Chapter 151: Family Division
Chunxi's words successfully stopped Shen Qingchi from crying.
The fuss they made about splitting up the family today was a bit big and looked a bit scary, but actually in Zhaoling, it was not uncommon for men to separate and live on their own after getting married.
Ordinary families' houses are not big enough, so their sons usually move out after getting married. Aristocratic families have many descendants and branches, and they hope that their descendants will be successful, make achievements, and establish their own careers.
Although they no longer eat and drink together after the separation and each manages their own expenses, they are still a family in essence. If there is any major event at home, they will still get together to discuss it.
Moreover, Chunxi and Shen Qingyuan separated because their stepmother, Mo, was unfair, greedy and calculating. It was already good enough that they did not sever ties with the Marquis' Mansion. Such treatment was definitely not cruel.
Everyone was whispering, speaking up for Chunxi. Shen Qingchi bit his lips, not knowing what else to say.
Soon, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent another person to say, "After calculations by several officials from the Ministry of Works, the Qingyuan Marquisate owes Lord Shen a total of 58,732 taels of silver. The Qingyuan Marquis has acknowledged this debt and promised to pay it off in full within three years. From now on, Lord Shen and Madam Shen will move out of the Marquisate and establish their own household. As the Marquis is currently in good health, the position of Crown Prince will not be determined for the time being."
The prince has spoken personally, and the Marquis of Qingyuan has acknowledged it himself. The matter is settled and no one can change it.
This is nearly 60,000 taels of silver. Where can she get the money to pay it back?
Mrs. Mo could no longer hold on, her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the ground. Aunt Jia, Mo Yunwan and Mrs. Ning helped Mrs. Mo go back to rest, while Chunxi ordered people to drag away the servants who were shot by arrows and wipe the blood stains on the ground.
Wang thought the crisis was over and was about to speak to Chunxi, but she heard Chunxi say, "I certainly didn't steal anything from the mansion, but why did your husband's mother's belongings end up in your possession? We still need to find out. I have to move after the banquet, so I really don't have time. You should go to Jingzhao Prefecture and explain everything."
As soon as Chunxi finished speaking, someone covered Wang's mouth and took her to the Jingzhao government office.
Everyone witnessed her ruthless treatment of Mrs. Mo and her ruthlessness towards her own mother, and they felt a chill in their hearts.
Although this Madam Shen is not from a high-born family, she is very shrewd and resourceful, and she has Lord Shen backing her up. You must never provoke her in the future.
The servants worked quickly and the garden was soon restored to its cleanliness and peace. Only Shen Qingchi was still kneeling on the ground with tears in his eyes, reminding everyone of the farce that had just happened.
It was almost noon and firecrackers were set off outside the Marquis' Mansion. Chunxi invited everyone to go to the banquet hall to sit down and rest. When she walked past Shen Qingchi, her skirt was grabbed.
Shen Qingchi raised his head and stared at Chunxi with tearful eyes: "Sister-in-law, you actually knew I wanted to harm you a long time ago, right?"
"yes."
Chunxi admitted it frankly. Shen Qingchi thought about the guilt and entanglement she had felt these days, and she was furious. She couldn't help but ask, "Since sister-in-law knew about it a long time ago, why didn't you stop it earlier?"
"Why should I stop you?" Chunxi asked, pulling the hem of her skirt out of Shen Qingchi's hands. "You want to harm me. If you fail this time, you will do it next time. You don't reflect on why you can't stop harming others, but you want me to reflect on why I didn't stop you from doing evil. Shen Qingchi, where do you get such a thick skin?"
Chunxi's words were blunt and full of malice. Shen Qingchi's face burned, as if she had been slapped hard. She cried and defended herself, "I was forced to do this. Sister-in-law, you know very well that mother doesn't love me at all. She just uses me as a stepping stone for my second and third brothers. I have always obeyed mother's orders since I was a child. I can't resist at all..."
"So, since you're weak and incompetent and can't resist your mother, you can harm me with a clear conscience?"
Chunxi interrupted directly. Shen Qingchi felt guilty for a moment, but quickly found an excuse for himself: "Sister-in-law, you are very smart and won't be framed so easily. Even if the power to lead the family is taken back, you can live well with my brother's support. If you are willing to teach me what to do, I won't make such a mistake."
As soon as Shen Qingchi finished speaking, Chunxi slapped him in the face.
This slap was no lighter than the one Mo had given her before. Shen Qingchi fell to the ground, but Chunxi did not stop. She squatted down, grabbed her collar and slapped her twice more.
Shen Qingchi's pupils trembled, his face full of disbelief: "Sister-in-law, why did you hit me?"
"Sister, didn't you ask me to teach you a lesson? Do you know where you went wrong now?"
Chunxi spoke coldly, completely devoid of the gentleness and warmth she had shown before. Shen Qingchi felt mortified, fearing Chunxi's slap would fall again. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I know. I shouldn't have been so indecisive, I shouldn't have been unable to distinguish between good and evil and helped my mother do bad things, and I shouldn't have harbored resentment towards my sister-in-law. I won't dare to do that again."
Chunxi rubbed his hands and said with a narrowed eyebrow: "Since you understand all these principles, don't force me to do it in the future. Even if you don't care about your own face, you should at least care about my hands."
After saying this, Chunxi strode away.
Shen Qingchi covered his face and wanted to go back to his yard to rest in a daze. However, halfway there, he saw Mo and Qingyuan Hou fighting with each other.
"You old pervert, have you been devoured by a vixen? How could you agree to a division of the family property with that rebellious son and even pay him compensation? That's nearly 60,000 taels of silver. Where am I going to pay him back?"
"That money was originally left to him by that short-lived woman. Not only did you usurp her inheritance, but you also mistreat her son. You did such a shameful thing. How dare you argue with me?"
"Do you think I want to covet that dead man's money? If you hadn't spent all your money on wine and women and supporting vixen, why would I be like this? What did you promise me when you coaxed me into bed, and how are you treating me now?"
Mo was also furious. She rushed forward and tried to grab Hua Qingyuanhou's face, but Qingyuanhou was a man after all. After a while of tugging, he lost his patience and kicked Mo to the ground: "You spent all this money. Find a way to pay it back. If you dare to bother me again, I will divorce you!"
After saying this, Marquis Qingyuan turned around and left.
He originally thought that he could be proud of himself today thanks to his son, but he was first knocked unconscious by his son, and then he was humiliated by the Mo family. Now he just wanted to leave here quickly and return to the land of peace and comfort.
After Marquis Qingyuan left, Mrs. Mo sat on the ground and cried incessantly. Her hair was disheveled and her face was covered with scratches. She looked crazy and no longer had the dignity of a mistress of the Marquis's mansion.
Shen Qingchi didn't dare to go forward and quietly took a detour back to his own yard.
My eldest brother and his wife will be moving out after today. When my mother comes to her senses, she will definitely vent all her anger on her. She can't stay in this house anymore.
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