TSWRLM -Chapter 218 I’ll Wait at Home for Madam

“Husband, how did you get here?”

Chun Xi’s voice was light and a bit unreal, even as she felt Shen Qingyuan’s warmth. It hardly seemed believable.

How could he suddenly appear here?

Lin Hu still gripped his knife tightly, remaining on guard. Lin Bao, however, couldn’t hide his curiosity and asked, “So this is your husband? He doesn’t look old at all.”

Zheng’er, resting in Shen Qingyuan’s arms and having just drunk a bowl of goat’s milk, let out soft coos.

“Uncle Bao, I only said my husband is a few years older than me, not that he’s old,” Chun Xi explained, then turned to introduce Shen Qingyuan: “These two are Uncle Hu and Uncle Bao. Thanks to them escorting us all the way, Zheng’er and I arrived safely.”

Her tone remained affectionate, showing no change in demeanor even with Shen Qingyuan present.

Lin Bao felt a bit embarrassed. If they hadn’t taken this job, the young couple wouldn’t have been separated for so long.

Shen Qingyuan didn’t question Chun Xi’s words. He glanced at Lin Hu and Lin Bao and nodded: “Uncle Hu, Uncle Bao, thank you.”

Though his tone was calm, it carried sincerity. Lin Hu slowly relaxed his grip on the knife, while Lin Bao, feeling guilty, lowered his head, unsure what to say to Zheng’er.

After eating, Lin Hu carried Lin Bao to rest. Shen Qingyuan followed Chun Xi into her room.

Though their pay had been considerable, they had been frugal along the way. That night, they only booked two low-grade rooms at the inn.

The room was cramped and simple; the floor creaked underfoot. Chun Xi didn’t bother lighting a lamp. As soon as the door closed, she wrapped her arms around Shen Qingyuan’s waist.

“Husband, I haven’t properly washed my hair or bathed all this time while rushing on the road. I might smell. Don’t despise me.”

Her voice was muffled, and her nose tingled.

Beyond fatigue, it was longing.

She had missed Shen Qingyuan terribly.

Ever since he left for Qu County to receive the envoy group, she had been thinking of him.

Shen Qingyuan didn’t mind the smell. He returned her embrace with even greater force, silently telling her:

He missed her too.

The familiar scent of soap relaxed Chun Xi. After a while, she asked, “Husband, how did you end up here?”

“My wife was kidnapped. Over a month has passed with no news, life or death unknown. Shouldn’t I come look for her?”

Shen Qingyuan’s words carried a hint of grievance, as if blaming her for not sending a letter.

Chun Xi hurriedly explained: “I didn’t know if you’d be safe in Qu County. I feared my letters wouldn’t reach you. Uncle Hu and Uncle Bao are extremely alert—I worried they might misunderstand me setting some trap. More importantly, we were strangers in a strange land; I couldn’t find anyone trustworthy to send a message, and any leak could have caused more trouble.”

She reasoned that since she would do everything to return to him, a delay was acceptable—consider it a surprise.

Her concerns made sense. Shen Qingyuan didn’t press the matter and said, “The crown princess’s sister, who is also the fiancée of the Prince Yu’s heir, will pass through here in two days. You can ride with her back to the capital. She will claim that she happened to rescue you on the way, so no one will gossip about you.”

Chun Xi nodded repeatedly, still curious: “Husband, how did you know I was here?”

“Before leaving the capital, I requested a secret guard from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Then why didn’t he appear earlier to save me?”

Chun Xi asked instinctively. Shen Qingyuan explained softly, “A secret guard will not appear unless your life is in danger. The Crown Prince also wanted to identify the person behind this.”

Chun Xi nodded, then playfully glared at him: “So you’ve always known my whereabouts, yet you didn’t even send me a letter? I haven’t slept well the whole way!”

“Husband has sent no letter because Madam is capable—does it matter whether he does?”

His words carried meaning, prompting Chun Xi to pinch his waist.

Shen Qingyuan’s muscles tensed instantly, too hard to budge, leaving Chun Xi’s hand soon tired.

His eyes darkened briefly, but he had no time to linger: “I’ll take Uncle Hu and Uncle Bao back first. You and Zheng’er stay here and wait for the Prince Yu’s fiancée.”

“Are you leaving already?”

Chun Xi felt a pang of reluctance.

Shen Qingyuan’s lips curved slightly. He rubbed her head and said, “Madam was rescued by the Prince Yu’s fiancée. I can only wait at home for your return.”

“Oh.”

Chun Xi nodded. Seeing him turn to leave, she couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on tiptoe to kiss him.

Shen Qingyuan didn’t hesitate and deepened the kiss.

After so long apart, both kissed with intensity, hearts and breaths racing.

Fortunately, Shen Qingyuan’s rationality returned just in time, and he gently pushed her away: “Two days will pass quickly. I’ll wait at home for you.”

“Alright.”

After briefly explaining to Lin Hu and Lin Bao, Lin Bao handed Zheng’er to Chun Xi and left with Shen Qingyuan.

Chun Xi held Zheng’er as they lay on the bed. Reliving the kiss, she began to drift off—but suddenly her eyes flew open.

Wait!

The secret guard had reported her location to Shen Qingyuan—but did they also report her, Uncle Hu, and Uncle Bao impersonating the Wei family in Yunzhou, and crippling the prefecture official’s son?

Would the Crown Prince punish her and throw her in prison?

The lingering warmth of the kiss and her drowsiness vanished instantly. Chun Xi sat up, fully alert, analyzing the situation.

Wei Lingze had set the trap first, and the Yunzhou prefecture son wasn’t exactly innocent. This could be considered justice for the people.

Moreover, if the Crown Prince wanted to punish her, would he have allowed Prince Yu’s fiancée to bring her back to the capital?

Then… could it be that the Crown Prince was on her side?

Wait, thinking back: before meeting at the Xiao family, the Crown Prince and Shen Qingyuan were close. Later, when Shen Qingyuan went to Xuzhou, the Crown Prince secretly provided troops. Even during the family division, the Crown Prince helped mediate.

From the start, the Crown Prince favored Shen Qingyuan, and by extension, watched over her as well.

Realizing this, Chun Xi felt a weight lift from her heart and lay down again.

The hard bed creaked, waking Zheng’er, who fussed. Chun Xi patted him and whispered: “Zheng’er, don’t be afraid. Aunt is here. Your uncle just came too. We’re safe now, and the Crown Prince is backing us. No one can bully us. Sleep peacefully.”

Zheng’er soon began to snore lightly, and Chun Xi drifted off beside him.

Two days later, Chun Xi held Zheng’er as they boarded Prince Yu’s fiancée’s carriage, returning to the capital together.