TSWRLM -Chapter 139 Shen Qingchi, I Say Get Up

Shen Qingchi was busy kowtowing, not hearing what Chun Xi said, and continued to bang her head a few more times.

Chun Xi had to raise her voice: “Shen Qingchi, I said get up!”

Shen Qingchi shivered, looked up, and saw Chun Xi’s extremely serious expression. Tears immediately filled her eyes again, yet she stubbornly asked: “Sister-in-law, does this mean you’ve agreed not to divide the family?”

“Make Mother ill, try to kill my stepsister… if I didn’t refuse, do you think I’d wait for the officials from Jingzhao to drag me through the streets?”

Chun Xi curled her lips, a sarcastic cold smile appearing.

Although Shen Qingchi knew her actions might make Chun Xi feel cold, she could not bear Chun Xi’s sharp side. Her body trembled slightly as she whispered: “Mother said she will treat Brother and Sister-in-law well from now on. We’re one family; there’s no need to tear each other apart. Brother only just got promoted. If the household is in conflict, people will laugh at us.”

“So… you expect us to thank you?”

Chun Xi countered sharply. Shen Qingchi blushed and lowered her head guiltily.

In the past, seeing her like this would make Chun Xi feel pity, but now her heart was completely unmoved. She massaged her waist and said coldly: “Do you have anything else to say?”

“N…nothing else.”

Shen Qingchi answered timidly, then heard Chun Xi ask: “Then why aren’t you leaving?”

Shen Qingchi lifted her head abruptly. Seeing Chun Xi’s cold, icy gaze, her heart stung painfully.

Her head was injured and bleeding. She thought Sister-in-law would bandage it, but instead, Chun Xi directly drove her away.

A surge of inexplicable grievance welled up. Shen Qingchi cried out: “Sister-in-law, I know you’re disappointed in me, but Mother gave birth to me. Even if she’s done wrong, I cannot just watch her fall ill and do nothing!”

Shen Qingchi cried bitterly, hoping Chun Xi would understand her difficulty, but only received a cold question: “The purpose you wanted is already achieved. What else are you dissatisfied with?”

Chun Xi looked at Shen Qingchi calmly, as if staring at a stubborn, unreasonable child.

Under Chun Xi’s gaze, Shen Qingchi gradually felt ashamed.

She wanted to please her mother but also hoped her sister-in-law would still care for her as before.

She made her choice, yet didn’t want to pay the price.

Shen Qingchi struggled to speak: “I… I’m not dissatisfied. I just hope Sister-in-law doesn’t hold hostility toward me. I’ve never done anything to hurt Brother and Sister-in-law.”

Chun Xi nodded perfunctorily: “I understand. My back hurts; I’m going back inside to lie down. If you still don’t want to leave, continue kneeling here.”

Having said this, Chun Xi really turned and went back inside, closing the door.

Shen Qingchi’s back bent inch by inch, her spirit drained as if it had been pulled from her body.

Her mother had indeed sent her to plead with Chun Xi, but she also had selfish motives.

If Brother really split the estate, the Marquisate would become hollow, her marriage prospects would worsen, and Mother’s dowry for her would likely be meager, leaving her with no standing in her future in-laws’ home.

By reason and emotion, she should plead with Sister-in-law not to split the family.

Seeing Chun Xi’s cold reaction, Shen Qingchi panicked uncontrollably, even questioning whether she had done wrong.

But although Chun Xi had taken control of the household, any slip at the promotion banquet would return authority to Mother. Moreover, Sister-in-law had signed a contract, even the late Madame Marquis’ dowry would be managed by Mother. How could Chun Xi possibly win against Mother?

Besides, Mother had Cousin Wan’er assisting her with schemes. Chun Xi had offended the Mo family while collecting debts for the banquet. Grandmother would certainly not make it easy for her.

After analyzing this, Shen Qingchi calmed down.

She hadn’t done anything wrong.

Even though Sister-in-law treated her well, she couldn’t protect her forever. Only her mother, second brother, and third brother were her true blood relatives.

Once Sister-in-law lost control of the household, if Shen Qingchi showed some concern, she could reconcile with her as before.

With this in mind, Shen Qingchi returned to the main courtyard.

Hearing Chun Xi agree to persuade Shen Qingyuan not to split the estate, Madam Mo breathed a sigh of relief: “Let’s hope she has the ability to convince that rebellious one.”

Mo Yunwan rubbed Madam Mo’s head to comfort her: “Aunt, don’t worry. Cousin never cared about these worldly matters before. After marriage, he seems like a different person. It’s clear that Cao Chun Xi coveted these things and stirred trouble behind the scenes. Now that she’s agreed not to split the family, Cousin will naturally not bring it up again.”

Madam Mo agreed, her dislike for Chun Xi reaching its peak: “I once thought she’d be easy to handle, but she’s really clever. Once she loses control of the household, she must not remain here.”

Madam Mo’s eyes glinted with murderous intent. Mo Yunwan sarcastically remarked: “The Wei family has many servants, yet only she served the eldest master for three years. How could you think she’s an easy target?”

Hearing this, Madam Mo recalled how Wei Lingze publicly promised to care for Chun Xi under Shen Qingyuan’s name.

A man and woman alone, intimate for three years—could there really be no feelings at all?

Madam Mo thought of new ways to deal with Chun Xi. Just as she wanted to discuss them with Mo Yunwan, she noticed Shen Qingchi still lingering in the room. Frowning, she said: “Stop standing there foolishly. Go tend to the injury on your head, and if you have time, check the Heart Court for news about the promotion banquet.”

From start to finish, Madam Mo didn’t ask if Shen Qingchi was in pain.

Returning to her room, Shen Qingchi lay on the bed and wept.

Even though she had convinced herself she hadn’t done wrong, she couldn’t control her grievances.

If only… if only Sister-in-law were a little gentler, didn’t oppose Mother, and didn’t hold a grudge against her.

Chun Xi, having overslept, missed lunch and only got up in the afternoon.

Starving, she went into the small kitchen, fried a large bowl of meat sauce, and boiled noodles.

The firm, fragrant noodles coated with bright sauce and a few greens looked mouthwatering.

Chun Xi eagerly took a big bite. Her hungry stomach satisfied, her expression relaxed.

As she went for a second bite, out of the corner of her eye she noticed Cao Wen peeking outside the courtyard.

She swallowed and waved him over. Cao Wen hesitated before coming forward.

“What do you need?” she asked directly.

Shen Qingyuan had told Cao Wen their return time; him showing up now clearly wasn’t to ask Shen Qingyuan anything.

Cao Wen pursed his lips, full of hesitation and worry.

Although Chun Xi hadn’t treated him well in the Marquisate—making him write IOUs for school money—at Qingsong Academy, when he was bullied or falsely accused, Chun Xi stood up for him, even helping him find a better school later.

He wanted to study hard and succeed to make Chun Xi regret mistreating him, but he didn’t want her harmed by evil people.

Chun Xi set down her chopsticks and softly asked: “There’s still some meat sauce left. Do you want a bowl of noodles?”

“Yes, thank you, Sister!”

After a moment of surprise, Cao Wen’s heart raced.

Since coming to the Marquisate, this was the first time Sister had cooked for him.

Could this mean he had done the right thing?