Chapter 26: Backing Someone Up

Chapter 26: Backing Someone Up

"Fifth Sister!"

Seeing that Hua Wuniang had already boarded the bridal sedan, Hua Changxi did not have time to greet the elders and ran directly toward the sedan.

However, when she was still two or three meters away, she was blocked by a haughty-looking Nanny Shen. "The time has come. Concubine Hua must depart."

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

Nanny Shen refused outright, "No. You have already delayed for a long time; the Third Madam is still waiting at the Marquis's manor."

Hua Changxi maintained her patience. "Just a few words, nothing else. It won't take long."

Nanny Shen grew annoyed. "Can you young lady not understand human speech? I said no, and that means no."

Hua Changxi’s brow furrowed, and she looked at Nanny Shen expressionlessly. "And who are you?"

Nanny Shen was irritated by Hua Changxi's attitude, but she still lifted her chin and said, "I am the attendant nanny of the Third Madam of the Marquis Wuyi's manor."

Hua Changxi let out a scoffing "Oh." "So you're just a servant, then." Having said that, she attempted to bypass Nanny Shen to reach the sedan.

Nanny Shen was stung by the word 'servant.'

She was a servant, yes, but she was a servant of the Marquis Wuyi's manor. To her, a declining family like the Hua family wasn't even worth a glance.

For a daughter of this house to show her such blatant disregard and dare to mock her to her face was simply outrageous!

With a face ashen from rage, Nanny Shen reached out again to block Hua Changxi. However, she ignored the girl and instead turned her gaze toward Hua Tai and his wife, sneering

"The family rules of the Hua family are truly an eye-opener. I have never heard of such an ill-mannered young lady; today has certainly broadened my horizons."

"The Third Master previously told the Third Madam that the Hua family would raise their daughters well and that Concubine Hua was very humble and obedient. But looking at this young lady's conduct, one truly worries about Concubine Hua's character."

"Once I return to the Marquis's manor, I must report this properly to the Third Master and the Third Madam, lest they be deceived by others."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Hua family members looked anxious.

Fourth Aunt Hua, worried that Hua Changxi would offend Nanny Shen and cause Hua Wuniang to suffer at the manor, rushed forward to pull her away. "Changxi, stop making a scene."

Hua Changxi stood her ground and whispered, "Fourth Aunt, the Marquis's manor is being so aggressive; they clearly look down on us. If we shrink back every time something happens and act like easy targets, do you really think they will treat Fifth Sister well?"

Hearing this, Fourth Aunt Hua hesitated.

Seeing that she couldn't pull the girl away, Lady Zhong stepped forward, grabbed Hua Changxi's arm to pull her behind her, and simultaneously offered a forced smile to Nanny Shen.

"Please do not be angry, Nanny. It is that the Hua family has failed to educate our daughter properly. Rest assured, Wuniang's character is beyond reproach. As for this girl, we will certainly discipline her strictly."

Hua Changxi was not so polite to Lady Zhong. She shook off her hand and looked at Nanny Shen with sarcasm. "Is it that I don't know the rules, or is it that you are using your power to bully others and riding on someone else's coattails?"

"I would actually like everyone here to judge this. When my sister is getting married, her sister comes to see her off. What kind of family is so tyrannical that they won't even allow siblings a moment to say goodbye?"

"Oh, right. You are from the Marquis Wuyi's manor. A high and noble house, used to being high and mighty, so imposing that you won't even allow people to observe basic human decency."

Manager Kong, who was standing with Hua Tai, felt his expression shift upon hearing this.

The Third Master taking a concubine had angered the Third Madam, and sending Nanny Shen to fetch Concubine Hua was clearly intended as a show of dominance.

Manager Kong had already planned to remain indifferent to this.

Fortunately, the Hua family was honest and hadn't done anything excessive, and with the support of Hua Tai and his wife, he thought bringing Concubine Hua into the manor would be easy. He hadn't expected this sudden obstacle at the very end.

Manager Kong looked at Concubine Hua's ninth sister. This young lady was formidable; a single word—'servant'—had driven Nanny Shen into a rage, and now she had left the woman speechless.

If word got out that the Marquis Wuyi's manor used its power to bully people and wouldn't even allow siblings to say goodbye, the people in the capital would spread rumors of how tyrannical the Marquis's manor truly was.

Manager Kong knew he could no longer sit idly by. He stepped forward with a smile. "Nanny Shen, this young lady wishes to bid farewell to Concubine Hua. Please show some leniency and grant them a moment."

Amidst Nanny Shen's changing expression, he continued smiling. "Although fetching Concubine Hua has indeed taken quite some time, rest assured, once we return to the manor, I will personally accompany you to apologize to the Third Madam."

While he smoothed things over and allowed Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang to say their goodbyes, he also pinned the fault of the delay onto the Hua family.

Manager Kong was a man of the Third Master; Nanny Shen had to give him face, so she stepped aside with a grim expression.

Hua Changxi did not immediately go to see Hua Wuniang. Instead, she looked at Manager Kong with a smile. "Manager Kong, are you a man close to the Third Master He?"

