The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 92

Chapter 092 Seizure of Power by Concubine
A faint fragrance wrapped around the tip of his nose.

Concubine Zhou looked at Xiao Xiwei, who was standing in front of her. She wore a long azure flowery dress with a long tassels hanging by her ears, making her snow-white face exquisite and beautiful. For some reason, seeing this beautiful and exquisite face, Concubine Zhou, who was originally confident, felt somewhat uneasy. However, at this point in time, even if she had completely offended her today, she still had to get what she wanted.

Thinking of this, Zhou Concubine took a deep breath and said, “Second young miss, I have always been on your side since I entered the manor. But now, it seems that second young miss doesn’t treat me as one of her own.”

Xiao Xi lowered his eyes and smiled. The long tassels beside his ears also shook slightly. “Auntie, you should just tell me what you want to say. It’s really not like Auntie’s temperament to beat around the bush.”

Concubine Zhou smiled and raised her hand to cover the corner of her mouth as she coughed softly twice. “Actually, my body is also watching Second Miss being busy these days. It’s just that I have the intention to help Second Miss share the worries.”

Worry-sharing? Do you want to decentralize?

Xiao Xi looked at Concubine Zhou with a cold sneer, “I wonder what Concubine Zhou wants to share my worries for me?”

“Actually, with my current body, I can’t care about anything. However, the warehouse can take care of Second Young Miss.” Concubine Zhou pursed her horn and laughed softly.

Xiao Xiwei also smiled.

It seemed that Concubine Zhou had already planned it out early in the morning.

“Second young miss, I’m actually thinking of you. The seventh prince has been conferred the title of Swallow King. The Emperor has already found a residence for him in the east of the city. He will move to the palace when spring comes next year. At that time, I think it’s time to hold a wedding ceremony for you. Once you leave, there should be someone to take care of the palace, right?” Concubine Zhou smiled.

“Concubine mother is really thoughtful.” Xiao Xi pursed her lips slightly.

“Actually, Second Miss also knows that if I were to speak to Master, Master would agree.” The corners of Concubine Zhou’s lips curved as she raised her hand to cover her flat lower abdomen.

“Since Concubine wants to help me share the burden, then I have no reason to refuse.” Xiao Xiwei smiled gently and took out a key from his pocket. “This is the key to the warehouse. I’ll ask Hong Yu to bring the book to Concubine later, and then accompany Concubine to the warehouse to count it. If it’s correct, I’ll give the key to the warehouse to Concubine when father comes back.”

“Second young miss, you’re serious.” Concubine Zhou’s eyes lit up.

She never thought that Xiao Xiwei would agree so easily.

“Sooner or later, I will hand over this set of keys. Rather than handing it over to someone else, it would be better to hand it over to Concubine.” Xiao Xi said with a smile.

“Second young miss, don’t worry. In the future, no matter what, I will always stand on your side.” Concubine Zhou forcefully suppressed the excitement in her heart and raised her hand to hold Xiao Xiwei’s hand as she smiled brightly.

When Xiao Yan returned, hearing Auntie Zhou mention it, he agreed.

The Seventh Prince is about to set up his mansion. He will go to Prince Yan’s mansion as soon as the Spring Festival is over. It won’t be long before his marriage with Xiwei is on the agenda. At this time, there should indeed be someone in Marquis Mansion to take care of it.

In front of Xiao Yan, Concubine Zhou counted all the items in the warehouse. Xiao Xiwei handed her the key to the warehouse.

Holding the heavy key in her hand, Concubine Zhou smiled complacently. She reached out and stroked her stomach, the complacency in her eyes becoming more and more obvious.

“Congratulations to concubine mother for fulfilling her wish.” Pearl smiled and blessed Concubine Zhou.

Concubine Zhou smiled, “Silly girl, this is only the first step. From now on, I will be in control of the entire Marquis Manor.”

“Auntie is right.” Pearl hurriedly answered with a smile. She paused for a moment, then looked at Auntie Zhou hesitantly. “But Auntie, will Second Miss hate Auntie for doing this today?”

Although she hadn’t been in the Marquis Mansion for long, she had seen Second Miss’s methods before.

Concubine Zhou glanced at Pearl, “What, are you afraid?”

“No, this servant does not mean that. However, concubine mother, second young miss will marry the seventh prince sooner or later. Rather than offending her, this servant feels that it is better to rope her in.” Pearl hurriedly defended herself, sizing up Concubine Zhou’s expression as she spoke.

Actually, she had always thought that Second Miss would marry off before long. There was really no need for Concubine to seize power so quickly. If Second Miss were to be angered, wouldn’t she be setting up a big enemy for herself?

“Do you think I’m stupid? Of course, I would like to wait until the day Xiao Xiwei marries out of the manor before making a move. However, if I really wait until that day, I’m afraid that I’ll be dealt with before I get the right to do so.” Zhou Shumei lowered her head to touch her flat belly and sighed.

“Why would Concubine say that? Apart from a few young masters and young misses, this manor is yours.” Said Pearl, puzzled.

Zhou Shumei smiled coldly, “My position is the highest? Heh, how high is it? It’s just a good concubine! What if Master marries another successor?”

