TSWRLM -Chapter 147 Big Brother Must Divorce Her!

“What heirloom? Bring it over and let me see.”

Old Madam Xiao said suspiciously. Madam Ning gave a signal to the maid beside her, and the maid immediately stepped forward, snatching the bracelet from Madam Wang’s hand, along with the earrings.

The maid was rough. Madam Wang’s ear was torn and bleeding, and she cried out in pain.

But no one present felt pity; they only wanted to watch the spectacle.

If it was confirmed that these were Xiao family heirlooms, both Madam Wang and Chun Xi would be thieves. Who would sympathize with thieves?

The maid brought the bracelet and earrings before Old Madam Xiao and Madam Xiao.

The earrings were stained with blood, which made the green jade appear even more striking. Indeed, these were rare and valuable pieces. Old Madam Xiao instinctively looked at Madam Xiao, who said solemnly: “These bracelet and earrings were indeed part of Yuan’er’s biological mother’s dowry.”

At this, the entire hall erupted in shock.

So these really were family heirlooms.

Madam Ning let go of Madam Wang and impatiently demanded: “Young Madam Shen, what do you say to this now?”

Seeing the evidence was clear, Madam Mo suddenly played the part of the concerned elder: “A-Xi, could there be some misunderstanding? Although I, as your mother-in-law, haven’t treated you well, Yuan’er has always been sincere toward you. How could you steal the heirlooms of his deceased mother to please your own mother?”

Madam Mo’s face was full of disbelief. At that moment, a hurried maid rushed in, flustered, shouting: “Young Madam, something’s wrong! Third Young Master discovered you ordered wine from a small tavern since childhood and stopped it from entering. What should we do?”

This maid usually worked in the kitchen and had a grudge against the head cook. She had been instructed by Mo Yunwan to guard the back door and report immediately if anything unusual happened.

With Madam Wang showing Xiao family heirlooms in the front, and Chun Xi secretly substituting wine from a small tavern in the back, the story that Chun Xi had secretly taken the Xiao family dowry to aid her maternal family suddenly seemed highly plausible.

Everyone’s gaze toward Chun Xi shifted.

In fact, after marriage, privately supporting one’s maternal family wasn’t unheard of, but doing so openly while disrespecting the husband’s household—substituting inferior wine at an important banquet—was truly outrageous.

The pain in her ear finally woke Madam Wang up. She realized that today’s banquet wasn’t her moment to show off, but a trap set by the Marquis’ wife to sweep Chun Xi out of the Marquisate.

Now with both witnesses and evidence, Chun Xi could no longer defend herself.

Back home, this girl had been disobedient and unfilial; in the Marquisate, she still hadn’t restrained herself. How could the Marquis’ wife tolerate such a reckless new bride? No wonder A-Wen had cried, saying life in the Marquisate was unbearable.

Madam Wang, who had just hoped to visit the Marquisate often to flaunt herself, now only wanted to distance herself from Chun Xi to avoid being implicated.

Thinking this, Madam Wang shouted at Chun Xi: “You rebellious girl! Your father was always upright and honest, and your brother and I taught you to live a clean life. You married into the Marquisate thanks to your ancestors’ luck. How dare you mismanage things, secretly take so much money? If I had known these two items were stolen by you, I never would have worn them!”

Madam Wang’s eyes blazed with fury. She didn’t give Chun Xi a chance to explain and proceeded to tell everyone about her hardships. In the end, besides the bracelet and earrings, she hadn’t benefited at all. Chun Xi had already taken enough for herself, and yet now only handed over these two “dead people’s” items as a token. She still found it unlucky.

Madam Wang, who was usually unstoppable in arguments in the alley, was even more formidable in front of these prominent ladies. No one could interrupt her, regardless of whether they cared about her petty grievances.

Madam Mo hadn’t expected Madam Wang to be so eloquent, yet now, it was no longer Madam Wang’s show.

When Madam Wang finally tired, Madam Mo coldly said: “You two, stop performing here. With witnesses and evidence present, if there isn’t a satisfactory answer today, we’ll have to report this to the authorities!”

Madam Wang, being a commoner, feared dealing with officials most of all. She still wanted to argue a bit more, but Chun Xi finally spoke: “My husband has just entered the Censorate and is an expert at judging cases. Mother-in-law, why not have him judge this? Why go through the trouble of the authorities?”

From the start of the incident, Chun Xi had remained calm, showing no trace of panic.

Hearing this, Madam Mo assumed Chun Xi was merely relying on Shen Qingyuan’s backing and was about to refute, but Chun Xi added: “If Mother-in-law worries that my husband might favor me, other officials can be asked to help. There are so many distinguished guests at the manor today; surely at least one can ensure justice?”

Chun Xi wasn’t defending herself but offering advice to Madam Mo. Madam Mo’s eyelids twitched, a strange unease rising in her chest.

In previous confrontations, Chun Xi had always been this composed.

Could it be that she had anticipated everything, deliberately letting the plan unfold, waiting to strike back?

Madam Mo broke out in cold sweat at this thought, unsure how to proceed. Meanwhile, Shen Qingyu, seated among the male guests, couldn’t wait to attack Shen Qingyuan: “Cao Chun Xi unilaterally misappropriated funds for the banquet, substituted inferior wine, and ordered from an unknown small tavern. Such a short-sighted, greedy woman cannot remain in the Marquisate. Big Brother must immediately write a divorce notice and dismiss her!”

It was near noon. The guests were mostly present, and even the Crown Prince had come specially for the banquet.

Everyone was surprised at the Crown Prince’s regard for Shen Qingyuan and had intended to investigate the two, but instead this scandal erupted.

They all knew that this Young Madam Shen came from humble origins, but no matter how humble, she shouldn’t have caused such a scandal today.

Many looked at Shen Qingyuan with sympathy.

Shen Qingyuan had lost two previous wives. Even though one had been revived, he couldn’t resume the past. Now, with this new wife causing scandal, the inner household was unstable, and his career might suffer.

Just as everyone was thinking this, Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Rites suddenly stepped past the crowd to Shen Qingyu: “Third Young Master, the people you stopped at the manor gates were arranged by me to deliver wine. The wine was the best tribute wine of the year. When did it become wine from an unknown small tavern?”

Shen Qingyu, ready with a long-winded argument to convince his brother to divorce, was caught off guard. He stammered: “But Cao Chun Xi clearly had the cook order wine from her own brother’s tavern. Why is the Ministry of Rites delivering wine?”

Minister Zhang frowned: “Third Young Master, have you forgotten? Her Majesty the Empress once decreed that the Ministry of Rites arrange a supplementary wedding for Master Shen and Young Madam Shen. Coincidentally, Master Shen was promoted, a double celebration. Young Madam Shen didn’t want excessive banquet waste, so she coordinated with me to handle it. Naturally, the manor’s banquet should be fully managed by the Ministry of Rites.”

Shen Qingyu’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning. He shifted his gaze from Minister Zhang to Shen Qingyuan and said with difficulty: “Big Brother… you’re helping Cao Chun Xi scheme against us?”

Shen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled: “You? Who else besides Third Brother? I don’t quite understand. And I’m the one being forced to divorce, so how is Third Brother being schemed against?”

“……”