TSWRLM -Chapter 149 Do You Think Everyone in the Xiao Family Is Dead?

Madam Wang had all her energy focused on Chun Xi, but she genuinely cared for her two sons.

Hearing that Cao Wen might face imprisonment, she no longer worried about being laughed at by the prominent ladies. She rushed forward and scratched Madam Mo and Mo Yunwan viciously. Both women screamed in pain. Madam Ning and Shen Qingchi tried to pull her away, but even their faces got two scratches each.

The other prominent ladies had never seen such a scene and were completely stunned.

By the time Madam Wang’s strength was nearly spent, Chun Xi finally had someone pull her away.

Ignoring Madam Wang’s wailing, Chun Xi helped Madam Mo to her feet: “Mother, are you alright?”

Madam Mo had originally intended to feign fainting and hadn’t anticipated Madam Wang’s sudden outburst. At first, Mo Yunwan tried to block some of the attacks, but soon couldn’t hold on and retreated to the side. Madam Mo’s face burned from the scratches, and much of her carefully styled hair had been pulled out—she was in utter disarray.

Chun Xi’s display of concern sounded like gloating to Madam Mo’s ears.

According to the plan, today was supposed to be Chun Xi’s day of humiliation, with everyone condemning her. Instead, it was Madam Mo, the matriarch of the Marquisate, who had become the laughingstock.

Realizing the situation, Madam Mo knew that Shen Qingyuan and Chun Xi would not let her off easily. She gave up pretending, pushed Chun Xi aside, and spat at her.

“You venomous woman! You conspired with that traitor to trap me, and now you act innocent?”

Madam Mo trembled as she tidied her disheveled hair, glaring at Madam Wang: “Even if I am at fault in countless ways, I am still the legitimate Marchioness. How dare you lay hands on me? I will never forgive you!”

Madam Wang felt guilty under Madam Mo’s glare and instinctively looked at Chun Xi, hoping Chun Xi could defeat this old hag. Otherwise, their whole family would be in trouble.

After threatening Madam Wang, Madam Mo turned her gaze toward Chun Xi: “Don’t think you can shift the blame onto an innocent child. Without your instructions, how could he have taken something so precious from the Confession Hall? And you previously sold off so much of Yuan’er’s mother’s dowry—where did that money go? Today, you must explain it all!”

Madam Mo tried to hold her ground, but in her current disheveled state, she exuded no authority.

Seeing this, Mo Yunwan hurriedly spoke up: “Sister-in-law, you didn’t bring a dowry when you married in. Brother has always lived frugally; the allowance alone is enough. Why did you sell so many things? For what purpose?”

Mo Yunwan, also angered by Madam Wang’s attack, spoke louder than usual, her voice carrying indignation and accusation. Madam Ning was about to speak when a eunuch rushed over.

Xiao Qingyue, sharp-eyed, immediately called out: “Eunuch Li, what brings you here? Were you sent by the Crown Prince?”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s name, the crowd immediately turned solemn and looked toward Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li first bowed to Old Madam Xiao and Madam Xiao, then nodded toward Chun Xi before speaking with a smile: “Second Miss Xiao, you are indeed quick-witted. The Crown Prince did indeed send me with a message.”

He paused, cleared his throat, and continued: “There was a misunderstanding at the male guests’ table earlier. Third Young Master Shen even attempted to force Eldest Master Shen to divorce his wife. The Crown Prince feared that people might misjudge Young Madam Shen and sent me to clear her name. Before Young Madam Shen and Eldest Master Shen went to Xuzhou, she sold some items to raise more than eleven thousand taels of silver.”

“This money was originally set aside for emergencies, but upon seeing the disaster-stricken people in Xuzhou, Young Madam Shen decided to donate it all. The Empress, hearing of this, specially issued a decree to commend her. However, Young Madam Shen is modest and did not publicize it widely.”

The crowd, previously puzzled as to why the Empress would personally commend Chun Xi, now found it reasonable.

Eleven thousand taels of silver might not mean much to the wealthy families, but for Chun Xi, who came from humble origins, donating such a sum to charity was truly commendable.

Even more admirable was that Chun Xi did not use this to gain fame, keeping it secret. Had Madam Mo not publicly attacked her today, no one would have known.

It turned out that while Young Madam Shen was formidable, she was kind-hearted and uninterested in fame or wealth—a truly admirable person.

Madam Mo hadn’t expected that today’s promotion banquet, managed by the Ministry of Rites, would even have the Empress and Crown Prince to testify to the money Chun Xi had donated. All of Madam Mo and Mo Yunwan’s schemes had inadvertently helped spread Chun Xi’s good deeds!

Madam Mo staggered; this time, she truly felt like she was about to faint. Mo Yunwan hurriedly supported her, then, preemptively, tried to blame Chun Xi: “Sister-in-law, if you spent money on good deeds and preferred discretion, that’s fine, but you could have informed Mother earlier. This misunderstanding wouldn’t have escalated so much, even embarrassing Brother in front of his colleagues.”

Seeing her plan fail, Mo Yunwan immediately tried to absolve herself, claiming the misunderstanding was Chun Xi’s fault for hiding the truth, not theirs for scheming.

As Mo Yunwan prepared to lead Madam Mo away to rest, Chun Xi calmly remarked: “You were once married to my husband. Now, only a few days into marrying Third Brother, why is your heart so biased?”

Mo Yunwan, having received much praise while greeting guests, had already adapted to her status as Third Young Madam of the Marquisate. Being publicly reminded that she had married two brothers made her both ashamed and annoyed.

Mo Yunwan fell silent. Chun Xi then turned to Madam Mo: “Mother, you discovered that I sold things from the household but didn’t first ask me or my husband. Instead, you chose today to attack me. Clearly, this wasn’t just targeting me; you also sought to ruin my husband’s promotion banquet. It’s understandable that you cannot tolerate an outsider, but my husband has called you Mother for so many years—how can you be so heartless?”

Chun Xi wasn’t crying for herself. She sharply pointed out that what Madam Mo could not tolerate was actually Shen Qingyuan.

Madam Mo twitched her eyelids, ready to argue, when Old Madam Xiao suddenly slammed down a teacup: “This is utterly outrageous!”

Although Old Madam Xiao had long handed household affairs to Madam Xiao, her authority remained. Now, in fury, she spoke with full force and dominance.

Madam Mo trembled, and all her words of defense were stifled, letting Old Madam Xiao berate her.

“Years ago, when you shamelessly sought position by any means, I knew you were restless. But my brother-in-law, enchanted by you, insisted on protecting you. Yuan’er is a prodigy who became top scholar at seventeen. Yet you slandered him with the curse of being a wife-bringer of misfortune. Now he finally married the woman he loves and is recognized by His Majesty, and you use such vile methods to trap this young couple. Madam Mo, do you think everyone in the Xiao family is dead?”

Old Madam Xiao’s final words were deliberate, each one striking like thunder.

Those present unconsciously held their breath, recalling if they had taken pleasure in Chun Xi’s supposed embarrassment earlier, fearing the Xiao family might hold a grudge.

Chun Xi, however, was unafraid, her eyes shining as she looked at Old Madam Xiao.

So this sense of righteousness comes from the Old Madam herself!

Seizing the moment, Chun Xi pressed her lips together and cried loudly: “Aunt, you must uphold justice for my husband! Over the years, he has suffered so many grievances!”