TSWRLM -Chapter 103 From Now On, Wan’er is Above, You Are Below

The moment the kitchen knife appeared, the entire hall fell silent.

Chun Xi then looked at Old Madam Wu: “Grandmother, I didn’t quite catch what you just said. Could you repeat it?”

With the knife in her hand, Old Madam Wu didn’t dare repeat herself. But with so many eyes on her, she couldn’t back down either. So she stiffly said, “You still remember I’m your grandmother, yet you speak to me like this? You are, after all, the young mistress of the marquis residence. Bringing a kitchen knife to meet your elders—what sort of propriety is that?”

Still afraid, Old Madam Wu didn’t dare continue cursing; she had to dress it up in words.

But before she could finish, Chun Xi’s knife flew through the air and struck the back of Old Madam Wu’s throne-like chair with a loud thunk.

Chun Xi’s movement was so fast that Old Madam Wu had no time to dodge. Even her sleeve was slashed.

“Ahhh!”

Old Madam Wu screamed, and everyone else gasped in shock. No one had expected Chun Xi would actually make a move.

Chun Xi’s expression remained unchanged. A few steps forward, she placed her foot on the chair, and easily pulled the knife out.

After retrieving the knife, she didn’t step back but held her stance and looked at Old Madam Wu. “Grandmother, can you repeat what you just said now?”

Old Madam Wu’s entire body went weak with fear. She dared not be defiant and quickly said, “I didn’t say anything. You are the granddaughter-in-law personally chosen by my grandson; there is no doubt about it. From now on, I will only recognize you as my granddaughter-in-law.”

Her voice trembled.

Now, in her eyes, Chun Xi was no longer a young wife to be easily handled but a fearsome woman who could swing a knife and kill. How could her old bones withstand this?

Satisfied with the answer, Chun Xi finally smiled. “Ah, I see. Then I must have misheard earlier.”

She twirled the knife in her hand, then tucked it behind her waist. Her demeanor softened, returning to her original gentle, composed self. She looked at everyone: “Sorry to have frightened you all. I didn’t mean to. It’s just that we encountered so many assassins on the way with my husband that I’ve unconsciously gotten used to carrying something for self-defense. Now that everyone is gathered, is there some important matter to discuss?”

Everyone: “……”

Your knife nearly killed your husband’s grandmother, and you still have the nerve to say it wasn’t intentional?

That chair was made of the finest huanghuali wood—how much force did you use to carve such a deep cut?

And weren’t you already aware that your husband’s second wife had returned from the dead? With both families gathered here, you can’t not know what’s being discussed!

Everyone ignored the assassins and assumed Chun Xi was exaggerating. But after seeing her skill, no one dared tell her to step down; all eyes turned to Madam Mo.

Ultimately, the matter had to be decided by the lady of the marquis residence.

Madam Mo had planned to let Old Madam Wu temper Chun Xi’s temper first, then find the right moment to control her. But Chun Xi’s trip to Xuzhou had made her bolder and more outrageous. Under everyone’s watch, Madam Mo could only curse silently in her heart.

All these people talked a lot but froze when real action came. What use were they?

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Madam Mo spoke solemnly: “This is the marquis residence. There are no assassins here. Hand the knife over first.”

She gave Nanny Jia a glance, signaling her to take the knife away—after all, who would dare speak sharply to Chun Xi otherwise?

Nanny Jia caught the signal but hesitated. At her age, she was just a servant. Chun Xi wouldn’t dare harm the elderly, but she might just attack her.

Chun Xi noticed Nanny Jia’s hesitation and raised her voice: “I took this knife from the small kitchen at the Inquiry Hall. I’ll return it later myself. No need for mother to trouble herself. We’ve been away for so long; the house has collected dust. If there’s nothing for me to attend to, I’ll go back and clean.”

Chun Xi made as if to leave. Madam Mo, realizing she couldn’t delay, quickly said: “Stop! Did I say you could leave?”

Chun Xi paused, raising an eyebrow at Madam Mo.

Madam Mo cleared her throat: “You must understand Wan’er’s relationship with Yuan’er. Wan’er once accidentally fell off a cliff searching for Yuan’er. These years, she was severely injured and amnesiac, recuperating under a renowned doctor. It was confirmed in Xuzhou that she remains virtuous. I have discussed this with the Mo elders. She entered this house before you; now that she has returned, from now on, she is above, and you are below.”

Chun Xi held the knife, and Madam Mo did not dare banish her. She vaguely set the hierarchy. As for what “below” meant—whether Chun Xi would act as a secondary wife or concubine—could be decided later.

Madam Mo was firm; she wasn’t negotiating but merely notifying.

Before Chun Xi could respond, Shen Qingyu sneered impatiently: “Did you hear that? I’ve said it before—the marquis residence recognizes only one young mistress. A rough, vulgar woman like you has no right to be my elder brother’s wife!”

Chun Xi gave him a cold glance. “Third brother, your head is about to be chopped off and used as a stool for me, yet you still have time to pick a favorite elder sister-in-law? Your ambition is far too big.”

The phrase “favorite elder sister-in-law” hit Shen Qingyu in a secret nerve. His expression shifted, ready to curse, but Shen Qingyue grabbed him: “Enough, third brother, stop causing trouble.”

Once Shen Qingyu quieted down, Chun Xi turned to Mo Yunwan: “Miss Mo, do you feel the same?”

Mo Yunwan lowered her eyes, avoiding Chun Xi’s gaze, and timidly said: “Matters of marriage concern the honor of both families. With so many elders present today, it is not my place to speak.”

In other words, she had no choice. Her previous words in Xuzhou about breaking off the engagement were invalid—she would follow the elders.

Madam Ning, having not seen her daughter for many years, grew angry at how Chun Xi pressed Mo Yunwan and immediately said: “Wan’er is right. Marriage should be decided by the elders. It is not for you, a junior, to speak. Bring in the Cao family!”

At her command, Madam Wang entered the hall.

Perhaps threatened before, she kept her head down, hunched over, looking timid and fearful.

Madam Wang bowed respectfully to everyone, but her expression changed toward Chun Xi. Hands on her hips, frowning, she instinctively wanted to scold this daughter for causing trouble.

Before she could speak, Chun Xi said first: “I’ve severed my mother-daughter relationship with her. You’ve come to the wrong person—she cannot control me.”

Chun Xi’s tone was calm, her expression indifferent, as if Madam Wang were a stranger.

Madam Wang’s prepared scolding got stuck in her throat. Her head buzzed, her hands trembled. “You… insolent child, what did you just say?”

Chun Xi ignored her. “Guards, escort her out!”

With that, two guards from the Inquiry Hall appeared and forced Madam Wang outside.

The woman screamed: “Cao Chun Xi, I am your birth mother! If you refuse to acknowledge me, may heaven strike you with lightning!”

Chun Xi remained unmoved.

In this world, there were plenty of people who deserved lightning—what did it matter to her?