TSWRLM -Chapter 58 Paying a Visit

Rescuing people had drained her energy, and Chun Xi had collapsed into bed immediately. When she woke the next morning, Shen Qingyuan had already gone to the government office.

Chun Xi quickly got up, dressed, and washed herself, realizing she had grown a little complacent since getting married.

How could she just sleep in without worrying about the master?

After washing up, Chun Xi headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Nanny Jia standing in the courtyard, with Cao Wen beside her, eyes full of anticipation.

“Other families’ new wives wake early to greet dawn and dusk. But a young mistress who sleeps past mid-morning like this—she’s truly one of a kind in all of Hanjing.”

Nanny Jia’s words were sharp and scolding. Chun Xi stretched lazily and replied, “I overslept. Why didn’t you wake me earlier, Nanny?”

Nanny Jia was momentarily silenced.

She had wanted to wake Chun Xi, but when she came with Cao Wen, they had run into Shen Qingyuan, who said Chun Xi had been exhausted last night and needed extra rest.

Although Shen Qingyuan didn’t concern himself much with household matters, Nanny Jia dared not ignore his words.

Not wanting Chun Xi to know Shen Qingyuan was being kind to her, Nanny Jia changed the topic: “The young master will attend the academy, but today the second and third young masters are returning home. There aren’t enough carriages in the residence, so the young mistress will have to take the young master to the academy herself.”

“All right.”

Chun Xi led Cao Wen out, stopping at a street stall to buy a steaming basket of meat buns.

Cao Wen hadn’t slept much the night before; dark circles lined his eyes. He had no appetite for the buns and quietly reminded Chun Xi as they walked: “Sister, I’ll be late.”

“Oh.”

Chun Xi replied indifferently. Seeing a stall selling roujiamo (meat sandwiches), she bought one for herself, completely unconcerned about the consequences of being late.

Frowning, Cao Wen said, “Sister, let’s rent a carriage so we can get to the academy faster.”

“It’s already too late. Fast or slow makes no difference. This way, you can get to know the route, and I have my own errands to run. In the future, you’ll have to walk it yourself.”

Cao Wen clutched his bun, stopping in his tracks.

Before, the Qingsong School wasn’t far from home, so he had walked himself. Later, at Qingfeng Academy, it was farther away, so Mother gave him money for a carriage every day.

Mother had told him the Hou residence was far wealthier than home. Once he moved in with Sister, he’d have free carriages daily and even a study boy to accompany him. No one would dare bully him again.

But the reality was completely different.

No study boy, no carriage, and Sister was too busy to even care for him.

Chun Xi strolled on, unaware that Cao Wen had stopped.

Cao Wen felt abandoned. Panic rose in his chest as he ran to grab Chun Xi’s sleeve: “Sister, I want to go home.”

Chun Xi stopped and looked at him: “What did you say?”

Cao Wen’s face flushed red.

Mother had cried and insisted he be sent to live with Sister. Now he had been brought to the Hou residence, scolded by Nanny Jia, and after just one night, he wanted to go home. It was so spoiled and unreasonable.

But at the Hou residence, he couldn’t live with Sister, had to do chores for Nanny Jia, and even walk to the academy by himself.

This life was harder than home.

At least at home, Mother never made him work and always saved the best food for him.

After hesitating for a moment, Cao Wen said again, louder this time, trying to assert himself: “Sister, I want to go home.”

He expected Sister to ask gently if he was unhappy or uncomfortable at the Hou residence before deciding whether to take him back. Instead, he only got two icy words: “No.”

“Why?”

Cao Wen panicked.

Mother had told him before that if he was unhappy at the Hou residence, he could return home anytime. He had thought he had a fallback.

Chun Xi took a bite of her roujiamo and said coldly: “Everyone must bear the consequences of their choices. You chose to come live with me at the Hou residence. That means you live here. You cannot go home.”

“The Hou residence is terrible. Sister doesn’t even care about me. I want to go home! I don’t want to live here!”

Cao Wen shouted in panic.

Before, he thought staying at the Hou residence a little wouldn’t matter, as he had a fallback. Now, without that option, the Hou residence felt like a den of lions and tigers, and he didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

Chun Xi wasn’t surprised. She nodded: “Then go home yourself and tell Mother. See if she’ll let you live there.”

With that, Cao Wen turned and ran.

Chun Xi instructed Qing Shu, who had been following at a distance: “Follow him quietly. Unless there’s a life-threatening danger, don’t intervene.”

“Yes, young mistress.”

After Qing Shu left, Chun Xi wandered the streets, buying bricks, tiles, and sand for a small kitchen she planned to build, then returned to the Hou residence.

She intended to have Nanny Jia clean the floor first but was informed guests had arrived.

In the garden, she immediately spotted Xiao Qingyue sitting among the flowers, drinking tea.

Xiao Qingyue was putting on airs, making Madam Mo, who sat smiling politely beside her, and Shen Qingchi, who served tea, look like mere attendants.

Seeing Chun Xi, Xiao Qingyue raised an eyebrow: “Oh, you’re back.”

Chun Xi instantly realized the remark was directed at her.

She was not afraid. Approaching Xiao Qingyue, she nodded politely: “Yue’er is here! It’s been some days. I’ve even missed you a little.”

Her tone was smooth and familiar, as if she had a close relationship with Xiao Qingyue.

Xiao Qingyue’s expression darkened. Gritting her teeth, she snapped: “What did you just call me?”

“Yue’er,” Chun Xi repeated openly. “Now that I’m married to your Uncle Shen, you should call me little aunt. Calling you this way is just a little more intimate.”

Xiao Qingyue suddenly stood: “Vile woman! Who do you think you are? How dare you call yourself my little aunt!”

Xiao Qinghe had returned home injured. Though she repeatedly explained it was an accident, the previous day’s incident had caused a huge stir. Anyone asking around would find Chun Xi was involved.

Xiao Qingyue had assumed that Chun Xi’s marriage meant she would no longer cause trouble. She hadn’t expected that Chun Xi’s return today would result in her sister being injured. She had come to the Hou residence for revenge.

“Yue’er, you are from a noble family. How can you speak so crudely? It’s so unrefined.”

Chun Xi shook her head disapprovingly.

Xiao Qingyue didn’t want to hear her lecture. Coldly, she commanded: “Get her! Hold her down and cripple one of her hands!”

Xiao Qingyue had brought several strong, burly women. At her command, they immediately advanced on Chun Xi. Madam Mo merely sat aside, watching in silence.

Chun Xi wasn’t about to let Madam Mo be a bystander. She leaped behind Madam Mo like a monkey, grabbed her shoulders, and lifted her as a human shield, shouting: “Good Yue’er, there must be some misunderstanding with your little aunt. Let’s sit down and talk calmly—don’t act rashly.”

Xiao Qingyue’s rage flared: “Get her! Rip her mouth!”

Chun Xi was nimble. None of the women managed to hit her. Instead, they knocked off Madam Mo’s hairpin, tore her clothes, and even scratched her face.

Madam Mo: “……”

What were the Xiao family servants even doing? Couldn’t they aim properly?