TSWRLM -Chapter 154 Opening the Private Treasury to Repay Debts

Night fell over the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion.

The main courtyard was brightly lit. Besides Shen Qingchi, Shen Qingyue and Shen Qingyu were also present.

Madam Mo had smashed countless things and was now pointing at Mo Yunwan, scolding her without pause. Mo Yunwan knelt amidst the wreckage, not daring to make a sound.

Shen Qingyu tried several times to speak up for her, but Madam Mo yelled him back. The servants in the courtyard kept their heads low, terrified of being implicated.

It was at this moment that Chun Xi and Shen Qingyuan entered the main courtyard.

All the guests had already been sent away, and the belongings from Wenxin Court had been completely moved a few days earlier, with the help of the Ministry of Rites, to the new residence.

Unlike Madam Mo’s frantic and messy state, Chun Xi and Shen Qingyuan were spirited and confident.

Seeing them, Madam Mo and Shen Qingyu’s faces twisted instantly. Shen Qingyu rushed forward to block them. “Weren’t we supposed to split the family? Why are you still here?”

The only one still keeping his composure was Shen Qingyue. He grabbed Shen Qingyu’s arm and scolded him, “Third brother, don’t speak to elder brother and sister-in-law like that!”

Chun Xi smiled at Shen Qingyue and praised him, “Second brother, you’ve read a lot; you understand right from wrong.”

“Sister-in-law, you flatter me. I truly didn’t expect this to happen today. I… I’ve made you suffer.”

Shen Qingyue tried to make amends.

Ever since Shen Qingyuan returned to the capital and admonished him, he realized the situation was unfavorable. These past days, he had been studying diligently at the Yun family’s clan school and hoped to find chances to interact more with Wei Lingze. If he could gain the Wei family’s support, he might still have a chance to compete with elder brother for the heirship.

But during this time, Wei Lingze had not visited the Yun clan school, and his mother had caused this mess. Shen Qingyue was caught completely off guard.

Chun Xi interrupted him immediately. “I’ve only been in the mansion a few months; the little grievances I suffered are nothing. The real grievance was my husband’s. Now that we’ve split the family, and father-in-law acknowledged the account before the Crown Prince, we’ve come to ask how much mother and second and third brothers have gathered so far.”

Shen Qingyue hadn’t expected they were here to collect money. His expression froze, and he was momentarily speechless.

His mother had been busy scolding people and hadn’t gathered any funds.

Shen Qingyu shouted, “Money! Money! Money! All you think about is money. Are you a debt collector reincarnated? Would it kill you to not demand money so aggressively?”

When Madam Mo had scolded Mo Yunwan, she had also dragged Shen Qingyu into it. Shen Qingyu had been holding back anger for a long time, and now he vented it all on Chun Xi, spitting as he yelled.

Chun Xi quickly stepped back two paces, and Shen Qingyuan instinctively stepped half a step in front of her, shielding her.

Chun Xi peeked from behind him, pinched her nose, and said, “Third brother, your mouth is foul. You should see a doctor to check if something’s wrong.”

Before Shen Qingyu could respond, she continued: “This money is what mother owes my husband. Asking for it back is only fair. If you have any objections, go complain to the Crown Prince or His Majesty. Helping my husband collect it won’t kill me, but if you run out of money later, you won’t be able to live as recklessly as you do now.”

By the end, Chun Xi even smiled.

Shen Qingyu, provoked, wanted to strike, but Shen Qingyuan kicked him away.

“Third brother!”

Mo Yunwan immediately cried out and knelt beside Shen Qingyu.

She had suggested that Madam Mo use the Promotion Banquet to harm Chun Xi, but Chun Xi turned the tables, openly splitting the family and demanding nearly sixty thousand taels from Madam Mo. Now, with Madam Mo blaming her for everything, Mo Yunwan had no choice but to cling to Shen Qingyu’s favor just to survive in the mansion.

Shen Qingyuan’s kick had been quite forceful. Shen Qingyu spat blood upon hitting the ground. Madam Mo was angry, but she still worried for her son and shouted, “Ungrateful child! He’s still your brother; how can you be so cruel to him?”

Shen Qingyuan ignored her and looked at Shen Qingyue. “Do you want to open Mother’s private treasury, or should I do it myself?”

His tone was calm, but his attitude was firm.

Madam Mo’s eyes twitched, and she exclaimed in shock, “I’ll see who dares! If anyone touches my private treasury, I’ll die right now!”

Although the Qingyuan Marquis had agreed to repay the debt, he had asked the Crown Prince for a three-year term.

Madam Mo had no intention of repaying the debt. She planned to stall, waiting for the storm to pass, hoping to renege later. She hadn’t expected Shen Qingyuan to act so urgently—today, he wanted to empty her private treasury.

This treasury was the result of her years of careful effort. How could she let this unfilial son snatch it away?

Speaking, she even pulled the hairpin from her head.

This time, she wasn’t trying to scare Shen Qingyuan. Without her private treasury, she felt death was better than life.

“Mother, don’t act rashly!”

Shen Qingyue was startled and hurried to intervene.

Shen Qingyuan remained expressionless, his gaze cold. “Second brother will take the spring imperial exam next year. If mother dies now, he’ll have to observe mourning for three years and cannot arrange any marriage. After mother dies, we could avoid splitting the family, but as the eldest sister-in-law, A-Xi can manage all household affairs. If mother trusts us with second and third brothers, she might as well die now.”

With each word, Madam Mo’s face paled further, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

She had married into the Qingyuan Marquis household as a second wife, scheming her whole life to see her two sons successful and maintain her prestige. Now that they were about to achieve merit and status, how could she bear to die?

But she also couldn’t let this unfilial son have her private treasury.

Tears streamed down Madam Mo’s face. Dropping her proud stepmotherly demeanor, she finally softened her voice to plead: “Yuan’er, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have coveted your mother’s dowry or favored Qingyue and Qingyu. I’ll give the household management to Cao Chun Xi, set up a small Buddhist shrine in the main courtyard, eat vegetarian meals, and repent daily for your mother. Please, don’t dwell on past grievances.”

Speaking, she staggered from the bed and moved toward Shen Qingyuan to kneel. Chun Xi quickly caught her: “Mother, don’t! Today, my husband is formally splitting the family by imperial order, with the Crown Prince as witness. If just a few hours later you say you don’t want to split, outsiders will think we’re mocking the Crown Prince and His Majesty.”

Using her strength, Chun Xi helped Madam Mo back onto the bed and said to Shen Qingyuan: “I’ll stay here and watch over her. Nothing will happen to mother, Husband, you focus on the treasury.”

Outside, guards from Wenxin Court were stationed, so Shen Qingyuan had no worries about Chun Xi’s safety. He turned to open Madam Mo’s private treasury. Shen Qingyue hurried after him. “Elder brother, I’ll accompany you.”

Madam Mo’s eyes bulged in panic, but Chun Xi held her firmly, preventing any movement. “Mother, your body isn’t well. Rest properly.”

Madam Mo glared viciously at Chun Xi. Shen Qingyu got up from the ground. “Bitch! Let go of my mother!”

He rushed forward, but Chun Xi raised her hand, revealing the sleeve dart still strapped to her wrist, and aimed it at his head.

Thwack!

The short arrow grazed Shen Qingyu’s ear and embedded itself in the wall. Madam Mo and Mo Yunwan’s cries, along with Shen Qingyu’s shouts, fell silent instantly.