TSWRLM -Chapter 100 Returning to the Capital

Shen Qingyuan hid a pillow under the quilt to make it look like someone was in bed, then pulled Chun Xi behind the bed curtain.

After a while, two assassins, thinking the sedative had taken effect, used their daggers to pry open the door and quietly slipped inside.

They wore the coarse short uniforms of relay station attendants, without concealing their faces. Their appearances were ordinary, but their eyes were cold and sharp, radiating ruthless killing intent.

Once inside, they didn’t immediately attack, but lifted the quilt to confirm who was in bed.

Seeing only a pillow, their expressions changed slightly—but before they could react further, Shen Qingyuan struck like lightning.

The one lifting the quilt in front was kicked flying; the other had his dagger snatched by Shen Qingyuan and was driven outside.

The two assassins were highly skilled. They quickly recovered and coordinated to flank Shen Qingyuan.

In the blink of an eye, the fight moved from upstairs to the relay station’s backyard.

Chun Xi, grumbling and in pain, fastened her pants belt.

An assassination attempt at night, and at a time like this! I, Cao Chun Xi, will fight you to the death!

She grabbed a bench and rushed out.

In the backyard, the standoff continued. Although Shen Qingyuan was outnumbered, he wasn’t at a disadvantage. Yet he couldn’t subdue both. At that moment, Chun Xi shouted: “Someone help! Assassins!”

She threw the bench with all her strength.

One assassin, attempting to flee with light-footed skill, was struck by the bench and crashed heavily to the ground. The other had his arm cut by Shen Qingyuan and was kicked away.

In the next moment, the imperial guards who had been following arrived and captured the two. Lanterns were lit across the relay station. Shen Qingyu and Mo Yunwan also rushed over immediately to check.

“What’s going on? Where did the assassins come from?”

Shen Qingyu’s face darkened.

He had thought following Shen Qingyuan back to the capital would be safe—yet they encountered assassins.

It made sense. The Xuzhou case implicated many, and influential figures in the capital who benefited from it would not want Shen Qingyuan to successfully escort the criminals back.

Shen Qingyuan ignored Shen Qingyu. He had intended to interrogate the assassins first, but they took poison and killed themselves immediately.

Under the night sky, Shen Qingyuan’s expression was dark and unreadable. His chilling presence spread through the air.

Shen Qingyu rubbed his arms and asked, “They killed themselves. What now? Could more assassins come?”

If more came, his big brother might not care about their lives; perhaps splitting up would be safer.

Shen Qingyuan completely ignored Shen Qingyu and instead ordered the guards: “Deliver their bodies to the Yizhou Prefecture. Hang them on the city gate for three days. If unclaimed, throw them on the burial mound for dogs to feed on.”

Unseen clouds gathered above, moonlight was mostly blocked, and the night grew dense and oppressive. Shen Qingyuan’s voice was icy, like eternal ice. Blood dripped from his blade. Gone was his daytime righteous aura; now he resembled a merciless, iron-hearted judge of the underworld.

Mo Yunwan clenched her fists, trying to suppress her fear, but couldn’t help trembling.

Earlier, her thoughts about Shen Qingyuan’s strong, imposing figure had been tinged with imagination; now they had turned to fear.

If one day he discovered the truth about her fleeing with the actors, would he chop her up for the dogs as well?

Thinking this, Mo Yunwan took a step back. Suddenly, footsteps approached from behind. Chun Xi dashed through the crowd to Shen Qingyuan’s side and kicked the two corpses fiercely.

“Gentlemen love wealth but seek it righteously. Why kill anyone but my husband? Do you know he just captured a corrupt official for the people? Making black-hearted money, you’ll descend to the eighteen levels of hell!”

Chun Xi was furious, unafraid, and looked as if she wanted to flay the assassins alive.

Her intensity mirrored Shen Qingyuan’s earlier order to hang the bodies for three days before feeding them to dogs.

At that moment, Mo Yunwan realized she couldn’t compete with this woman, Cao Chun Xi.

Although she could feign weakness for sympathy, she would never dare to rush to Shen Qingyuan’s side to defend him—or act to avenge him.

She wanted to return to the Hou residence, but now she would have to find another way.

Thinking this, Mo Yunwan turned her gaze to Shen Qingyu.

No one noticed Mo Yunwan’s change in demeanor. Shen Qingyuan, fearing Chun Xi would worsen her injury, carried her back into the room.

Later that night, heavy rain poured down.

Bad weather and the need to handle the assassins kept the group in Yizhou for three days.

Shen Qingyu, frightened by the assassination attempt, discussed with Mo Yunwan and ultimately decided to part ways with Shen Qingyuan.

Fearing being left behind, they traveled without pause and finally returned to the Hou residence ten days later.

Exposed to sun and wind, they were tanned, thinner, and exhausted. Madam Mo was heartbroken and cried. After they washed and rested, she immediately consulted with Madam Ning on strategy.

The Ning family had already communicated with the Mo family and would not allow Shen Qingyuan and Mo Yunwan’s engagement to be broken. If Shen Qingyuan truly loved his new wife, the Mo family could only agree to Cao Chun Xi becoming a secondary wife.

To pressure Shen Qingyuan, the Mo family had even summoned the Marquis of Qingyuan to the residence, but the families waited four to five days without news of Shen Qingyuan’s return.

Madam Mo worried something had happened, sending someone to investigate. The news was that Shen Qingyuan had left Yizhou via water and was now leisurely traveling in Qingzhou.

“He did it on purpose. Big Sister-in-law and I were injured and wanted to ride in the carriage. He rushed everyone, trying to leave us behind. Once we went separately, they were off sightseeing. He deliberately tormented us.”

Shen Qingyu’s face turned dark with anger. After days of exhausting travel, he could barely endure. He had been waiting to vent once home, only to find Shen Qingyuan leisurely traveling instead. Where could he even complain?

Madam Mo, of course, worried for her son, but with Shen Qingyuan and Cao Chun Xi not yet returned, she could only restrain herself.

The Marquis of Qingyuan had little affection for the family. He didn’t care if Shen Qingyu had been tricked; he was annoyed he wasted several days waiting for his beloved at the Hou residence. Coldly, he told the Mo family: “Children have their own fortunes. They’re grown; if we meddle too much, we’ll only be resented. If you want to keep waiting, then wait. I won’t stay.”

After saying this, the Marquis left. Madam Mo, embarrassed in front of her maternal relatives, cried in frustration: “You all see it, my life is truly miserable!”

The Mo family: “….”

Weren’t you saying earlier that the Hou residence was already obedient under your control? How come this defiant son already deflated your authority before any confrontation?