TSWRLM -Chapter 325 Will Not Step Outside Here Again

After the news of Wei Lingze’s death spread, rumors had been circulating nonstop in the past few days.

Some said the Xiao family’s mourning for Wei Lingze was a false display of compassion; others claimed that Xiao Qinghe still had lingering feelings for him, only realizing her love upon hearing of his death, even vowing to remain unmarried for life in his memory.

But even more prevalent were the rumors that Chun Xi, during her time at the Wei household, had actually been Wei Lingze’s bed warmer maid, that she had long lost her innocence, and that even the child she bore was not Shen Qingyuan’s.

Hearing Wei’s father’s question, Madam Yun immediately denied it: “No. I’ve been busy all this time arranging for Ze’er’s funeral. When would I have had the time to spread any rumors?”

Madam Yun answered without hesitation. Wei’s father remained expressionless and had the servants Madam Yun had sent out brought in.

These were long-serving, loyal attendants of Madam Yun, but facing Wei’s father, none dared lie, and they confessed everything.

The rumors indeed had been spread by Madam Yun herself.

She had intended first to ruin Chun Xi’s reputation, to make her experience the bitterness of falling from grace after climbing high, and then find an opportunity to kill her.

She hadn’t expected that Wei’s father would discover it so quickly.

Madam Yun knew he would consider the Wei family’s overall situation and try to make her give up her revenge. Red-eyed, she spoke: “I can’t swallow this anger. Ze’er died so miserably. I haven’t slept at all these past few days; every time I close my eyes, I hear him crying in pain. If you and the Wei family are afraid of being implicated, then divorce me. From now on, whatever I do will have nothing to do with the Wei family.”

Her tone was resolute, ready to risk everything.

After so many years of marriage, although they had quarreled fiercely in recent days, Wei’s father did not truly want to divorce her. He sighed and reminded her, “It wasn’t Cao Chun Xi who caused Ze’er’s death.”

Madam Yun could not accept it and raised her voice: “It was Cao Chun Xi leaving the Wei family that ruined Ze’er’s fortune. She also instigated He’er to divorce him, letting Shen Qingyuan steal Ze’er’s glory. If not for that, how would Ze’er have gotten involved with the Soul-Overpowering Incense?”

At the last words, her face twisted with hatred, fierce and terrifying.

Xuanyuan Lang had died, the enemy army from Yuexi had retreated, and those involved with selling the Soul-Overpowering Incense like Li Huaijing and Yun Wantang had been captured and executed. Madam Yun could only channel all her hatred toward Chun Xi.

Only by hating Chun Xi and thinking of revenge could she avoid collapsing and committing suicide.

“But if it weren’t for Cao Chun Xi’s careful care over three years, Ze’er might never have stood on his own.”

“If Ze’er could return, I would rather he never stand again in his life!”

After saying this, Madam Yun could not help but cry.

If there were gods in this world, if there were a way to bring the dead back to life, no matter the cost, she would pay it!

Seeing Madam Yun cry, Wei’s father frowned, pained.

How could he not wish his son were alive? But the man was gone, and no one could reverse it.

“Ze’er went to his death willingly. Once tainted by the Soul-Overpowering Incense, a person is ruined. When the craving strikes, the pain is unbearable. He did not want to live the rest of his life in such agony, nor drag the Wei family into ruin, so he exchanged his death for the family’s peace. You now slandering He’er and taking revenge on Cao Chun Xi—do you want Ze’er to have no peace even after death?”

Madam Yun could not accept the first part of his words, but the last sentence struck her heart like a knife.

Her face paled, lips trembling, and she could not resist slapping Wei’s father again: “Every day I copy scriptures and pray for Ze’er’s peace. You do nothing and yet curse him here. Are you even human?”

Wei’s father did not dodge, taking the slap, then spoke heavily: “Ze’er had committed many mistakes in life. It was us who failed to bring him back in time. If you continue this way, you will only ruin his reputation forever.”

Madam Yun thought that Wei’s father saying Ze’er would not rest in peace after death was already too much. Hearing the words “ruin his reputation forever” pushed her to the brink.

Her pupils trembled as she stared in disbelief at Wei’s father: “What mistakes did Ze’er make? He was bedridden for three years. The fact that he didn’t go mad is already incredible. Just because he did not bring more glory to the Wei family, is he worthless in your eyes?”

Seeing Yun increasingly lose control, Wei’s father coldly interrupted: “To achieve merit, Ze’er hired someone to kill Lady Ye and the Second Young Master of the Ye family. Shen Qingyuan has all the evidence. If you continue to cause trouble, this matter will be made public. Even if Ze’er is dead, he will be remembered as a murderer.”

Madam Yun opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Shen Qingyuan was not one to bluff. If he claimed to have proof of Wei Lingze’s crimes, it was certainly not false.

Though Wei Lingze was dead and Shen Qingyuan did not make things absolute, if Madam Yun continued to make trouble, he would show no mercy for the sake of his wife and children.

Cao Chun Xi truly had married a good husband.

Madam Yun’s shoulders slumped little by little. The anger that had been trapped in her heart all this time dissipated.

Ze’er was dead. The people who harmed him were already gone.

Cao Chun Xi was no longer the Wei family’s maid, nor someone she could vent her anger on.

All she could do was accept the grief of losing her son.

Recognizing this fact, Madam Yun aged many years in an instant.

After a long silence, she whispered hoarsely: “You’re right. As his mother, I failed to bring Ze’er back in time. I am the one who should atone to him.”

Her tone was so low that Wei’s father, fearing she might despair, softened his voice: “Madam, I know it is hard for you that Ze’er is gone, but Yu’er and Xuan’er’s marriages have not been arranged yet. For their sake, please pull yourself together.”

Catching the implication, Madam Yun curled her lips into a bitter smile: “I am not a good mother. I will live properly, spend the rest of my life repenting to Ze’er, and leave the children’s matters to you.”

Wei’s father frowned: “Madam, earlier I spoke in anger, not truly blaming you. Do not take it to heart, and do not speak such harsh words again.”

“I am not speaking in anger,” Madam Yun said, her expression unusually calm. “From now on, I will eat vegetarian meals, recite Buddhist scriptures, stay with the ancient lamp and Buddha, and will not step outside this place again.”

“Madam—”

“Do not call me madam. Our marriage ends here.”

Madam Yun cut off Wei’s father. Before he could reply, she suddenly rushed into the room, grabbed scissors, and cut her hair.