TSWRLM -Chapter 117 The One Who Should Atone Is You

Wei Lingze forcefully barged into Xiao Qinghe’s room and even locked the door behind him. Outside, the maids and attendants were frantic.

“Young Master, please open the door. Let’s talk properly. Don’t hurt the young madam.”

“Young Madam, are you all right? Shall I go fetch Madam Wei?”

Inside, Xiao Qinghe had just finished bandaging the wound on her neck and changed into lighter clothes. She lay on the divan, and seeing Wei Lingze burst in, she grabbed her hairpin again and pressed it against her throat.

“Get out!”

The events in the carriage still made her nauseated, and she was left shaken. She didn’t want to see Wei Lingze.

After learning of her miscarriage, Wei Lingze had lost his previous impatience. Even hearing her tell him to leave, he spoke gently: “I just want to say a few words. Once I’m done, I’ll leave.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

“What about the child? Are you willing to let it become an orphaned soul?”

Xiao Qinghe’s hand trembled. She was struck in her softest spot. After a moment, she lowered the hairpin and said to those outside, “I’m fine. You may leave.”

The room finally quieted.

Wei Lingze stepped closer. “That was my child too. You were pregnant—why didn’t you tell me? If you had, I wouldn’t have treated you that way in the study that day.”

His tone was still gentle, but tinged with reproach.

Xiao Qinghe, already utterly disappointed in him, couldn’t help laughing bitterly at his words.

“I had just married and didn’t even know I was pregnant. I thought it was just the heat making me lose my appetite. I clearly told you I didn’t want Huainan cuisine, yet you spent a fortune having it made. I told you, I refused, yet you still forced yourself on me. You don’t care about me as a person—how could you possibly care about the child in my womb?”

“Of course I care about you. I said just now, I lost control that day.”

Wei Lingze didn’t hesitate.

Xiao Qinghe’s voice grew cold: “You personally killed the child in my womb. That’s your way of ‘caring’?”

“I didn’t know you were pregnant! If I had, I definitely wouldn’t have—”

Wei Lingze tried to defend himself, but Xiao Qinghe cut him off: “So… are you here to argue with me?”

Wei Lingze was speechless. He pursed his lips and said, “I came to atone. You may hit or scold me, but don’t keep your anger bottled up. I’ve already summoned an imperial physician. You need to properly recover.”

Of course, Xiao Qinghe wouldn’t joke with her own health.

She didn’t refuse the physician’s treatment, but she said quietly: “I won’t hit or scold you. If you truly feel guilty for the child, go yourself to Yunshan Temple and perform the Rebirth Mantra to send him on his way.”

The child was innocent; she hoped that next time, the child would be born into a good life.

As for herself, this path was her choice. What happened now was her own responsibility, and she accepted it.

Since Xiao Qinghe made the request, Wei Lingze naturally complied. He nodded. “I’ll take leave tomorrow. We can go together to Yunshan Temple.”

“The one who should atone is you. Why should I go?”

Xiao Qinghe shot back, her eyes sharp with malice. She didn’t want to be alone with him. Wei Lingze had no choice but to yield.

“Fine. I’ll go alone. You stay home and rest. When I return, I’ll apologize properly.”

Xiao Qinghe said nothing more and sank back into her previous gloomy silence.

Although he now understood the situation, Wei Lingze still felt the atmosphere was stifling, oppressive, and irritating. He didn’t want to lose control in front of her again, so he opened the door and left.

In the study, he coldly instructed Xingzhou: “I’ll be at Yunshan Temple for a few days. Find a few trustworthy people to watch over the young madam. If anyone from the Xiao family comes, or if she shows any abnormal signs, send a pigeon immediately to notify me.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

After Xingzhou left, Wei Lingze sat at his desk, deep in thought. He reflected on the years of friendship and closeness with Xiao Qinghe, as well as the care Chun Xi had given him over the past three years.

During his marriage, he had indeed treated Xiao Qinghe very poorly. Even if he still harbored resentment over the Xiao family’s delay of the wedding, it did not justify treating her this way. Xiao Qinghe, as a noble lady, had dignity. She could not be manipulated like Chun Xi could.

It was Chun Xi who disrupted him.

If Chun Xi had stayed in the household, all he needed to do was give her a title and spoil her—then he could have taken his revenge on Xiao Qinghe indirectly.

Chun Xi was practical. No matter where he wanted to act on her, she would cooperate. She was strong, not rigid like Xiao Qinghe, and she would drink the fertility soup without causing trouble.

By the end, all Wei Lingze could think of was Chun Xi’s name.

He became obsessive, focused only on killing Shen Qingyuan and reclaiming Chun Xi.

Only then could he suppress his inner turmoil and return to being the composed, noble young master of the Wei family.

That evening, Quezhi was sent back to the Wei residence by Madam Xiao’s carriage.

As soon as she arrived, she heard that Wei Lingze had forcibly entered Xiao Qinghe’s room. She rushed to check on her.

Xiao Qinghe had already calmed down and was reviewing the ledgers. Seeing Quezhi, she spoke softly: “Why are you so late? Did something happen?”

Quezhi knelt immediately. “I was afraid Young Master would harm the young madam. I chased after Second Miss’s carriage. Then Second Miss brought me home to see Madam Xiao.”

Although Quezhi’s service contract was under Xiao Qinghe, she had grown up in the Xiao household. If Madam Xiao pressed for information about Xiao Qinghe, she could not refuse.

Xiao Qinghe had expected this and only asked: “Did you mention the child?”

Quezhi shook her head hastily. “I didn’t say a word about that. But I did mention that Young Master has been neglecting the young madam lately.”

Xiao Qinghe’s miscarriage had been sudden and caused by forced intercourse. Only Quezhi knew. If revealed, it could cause enmity between the two families, so she kept it secret.

Xiao Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and helped Quezhi up.

“You did well today. Don’t blame yourself. My mother has already worried too much over the years. I don’t want her to worry further. Wei Lingze already knows about this, and tomorrow he will go to Yunshan Temple to perform the rites for the child. Don’t bring it up again.”

“Yes, I understand,” Quezhi replied.

Then she heard Xiao Qinghe add: “Chun Xi had a grievance in the Hou residence because of Young Master. Send one hundred taels of gold there, saying it’s just a little token from me.”

Quezhi had noticed earlier that Chun Xi’s antics at the Grand Tutor residence seemed to be on Xiao Qinghe’s behalf. Now, hearing this confirmation, she nodded firmly.

“Yes, I understand. I will make sure it is delivered personally to Madam Chun Xi.”