Chapter 26: Backing someone up
“Fifth Sister!”
Seeing that Hua Wuniang had already gotten into the sedan chair, Hua Changxi didn’t have time to greet the elders and ran directly towards the sedan chair.
However, when she was still two or three meters away from the sedan chair, she was stopped by Nanny Shen, who had an arrogant expression. “It’s time, Concubine Hua needs to leave.”
Hua Changxi: “I just want to say a couple of words to my Fifth Sister.”
Nanny Shen directly refused: “No, you’ve already delayed for a long time. The Third Madam is still waiting at the Marquis’s Mansion.”
Hua Changxi patiently said: “Just a few words, it won’t take long.”
Nanny Shen became annoyed: “Can’t you understand what I’m saying, Young Woman? I said no, and it’s no.”
Hua Changxi’s brows furrowed, and she looked at Nanny Shen expressionlessly: “Who are you?”
Nanny Shen was somewhat annoyed by Hua Changxi’s attitude, but she still raised her chin and said: “I am a nanny accompanying the Third Madam of Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion.”
Hua Changxi scoffed and said ‘oh’: “So you’re just a servant.” After speaking, she tried to go around Nanny Shen towards the sedan chair.
Nanny Shen was provoked by Hua Changxi’s word ‘servant’.
She was a servant, but even so, she was a servant of Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion. She wouldn’t even glance at a fallen family like the Hua family on a normal day.
How could the daughter of this family not take her seriously, and even dare to mock her to her face? This is outrageous!
Nanny Shen’s face turned ashen, and she reached out to stop Hua Changxi again. However, she ignored Hua Changxi and turned her gaze to Hua Tai and his wife, sneering:
“The family rules of the Hua family are truly eye-opening. I have never heard of such an ill-mannered Young Woman. I have truly broadened my horizons today.”
“Third Master had previously told Third Madam that the Hua family would teach their daughters well, and Concubine Hua was also very humble and obedient. But looking at the demeanor of this Young Woman before me, Concubine Hua’s character is truly worrying.”
“When I return to the Marquis’s Mansion, I must properly report this to Third Master and Third Madam, lest they be deceived.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the Hua family members looked anxious.
Fourth Aunt Hua, worried that Hua Changxi’s offense to Nanny Shen would make Hua Wuniang’s life difficult at the Marquis’s Mansion, quickly stepped forward to pull her away: “Changxi, stop making trouble.”
Hua Changxi stood still and said in a low voice: “Fourth Aunt, the Marquis’s Mansion is so overbearing, it’s clear they don’t take us seriously. If we back down every time something happens and appear easy to bully, do you still expect them to treat Fifth Sister well?”
Hearing this, Fourth Aunt Hua hesitated.
Seeing that Fourth Aunt Hua couldn’t even pull someone away, Zhong Shi strode forward, grabbed Hua Changxi’s arm, and tried to pull her back. While pulling, she apologized to Nanny Shen with a smile:
“Nanny, please don’t be angry. It’s the Hua family’s fault for not educating our daughter properly. Don’t worry, Wuniang’s character is absolutely fine. As for this girl, we will definitely discipline her well.”
Hua Changxi was not so polite to Zhong Shi. She directly shook off her hand and looked at Nanny Shen sarcastically: “Am I the one who doesn’t know the rules, or are you, Nanny, bullying others and acting like a tiger borrowing its power?”
“I’d like everyone to judge for themselves. My sister is getting married, and as her sister, I came to see her off. What kind of family is so overbearing that they won’t even allow sisters to have a moment to speak?”
“Oh, right, Nanny, you are from Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion. The Marquis’s Mansion is a noble and prestigious family, accustomed to being high and mighty. They are so powerful that they don’t even allow people to consider basic human decency.”
Steward Kong, who was standing with Hua Tai, changed his expression upon hearing this.
Third Master was taking a concubine, and Third Madam was feeling resentful. She sent Nanny Shen to pick up Concubine Hua as a way to show dominance.
Steward Kong had already planned to ignore this.
Fortunately, the Hua family was honest and didn’t do anything excessive. With the support of Hua Tai and his wife, he thought picking up Concubine Hua would be easy. He didn’t expect a wrench to be thrown in the works at the last moment.
Steward Kong looked at Concubine Hua’s Ninth Sister. This Young Woman was formidable. With a single word ‘servant,’ she had Nanny Shen so enraged that she lost her temper, and now she has rendered Nanny Shen speechless.
Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion is taking a concubine, acting overbearingly, and not even allowing sisters to say goodbye. If this were to spread, the people of the Capital City would surely spread rumors about how arrogant Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion is.
Steward Kong knew he couldn’t stand by and do nothing any longer. He immediately walked out with a smile: “Nanny Shen, this Young Woman wants to say goodbye to Concubine Hua. Please be magnanimous and give them some time.”
Amidst Nanny Shen’s changing expression, he continued to smile and said, “Although picking up Concubine Hua has indeed taken some time, don’t worry. When we return to the Marquis’s Mansion, I will personally accompany you to apologize to Third Madam.”
Although he smoothed things over and allowed Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang to say goodbye, he also pinned the blame for the delay on the Hua family.
Steward Kong was someone from Third Master He’s side, so Nanny Shen had to give him face. She let out a cold breath and moved aside.
Hua Changxi did not immediately go to see Hua Wuniang. Instead, she smiled at Steward Kong: “Steward Kong, are you someone close to Third Master He?”
