TSWRLM -Chapter 48 She Will Be a Good Madam Shen

Wei Lingze arrived suddenly, his presence cold and imposing. Madam Wang stood trembling to the side, not even daring to prepare tea.

The baby had been restless all night, and Cao Wu had spent most of it holding and soothing him. He was now fast asleep in the room. Madam Qian couldn’t be exposed to wind, Chun Xi had gone out, and with no one else around, Madam Wang’s legs felt weak.

Wei Lingze himself was also uncomfortable.

Chun Xi’s home was too small and shabby. The chair he sat on was hard and narrow, like a form of torture.

Growing more irritable, Wei Lingze frowned and asked Madam Wang, “Do you not know who is backing the Liu family?”

Having drunk quite a bit, his voice was hoarse, his eyes cold and heavy. The moment he spoke, Madam Wang was so frightened she dropped to her knees.

“I know the Liu family is backed by you, Young Master,” she said softly, defending herself. “But the Marchioness of Qingyuan insisted Chun Xi marry Lord Shen. Even the Old Madam of the Xiao family agreed. I had no choice.”

Madam Wang didn’t know how Chun Xi had managed to pin the accusation of “preferring men” onto Young Master Liu, but since the Liu family had withdrawn the engagement, it meant Chun Xi had her own methods.

Unable to control Chun Xi, Madam Wang simply pushed all the blame onto the Marchioness of Qingyuan.

After all, Chun Xi would soon marry into the Marquis’s residence. If Wei Lingze wanted to cause trouble there, it would be justified.

Wei Lingze’s gaze flickered. “So you’re saying… she’s unwilling to marry that old man?”

Old man? Lord Shen wasn’t that old, was he?

Madam Wang thought so inwardly, but hearing Wei Lingze call him that made it clear the two were enemies. She hurriedly nodded.

“Yes. Lord Shen is already quite advanced in age—how could he compare to you, Young Master? But the Marchioness not only threatened our entire family’s lives, she also spread rumors everywhere, saying Chun Xi and Lord Shen had… intimate relations. Chun Xi’s reputation is completely ruined now. She has no choice but to marry.”

During this time, Wei Lingze had also investigated Shen Qingyuan. He knew Shen and Madam Mo were not biological mother and son, and their relationship was poor. The deaths of his two previous wives were likely connected to Madam Mo.

Madam Mo’s goal was the heir position of the Marquis. Forcing Shen Qingyuan to marry Chun Xi as a second wife was to prevent him from gaining support. If Chun Xi later made mistakes or embarrassed herself, Madam Mo could use it against Shen Qingyuan.

Could it be that Chun Xi and Shen Qingyuan had been putting on an act all along?

One didn’t want to marry, the other didn’t want to take a wife—yet they kept acting intimate in front of him. Were they trying to provoke him into destroying the marriage?

Heh. Cowards.

Too afraid to oppose his stepmother directly, so he used others as tools.

Connecting everything, Wei Lingze felt it all made sense.

Once he “understood the truth,” the agitation in his chest over the past few days dissipated. He no longer felt the urgency to take Chun Xi back.

Everything had escalated to this point because of Chun Xi herself.

Didn’t she hate being inferior? Then let her marry into the Marquis’s residence and be properly tormented by Madam Mo. Let her see how hard it is to be the legitimate wife of a noble household.

Now she was free and proud, thinking she had choices. But once trapped in the Marquis’s residence and suffering daily, the only one who could save her would be him.

More importantly, Wei Lingze didn’t want Shen Qingyuan to get his way.

If Shen Qingyuan wanted to use him to oppose Madam Mo, he would make sure that plan failed.

When Chun Xi became disheartened and came begging him, he could then arrange for her to fake her death and escape. After all, Shen Qingyuan had already “killed” two wives—adding a third wouldn’t be strange.

At this thought, the cold aura around Wei Lingze faded, and a smile even appeared on his lips.

Madam Wang found it extremely unsettling.

What’s so funny about this? Has the Young Master gone mad from anger?

