TSWRLM -Chapter 156 Cao Wen Goes to Prison

Cao Wen spent two days fretting and worrying, but in the end, he sought out Chun Xi, willing to go with her to the authorities and confess.

Chun Xi raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Once we go to the magistrate, there’s no turning back—you won’t be able to change your mind.”

Cao Wen’s face was pale with fear, his palms sweating, but he still nodded. “I’ve made up my mind. Mother is the kindest person in the world to me—I cannot let her take the punishment for my mistakes.”

Satisfied with his answer, Chun Xi stopped persuading him. She had a carriage prepared and took Cao Wen to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

The prison was dark and damp, carrying a musty, foul odor. Seeing the fierce, intimidating jailers, all color drained from Cao Wen’s face.

Inside, Madam Wang had been dressed in prison garb, her hair disheveled. In just two days, she looked completely haggard. But upon seeing Chun Xi, her spirit lifted. She rushed to the bars of her cell, shouting angrily: “Cao Chun Xi! You heartless, unfilial girl! I am your own mother! How could you send me to this prison? If your father knew what you were doing, he would never rest in peace!”

Madam Wang’s fury was sky-high, and she seemed to wish she could dash out and beat Chun Xi to death.

Chun Xi ignored her outburst and looked at Cao Wen. “I’ll take you this far. The rest is up to you.”

With that, she turned to leave. Only then did Madam Wang realize something was wrong. Nervously, she called out, “Cao Chun Xi! What are you planning? A-Wen is your own brother! If you hurt him, I swear I’ll haunt you as a ghost!”

Chun Xi paid her no mind and walked straight out of the cell. The jailer, annoyed by Madam Wang’s shouting, lashed the prison door with a whip. “Shut up! You’re being too noisy!”

Then he opened the cell and scolded Madam Wang. “The real thief has been caught. You can leave now.”

Madam Wang couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted to chase Chun Xi and curse her, but worried for Cao Wen’s safety, she fell to her knees and clutched her son. “My son is still young. He doesn’t understand anything. He couldn’t have stolen anything! It’s the Qingyuan Marquis’ wife who set him up! You’ve got it all wrong—don’t take him away!”

“The boy confessed at the prefecture himself. The magistrate personally examined the case. There’s no mistake here. You scolding woman, stop throwing a fit and leave immediately!”

The jailer, having seen all manner of human folly, was unmoved by Madam Wang’s maternal pleas. He proceeded to drag her away.

Seeing this, Cao Wen quickly spoke up. “Mother, I did make a mistake. I’m the one who should be in prison. Please go home and rest.”

Cao Wen’s obedience cut through her heart like a knife. For the first time, Madam Wang regretted her greed in sending Cao Wen to Chun Xi, wishing she hadn’t relied on her.

She wept uncontrollably. “My son, it’s all my fault! I’ve ruined you! Officer, it was I who forced him to take the bracelets and earrings. He’s innocent! Please, arrest me instead!”

The jailers, irritated by her crying, forcibly removed her from Jingzhao Prefecture. She continued wailing outside the gates, unable to enter.

Seeing that her protests were useless, Madam Wang ran home, sobbing.

Since attending the banquet, she had not returned. Madam Qian sent word to call Cao Wu home. Both were deeply worried. Seeing Madam Wang arrive in a disheveled state shocked them, but before they could ask questions, she burst out: “Hurry, help A-Wen! That debt-collecting ghost Cao Chun Xi has sent him to prison. A-Wen’s life is ruined because of her! How am I supposed to live after this?”

Exhausted from running and crying, Madam Wang fainted immediately after speaking. Cao Wu quickly carried her inside, giving her water and pressing her philtrum to revive her. After a long while, she regained consciousness.

Thinking of Cao Wen still in prison, she began to cry again, but Cao Wu barked at her. “Stop crying! Mother, if you don’t explain what happened, how can we think of a way to save A-Wen?”

For once, Cao Wu’s firmness startled her into composure.

She recounted everything in full, her words dripping with anger and curses against Chun Xi. Cao Wu’s face grew darker as he listened.

When he got home, Madam Qian had told him that Cao Wen had brought back a bracelet and a pair of earrings. Seeing their value, Madam Wang had proudly shown them off to the neighbors and had even tailored a new outfit to attend the Promotion Banquet. But soon after, Chun Xi returned home and said these items were stolen and must be returned.

Madam Wang had publicly boasted about them and refused to return them, cursing Chun Xi. Madam Qian had tried to persuade her, but Madam Wang ignored her and even scolded her. Now, because of these two items, trouble had indeed arisen.

Cao Wu, seeing how Madam Wang completely blamed Chun Xi, fumed. “This has nothing to do with A-Xi! Didn’t she warn you not to take these things? It was your greed that made you keep them, flaunting them at the mansion. Now A-Wen is in prison! Can’t you finally see the truth?”

Madam Wang’s face turned red then pale. She cried as she tried to defend herself: “I was greedy, yes—but it was Chun Xi’s fault! Everyone knows she married into the Marquis Mansion. Ever since she returned to her husband’s home, she hasn’t come back to visit me, not even once! People mock me for raising an unfilial daughter. If she had treated me better, would I have been deceived?”

“After father’s misfortune, A-Xi sold herself into the Wei family. The money she earned and her monthly allowances over the years were almost all given to me. Yet when she married, I didn’t provide for her. How could I expect her to repay you properly?”

Cao Wu was furious. Madam Wang quickly added, “I didn’t provide her with a dowry, but she secretly kept a lot of money, even bought a shop against my advice. Now she’s rich at the Marquis Mansion while we struggle. If she doesn’t help us, isn’t that heartless?”

Madam Wang felt no guilt, not even recognizing her own fault.

Cao Wu, seeing he could not reason with her, sighed in disappointment. “If you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, then let A-Wen stay in prison.”

With that, he left the room. Madam Wang immediately resumed her wailing.

She cried for her misfortune—widowed so young, she cried for having a cold-hearted daughter, and cried for raising an incapable eldest son. Neighbors curious about the commotion were chased away by Cao Wu.

Madam Qian, seeing Madam Wang’s cries grow harsher, tried to reason with Cao Wu. “Brother Wu, maybe you should ask A-Xi for help. Mother crying like this won’t solve anything.”

Cao Wu’s face remained stern. “A-Xi wouldn’t send A-Wen to prison without reason. Mother, in trying to cover herself at the mansion, threw all the blame on A-Xi. This time she escaped, but if mother doesn’t learn a lesson and change her ways, she’ll cause even bigger trouble in the future. I am the eldest son; I failed to advise them—how can I ask A-Xi for help?”

Madam Qian thought this made sense and stopped urging him. She returned to the kitchen to cook, holding the child.

Inside, Madam Wang had exhausted her voice from crying, yet no one paid attention. A sense of helplessness gripped her—was there really no way to undo what had happened?