Chapter 107: The Violent Seizure of Family Authority

The next day, near the end of the early dawn hours, An Yi rose to prepare porridge. The morning court session under the Xu reign began precisely at the hour of the Rabbit, and she intended to make a good impression today.

At the first quarter of the Rabbit hour, An Qinghe, dressed neatly, emerged from the side chamber. The previous night, he had not gone to the Embroidery Hall but had slept in a side room of the Well Fence Garden. This had somewhat lessened An Yi’s resentment toward him. Yet to fully dispel her grudge, she would have to confirm that the assassin was not hired by him.

“Xi’er, why are you up so early?” An Qinghe saw the light in the kitchen and walked in, finding An Yi sitting by the stove. “What are you doing?”

“Cooking porridge,” An Yi replied.

“The breakfast cooks will prepare the meal later and bring it over. Don’t get up so early; go back to your room and rest a while longer,” An Qinghe said.

“Father, no need to wait for them. I’ve already finished the porridge. Would you like to try it?” An Yi asked.

“Good, then I shall taste Xi’er’s cooking,” An Qinghe said cheerfully.

An Yi lifted the lid of the pot and ladled two bowls of plain rice porridge. She also took from the steamer some warmed osmanthus-flavored tendon, crystal quail eggs, and oil-stuffed eggplant. The family, numbering four, had over a dozen dishes—Lady Huang’s extravagance was excessive. These three dishes were almost untouched.

“Father, you don’t mind eating leftovers, do you?” An Yi asked tentatively.

“Silly girl, nonsense. Back in the countryside, a plate of long-life nuts and a bowl of bean curd residue were all your father had, and I ate them with relish,” An Qinghe said as he carried the bowls into the main hall.

An Yi’s eyes flickered slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she took the tray with porridge and stuffed eggplant out. “But times have changed, Father. You are now the Grand General.”

An Qinghe said seriously, “Xi’er, one must not forget one’s roots. Even as Grand General with a salary, one should not live wastefully. Lady Huang comes from a wealthy family and likes to indulge in finery, cooking a tableful of dishes that go uneaten and wasted every day. Your mother cannot manage these affairs, so she lets it be. Now that you have returned, you should oversee the household. Use what should be used, save where you must.”

“I understand. I will take care of it,” An Yi smiled. Regardless of whether his words were sincere, she might use them to her advantage.

Just as An Qinghe was about to eat, An Kang entered. “Good morning, Father. Good morning, Sister.”

“Good morning, Brother. Sit down and have breakfast,” An Yi smiled.

“The kitchen sends breakfast this early?” An Kang asked with a laugh.

“Today’s breakfast wasn’t made by the cooks. Your sister made it,” An Qinghe said with a smile.

“Thank you for your hard work, Sister,” An Kang said as he took a seat.

“It’s no trouble. I just cooked some porridge. The dishes are leftovers from last night,” An Yi said with a smile. “Today is my first day managing the kitchen. I prepared breakfast myself. Tomorrow, I’ll let the cooks do it again. Brother, you must cherish this rare opportunity.”

An Kang laughed heartily, “Yes, yes, very rare indeed. I’ll cherish it well and drink two big bowls of porridge.”

“Brother, keep your voice down. Mother is still asleep,” An Yi warned with a glance.

“Xi’er, Xi’er,” Lady Luo called from the inner room, awakened by the noise.

An Yi went inside to help Lady Luo dress. Two maidservants brought hot water from the kitchen to assist with her washing.

By then, the kitchen’s breakfast had arrived, but An Qinghe and his sons had already finished eating and were preparing to leave for court.

After finishing her own breakfast, An Yi chatted briefly with Lady Luo. Seeing that the sky had brightened considerably, she asked the two maidservants, “What are your names?”

“Your ladyship, I am Yam,” one answered.

“Your ladyship, I am Camellia,” the other replied.

“Yam, where does Lady Huang conduct her affairs?”

Yam glanced at Camellia, hesitated, then said, “Your ladyship, the Second Madam manages the side hall of Shunyi Hall.”

“Fang Rong, stay here to care for Madam. Yam, lead the way. We will go to Shunyi Hall,” An Yi intended to seize the moment and reclaim control of the household.

“Miss, it’s still early. The Second Madam won’t arrive at Shunyi Hall until the first quarter of the Si hour,” Camellia said.

An Yi glanced at the timepiece in the corner, smiled lightly, and shook her head. It was currently the hour between the Rabbit and Dragon hours, a full hour before the Si hour.

At the exact start of the Dragon hour, Bai Wuming arrived, accompanied by two young servants carrying a wheelchair and a middle-aged woman of about forty.

“Aunt, Miss An,” Bai Wuming greeted them expressionlessly.

An Yi watched the theatrics of Bai Wuming and pursed her lips in amusement.

Bai Wuming took Lady Luo’s pulse and gave An Yi a look. “Aunt Hua will take my leave now.”

“Fang Rong and the others, stay here to care for Madam,” An Yi said as she followed Bai Wuming’s wheelchair to the rear garden.

The three stopped, and Bai Wuming said, “Aunt Hua serves my grandmother. I brought her here to tell you about the household affairs.”

“Thank you,” An Yi said. Her knowledge of the household’s internal matters was limited, and she was troubled. Bai Wuming had brought her a source of clarity.

“No need,” Bai Wuming said as he rolled away.

An Yi inquired of Aunt Hua about the household matters.

