Shen Yunxi: ?!
Who’s talking?
She looked at Wen Jiushu, but clearly her lips hadn’t moved.
Yet she distinctly heard a voice.
Not sure—she needed to look again.
“The old madam’s meals are prepared by the kitchen. What’s the problem?” Wen Jiushu said calmly.
Accusing her of mistreating Mrs. Meng?
Too small-minded.
If she truly wanted to kill Mrs. Meng, there were countless silent ways to do it.
Why bother with something as low-level as “mistreatment”?
Such basic inner-courtyard tricks—she didn’t even think highly of them.
“If it weren’t for you, would those snobbish servants in the kitchen dare send rice water to my mother’s room? Wen Jiushu, you’ve only just married into this household, and we haven’t even acknowledged you yet—you’re already acting like the mistress and bullying my mother!”
Shen Yunxi put her hands on her hips, fiery as a firecracker.
“Don’t think just because you’ve bribed Third Brother he’ll protect you. I will never acknowledge you as my sister-in-law!”
Wen Jiushu found it amusing.
Who was asking for her acknowledgment?
Was it important whether she acknowledged or not?
Compared to her, wasn’t someone paralyzed and bedridden far more pitiful?
Still, since she was being accused of secretly mistreating Mrs. Meng, she said lightly,
“If I truly wanted to bully your mother, I would openly cut off all food from her room. I wouldn’t bother with petty tricks.”
Shen Yunxi: ?!
Listen to that.
Was that even human speech?!
She actually wanted to cut off her mother’s food!
“You—do you even know how to behave as a daughter-in-law?!”
Shen Yunxi was furious.
In which household did a daughter-in-law not lower herself and serve the mother-in-law obediently?
What kind of attitude was this?!
“Or do you think just because Mother is your husband’s stepmother, you can look down on her?” Shen Yunxi gritted her teeth. “Mother treats us like her own children—you should treat her like your own biological mother!”
Wen Jiushu: …
My biological mother is already dead.
And the original Wen Jiushu’s relationship with her own mother wasn’t exactly good either.
That comparison really didn’t work.
She said calmly, “You’ve said so much—what exactly do you want?”
She considered herself straightforward. She hadn’t ordered the kitchen to serve rice water to Mrs. Meng.
Even though she held household authority, she hadn’t touched Mrs. Meng’s food or daily life.
Shen Yunxi lifted her chin.
“Return the household authority to Mother, and go apologize. Mother is kind-hearted. As long as you sincerely apologize, she’ll forgive you.”
Amazing.
Wen Jiushu actually laughed.
“So you care that much about your mother?”
“Of course!” Shen Yunxi snapped.
[Then do you know that the domestic abuse, miscarriages, and eventual paralysis in your future were all caused by the very ‘good mother’ you care so much about?]
Shen Yunxi: ?!
What nonsense was that?!
No—Wen Jiushu hadn’t even moved her lips!
Was this sister-in-law cursing her?!
“Wen Jiushu, if you don’t apologize to Mother, I’ll—”
“Shut up!”
Shen Yunhuai arrived just in time, quickly pulling Shen Yunxi behind him.
“大嫂, the Fifth Sister has always been wild and speaks without thinking. Just treat her like she’s barking and don’t take it to heart.”
Shen Yunxi: …
Wen Jiushu: …
Mòu Si (Mu Si) looked miserable—he really couldn’t stop the Fifth Miss.
She was famous for her temper. Even servants got beaten if they tried to stop her.
Shen Yunxi was stunned.
“Third Brother, who are you calling wild?! Mother is sick, and you don’t care about her—you’re helping an outsider bully her! How could you take Mother’s household authority and give it to an outsider?!”
Shen Yunhuai’s expression turned cold.
“If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all. Eldest Sister-in-law is family since she married into our household. What outsider are you talking about?”
“You!” Shen Yunxi, though fiery, wasn’t very sharp-tongued.
“Then what about her taking Mother’s authority?!”
“Eldest Sister-in-law is the legitimate mistress of the Marquis household. She should be managing it.”
Shen Yunhuai said evenly.
Just then, he recalled hearing Wen Jiushu’s “voice.”
Shen Yunxi would be abused… miscarry… end up paralyzed?
Third Sister, do you know how miserable your future will be?
You might even lose your legs.
Still jumping around like this?
He glanced at her legs. She wasn’t even tall to begin with—if she ended up paralyzed, she’d be even worse off.
Lying in bed, unable to move, everything done there…
How pitiful.
Better off dead, honestly.
Even if thrown into a cesspit, at least it would be over.
No smell to endure.
Shen Yunxi noticed his cold gaze.
What was that look supposed to mean?
Did he think she was going to become paralyzed?!
Wen Jiushu was truly vicious—cursing her with miscarriage and paralysis!
She hadn’t even married yet!
Wait…
Could Third Brother also hear Wen Jiushu’s inner voice?
She glanced at him uncertainly. He returned a look.
Confirmed.
He could hear it too.
So his sudden change… was because of Wen Jiushu’s inner voice?
Could it be that what she said was all true?
Impossible.
Shen Yunxi’s face suddenly turned pale. Her legs even started to feel faintly sore…
Wen Jiushu: Are these two siblings flirting with their eyes or what?
Huh?
I can’t ship this kind of “sibling chemistry.”
“Eldest Brother shouldn’t have let you roam outside. You’ve learned no manners at all. Apologize to Eldest Sister-in-law immediately,” Shen Yunhuai said, signaling her with his eyes.
If you don’t want your legs broken, be polite.
Shen Yunxi still hesitated.
She had come to stand up for her mother—how did it turn into her mother needing to be wary of her instead?
She didn’t believe it.
“The old madam’s food was arranged by me,” Shen Yunhuai said.
Shen Yunxi froze.
“You were the one restricting Mother’s food? Why?! She’s already so sick and weak—didn’t you see that?!”
“The doctor said she caught a cold and should avoid greasy food, sticking to a light diet. What’s wrong with that?” he replied calmly.
Shen Yunxi: …
[Ha, green tea and scheming little brother-in-law. Didn’t expect that side of you. But this foolish girl doesn’t even know Mrs. Meng had a miscarriage—she’ll probably end up sending more ‘resting supplies’ for postpartum recovery.]
Miscarriage?!
Shen Yunxi’s eyes widened like bells.
“Wen Jiushu, you’re so vicious!”
“How dare you slander my mother!”
Shen Yunhuai’s eyelid twitched.
One moment of distraction, and she was already self-destructing.
“You vicious woman! You’re not worthy of my eldest brother! No wonder he left right after marrying you—he must not even want to see you! My brother would be better off marrying a hen than marrying you!”
At least a hen could be stewed for soup.
What did Wen Jiushu have?
[Little sister… so in your eyes, your brother isn’t even human—only fit to marry a chicken.]