Chapter 127 Raising Money for a Promotion Banquet
When Mo Yunwan learned that Shen Qingchi had gone out with Chunxi, she immediately came to inform Mrs. Mo: "Sister Chi'er went out with Cao Chunxi today. I heard that they were going out to raise money for the promotion banquet."
"Raising money? Xiao left behind such a huge dowry, and she actually needs to go out and raise money for a promotion banquet. Who would lend it to her?"
Madam Mo took the tea Mo Yunwan handed her and took a sip before she spoke slowly. Mo Yunwan immediately said, "I heard from people in the mansion that Cao Chunxi sold a lot of things before going to Xuzhou. Now that she has taken over the family, no one checks her accounts. On the surface, she seems to be on bad terms with her family, but she keeps her brother in the mansion. Maybe she secretly let her brother take all the money back to her family."
Mo's climbing onto the throne was considered shameful by the Mo family, and she had secretly paid money to curry favor with her family over the years. She immediately believed Mo Yunwan's words, and then heard Mo Yunwan say, "She's been getting pretty close to Old Madam Xiao lately. If she shamelessly asks Old Madam Xiao to borrow money, she'll probably give it to her. After all, this little money is nothing to the Xiao family."
Hearing Madam Xiao's name, Mrs. Mo's face suddenly turned ugly.
If she hadn't been concerned about this old man all these years, she wouldn't have let Shen Qingyuan bear the stigma of being a wife-killer.
Now this old guy dares to interfere in the family affairs of the Marquis' Mansion. He is overreaching.
Mo Yunwan carefully observed Madam Mo's expression. Seeing that the time was almost ripe, she tentatively said, "My cousin loves Cao Chunxi so much. I think she must have been very secretive about supporting her family, hiding it from even my cousin. It would be great if her family could leave behind one or two things as evidence."
This remark struck a chord with Madam Mo, who immediately said, "Madam Jia, go open my private vault and get the imperial green bracelet and earrings."
Mrs. Mo ordered coldly, and Aunt Jia reminded him in surprise, "Madam, those bracelets and earrings are very valuable, but they are your most beloved things. Madam usually doesn't want to wear them."
Besides being expensive, because these bracelets and earrings were stolen from Xiao's dowry, Mo only dared to wear them at the Marquis' Mansion on her birthday, for fear of being recognized if she wore them outside.
Madam Mo took another sip of tea and gave a meaningful smile. "Wrap them up and give them to that little boy named Cao Wen. Tell him this is an apology gift from his sister to his mother. On the day of the promotion banquet, make sure his mother wears these bracelets and earrings to the Marquis' Mansion to make her daughter and son-in-law proud."
Jia Ma immediately understood that Mrs. Mo was trying to frame someone, and she quickly tried to persuade her: "The eldest young master and the young mistress are not easy to mess with. If a fight breaks out, I'm afraid..."
Madam Mo interrupted directly, "Then have the doorman quietly bring his mother into the mansion. As long as the other ladies of the noble families believe this, and prove Cao Chunxi's crime of stealing her husband's property to support her own family, what can they do if they deny it?"
Nanny Jia was about to persuade her again, but Mo Yunwan spoke first, "Aunt, you're wise. Let's first let Cao Chunxi take the spotlight. Then, let Chi'er accidentally reveal that she borrowed money from the Xiao family to host the banquet. Finally, we can bring Wang Shi before everyone and catch her red-handed. Cao Chunxi will have no way to defend herself."
With Mo Yunwan's support, Mrs. Mo felt that her plan was very clever.
Once Cao Chunxi's theft is proven in public, not only will she lose control of the family, but she might even be forced to divorce Shen Qingyuan. In this way, Yu'er won't have to marry Mo Yunwan, the bitch.
Thinking of this, Madam Mo urged Aunt Jia, "Hurry up and go. Oh, remember to tell the child not to tell anyone, especially not to let Cao Chunxi know."
"Yes, I understand."
After Aunt Jia took her leave, Mo Yunwan continued to say many nice things, which made Mrs. Mo smile from ear to ear.
At the same time, in the front hall of the Mo family, Chunxi and Shen Qingchi were sitting there, eating snacks and drinking tea.
I have to say that the Mo family's chef makes excellent pastries, and the tea is also this year's new tea. The standard of hospitality is very high, almost catching up with aristocratic families like the Xiao and Wei families.
