TSWRLM -Chapter 260 Feeling the Knife Fall on Oneself

Chun Xi arrived at the Grand Tutor’s residence.

At the time Shen Qingchi heard the news, she had just finished drinking her prenatal medicine.

It was she who had hinted to Madam Ning to kidnap Chun Xi’s mother and nephew. She had thought Chun Xi would surely die, yet not only had Chun Xi returned alive, Madam Ning had even exposed her.

Lacking experience in wrongdoing, Shen Qingchi had been terrified. She fell ill within two days of being imprisoned in the Dali Temple.

Attempting to harm her sister-in-law was a grave crime. She had thought it was the end for her, but unexpectedly, the Grand Tutor’s residence had paid ten thousand taels of silver to secure her release.

The day she returned home, she only saw Yun Wantang.

Fifth Aunt didn’t blame her, only saying she had been too foolish, and then hugged her tightly.

With her anxious heart suddenly finding support, Shen Qingchi burst into tears, feeling all the more that Fifth Aunt was the only person in the world who truly cared for her.

After a few days of rest at home, her illness had subsided, but her pregnancy was still unstable. She had to continue taking her prenatal medicine daily. When she now heard that Chun Xi had come to the Grand Tutor’s residence, her heart raced, and her belly tightened slightly.

Shen Qingchi placed a hand on her stomach and softly comforted herself: “Be good, don’t be afraid. Mother will protect you.”

After having a maid help her change into more dignified, luxurious clothes and applying delicate makeup, Shen Qingchi slowly made her way to the front hall.

Unlike Shen Qingchi’s deliberate attire, Chun Xi was unadorned, her posture casual, yet the rosy glow of her face and slightly fuller cheeks indicated she had been doing very well.

Moreover, Shen Qingchi immediately noticed that Chun Xi now exuded a natural air of nobility.

This nobility wasn’t from clothes or accessories—it came from within, fully innate.

Shen Qingchi clenched her silk handkerchief. She had hoped that seeing her well-off would anger Chun Xi, but instead, she felt an involuntary pang of inferiority.

Though Chun Xi’s rise was disreputable, Shen Qingchi herself was the legitimate daughter of a marquis’s household. By birthright, she should be living better than Chun Xi. So why, now, did she appear so insignificant in front of her?

Her resentment flared, her expression darkened, and she spoke sharply: “What are you doing here?”

After all, her scheme to hint Madam Ning to kidnap Chun Xi’s family had already been exposed; there was no need to act anymore in front of Chun Xi.

Hearing this, Chun Xi raised her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips: “I thought after your visit to the Dali Temple, you’d know where you went wrong. But it seems, little sister, you are not only unrepentant, but have forgotten even the most basic rules of conduct.”

The word little sister sounded natural but was laced with mockery. Shen Qingchi’s chest tightened, and she retorted: “Since when did sister-in-law ever treat me like a sister? Everything I’ve endured to reach this day—wasn’t it because of you?”

After speaking, her eyes reddened, and her resentment toward Chun Xi nearly overflowed.

Chun Xi remained calm, unmoved, saying: “You tried to harm me. I know you’re concerned because you’ve just been released from prison. Even if you are my full-blooded younger sister, isn’t what I’m doing generous enough?”

Shen Qingchi didn’t believe Chun Xi had come out of concern for her. Suppressing her tears, she coldly said: “Sister-in-law never visits without reason. What exactly are you here for today? Just say it.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, little sister, your words are truly disheartening.”

Chun Xi feigned hurt, her tone dragged out, sarcastic and mocking.

Shen Qingchi gritted her teeth. She had already stopped pretending, so why was Chun Xi still acting?

“Cao Chun Xi, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Unable to hold back, she asked angrily. Chun Xi finally curved her lips and said: “Didn’t I just say? I came specifically out of concern for you.”

“I’m doing very well at the Grand Tutor’s residence. I don’t need your concern.”

Shen Qingchi rejected her outright. Chun Xi replied softly: “Why not? Little sister, you were legitimized because of the child in your womb. That child must not face any mishap. In the past few months, you haven’t been able to be with your husband. He is young and strong—how could he restrain himself? How can some outsider compare to a family member? That’s why I specifically sent your family here today.”

Chun Xi had memorized what Shen Jinhua had said to her yesterday. Shen Qingchi, realizing this, trembled with anger.

She knew Chun Xi had no good intentions!

“This is my business. You don’t need to interfere!”

Shen Qingchi gritted her teeth and growled. Chun Xi sat steadily, unmoved: “I am genuinely concerned, little sister. You should understand, in this world, daughters are of no use; you must bear a son. Your body is weak. If you were carrying a daughter, it could harm your vitality during childbirth, making your days here miserable. Having your family here to help share the burden is only beneficial.”

Chun Xi’s words hit Shen Qingchi hard.

Since returning from the Dali Temple, Li Jixian had been distant with her. The doctor said her pregnancy was unstable, forbidding intimacy. She feared for her unborn child daily. If it turned out to be a daughter, her position in the Grand Tutor’s residence would be gone.

Even so, she couldn’t accept another woman sharing her husband.

She was still young. With proper care, she could still have a son!

Shen Qingchi found Chun Xi unbearably infuriating. She didn’t want to say another word and shouted angrily: “Cao Chun Xi, get out!”

Shen Qingchi was furious, but her words held no real threat. Chun Xi didn’t move an inch and raised an eyebrow: “Little sister, you’re so worked up. Weren’t you the one telling everyone at the marquis’s residence that I went looking for remedies to conceive? Now the knife falls on your own hand, and you finally feel the pain?”

Chun Xi had never gone around spreading rumors about her infertility. That was why it stung now.

Hearing this, Shen Qingchi calmed slightly, her face tightening: “I am only stating facts. You did ask the doctor for a remedy. If you won’t admit it, I can go with you to confront the doctor face-to-face.”

“I never said I wouldn’t admit it,” Chun Xi’s eyes curved. “You care for me, I care for you. Tit for tat—it’s only proper, isn’t it?”

“…”

Shen Qingchi pursed her lips, about to have Chun Xi thrown out, when Yun Wantang entered the front hall.

“Qingchi, what happened? Why are your eyes so red?”

Yun Wantang didn’t greet Chun Xi, speaking only with concern for Shen Qingchi.

Feeling supported, Shen Qingchi immediately felt wronged and clutched Yun Wantang: “Fifth Aunt, sister-in-law wants to send someone to be Master’s concubine!”

Yun Wantang looked at Chun Xi sharply: “Qingchi being released from the Dali Temple shows they are no longer pursuing her past mistakes. I hope Madam Shen can show mercy.”

Her tone was full of justice, making Chun Xi appear increasingly aggressive.

Chun Xi raised an eyebrow, meeting Yun Wantang’s gaze: “Brother-in-law has been frequenting the pleasure districts recently. I was afraid he would bring back some disease to harm little sister, so I kindly sent your family to help. If the Grand Tutor’s residence doesn’t care for her, why shouldn’t I, as her maternal sister-in-law, do so?”

Chun Xi’s words made Shen Qingchi tremble and turn pale.

Fifth Aunt had told her that her recent mistakes justified some coldness from her husband. She shouldn’t cling to him, but protect her unborn child until birth.

Yet Fifth Aunt had never mentioned that her husband had been spending time in the pleasure districts.

Cao Chun Xi was deliberately deceiving her, wasn’t she?