TSWRLM -Chapter 237 Indeed, I Advised Them to Divorce

The archery range wasn’t far. By the time everyone arrived, palace attendants had already set up the targets and brought the bows and arrows.

The bows were specially made for women—smaller, lighter, and easier to draw than those for men.

Chun Xi took a bow, inspecting it carefully and testing its weight. Princess Hengyang laughed: “I’ve been playing with bows since I was eight. I haven’t reached the level of hitting a target a hundred steps away, but I’m accurate. Don’t cry if you lose, Chun Xi.”

Confident and cheerful, the princess hadn’t felt such excitement in a long time. The thrill of competing against a worthy opponent was invigorating.

Chun Xi lifted her head and replied, “I used to play with slingshots as a child, mostly aiming at bird nests or wasp nests. I was pretty accurate, so don’t underestimate me, Your Highness.”

The princess’s attention shifted: “You aimed at bird nests to steal eggs, I get that. But why wasp nests? Aren’t you afraid of being stung?”

Chun Xi shook her head: “Whenever my father went on escort missions for months, sometimes people would bully my mother in his absence. I would take the chance to knock down a wasp nest on their path and sting them.”

Princess Hengyang first froze, then laughed heartily: “Chun Xi, you’re clever! I wish I’d known you sooner—there are so many people I’d like to sting myself.”

Everyone else: “……Princess, perhaps you could focus on more appropriate things.”

Chun Xi had many other ways to “punish” people, and just as she was about to mention some, Yun Wantang’s voice came from nearby: “Madam Shen, you do have a temper and hold grudges, but the Wei family hasn’t treated you poorly. Yet you repay kindness with malice, secretly driving a wedge between He’er and Ze’er. Is that appropriate?”

Yun Wantang was dressed in a sky-blue embroidered winter coat and skirt, as elegant and composed as ever. Standing there, she was as serene as the orchids on her garment—but her words were sharp.

At once, the Empress and everyone else’s gaze turned to Chun Xi.

Last night, Xiao Qinghe had sat beside her own family without speaking to Wei Lingze. Everyone was curious about what had happened between them. Now, Yun Wantang had openly brought up the topic, instantly stirring everyone’s gossip.

Feeling all eyes on her, Chun Xi didn’t panic. In fact, she felt as if someone had brought her a pillow just when she was about to nap.

She had been wondering how to casually bring up this topic, and now the chance had arrived.

Xiao Qinghe immediately stepped forward to defend herself: “Aunt, what happens between Wei Lingze and me has nothing to do with you.”

Yun Wantang shook her head firmly: “He’er, back when Ze’er was severely injured and paralyzed, you insisted on not dissolving the engagement. That shows your deep feelings for him. Without someone stirring things up, how could it have reached this point?”

As she spoke, Yun Wantang’s eyes reddened—whether from pity for Xiao Qinghe or regret over this praised romance, no one could tell.

Xiao Qinghe frowned. Her grandmother had sent her to attend the winter hunt with her father and brothers to show the Wei family and others the Xiao family’s stance. But a divorce would require the heads of both families to sit down and negotiate.

She hadn’t expected Yun Wantang to bring this up publicly, nor to blame Chun Xi.

She couldn’t explain her situation with Wei Lingze in just a few words—any slip could give grounds for gossip and put the Xiao family in a disadvantageous position.

Xiao Qinghe carefully weighed her words, not daring to respond lightly.

This was exactly what Yun Wantang expected.

She knew why Xiao Qinghe had returned to her family, but she was certain Xiao Qinghe wouldn’t reveal the truth in front of the Empress and all the noble ladies.

For a wife, serving her husband is natural. Even if Yun herself had drugged Xiao Qinghe, the blame would still fall on Xiao Qinghe for refusing intimacy first.

Outsiders, unaware of the details, would think Xiao Qinghe had been spoiled and unruly.

By keeping silent, Chun Xi could be accused of ingratitude and meddling in others’ affairs.

There’s an old saying: better to destroy ten temples than break one marriage. Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe weren’t even blood relatives.

If Chun Xi could be painted as someone who interferes in others’ matters, the Empress and the noble ladies would avoid her. Even Princess Hengyang’s favor wouldn’t matter.

Yun Wantang was skilled at these schemes. She had planned to corner Chun Xi step by step—but then Chun Xi said, calmly: “Indeed, it was I who advised He’er to divorce Wei Lingze.”

“……???”

Yun Wantang froze, unsure if she’d heard correctly.

Chun Xi didn’t deny it—she openly admitted it?

Did she know the consequences of confessing this?

Everyone else was stunned by Chun Xi’s boldness.

How could someone speak so matter-of-factly about ruining a marriage, as if delivering justice?

Under everyone’s gaze, Chun Xi remained unflinching: “Wei Lingze is no longer the young general he once was. He betrayed He’er. As her aunt-in-law, if I hadn’t advised her to divorce him early, she would have faced disaster.”

Chun Xi’s response was unexpected, but Yun Wantang quickly regained composure.

Once an arrow is loosed, there’s no recalling it. No matter what Chun Xi tried, Yun Wantang would stick to accusing her of ingratitude and meddling in a marriage.

She began, “Madam Shen, you served the Wei family for nearly ten years. When you left, you received a thousand taels of silver and an entire cart of fine silks. The Wei family treated you well, yet you’ve disrupted their household. Have you lost your conscience?”

“The Wei family did treat me well,” Chun Xi admitted without denying it.

“But the Xiao family’s kindness outweighs that. I cannot accept the Wei family’s benefits and keep silent while He’er is trapped in a fire,” she continued.

Yun Wantang had spoken passionately, stirring emotions, but Chun Xi outperformed her. Within a few sentences, tears fell.

Sensing trouble, Yun Wantang was about to speak again when Chun Xi suddenly knelt before the Empress with a thud: “Your Majesty, I am guilty! It is all my fault for harming He’er! I deserve death!”

Her voice grew louder with each word. Not only Yun Wantang, but even Princess Hengyang was shocked into silence.

The scene fell completely quiet until Xiao Qingyue finally broke the silence: “Aunt, what do you mean by that? How did you harm my sister?”

Chun Xi cast a sympathetic glance at Xiao Qinghe, then continued: “After Wei Lingze was injured, Madam Wei secretly brought in beautiful young women to serve him so he could produce heirs. He had long since changed. He spent days with those women, and one of them even bore his child!”

The declaration stunned everyone into silence.

Xiao Qingyue, completely unaware, felt as if struck by lightning.

Yun Wantang was equally stunned—Ze’er had a secret child, and her sister had never told her?