Shen Qingchi didn't expect Chunxi to bring her to the Mo family to raise money. Seeing that Chunxi was about to finish the plate of cakes, she couldn't help but whispered: "Sister-in-law, why don't we leave? Mother will definitely be angry if she knows that we came to the Mo family without permission to cause trouble."
Chunxi's eyes curved, and she smiled understandingly: "My dear sister, how can this be called making trouble? We are only here to take back what belongs to your eldest brother, and mother has already handed over the power of the family to me. No matter what I do, mother will definitely support me."
“…”
Shen Qingchi wanted to continue persuading Chunxi to leave, but before he could open his mouth, Ning accompanied Madam Mo into the front hall.
Old Madam Mo was an extremely dignified old lady. As a concubine's daughter, Mrs. Mo did not receive her personal education. Later, she did something like climbing into the bed to get the upper hand, which made the Mo family lose face. Old Madam Mo also did not like her granddaughter Shen Qingchi.
After sitting down, Madam Mo didn't even glance at Shen Qingchi. She only looked at Chunxi sharply: "Mrs. Shen, why did you suddenly visit and insist on seeing me? What can you do for me?"
As soon as Madam Mo entered the room, Chunxi swallowed her food and put on a dignified demeanor. She stood up and said, "It is indeed presumptuous of me to come to your house without permission. I beg your forgiveness, but my husband has been promoted, and the mansion wants to hold a promotion banquet. The Marquis's Mansion has long been an empty shell. If the Mo family does not repay the money, this banquet cannot be held."
Madam Mo's face darkened, and Ning immediately spoke in dissatisfaction: "Madam Shen, what do you mean by this? What does the Marquis's Mansion becoming an empty shell have to do with the Mo family?"
"I didn't say the Marquis's lack of money had anything to do with the Mo family. It's just that the promotion banquet is coming up, and the Mo family happened to owe my husband money, so I had to lower my face and ask for it. Miss Mo is still living in the Marquis's Mansion. Could it be that Madam Mo has forgotten the promise she made to the Marquis' Mansion that day?"
Chunxi answered without hesitation, and Ning choked.
She had promised to raise money to compensate Shen Qingyuan, but Shen Qingyuan had now been promoted to the Censorate and became the Chief Censor, and the Mo family was reluctant to cancel the marriage.
Even if Shen Qingyuan didn't want Mo Yunwan to be his legal wife, it would be good to give Mo Yunwan the title of a concubine.
As long as Mo Yunwan and Shen Qingyuan are still related, the Mo family can also benefit from it. Otherwise, if they miss this opportunity, where else can they find a son-in-law of the third rank?
Ning had originally wanted to buy time to see if there was any way to turn the situation around, but Chunxi hadn't expected her to show up directly. She didn't know how to respond. Madam Mo spoke gravely, "Marriage is a matter of great importance to the reputation of both families. It's not something a junior like you can casually interfere with. Even if you want the money back, the old lady of the Qingyuan Marquisate should come and talk to me in person."
Everyone knows that Marquis Qingyuan is a peasant from a poor family, and his mother is a typical village woman who was driven out of the Marquis's Mansion by the Mo family a long time ago. Even if she came to the Mo family, she could only ask for peace. How could she cancel the engagement?
Chunxi was not flustered. She straightened her clothes and said with a squinting gaze, "Grandmother is old, and mother-in-law has recently become ill from anger. Now the power of the Marquis's Mansion is in my hands, and I have full authority to handle all matters in the mansion. What I said today is what they meant."
Upon hearing that Chunxi had obtained the power to manage the family, surprise flashed in Mrs. Mo's eyes and she looked at Shen Qingchi suspiciously.
Shen Qingchi suddenly felt like a thorn in his back.
She didn't know she would have to come to the Mo family today, otherwise she would not have come no matter what. But she had just expressed her loyalty to her sister-in-law yesterday. If she didn't stand on her sister-in-law's side now, she would definitely not believe her again.
After some hesitation, Shen Qingchi could only speak: "Sister-in-law is right, mother did give her the power to manage the family."
Madam Mo and Mrs. Ning were both speechless, secretly cursing Mrs. Mo as a fool. But the next moment, they heard Chunxi say, "To be honest, Mother is still a little worried about me, but she couldn't resist Miss Mo's persuasion. I think Miss Mo really likes Third Brother, which is why she is so eager to please me, her eldest sister-in-law."
Madam Mo: “…”
Ning: “…”
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