TSWRLM -Chapter 148 Old Witch, I’ll Take You On!

Madam Mo still didn’t know what had happened at the male guests’ table. She carefully considered her plan.

The wine issue had only been reported to Chun Xi by the head cook that morning. Chun Xi and Shen Qingyuan were busy entertaining guests and hadn’t had a chance to speak a word. Now, the wine delivery men had already been stopped at the gates, and Madam Xiao had confirmed that the bracelet Madam Wang wore was indeed Xiao family heirloom. Even if Cao Chun Xi talked her way out, it would be impossible to explain everything clearly.

Cao Chun Xi’s calm and collected demeanor was merely a facade.

Thinking this, Madam Mo’s voice grew cold: “Family shame must not be exposed. Today is Yuan’er’s auspicious day; how could I let such scandal spread among his colleagues and disgrace him? If you refuse to admit your mistake, then it will have to be handled by family discipline!”

Madam Mo snorted coldly. A few strong young servants suddenly leapt out from the shadows, charging straight at Chun Xi.

Chun Xi’s eyes sharpened. She sprang up, grabbed a nearby low stool, and smashed it into the head of the foremost servant, splitting it open and causing him to collapse, howling in pain.

The others weren’t deterred and kept rushing forward. Clearly, they’d been heavily paid and would not stop until Chun Xi was subdued.

But before they could even reach the hem of her dress, several arrows shot into their thighs, one by one, sending them crashing to the ground with screams.

Madam Mo’s face turned pale. She knew Chun Xi had some hand-to-hand combat skills; ordinary maids couldn’t stop her. She had deliberately arranged these strong young servants, thinking this would be enough to take Chun Xi down, but hadn’t expected Chun Xi to hide sleeve arrows on her person—and dare to use them in public!

Fearing Chun Xi would aim an arrow at herself, Madam Mo sprang to her feet, pulled Mo Yunwan in front of her as a shield, and shouted: “Cao Chun Xi, you’ve gone mad! Who allowed you to carry a weapon on your person?!”

Chun Xi tilted her head, looking serious: “My husband gave it to me. He said today there’d be so many people in the house, and he couldn’t always stay by my side to protect me. He gave me this for self-defense. I didn’t expect to encounter assassins, but it came in handy. My husband truly foresaw everything.”

At the end, Chun Xi’s tone carried pride. Madam Mo choked, then flew into a rage: “What nonsense are you spouting? What assassins?”

“The women’s quarters are a sensitive area. I specifically instructed the steward to keep an eye on the young servants so they wouldn’t run wild in the backyard and disturb the honored guests. If these people weren’t assassins, then could they be spies secretly arranged by Mother-in-law? Although autumn is cooler, the autumn heat is still intense. Would Mother-in-law risk tarnishing everyone’s reputation?”

The weather was fine today. Many beauty-conscious young ladies wore light clothing, and as noon approached, they even removed their outer layers to stay cool. Hearing Chun Xi, the young ladies, who had been scared, now glared angrily at Madam Mo and the servants.

Madam Mo could quarrel with her daughter-in-law and make a fool of herself, but she could not compromise their dignity. Who knew where those servants’ eyes had been while hiding in the shadows?

The young ladies were outraged. The prominent ladies present immediately realized the situation and looked down on Madam Mo.

Being the mistress of the Marquisate for so many years didn’t mean you could act without decency.

Feeling everyone’s gaze, Madam Mo realized she was in a bind.

If she admitted that these men were arranged by her, she would offend countless prominent ladies. But if she admitted they were assassins, Chun Xi would seize the point and she would have no way to explain.

Not knowing how to respond, a maid hurriedly whispered in Madam Mo’s ear: “Second Young Master asked me to tell Madam that today’s banquet is being managed by officials from the Ministry of Rites. Please do not make things difficult for Young Madam.”

“What did you say?”

Madam Mo was shocked. She grabbed the maid’s collar and shouted, her face twisted like she wanted to devour her. The maid’s legs went weak, and she didn’t dare speak.

Shen Qingchi, seeing Madam Mo’s loss of composure, stepped forward to support her: “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Before he finished, Madam Mo swung her hand and slapped Shen Qingchi hard: “You vile girl! I’ve raised you for so many years, and now you collude with Cao Chun Xi to harm me? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!”

These days, Shen Qingchi had been almost inseparable from Chun Xi. Madam Mo had been told that Chun Xi was gradually walking into their trap. She had been eager to act publicly and crush Chun Xi, but now learned that the banquet was actually managed by the Ministry of Rites under the Empress’s command. Naturally, Madam Mo instinctively believed that Shen Qingchi was conspiring with Chun Xi to deceive her.

Madam Mo used all her strength. Shen Qingchi hit the ground, ears ringing. She sobbed, trying to defend herself: “Mother, what happened? I don’t know anything. I’ve only been following your orders. I have never betrayed you!”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yunwan’s expression immediately changed.

She didn’t understand why Madam Mo was suddenly in such chaos, but if Shen Qingchi kept crying like this, it would be an admission of guilt.

Mo Yunwan quickly grabbed Madam Mo’s arm and whispered: “Aunt, calm down. There are still so many guests watching.”

Madam Mo could not calm down.

She had intended to pin the crime of stealing dowry to help her maternal family entirely on Chun Xi. Now she learned the banquet was handled by the Ministry of Rites, under the Empress’s orders. This meant Chun Xi had anticipated their plan and had set an even bigger trap.

At this point, it was obvious to all that Madam Mo, the mother-in-law, could not tolerate her new daughter-in-law.

For Chun Xi to keep this hidden so well, Shen Qingchi alone could not have done it—Shen Qingyuan must have been involved.

Shen Qingyuan’s previous warning now echoed in Madam Mo’s ears. She dared not imagine the consequences that awaited her.

Her gaze toward Mo Yunwan grew resentful.

She had said this little vixen was worthless. If it weren’t for this little vixen constantly sowing discord in her ear, how could she have failed to see such a simple plot?

Chun Xi seemed to guess what the maid had whispered to Madam Mo. She asked, “What happened? Why did Mother suddenly hit my sister? What did she mean just now when she said my sister and I conspired against you?”

Chun Xi’s question echoed the doubts of the guests.

Madam Mo had supposedly been pursuing Chun Xi’s theft of property, so why was she suddenly fighting with her own daughter? Chun Xi hadn’t even proven her innocence yet; how could she harm Madam Mo?

Madam Mo’s mouth felt glued shut. For the first time, she experienced the frustration of having nothing to say.

What could she say? That she had thought she had set a flawless trap to make Chun Xi the culprit of the Marquisate, only to be outwitted?

Madam Mo couldn’t form a word. Mo Yunwan squeezed her wrist and whispered: “Aunt, I see your complexion isn’t good. Why not let me help you back to rest?”

Madam Mo understood the hint and was about to feign fainting. But before she could collapse onto Mo Yunwan, Chun Xi said: “This bracelet and earrings weren’t taken by me. They are connected to my maternal family. The only one who can regularly enter the Confession Hall is my little brother, Cao Wen. I suspect he is the one who stole them. Bring him over…”

Madam Wang, already dizzy from the constant reversals, immediately went mad like a protective mother hen and lunged toward Madam Mo and Mo Yunwan: “My son is closest to his elder sister at home. You must have taught him to steal things and harm his sister! Old witch, I’ll take you on!”