Back then, she was so anxious to pull Madam Li down so that she could hug her and slap her in front of everyone. At that time, what did Xiao Xiwei say about her? She said that the Li Clan had the support of the Matriarch and was childhood sweethearts with the Master. Although her background was not low, the Zhou Clan was far away in Ping City. Although they were wealthy, none of them could support the door. At that time, the Li Clan’s position as the matriarch would be coveted as soon as it became vacant. With her status, she would definitely not be able to compete for it. At that time, although she believed Xiao Xiwei’s words, she was actually unconvinced in her heart! If true, Master treats her more than Madam Li, Back then, when he was able to marry the Li family’s successor, In that case, she could naturally help her up. As long as she had a child in her stomach, everything would be natural. However, she did not expect that Xiao Xiwei would become a pronouncement. That day, when she knew that she was pregnant, she happily wanted to tell Xiao Yan about this news, but she did not want to hear that someone came to Xiao Yan’s door to talk about it. At that moment, she knew that she could not wait any longer. If she did not hold some power now, not to mention her, even the child in her stomach would probably not be able to survive. Therefore, even if she offended Xiao Xiwei, she would still have to do so.

“Concubine mother, that second young miss …”

Although Second Young Miss gave the key to the warehouse to concubine mother with a smile today, and there was no trace of dissatisfaction on her face, she still felt that Second Young Miss had some hidden thoughts behind her smile.

Concubine Zhou frowned. “There are counts of things coming and going in and out of the warehouse. It’s under her nose. I don’t think she will.” She pursed her lips as she said that. No matter what, she had already done it, not to mention that she had obtained the power she wanted, so she could only take one step at a time in the future.

Shuying Pavilion

Xiao Xiwei sat on the warm couch. On the table in front of him was a blue and white porcelain bottle. There were a few red plums in the bottle, and Xiao Xiwei was fiddling with the plum branches in the bottle. The corners of her mouth even curved into a smile.

“Miss, aren’t you angry at all?” Bi Yun looked at Xiao Xiwei and finally couldn’t help but ask.

She was there when Concubine Zhou and Miss Zhou said those words, At that time, she was enraged to hear that. She never expected Auntie Zhou to be such a person. She secretly wanted to separate power from Auntie Zhou, but she never thought that Auntie Zhou would actually give the key to the warehouse to Auntie Zhou. Moreover, she did not look unhappy. She even broke a few plum blossoms on her way back.

Xiao Xiwei looked at the plum blossoms with satisfaction, “Alright, put this flower on that shelf.”

Bi Yun glanced at Xiao Xiwei and knitted her eyebrows. In the end, she put the blue and white porcelain vase with plum blossoms on the shelf. Just as she put it away, Zi Yan lifted the curtain and walked in.

“I heard everything.” Looking at Zi Yan, Xiao Xiwei raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Zi Yan nodded. “Half a month ago, Lord Liao, Minister of Military Affairs, came to the mansion. At that time, Concubine Zhou was going to the study to find her master. However, Concubine Zhou only stopped outside the study for a while before returning.”

“That’s all?”

“Concubine Zhou was very happy when she came, but when she returned, her face was a little panicked.”

Xiao Xi smiled and stood up with the table beside him. “Looks like Lord Liao has brought some bad news. At least for Auntie Zhou.”

Zhou Shumei had always judged the situation, so she did not do anything except stand with her and suppress Madam Li for more than half a year. After Madam Li was divorced, she rested in the Rain Hearing Pavilion to nurture her temperament. She did not flatter her like Third Concubine, nor did she look down on her. However, she couldn’t help but feel strange about her sudden appearance today. Chu Xizhi was conferred the title of King Yan, and leaving the palace was imminent. As long as he left the palace, their marriage would immediately be on the agenda. As soon as she left, the matriarch ignored everything. Xi Chun was young, and his brother had yet to take a wife. She was the only noble concubine in the manor who had a slightly more respectable position. There was really no need for her to rush out and snatch power. Moreover, the power she snatched was still a seemingly simple but important treasury. Therefore, the only possibility was that something was threatening her! And the only possibility that could reach her was … the inheritor.

It seemed that someone couldn’t wait to make an idea for the vacant position of matriarch of the Marquis Manor.

“Zi Yan, go out and tell him all of this.” Xiao Xi said as he looked at Zi Yan.

“Yes.” Zi Yan replied and quickly walked out.

After Zi Yan left, Xiao Xiwei sat back on the couch.

Chief Military Minister Liao Yuan did not seem to be involved in the prince’s struggle for the throne, but Xiao Xiwei knew that in his previous life, he had contributed a lot to Chu Yanzhi’s ascension to the throne. If it was him, he would probably have to place a chess piece for Chu Yanzhi in the Marquis Manor. Thinking of this, Xiao Xiwei’s eyes sank, and a trace of doubt that had sunk to the bottom of his heart surfaced again.

Chu Yanzhi had always been leaning behind the Crown Prince. Even after the Crown Prince fell, The remnants of the Crown Prince’s party had no choice but to turn around and support him. However, it was impossible for him to bribe so many people. Liao Yuan, Uncle Ping An, Great General Zhao Gang, and even the Emperor’s Yan Yunwei Commander, Gu An. These people, who were usually neutral, dependent on the Crown Prince, or dependent on Chu Xizhi, suddenly supported Chu Yanzhi to ascend the throne at the moment of the Emperor’s death. She knew that Chu Yanzhi’s thoughts were deep, but compared to Chu Xizhi who was at his peak at that time, his chances of winning the throne were definitely not as great as Chu Xizhi’s. However, how could those people follow him so willingly? Was there something else she didn’t know?

The more Xiao Xiwei thought about it, the more confused she became. She felt as if her heart was in a mess. However, no matter how hard she tried, she could not grab the thread to undo the mess.