Steward Kong was a little surprised, but he still nodded with a smile.
Hua Changxi also smiled and glanced at Hua Tai beside her: “Looking at how warmly Steward Kong and my Granduncle were chatting just now, one would think my Fifth Sister was my Granduncle’s granddaughter.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present froze.
Once the pretense of respectability was stripped away, revealing the dirty calculations beneath, no one could maintain their composure.
The Hua family members looked somewhat embarrassed. Steward Kong and Nanny Shen’s disdain for them was almost undisguised. It was their daughter getting married, yet the two of them only spoke to Hua Tai and his wife.
As for Hua Tai and his wife, their expressions were not good either. They thought that without that stubborn ox Hua Minghe, they could easily manipulate the rest of the Hua family. They didn’t expect that without Hua Minghe, his daughter would jump out.
Steward Kong’s expression also stiffened, and he looked at Hua Changxi with a more serious gaze.
Hua Changxi ignored him any further and quickly went to the side of the sedan chair, lifted the curtain: “Fifth Sister, I’m sorry, I’m back late.”
Ever since she got into the sedan chair, Hua Wuniang’s tears hadn’t stopped. Hearing Jiu Niang arguing with Nanny Shen outside, although she was worried about her situation after entering the Marquis’s Mansion, she felt a sense of relief in her heart.
The Marquis’s Mansion’s arrival to pick her up, and the disrespect shown to her, was quite blatant. Yet, not a single person from her family had stepped forward to support her.
She was actually very disappointed.
Fortunately, Jiu Niang was back!
Hua Wuniang held Hua Changxi’s hand: “It’s not late. I’m very happy to see you.”
“Jiu Niang, you, Qi Niang, and Shi Er Niang must be well. Don’t be like me, understand?”
Hua Changxi nodded and handed the Body Strengthening Pill given to her by Pharmacist Xu to Hua Wuniang, and whispered: “Fifth Sister, you are still young. Don’t rush to get pregnant after entering the Marquis’s Mansion.”
“After I entered the Medical Affairs Department, my Medical Skills improved a lot. Wait for me for two years. When I’ve completed my apprenticeship, however many children you want to have, I’ll come and deliver them.”
“If you encounter any problems at the Marquis’s Mansion, don’t keep them to yourself. You must inform the family.”
Listening to Hua Changxi’s caring and heartfelt words, Hua Wuniang nodded while crying and laughing.
“Didn’t you say it would only be a couple of words? Why is this still going on!”
Nanny Shen’s impatient voice interrupted Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang’s farewell.
Hua Wuniang quickly said: “Jiu Niang, don’t go against Grandfather and Grandmother. If you’re not used to staying in the Labor Department, come home. Don’t force yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine at the Marquis’s Mansion too. We both need to be well.”
Under Nanny Shen’s repeated urging, Hua Wuniang reluctantly let go of Hua Changxi’s hand and lowered the sedan curtain.
Hua Changxi did not lift the sedan curtain again. After standing for a while, she turned and walked towards Steward Kong.
Seeing her approach, Steward Kong subconsciously straightened his posture. This was his habit when meeting important people. But when he realized he was facing a Young Woman, he was surprised himself.
Hua Changxi smiled at Steward Kong: “Steward Kong, my sister wasn’t eagerly trying to become Third Master He’s concubine. Third Master He himself actively sought her out. Do you acknowledge this statement?”
Steward Kong glanced at Hua Tai and his wife. Regardless of what he thought, he finally nodded: “I acknowledge it.”
Hua Changxi: “It’s good that you acknowledge it. Since Third Master He himself sought her out, he must protect my Fifth Sister well after she enters the Marquis’s Mansion.”
Steward Kong smiled: “That is of course.”
Zhong Shi suddenly interjected: “Jiu Niang, the Marquis’s Mansion is a noble and prestigious family. For Wuniang to enter the Marquis’s Mansion, she is falling into a nest of fortune.”
Hua Changxi turned to look at Zhong Shi: “Does Grand Aunt have any granddaughters?”
Zhong Shi almost instantly understood Hua Changxi’s meaning, her face stiffened, and she did not respond.
Hua Changxi gave her a sarcastic smile and turned back to Steward Kong: “My Fifth Sister was also raised with love by our family. Our family might not even be able to touch the threshold of the Marquis’s Mansion on a normal day, but if our family encounters any trouble, we still have some spirit.”
This obvious threat naturally made Steward Kong very unhappy. He was about to retort a few words, but when he met the calm and unfathomable eyes of the Young Woman before him, the words on his lips failed to come out.
“Old Master, Old Madam.”
Steward Kong suddenly turned and bowed to Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua. He then said to the other Hua family members: “Everyone, please rest assured. When Concubine Hua enters the Marquis’s Mansion, Third Master will definitely treat her well.”
Finally hearing a promise from the Marquis’s Mansion, even if it came from a steward, made the Hua family feel somewhat relieved.
Hua Wuniang, inside the sedan chair, covered her mouth tightly to prevent herself from crying out loud.
Nanny Shen’s expression soured when she saw Steward Kong favoring Hua Wuniang. She directly ordered the sedan bearers: “Lift the sedan, return to the mansion!”
Steward Kong smiled and bid farewell to the Hua family. This time, he did not focus on Hua Tai and his wife. After he caught up with Nanny Shen and her group, he couldn’t help but look back at Hua Changxi.
It was truly bizarre. He had just been intimidated by a Young Woman.
