Chapter 222 I didn’t tell you to leave, so you can’t leave
"Your Majesty is so busy with affairs of state that it's not appropriate to discuss such a trivial matter in front of the Emperor. Moreover, if the matter becomes a big deal, it will be bad for the reputation of both the Princess and Madam Shen. I still think it's better to resolve it privately."
Yun Wantang spoke softly, as if she was kindly considering Chunxi and Princess Hengyang.
Chunxi curled her lips and laughed out loud, "So, Madam, in your opinion, a private solution means one that can only be done in front of so many nobles. Madam, this incident today will probably have a greater impact on the reputation of the princess and me than telling this matter in front of the emperor, right?"
Your Majesty is Princess Hengyang's biological brother. Even if something big is brought to the imperial court, it would be difficult for it to be spread outside. But if this matter is discussed in front of so many ladies from aristocratic families, it is not certain what will be spread.
Chunxi had previously thought that Yun Wantang was a little too attentive to her, but only now did she realize that Yun Wantang was a very capable person.
She would not have her calculations written all over her face like Mrs. Mo, nor would she pretend to be pitiful to gain sympathy like Mo Yunwan. She would show kindness to everyone, making everyone think that she was a good person, and then, under the pretext of doing good for others, she would stand on a high position and step on others.
Just like now, it was clearly her who came uninvited and disturbed Princess Hengyang's banquet, but everyone thought she was a good elder who stood up for her helpless niece-in-law, and that Chunxi was taking advantage of her power and deliberately bullying others.
Yun Wantang didn't respond to Chunxi's words, but instead said, "Madam Chen, Chi'er still calls you sister-in-law. Her mother is gone, and she's pregnant now. Even if she made a mistake out of confusion, I hope you can be more tolerant of her."
Yun Wantang was very humble, and his last sentence even had a hint of pleading.
She is older than Chunxi, and judging from her relationship with Shen Qingchi, her seniority is higher than Chunxi's. She spoke to Chunxi in this tone in front of so many people, which made Chunxi seem even more arrogant and unreasonable.
Who is Cao Chunxi? Is he worthy of Yun Wantang being so humble?
Sure enough, just as Yun Wantang finished speaking, a lady couldn't stand it anymore and chimed in: "Madam Shen, although you and Lord Shen have already separated and moved out, you are still family with the Marquis' Mansion. Your mother-in-law is still alive, so it's not right for you to bully your sister like this."
Someone started talking, and others immediately followed suit: "Yes, she's pregnant. If anything happens to the baby, wouldn't you be committing a sin?"
For a moment, there was a lot of discussion, and everyone accused Chunxi of being cruel and ruthless.
Chunxi had been missing for over a month before returning, so there would have been a lot of gossip. Xiao Qingyue was afraid that she would cause even more trouble, so she couldn't help but whispered, "Why don't you just let her go? Everyone is talking about you."
Xiao Qinghe scolded in a low voice: "Yue'er, it's not that my aunt has too many people, it's that my aunt is wrong. The Dali Temple will not arrest people casually."
Chunxi quickly gave Xiao Qinghe a thumbs-up, then raised her voice and said, "I was kidnapped for over a month, and I finally managed to escape death these past two days. Why are you all saying this as if I was the one who took the Fourth Young Master's wife from the Taifu Mansion to the Dali Temple? Do I, Cao Chunxi, have the ability to order the people in the Dali Temple around?"
"You can't order the Dali Temple around, but the princess can. These days, the princess has been forcing the Dali Temple to arrest people and interrogate them."
Chunxi nodded, grasping the key point: "So the Dali Temple recently arrested not only Shen Qingchi, but also others. Everyone else is fine, but she is still being held captive. Do you think the princess is willing to use the majesty of the royal family to suppress the Dali Temple just to target her and lock her up when my life is in danger?"
“…”
Everyone was speechless for a moment.
They were indeed questioned by the Dali Temple, but they were not tortured or forced to confess. Although Princess Hengyang liked Cao Chunxi, she would not really do anything extreme for someone whose life or death was uncertain.
Seeing that Chunxi was about to turn the situation around, Yun Wantang spoke again: "Madam Shen, Chi'er has just experienced the pain of losing her mother. She may have made a mistake in a moment of confusion, but please, for the sake of the child, spare her this time. I will definitely discipline her in the future."
Yun Wantang never explained why Shen Qingchi had been locked up for so long, but just repeatedly asked Chunxi to let her go.
Shen Qingchi's mother died and she was pregnant. No matter what mistakes she made, Chunxi, as her sister-in-law, could not hold it against her.
As soon as Yun Wantang opened her mouth, the people who had been choked by Chunxi and unable to speak found a way to criticize Chunxi. After they had said enough, Chunxi spoke calmly.
"Has the Dali Temple already convicted Shen Qingchi? Will she be beheaded or exiled? Madam asked me to let her go. Does that mean she wants me to go home and ask my master to tamper with the Zhaoling law and release her without charge? If another sister-in-law mistakenly harms my sister-in-law in the future, will she be forgiven like she was?"
When it was just a conflict between Chunxi and Shen Qingchi, everyone could naturally think that Shen Qingchi was the weaker party and speak up for Shen Qingchi, but when Chunxi magnified the matter to his sister-in-law and sister-in-law, everyone hesitated.
Everyone present, whether married or unmarried, may face this problem. If the sister-in-law can hurt her sister-in-law without being punished, what will they do if they encounter the same situation in the future?
The voices accusing Chunxi suddenly died down. Yun Wantang frowned and said, "Madam Shen, I didn't ask you to tamper with the law. I just think that it's not good for Chi'er and the child to stay in jail while she's pregnant. The kidnapping of your mother and nephew was done by the Second Madam of the Mo family. She has confessed to the crime. Chi'er's offense was just a minor one. As long as Madam Shen doesn't hold it against her, this matter will be over."
"Since it's a minor offense, the Dali Temple shouldn't give her any hard time. Madam, did you come here with such fanfare today to plead for her, or are you deliberately spreading the news so that everyone knows that your Fourth Young Master's wife is harming your eldest sister-in-law and behaving inappropriately, so you can wait until she gives birth to a child and then find an opportunity to divorce her?"
Chunxi's eyes are bright and her mind is clear, and she is not led astray by Yun Wantang at all.
Yun Wantang knew Chunxi was no pushover, but she hadn't expected her to be so difficult. Seeing that Chunxi was about to throw dirty water on her, she could only soften her tone and say, "I just feel sorry for Chi'er. Since Madam Shen won't give up, then just pretend I never came today."
Yun Wantang turned around and was about to leave, leaving room for everyone's endless reverie. Chunxi said loudly, "Wait."
As soon as she finished speaking, the maid from the princess's mansion immediately blocked Yun Wantang's way.
Yun Wantang turned around and looked at Princess Hengyang angrily: "Princess, what do you mean by this?"
Princess Hengyang tilted her head and said calmly, "It's nothing special. I just want to tell you that this is the Princess's Mansion. You can't leave unless my guest tells you to."
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