TSWRLM -Chapter 168 I’m Actually Fighting for the Shen Family’s Inheritance

In the main hall, Madam Wu sneezed, and her eyelids twitched involuntarily. She couldn’t sit still. Having witnessed Lady Chun Xi throwing a kitchen knife and seen her boldness on the day of the family split, Madam Wu was now a little fearful of her.

Her youngest daughter, Shen Jinhua, noticed and couldn’t help speaking up: “Mother, that Cao Chun Xi is just a naïve little girl. Now that the residence is full of Shen family members, what’s there to fear?”

“Nonsense! She dared to swing a kitchen knife at me and even hid a sleeve dart in her clothes. How could I not be afraid?”

Madam Wu glared at Shen Jinhua in irritation.

After Madam Mo’s death, she only wanted to enjoy life peacefully, but this daughter, hearing that the Xiao family’s dowry had been divided up by Cao Chun Xi during the split, insisted on bringing her back to the residence to set rules.

Madam Wu recounted everything Cao Chun Xi had done these past days, hoping her daughter would understand that Chun Xi was not to be underestimated and give up the idea. But Shen Jinhua didn’t take it seriously at all—her words went in one ear and out the other.

“Mother, you’ve been through many storms over the years. How could a little girl scare you? She might sound fierce, but she hasn’t actually harmed you.”

“Foolish! If she had hurt me, would I still be sitting here talking to you?”

Madam Wu rolled her eyes dramatically. Shen Jinhua couldn’t help but giggle: “See? That proves the little girl doesn’t dare hurt you. She’s all bluff.”

Shen Jinhua was stubborn; Madam Wu gave up trying to persuade her.

She would only learn the hard way when Chun Xi threw a kitchen knife at her.

Just then, a servant reported: “Madam, Third Young Mistress is bringing Young Mistress here.”

Madam Wu straightened her legs from the cross-legged position and braced her back. Shen Jinhua, though she hadn’t taken Chun Xi seriously, became a bit more solemn seeing her mother act so alert.

Soon, Mo Yunwan entered with Chun Xi following.

It was Shen Jinhua’s first time seeing Chun Xi.

She had expected Chun Xi to be plain and coarse, but instead, a delicate, lively young woman walked in.

Chun Xi didn’t appear weak like Mo Yunwan. Her complexion was radiant, steps light, and though dressed as a proper lady, her energy and vitality shone through.

“Grandmother, Little Aunt, I’ve brought Eldest Sister-in-law back,” Mo Yunwan announced first.

Chun Xi followed and spoke: “A-Xi greets Grandmother and Little Aunt.”

Her voice was clear, polite, and far from the arrogance Madam Wu feared.

She actually looked… quite likeable.

Shen Jinhua silently judged Chun Xi, still keeping her face tense, deliberately picking a fight: “Your mother-in-law passed away, yet you didn’t come back to observe mourning on your own and had someone fetch you. That’s quite an attitude.”

“Little Aunt, I was wrong,” Chun Xi replied humbly, not defending herself.

Shen Jinhua glanced at Madam Wu.

This temperament seemed gentle, nothing like someone who would suddenly grab a knife and attack.

Madam Wu silently cursed Shen Jinhua for being naïve. Chun Xi wasn’t crazy—she wouldn’t attack without reason. Wait until you provoke her.

Clearing her throat, Madam Wu assumed the role of elder: “It’s good that you’re back. The residence is crowded, other courtyards full, but there’s one vacant room here. You can tidy it up yourself.”

Her voice softened on the last sentence, her body tense, fearing Chun Xi might suddenly pull out a hidden dart.

“All right, I’ll go now,” Chun Xi said politely and went to arrange her room.

Once she left, Shen Jinhua whispered: “She seems obedient and easy to handle. Her courtyard was taken, yet she personally tidies her room without a single complaint.”

Madam Wu huffed and scolded: “You don’t understand. The more quietly she behaves, the more dangerous she is.”

Previously, Madam Mo had been deceived by her apparent meekness and lost control of the household.

Shen Jinhua couldn’t grasp it, so she looked at Mo Yunwan for confirmation. Mo Yunwan gently explained: “Mother-in-law just passed, and Eldest Brother has to guard the tomb for three days. Even with her temper, Eldest Sister-in-law would restrain herself. Besides, Father warned her when we went to see him.”

Shen Jinhua nodded. That made sense.

Without a man to back her and after being reprimanded by her father-in-law, even a tigress would retract her claws.

Shen Jinhua was secretly delighted. Over the years, Madam Mo had controlled the Marquis’ residence, preventing them from taking advantage. Now with Madam Mo gone, the dowry left by the Xiao family could finally be divided among the Shen family.

After Chun Xi finished arranging her room, Mo Yunwan had already left.

Shen Jinhua took on the role of elder, instructing Chun Xi to pour tea, massage her shoulders, and so on.

Madam Wu was nervous, fearing Chun Xi might suddenly strike. But strangely, Chun Xi complied with everything.

That evening, the three sat down to dinner. Madam Wu and Shen Jinhua had two meat and two vegetable dishes, but Chun Xi had only a plain bowl of white porridge—quite a difference.

Shen Jinhua deliberately asked: “During mourning, you can’t eat meat or fish. You know the rules, right?”

Chun Xi nodded: “I know.”

She then ate the porridge cleanly.

For three days, it was the same routine.

Seeing Chun Xi endure without complaint, Shen Jinhua lowered her guard completely. That day, after Chun Xi finished her porridge, Shen Jinhua asked: “Rumor has it you angered your mother-in-law to death over the family inheritance. Have you heard of this?”

Chun Xi nodded, then replied with grievance: “Little Aunt, I’m innocent. Mother-in-law’s death has nothing to do with me.”

Shen Jinhua put on a kindly expression: “Of course, I believe you. But with so much inheritance in your hands, outsiders won’t.”

Chun Xi frowned, even more aggrieved: “Little Aunt, I fought for the inheritance, but not for myself. I did it for Grandmother and the Shen family.”

Madam Wu, who was picking her teeth, nearly fell off her chair in shock.

What?

Cao Chun Xi said she was fighting for whom?

Shen Jinhua was also stunned. Just days ago, she hadn’t even met this niece-in-law, yet she had just received a great favor—Chun Xi fighting to preserve the inheritance for their family?

Under their incredulous gazes, Chun Xi continued: “Before I married into the Marquis’ residence, I heard my husband say that mother-in-law was domineering. Soon after taking charge of the household, she expelled all the Shen family members and slowly appropriated my husband’s mother’s dowry to support her natal family. Even the second and third brothers were close only to the Mo family. My husband, constrained by filial piety, could not oppose her, so I had to bear the blame to protect these assets and keep them from falling into the Mo family’s hands.”

Madam Wu: “…???

How did all this nonsense come out sounding somewhat reasonable when Cao Chun Xi said it?”