TSWRLM -Chapter 165 Young Mistress, I Offended You

“Sorry, I…”

“It’s my fault. I appeared from behind suddenly and startled you.”

Xiao Qinghe wanted to apologize, but her words were cut off by Xiao Yecheng.

He had no intention of holding the slap against her. On the contrary, he took the blame on himself, released his grip, and stepped back to give her some space.

This instant gesture made him feel reliable to Xiao Qinghe. Remembering that he had helped her twice before, she couldn’t help but reach out and grab his sleeve. “Can you help me hide for a while? I don’t want to be found.”

Xiao Yecheng froze, his gaze dropping to the hand clutching his sleeve.

He often wore black, while her hand was exceptionally fair, with slender, delicate fingers that had never touched hard labor. Now they clung to his sleeve, wrinkling the fabric—a stark contrast. Xiao Yecheng’s eyes darkened, his heartbeat quickening.

His Adam’s apple rolled as he spoke calmly, “Follow me.”

Xiao Qinghe relaxed slightly and let go of his sleeve.

As her hand fell, Xiao Yecheng’s heart sank a little too.

He pursed his lips and turned to walk ahead, but noticing her pale face and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, he couldn’t help asking, “Are you… hurt?”

“I twisted my right ankle. It shouldn’t be serious.”

Xiao Qinghe whispered, clearly sensing the chill in his aura.

She thought he was annoyed with her trouble and was about to explain further, when Xiao Yecheng stepped closer and said gravely, “The people chasing you should arrive soon. You’re injured and can’t walk fast. My apologies.”

With that, he lifted her effortlessly, holding her around the waist.

Other than Wei Lingze, Xiao Qinghe had never been this close to a man. Her whole body tensed, uneasy, but then Xiao Yecheng said, “The Xiao family has treated me with great kindness. I swear on the hair of my neck—I will never harm the young mistress.”

Hearing him call her “Young Mistress” instead of “Madam” struck Xiao Qinghe’s heart.

Though married to Wei Lingze for only a few months, it felt as if a lifetime had passed. She almost forgot that she had once been the treasured eldest daughter of the Xiao family.

Using lightness skills, Xiao Yecheng quickly brought her to a discreet residence nearby.

Once set down, Xiao Qinghe relaxed somewhat, intending to thank him. But Xiao Yecheng knelt before her. “I need to check if your muscles or bones are injured to see if we need to go to the clinic.”

“No need. I can manage on my own while hiding for a while.”

Xiao Qinghe refused. Xiao Yecheng looked at her helplessly. “I’ll just check through your shoes and socks. I won’t cross any boundaries. Since I met the young mistress today, I cannot let anything happen to you; otherwise, I couldn’t answer Madam later.”

Hearing him mention her mother, Xiao Qinghe quickly said, “Don’t tell my mother about today’s events.”

The marks on her neck were obvious, her voice hoarse. Even though she had suffered greatly, she didn’t want her family to know.

Xiao Yecheng was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. I will keep this secret for the young mistress.”

Since he had promised to keep it secret, she allowed him to check her ankle through her shoes. After confirming no serious injury, he gave her a box of herbal ointment and a bottle of medicinal wine for trauma: “The ointment is for your neck. Warm the wine in your palm before applying to the ankle. It might sting a little.”

Seeing her propriety, Xiao Yecheng carefully explained the application technique before leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Xiao Qinghe finally allowed herself to relax completely.

She lifted her skirt, removed her shoes and socks, and massaged her ankle as instructed. Pain shot through her, but she bit her lip and stayed silent, her heart aching bitterly.

She had always thought that even without love, she would live with Wei Lingze respectfully, maintaining appearances between the families. But on the carriage, when suffocating fear engulfed her, she realized just how dangerous Wei Lingze could be.

After applying the medicine, Xiao Qinghe sat alone for a long time before leaving the room.

Xiao Yecheng had stayed outside. Seeing her emerge, he said immediately, “Princess Hengyang will come soon to escort you home. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

Xiao Qinghe had initially intended to ask him to rent a carriage for her return, but he had already arranged for Princess Hengyang to assist.

Xiao Qinghe bowed and thanked him again.

Not long ago, her eyes had been red, flustered and confused. Now she was calm, composed. If it weren’t for the marks on her neck, Xiao Yecheng would have doubted the events had even happened.

Clenching his hand in his sleeve, Xiao Yecheng’s chest burned with anger, wishing he could tear Wei Lingze apart. Yet in front of Xiao Qinghe, he could only speak softly: “Young mistress, you needn’t worry. What I’ve done today doesn’t even repay one ten-thousandth of the Xiao family’s kindness to me.”

Soon, Princess Hengyang’s carriage arrived.

Xiao Qinghe walked out herself, assisted into the carriage by the princess’s maid.

Princess Hengyang, the emperor’s full sister, had always been courted by the capital’s elite families. Thanks to the favor of the virtuous consort, Xiao Qinghe knew her fairly well.

Yet the princess she remembered—graceful and noble—was different from the contented, lazily reclining woman in the carriage today.

Xiao Qinghe quickly regained composure: “Princess, I will always remember your help today.”

“It’s nothing. Merely a small effort,” the princess replied lightly. Then she curiously asked, “Have you seen the Wuyou Pavilion master? Was he bold in bed?”

Xiao Qinghe flushed, startled by the blunt question. “Princess, you misunderstand. The master just happened to encounter me today and helped. We are innocent of anything else.”

“Is he handsome?”

Xiao Qinghe nodded, then heard the princess ask, “Compared to Wei Lingze, who is better looking?”

“…”

Xiao Qinghe didn’t know how to answer.

She had never imagined comparing another man to Wei Lingze. Appearance is subjective, but in temperament, Wei Lingze now couldn’t match Xiao Yecheng.

“Princess, please do not jest with me,” Xiao Qinghe pleaded.

Her proper and restrained demeanor disappointed the princess briefly, but she smiled again: “I’ve heard Madam Shen is remarkable. Since you know her, bring her to meet me one day.”

“The young mistress’s mother-in-law just passed away. It may not be convenient…”

Xiao Qinghe softly reminded her. Princess Hengyang interrupted: “Their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is poor. Would she really observe mourning for her mother-in-law?”

“…”