TSWRLM -Chapter 135 I’ve Come to Find My Wife

Although Wei Lingze didn’t believe Xiao Qinghe would go to a courtesan to have someone “cheat” on him, Chun Xi had been away from the Wei residence for over half a year, doing one unexpected thing after another. He couldn’t help but rush with Xingzhou to the Wuyou Pavilion, where tonight’s Top Selection was taking place.

By the time he arrived, the selection had already begun. Along the lakeside path, lanterns were spaced at intervals, but they barely illuminated the ground, leaving the rest in shadow.

At night, only the painted boat in the center of the lake was brightly lit. A tall stage had been set up at the bow, and all participants in the “Top Selection” were performing in turn. At that moment, a man in a red gauze robe was dancing with abandon.

Wei Lingze had sharp eyes—he could see from afar that the man’s robe was wide open, exposing a large portion of his chest. The man even knelt while arching his back in a seductive pose.

“Utterly scandalous!”

Cursing in his mind, Wei Lingze imagined Xiao Qinghe possibly being brought here by Chun Xi to watch such a performance. His anger flared.

Just then, a lantern lit up near the lakeshore, and the music abruptly stopped. Someone on the boat called out: “A guest offers one hundred taels for this young man tonight—anyone willing to bid higher?”

As the voice fell, two more lanterns lit up on the lake.

Wei Lingze realized that the painted boat was surrounded by small boats. On each boat were guests participating in the selection. Anyone could bid for the one they liked, for an intimate encounter that night.

Some boats even swayed slightly, letting out lascivious sounds.

Wei Lingze felt his mind snap. At this moment, he forgot about confronting Chun Xi and only wanted to find Xiao Qinghe.

He couldn’t bear the thought of his wife lying under another man!

Many people had come tonight. The boats were not far apart. Wei Lingze, impatient for Xingzhou to find a boat, prepared to use his lightness skill to leap from boat to boat. But just as he jumped, a black shadow appeared out of nowhere and kicked him back to the shore.

The opponent was a master. Wei Lingze landed heavily, spitting a mouthful of blood.

In the faint light, he saw a tall figure.

The person wore black with a terrifying mask, a face like a demon of the night.

“Tonight is the Wuyou Pavilion Top Selection. All guests are VIPs. No one is allowed to disturb,”

The masked man said coldly, radiating killing intent.

Wei Lingze wiped the blood from his lips and declared his identity: “I am Wei Lingze, eldest young master of the Wei family. I mean no trouble—I only wish to confirm if my wife is here.”

“There are only Wuyou Pavilion’s VIP guests here. Your wife is not among them,”

The masked man declared mercilessly, giving no explanation.

Wei Lingze tried to act again. As he exerted force, sharp pain shot through his chest, as if his ribs had been broken. Meanwhile, the masked man raised a hand, and seven or eight more black shadows appeared at the lakeside.

All of them radiated deadly intent. If Wei Lingze insisted on breaking in, they would not be polite.

Wei Lingze hadn’t expected such a strong response even after revealing his identity. If Xiao Qinghe were really inside, he couldn’t cause a scene—otherwise, the next day all of Hanjing would know he had been cuckolded.

After weighing the situation, he gritted his teeth and stepped back, instructing Xingzhou to return with reinforcements to surround the lake. After all, once the selection ended, the guests would return to shore. And if he saw Cao Chun Xi, he would not let her escape!

Wei Lingze had no intention of forcing his way in further. The masked man used lightness skill to step across the water onto the painted boat.

The previous round of bidding had ended. The man in red had been “sold” for 2,000 taels. Now, on the stage was a youth in white, gently playing the zither.

Lanshu, seated in the second-floor room, watched the performance. Seeing Xiao Yechen appear, he was slightly surprised: “You usually avoid this place because it’s dirty. Why come up today?”

Xiao Yechen didn’t answer, coldly ordering: “Show me tonight’s guest list.”

“No list,” Lanshu replied without hesitation, sensing the murderous gaze beneath the mask. He added, “I’m not lying. Wuyou Pavilion survives today because guests’ privacy is protected. Tell me who you’re looking for; I’ll see if I recall anything.”

The list existed only in his mind.

After a pause, Xiao Yechen asked: “Is the Wei family’s eldest young madam present tonight?”

“Probably. A VIP purchased two tickets; I saw them. They seem to be here just for fun, unlike the others.”

As he spoke, Lanshu snapped his fingers. Soon, attendants entered the room. Lanshu smiled warmly: “Did the two guests I asked you to take special care of participate in the bidding tonight?”

“No, Pavilion Master. Since your departure, they haven’t lit their lanterns or participated.”

Lanshu raised an eyebrow: “Are they satisfied with the performances tonight?”

The attendants hesitated, uneasy to speak. Lanshu reassured: “Don’t be afraid—speak truthfully.”

“The two guests didn’t speak much while watching. Mostly, one commented: The sword performer who went first is all show—his body surely can’t compare to her husband’s. The poet who performed second is too frail—likely useless…”

In Lanshu’s mind, Chun Xi’s critical yet cheerful face appeared, and his eyes twinkled with amusement.

Such talkative, picky guests were rare. He wondered how Chun Xi’s perfect husband would react if he knew she had come to see the Top Selection.

Lanshu smirked, while Xiao Yechen remained serious, ordering: “Wei Lingze is here looking for them. Make them leave immediately.”

“The selection isn’t over. Leaving now would attract attention. It’s better to wait for the crowd to disperse,” Lanshu overruled, sighing: “The last performer tonight has already been bid for. Time is short—what to do?”

Though he said it casually, his eyes gleamed mischievously: “Why not have the master perform? A little gratitude to our VIPs.”

Though the mask had no expression, Lanshu knew the face beneath must be frowning with murderous intent.

He didn’t fear it—he only wanted to laugh.

After a tense moment, Xiao Yechen leapt onto the stage, sword in hand, his aura lethal as he began to perform.

Lanshu’s lips curved slightly.

So the master was not a rigid, cold stone—he cared about the Wei family’s eldest young madam.

To buy time for her, he even performed publicly, something he normally despised.

Unfortunately, the young madam was noble and already married. The master’s desires would likely remain unfulfilled.

Thinking this, Lanshu quietly left the room, moving silently toward Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe’s small boat.

On the boat, Chun Xi was speaking in surprise: “Didn’t they say it was over? Why is someone else on stage again? This one wears a mask, so I can’t see his face, but his skill looks amazing.”

Chun Xi, who had been nitpicking all night, finally praised someone. Xiao Qinghe glanced at the painted boat.

At first sight, her body froze.

That masked figure in black wielding a sword—she was certain she had seen him before!