong instinctively straightened his posture—a habit he had whenever facing important people. But when he realized he was now dealing with a young lady, he was startled himself.

Hua Changxi smiled at Steward Kong. "Steward Kong, my elder sister didn’t force herself on Third Master He as a concubine. It was Third Master He who actively sought her out. Do you acknowledge that?"

Steward Kong glanced at Hua Tai and his wife. No matter what he thought, he ended up nodding. "I acknowledge it."

Hua Changxi: "Good that you acknowledge it. Since Third Master He sought it himself, once my sister enters the marquis’s household, he had better treat my fifth sister well."

Steward Kong smiled. "Of course."

Zhongshi suddenly cut in: "Ninth Lady, the marquis’s household is a noble and distinguished family. Fifth Lady entering that household is like falling into a nest of fortune."

Hua Changxi turned to look at Zhongshi. "Grandmother-in-law, do you have any granddaughters?"

Zhongshi understood Hua Changxi’s meaning almost instantly. Her face stiffened, and she did not reply.

Hua Changxi gave her a mocking sneer, then turned back to Steward Kong. "My fifth sister was raised with love in our family. On ordinary days, our family might not even be able to touch the threshold of the marquis’s mansion. But if anything happens to our family members, we still have some backbone and spirit."

Such an obvious threat naturally displeased Steward Kong. He was about to snap back, but when his eyes met the calm, placid gaze of the young lady before him, the words died in his throat.

"Old Master, Old Madam."

Steward Kong suddenly turned and clasped his hands toward Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua, then addressed the rest of the Hua family: "Rest assured, everyone. Once Concubine Hua enters the marquis’s household, Third Master will treat her well."

Having finally heard a promise from the marquis’s estate, even if spoken only by a steward, it still put the Hua family considerably more at ease.

Inside the bridal sedan, Fifth Lady Hua pressed her hand tightly over her mouth to keep from crying out loud.

Seeing Steward Kong elevate Fifth Lady Hua, Mammy Shen’s expression turned very sour. She directly ordered the sedan bearers, "Lift the sedan! Return to the mansion!"

Steward Kong smiled and took his leave of the Hua family, this time no longer focusing solely on Hua Tai and his wife. After catching up with Mammy Shen’s party, he couldn’t help but look back at Hua Changxi once more.

What a strange spell—just now he had been cowed by a young lady.