TSWRLM -Chapter 173 Catching Adultery

After Princess Hengyang and Xiao Qinghe left, Wei Lingze did not return home. Instead, he sat down at a teahouse by the city gate.

Before long, Xingzhou came to report: “Young Master, the people from Wuyou Pavilion have set out.”

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, Lanshu appeared in Wei Lingze’s line of sight, riding a horse.

Behind him followed another man.

The man wore a silver-gray brocade robe, with a long sword at his waist. Broad-shouldered and long-legged, though half his face was hidden behind a mask, he still looked spirited and striking.

Wei Lingze had been calm at first, but the moment he saw the man behind Lanshu, he suddenly clenched his teacup. Xingzhou even exclaimed: “Young Master, that person looks just like you!”

With a crack—

Wei Lingze crushed the teacup in his hand. Sharp fragments pierced his palm, and blood immediately flowed out. Xingzhou hurried forward to tend to the wound, but Wei Lingze seemed not to feel the pain at all. He stared coldly at Xingzhou.

“What did you just say?”

Xingzhou’s scalp tingled under that gaze. He raised his hand and slapped himself twice. “I spoke out of turn—please forgive me, Young Master!”

The Young Master was of noble status—how could a male attendant from Wuyou Pavilion be compared to him?

But… that man really did resemble him.

Not just in clothing, but in bearing—he looked exactly like the Young Master from three years ago, before he was injured.

Even though Xingzhou corrected himself, Wei Lingze’s expression did not soften in the slightest.

Ever since his injury, his memories of the past with Xiao Qinghe had grown increasingly faint. Whenever he saw her resistance toward him, all that surfaced in his mind was resentment toward her and the Xiao family.

The two families had been close for generations, and he and she had grown up together. Yet when something happened to him, the Xiao family had delayed the wedding despite knowing the disgrace it would bring.

He had always seen it as betrayal and disdain.

But today, seeing that figure, he suddenly realized those memories had never been forgotten—they were carved deep into his bones.

He remembered having an identical set of silver-gray clothes. Wearing them, he had attended Xiao Qinghe’s coming-of-age ceremony. After it ended, he had even taken her away from the banquet, leaving all the guests behind.

He took her boating on the lake and prepared dazzling fireworks for her. Under the fireworks, nervous and careful, he kissed her cheek for the first time.

It wasn’t like after their marriage—urgent and rough—but full of anticipation and joy.

She had been shy and annoyed, pushing him away with a scolding look, yet her eyes were full of happiness.

Back then, he had thought: this was the girl he would marry. He would spend his life loving her, cherishing her, protecting her—never letting her suffer the slightest grievance.

But later, he forgot it all.

A sudden, uncontrollable panic rose in Wei Lingze’s heart.

He had been confident that Xiao Qinghe would never fall for another man. But if Wuyou Pavilion had created a substitute for his younger self, then he would lose without a doubt.

The loss of control tightened his brows. He abruptly stood up, strode out of the teahouse, mounted his horse, and chased out of the city.

—

At the foot of Yunshan Temple.

Xiao Yechen and Lanshu were taking a small path up the mountain.

Xiao Yechen had already removed the makeup from his face. His thin lips were pressed into a line—though he wore a mask, it was clear he was extremely displeased.

Lanshu sighed and said lazily, “I already told you we could find someone else to play the part. My disguise skills are superb—anyone wearing that outfit could resemble that Young Master Wei by sixty or seventy percent. Since you hate him so much, why take on this job yourself? Aren’t you afraid of disgust?”

“If you don’t speak, no one will take you for mute.”

Xiao Yechen replied coldly, glaring at him through the mask.

Lanshu wasn’t afraid at all—instead, he smiled.

This man was willing to disguise himself as his rival for the sake of the woman he loved. Where was the cold, ruthless person he used to be? He was clearly a hopeless romantic.

And people like that… were always soft-hearted.

“I heard Madam Shen didn’t tell Madam Wei about today’s plan. I wonder how heartbroken Madam Wei will be when she sees her husband come to catch her ‘in the act.’ She’s already guessed your identity—aren’t you afraid she’ll resent you too for not warning her?”

Xiao Yechen said nothing, only quickening his pace.

“I’m just bored and wanted to chat. Pavilion Master, don’t leave me behind alone in this desolate place—I’m so scared~”

Though Lanshu looked delicate, he kept up steadily.

Hearing his exaggerated tone, Xiao Yechen’s temples throbbed. He couldn’t help snapping: “Get lost!”

—

They moved quickly. By the time Wei Lingze chased out of the city, he had already lost sight of them and could only continue on to Yunshan Temple.

The temple was famous for its incense offerings, drawing visitors from far and wide. Even close to noon, the mountain path was still crowded.

Wei Lingze rushed up the mountain as fast as he could. But when he asked the gatekeeping monk, he was told that Lanshu and Xiao Yechen had not been seen.

Frowning, he asked again, “Is Princess Hengyang in the temple?”

“Amitabha. If the benefactor seeks blessings or guidance, you may enter the hall and pray. This is a place of virtue, not one for searching for people.”

The monk bowed with palms together and ignored him.

Wei Lingze pressed his lips together and began searching the temple on his own.

At the same time, Shen Qingyuan arrived at the temple gate with Shen Qingyu and the others.

Shen Qingyuan was physically strong—after climbing the mountain in one go, he showed no sign of fatigue. Shen Qingyu, however, was exhausted, and Mo Yunwan was even weaker, unable to continue halfway up.

But Shen Qingyuan didn’t allow them to stop, so Shen Qingyu had to carry Mo Yunwan on his back.

When they finally saw the temple gates bathed in sacred light, Shen Qingyu almost felt like he had reached the gates of the underworld.

“Third Brother, are you alright?”

Mo Yunwan dabbed his sweat with a handkerchief. Shen Qingyu forced himself to respond, “I’m fine!”

If he didn’t catch Cao Chun Xi in the act today, he wouldn’t be surnamed Shen!

With that thought, he charged into the temple arrogantly. But seeing the bustling crowd of worshippers, he didn’t know where to start.

Where was Cao Chun Xi?

How could he catch her without alerting the adulterous pair?

Just as he was at a loss, someone in the crowd called out: “Third Young Master, you’ve finally arrived.”

A servant in coarse clothing approached him.

Shen Qingyu frowned. “Who are you?”

“Replying to Third Young Master, I am a stable hand from the residence. I brought the Eldest Young Madam here today. After entering the temple, she went to the women’s meditation quarters. I’ve been guarding outside—the Eldest Young Madam has not come out.”

This man had been specially instructed by Mo Yunwan to keep an eye on Chun Xi.

Shen Qingyu immediately found direction and turned toward the women’s quarters. But before he could go far, he was stopped by the temple’s warrior monks.

“This area is for female devotees. Please stop.”

“My sister-in-law is inside—I need to find her!”

Shen Qingyu tried to force his way in but was pushed back by one of the monks.

“There are only devout worshippers here, free from worldly disturbances. Please wait outside. Once the meditation ends, you will naturally see whom you wish to see.”

But Shen Qingyu was desperate to catch them and couldn’t wait. He immediately shouted: “She came here under the pretense of offering incense, but she’s actually meeting a lover! Aren’t you afraid she’ll defile this sacred place by stopping me like this?”

The moment those words fell, silence spread around.

The monks who had only been blocking him now surrounded him completely—like the fierce guardian deities enshrined in the hall.