Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

Xia Shouzhong brought An'er back. An'er was holding a stack of raw linen in his hand, while Xia Shouzhong was holding a stack of coarse linen in his hand.

As soon as I entered the room, I heard that Wang Xifeng was taking a nap - no, she was sad alone and didn't allow anyone to disturb her.

Xia Shouzhong looked at An'er, and An'er humbly took half a step back.

Xia Shouzhong raised his lips, nodded slightly, then called all the servants who had just finished their meal together and ordered loudly:

"According to the order of the Crown Prince, we, Cheng Hui, must follow the rules for unmarried women and observe mourning for our deceased grandmother for a year.

"According to the rules, I will go to Cheng'en Palace this afternoon to ask the Crown Princess for permission to have Chenghui pay his respects to me and bid farewell to the throne tomorrow morning.

"In addition, tomorrow morning, a female official named Meng from the Daming Palace will come over and officially serve as our Chenghui's teacher, and will also be in charge of all personal matters.

"Once Lady Meng arrives and the Crown Princess issues the official order, the East Hall of Yiqiu Palace will be sealed.

"Since it is a sealed palace, then everyone, we can't walk around the East Palace as we please during this year—"

Xia Shouzhong's meaningful gaze passed over the faces of Fugui, Jingshun, Qiaolian, and Qiaogui one by one, "So if there are any people or things that need to be explained, from this moment until bedtime tonight, explain them all.

"After today, if we are caught and run away at will, it will not only ruin your lives, but also the reputation of Chenghui.

"Cheng Hui's reputation is much more important than your life and mine!"

The four people felt a chill down their spines when they heard the gentle voice. They all lowered their heads and said in unison, "Yes."

"In that case, Miss An'er?" Xia Shouzhong looked at An'er politely.

An'er nodded deeply: "In the next few hours, leave Chenghui to me and Ru'er. We don't need to go out for anything."

Xia Shouzhong bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

He waved his hand towards everyone, "I'll give you a day off, go ahead."

When Wang Xifeng woke up leisurely, stretched, and called for someone to serve her, only Ru'er came in.

Wang Xifeng was surprised: "Where are the others?"

"Master Xia has taken An'er to Cheng'en Palace to ask for an audience on your behalf tomorrow morning. As for the others... Jingshun will guard the gate outside, and the other three will ask for leave to go home."

Ru'er first reported everyone's whereabouts, then repeated Xia Shouzhong's words word for word, and whispered, "I think Qiao Lian is the most reliable among these people."

"Yes, yes, I'll listen to Ruer!" Wang Xifeng smiled like a flower and pinched Ruer's already pink face.

After washing up, Wang Xifeng sat on the edge of the bed and watched Ruer spread out the raw linen and coarse linen together, cut them, and roughly joined them for her. Then she handed them to her and whispered:

"According to the rules, Cheng Hui should wear mourning clothes for a year, made of coarse linen with straight edges.

"But since Cheng Hui asked Sister An'er to get some raw linen, why not make a set of mourning clothes?

"Whether I send him to the palace or tell the prince that I want to guard him for another two years, I'll have an excuse."

Wang Xifeng immediately smiled and pinched her cheek again: "Good girl, you are really smart! How did you know that your daughter wanted to observe the mourning period for three years?"

Ruer pursed her lips shyly, then lowered her eyes and whispered, "I heard earlier that... the old lady mentioned to the second master that our eldest master would inherit the patriarchship...

“If the Second Master has already thought about letting the Second Master Yi replace our First Master, I’m afraid this time he will let the First Master Yi wear mourning clothes according to the rules for the eldest grandson.

"But our family lives far away, and it will probably be half a year before we know about the second house's actions.

“Although it is inconvenient for Miss to inform Jinling now, if the Second House can really do it, Miss will simply follow suit and wear mourning clothes.

"Anyway, the old man left the family temple in the girl's name. Isn't that more legitimate than the second branch saying it on its own?"

Wang Xifeng clapped her hands, her eyes brightening, "Sure enough, I praised you appropriately! My Ru'er usually doesn't talk, but she knows everything! I have finally found a treasure by taking you back!"

Ruer was stunned: "Snatch it back?"

It wasn't that the Second Madam was so bullied that she casually said that she and Yi'er...

Ruer bit her lip gently.

So the girl deliberately asked her eldest maid to fan Aunt Meng, not to ask the second wife for ice, but to get herself back...

"The girl is smart..."

The master and servant smiled at each other.

When An'er came back with red and swollen eyes, he saw the two of them doing needlework, talking and laughing in low voices.

——Of course, it was mainly Ruer who instructed Wang Xifeng to do it clumsily.

"Oh! Where have you been? Why are your eyes swollen like toads?" Wang Xifeng was shocked when she looked up and saw An'er.

An'er blinked and shook his head in a relaxed manner: "Isn't this to ask for an audience on your behalf tomorrow morning? No matter what, you have to pretend to be heartbroken! Manager Xia made me some ginger juice, which is spicy."

After a pause, he continued, "The Crown Princess not only agreed to meet you, but also announced that she would call all the concubines in the Eastern Palace together, saying that she would let everyone "comfort" you and use you as a "role model"...

"Cheng Hui, you have to go through this tomorrow with your eyes wide open!

"Shall I get another piece of ginger?"

Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes, snorted, and said, "I still need my eyes, I don't need them!

"But it's just right, you can go to Mei Chenghui with these two frog eyes.

"Ask her to write a mantra for me and tell her that I want to copy it for my grandmother."

An'er took the order and left.

After a while, he came back with a strange look on his face and handed her a piece of paper:

"Mei Chenghui has already prepared it for you, and he said that it was specially written in large characters so that you can easily see the strokes when you copy it.

"Mei Chenghui also told you not to sleep tonight, but to make mourning clothes and copy out the mantra for the Pure Land.

"Tomorrow morning, I will ask the Crown Princess for a favor and ask her to send someone to send your mourning clothes and the Rebirth Mantra back to the mansion!"

Wang Xifeng couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many smart people in this world! Especially in the palace!"

An'er rubbed his eyes.

Ru'er lowered her head and continued to sew the coarse linen mourning clothes for Qisui, quietly.

While it was still daylight and the mourning clothes were easy to sew, Wang Xifeng hurriedly finished making them. She put them aside, stood up, raised her head, rubbed her neck, and twisted her waist: "I finally understand why no one likes to do needlework!"

An'er and Ru'er looked up in confusion: "Who doesn't like to do it?"

Lin Daiyu doesn't like to do it.

Wang Xifeng swallowed the six words and made up an excuse: "Jia Luan doesn't love me..."

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, "My eyes are so sore, I want to cry."

The two girls looked at her eyes and couldn't help but feel distressed: "They are all red and full of bloodshot. Can you close your eyes and rest for a while?"

"Don't you know that the Amitabha Sutra should be recited twenty-one times?" Wang Xifeng yawned, and ordered paper to be spread out, ink to be melted, and she began to copy.

In the second half of the night, the two girls couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep on the table.

Only then did Wang Xifeng walk to the window and cough lightly.

(No more for today, see you tomorrow.)