Aunt Hua was candid, beginning with the distinctions between legitimate and concubine offspring. She spoke for half an hour and still had not finished.

Fang Rong approached. “Miss, it is now the Si hour.”

“Would you mind accompanying me for a visit?” An Yi asked politely.

Aunt Hua stood, bowed, and said, “I am at your service, Miss.”

An Yi did not go immediately to Shunyi Hall but first sought out Lady Luo in the inner chamber. “Mother, where are the contracts of the servants’ indentures kept?”

“They are in a wooden box at the head of the bed, along with the deeds to the house and fields,” Lady Luo replied.

An Yi found the locked wooden box. “Mother, where is the key?”

Lady Luo searched and took a key tied on a cord around her neck, handing it to An Yi.

An Yi opened the box and inspected its contents. The indenture contracts were all there. Her gaze shifted as she asked, “Mother, why didn’t you hand these to Lady Huang?”

“Your father said these were to be given to your eldest sister-in-law in the future,” Lady Luo said.

An Yi smiled. It seemed An Qinghe had not been blinded by temptation. She told Yam to lead the way and set off with Aunt Hua toward Shunyi Hall.

Lady Huang was already seated in the side hall, dressed in a vermilion-red mandarin-collar jacket embroidered with white peonies, her hair styled in a Lingyun chignon adorned with a five-phoenix golden hairpin with hanging beads, and two symmetrical white jade phoenix hairpins on either side. Seeing An Yi, her face darkened slightly.

An Yi had just heard from Aunt Hua that concubines should not wear true red. Vermilion and true red were very similar. Recalling Lady Huang’s attire a few days prior, it was clear she intended to overstep subtly. Without a word, An Yi walked to the foremost seat and sat, coldly surveying those standing in the side hall.

Aunt Hua stood quietly beside An Yi.

“Who is the steward of the inner quarters?” An Yi asked.

No one answered.

Lady Huang smiled smugly.

“Do you think only Lady Huang can dismiss you? I can too,” An Yi sneered. “Don’t forget whose household this is, who I am, and consider whose hands hold your indenture contracts before you respond to me.”

The faces in the side hall paled.

A middle-aged woman stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed to An Yi. “I pay respects to Miss. I am the stewardess of the inner quarters overseeing the second household.”

With the stewardess of the second household taking the lead, other managers came forward, greeting An Yi and announcing their names.

Lady Huang did not expect that a few words from An Yi would so swiftly change the atmosphere.

An Yi glanced sideways at Lady Huang. “Lady Huang, remember your place. Do not become arrogant. You are a concubine, and concubines are bought and sold. If you behave properly, I might allow you a place at the table. If not, I will sell you off.”

“You dare!” Lady Huang glared furiously.

An Yi raised an eyebrow. “You can try and see if I dare.”

Lady Huang raised her hand to slap An Yi, but before it could fall, An Yi grabbed her wrist with force. Lady Huang felt as if her hand were caught in iron tongs, pain bringing tears to her eyes. “Let go! Let go at once!”

Lady Huang’s personal maids, including Green Reed, tried to protect her, but their indenture contracts were in Lady Huang’s possession.

An Yi raised her hand, releasing a faint fragrance. Green Reed and the others stepped forward two paces, then collapsed.

The others in the hall were shocked. Did the young lady possess sorcery?

“You, you…” someone stammered.

An Yi leaned close to Lady Huang’s ear and said coldly, “Lady Huang, anger me, and I will make your life worse than death.”

Lady Huang’s eyes widened.

An Yi shook off Lady Huang’s hand. “Someone, strip Lady Huang of her clothing.”

“On what grounds do you order me to remove my clothes?” Lady Huang demanded.

“Because of that color—you are unworthy to wear it.”

The stewardess of the second household gave a signal to two nearby managers, who stepped forward to remove Lady Huang’s outer garment.

“You damned servants, you will all perish! I will tell the master! I will tell him and have you all sold off!” Lady Huang struggled fiercely, refusing to submit.

Two other managers came forward to assist.

Soon, they removed Lady Huang’s outer coat, revealing a pale blue inner garment.

Aunt Hua whispered a few words into An Yi’s ear. An Yi said, “Remove the ornaments from her hair as well. Those are not fit for a concubine.”

The stewardess of the second household roughly took off Lady Huang’s hair accessories.

Seeing Lady Huang with disheveled hair, An Yi smiled with satisfaction. “Stewardess, send two maids to escort Lady Huang back to the Embroidery Hall and care for her well. Autumn has begun, and her constitution is weak. Should she catch a chill and fall ill, it would be a grave problem.”

The stewardess called two maidservants, who escorted Lady Huang back.

A clever maid brought a cup of hot tea. “Miss, please have some tea.”

An Yi raised the cup and smiled. “What is your name? Where do you serve?”

“Your ladyship, I am Xiangqin, serving tea at Shunyi Hall,” she replied.

Aunt Hua whispered in An Yi’s ear, “Miss, why not keep her by your side to serve you?”

“You are clever. I like that. From now on, serve me personally,” An Yi accepted Aunt Hua’s suggestion.

Xiangqin knelt and kowtowed. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss.”

“Stewardess, send someone to fetch the indenture broker and have these maids sold far away. The farther, the better. Then purchase some good ones to use,” An Yi ordered.

The stewardess left to arrange for the broker.

An Yi said, “If there is business, report it. If not, you may disperse.”