Just as she was thinking, Wei Lingze removed the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to her.

“Give this to Chun Xi. Tell her it’s a wedding gift from me.”

“That’s not necessary… how can we trouble you like this, Young Master?”

Madam Wang instinctively refused, but Wei Lingze’s face darkened.

“I told you to take it—so take it!”

Madam Wang didn’t dare refuse again and accepted it with both hands. Only then did Wei Lingze leave, satisfied.

At the other end of the alley, Chun Xi was happily eating the meatballs.

“The chef at Zhaixing Tower really is amazing! These meatballs are so delicious. Why did you suddenly think to bring me some, my lord?”

“The Emperor promoted Wei Lingze today. He hosted a banquet at Zhaixing Tower.”

Shen Qingyuan spoke casually, as if bringing her food from the banquet was nothing worth mentioning.

Chun Xi clicked her tongue inwardly.

Isn’t eating and taking food away something only I would do? Has Lord Shen been influenced by me?

“What’s wrong?” Shen Qingyuan asked.

“Nothing,” Chun Xi quickly shook her head. “I just think what you did was great.”

With her cheeks stuffed full of meatballs, her voice was muffled, making her look like a squirrel busily eating.

Shen Qingyuan unconsciously rubbed his fingertips, suppressing the urge to poke her cheek, and looked away.

“How did the engagement cancellation go?”

Chun Xi chewed quickly, swallowed, and said, “Very smoothly. Thanks to you telling me about Liu Fengyuan, everyone now knows he prefers men. He’ll probably have to hide in Qingzhou if he wants to marry anyone.”

She was radiant, like she had just won a major battle.

A smile appeared in Shen Qingyuan’s eyes.

“And you, my lord? Did things go smoothly?”

“Yes.” He nodded and handed her a document. “Not only did I reclaim my mother’s dowry, I also made her write an IOU.”

Chun Xi wiped the grease from her hands on her skirt before taking it. When she saw what was written, her eyes widened.

“So many things! Did the Marchioness use up all your mother’s dowry?”

“No. My mother’s dowry was vast. This is only one-third.”

“……”

The items listed were extremely valuable—worth at least tens of thousands of taels of gold.

Lord Shen’s mother was incredibly rich!

After her shock, Chun Xi quickly realized how important the document was and tried to return it.

“You should keep something this important, my lord. What if I lose it?”

Shen Qingyuan didn’t take it back.

“We are still technically one family. She won’t truly repay me—she’ll always find excuses. But if you take this IOU with you into the household, she won’t dare impose authority or make things difficult for you.”

In other words, this document was a weapon he had prepared for her.

Even without family support, as a creditor, she wouldn’t need to fear Madam Mo.

Lord Shen is too good!

Warmth filled Chun Xi’s chest. She carefully put away the IOU and patted her chest.

“Don’t worry, my lord. I’ll definitely be a good Madam Shen!”

Shen Qingyuan nodded. “Mm. I believe you.”

After seeing him off, Chun Xi returned home, still burping from being full.

As soon as she entered, Madam Wang pulled her into the room and secretly handed her Wei Lingze’s personal jade pendant, saying it was a wedding gift.

“I think the Young Master’s expression was strange. Should we bury this jade? What if someone sees it?”

Though greedy, Madam Wang had learned that some wealth couldn’t be taken.

“What a waste to bury such a fine jade. Since it’s a wedding gift for me, I’ll just keep it.”

Chun Xi spoke lightly.

No matter what Wei Lingze was plotting, any leverage delivered to her hands was worth keeping.

Perhaps out of spite toward Shen Qingyuan, Madam Mo deliberately set the wedding date to the twenty-sixth day of the fifth month—the exact same day as Wei Lingze and Xiao Qinghe’s wedding.

Although Chun Xi had refused betrothal gifts, Shen Qingyuan still chose an auspicious day to send two wild geese along with tea and pastries.

Madam Wang felt somewhat displeased, but still received them with a smile.

After that, nothing major happened.

In the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.