Manager Kong was somewhat surprised, but he nodded with a smile.

Hua Changxi smiled as well, glancing at Hua Tai beside her. "Seeing how warmly Manager Kong was just chatting with my grand-uncle, anyone who didn't know might think my fifth sister was my grand-uncle's granddaughter."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present froze.

Once the veil of pretension is torn away to reveal the dirty calculations beneath, no one can maintain their composure.

The Hua family members looked embarrassed. Manager Kong and Nanny Shen had made no effort to hide their contempt for them; even though it was their daughter who was marrying into the house, the two of them only spoke to Hua Tai and his wife.

As for Hua Tai and his wife, their expressions were also poor. They had thought that with the stubborn Hua Minghe absent, they could easily manipulate the rest of the Hua family. They hadn't expected that in his absence, his daughter would step up.

Manager Kong's face was also stiff, and his gaze toward Hua Changxi grew more serious.

Hua Changxi ignored him and walked quickly to the side of the sedan, lifting the curtain. "Fifth Sister, I'm sorry. I'm late."

Since boarding the sedan, Hua Wuniang's tears had not stopped. Hearing Ninth Sister fighting with Nanny Shen outside, although she worried about her situation in the manor, her heart felt a little lighter.

The manor's arrival to fetch her was a blatant display of disrespect, yet not a single person from her family had stood up to back her up.

She had actually felt very disappointed.

Fortunately, Ninth Sister was back!

Hua Wuniang gripped Hua Changxi's hand. "You're not late. I'm just happy to see you."

"Ninth Sister, you, Seventh Sister, and Twelfth Sister must stay strong. Don't be like me, do you understand?"

Hua Changxi nodded. She pressed the health-strengthening pills given to her by Physician Xu into Hua Wuniang's hand and whispered, "Fifth Sister, you are still young. Don't rush to get pregnant once you enter the manor."

"Since I entered the Medical Bureau, my medical skills have improved greatly. Wait for me for two years. Once I have completed my training, no matter how many children you want to have, I will be the one to deliver them."

"If you encounter trouble in the manor, do not endure it in silence. You must notify the family."

Listening to Hua Changxi's caring and heartfelt words, Hua Wuniang nodded through her tears and smiles.

"I said just a few words! Why is this never-ending!"

Nanny Shen's impatient voice interrupted the farewell.

Hua Wuniang said quickly, "Ninth Sister, don't go against Grandfather and Grandmother. If you aren't comfortable in the servant quarters, just come home; don't force yourself. Don't worry, I will be fine in the manor. We must all 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 curtain again. After standing for a moment, she turned toward Manager Kong.

Seeing her approach, Manager Kong instinctively straightened his posture—a habit he had whenever meeting important figures. He was surprised by his own reaction when he realized he was facing a young girl.

Hua Changxi looked at Manager Kong with a smile. "Manager Kong, my sister did not scramble to become the Third Master's concubine; it was the Third Master who actively sought her out. Do you acknowledge that?"

Manager Kong glanced at Hua Tai and his wife. Regardless of what he thought, he ultimately nodded. "I acknowledge it."

Hua Changxi said, "It's good that you acknowledge it. Since the Third Master sought her out himself, once my sister enters the manor, he must protect her well."

Manager Kong smiled. "That goes without saying."

Lady Zhong suddenly interjected, "Ninth Sister, the Marquis's manor is a high and noble house. For Wuniang to enter the manor is to fall into a nest of blessings."

Hua Changxi turned to look at Lady Zhong. "Does Grand-aunt have any granddaughters of her own?"

Lady Zhong understood Hua Changxi's meaning almost instantly. Her face stiffened, and she did not respond.

Hua Changxi gave her a mocking laugh and turned back to Manager Kong. "My fifth sister was raised with love by our family. Our family might not even be able to touch the threshold of the Marquis's manor on an ordinary day, but if something happens to our people, we still have a bit of spirit in us."

Such an obvious threat naturally made Manager Kong very uncomfortable. He wanted to snap back, but when he met the calm, unruffled eyes of the young girl, the words died in his throat.

"Master, Old Madam."

Manager Kong suddenly turned and bowed to the Old Master and Old Madam Hua, then said to the rest of the Hua family, "Rest assured, once Concubine Hua enters the manor, the Third Master will certainly treat her well."

Finally hearing a promise from the manor—even if it came from a manager—relieved the Hua family significantly.

Inside the sedan, Hua Wuniang pressed her hands firmly over her mouth to keep from crying out loud.

Seeing Manager Kong showing deference to Hua Wuniang, Nanny Shen's expression soured. She directly commanded the sedan bearers, "Lift the sedan! Return to the manor!"

Manager Kong smiled and bid farewell to the Hua family. This time, he did not focus solely on Hua Tai and his wife. As he caught up with Nanny Shen's group, he couldn't help but look back at Hua Changxi one last time.

He felt as if he had been possessed; he had actually been intimidated by a young girl.