TSWRLM -Chapter 233 He Cannot Lose He’er

Madam Yun hadn’t slept all night. Hearing that Wei Lingze had returned from the Xiao household, she immediately summoned him.

“What did the Xiao family say? And He’er?”

Wei Lingze’s face was bruised and swollen from the beating. Madam Wei felt both pain and anxiety, though the worry weighed heavier.

Wei Lingze shot her a sideways glance and said in a low, heavy voice: “The Xiao family called the Huichun Hall doctor last night. They already know about He’er’s miscarriage. They want her to stay at their home to recover for a while and have requested that we send back all her accompanying maidservants and attendants.”

At the last sentence, Madam Yun’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

The Xiao family wanted to take back not just He’er, but her entire retinue—a clear signal that they were cutting ties with the Wei family. Suppressing her panic, she asked cautiously: “Is this the Xiao family’s decision, or He’er’s?”

“I don’t know,” Wei Lingze snapped irritably. “The Xiao family won’t let me see her at all.”

“If the Xiao family won’t let you see He’er, it means she still softens and cares for old ties. I’ll go with you once more—once you see her, everything can be explained.”

Madam Yun said this and moved to leave, but Wei Lingze stood rooted in place.

She stopped and looked at him. Wei Lingze, his face cold, said: “They’re all angry at the moment. Even if we go, it will only make things worse. It’s better to let them cool off first.”

“That won’t work. Now is exactly when we need to show the Xiao family our sincerity. If He’er’s heart turns completely cold, there will be no chance to save her.”

Madam Yun disagreed, but Wei Lingze insisted: “My focus now must be on the winter hunt, not revolving around a woman. Mother wouldn’t want me to lose the winter hunt to a cripple and bring shame to the Wei family, would she?”

With that, he ignored Madam Yun and returned straight to his study.

Soon after, a carrier pigeon flew in.

Wei Lingze took the letter and, after reading it, his face darkened to the extreme.

The person he had arranged to receive Chun Xi in Yunzhou had been killed. Worse, Chun Xi had pretended to act on behalf of the Wei family in Yunzhou, and in the chaos, she crippled the Yunzhou prefecture’s only son by breaking his leg.

The incident had caused a huge uproar in Yunzhou. Meanwhile, the wet nurse Wei Lingze had hired to handle the residence and the maidservants guarding Chun Xi had all been captured by the Yunzhou prefecture.

The prefect’s wife was rushing to Hanjing with her son to demand justice.

Crash!

Wei Lingze swept the brush, ink, and paper off his desk in fury. His face twisted into a near-crazed snarl.

That wretched Chun Xi!

He should never have been soft toward her. From the moment she betrayed the Wei family, he should have killed her outright!

Rage consumed him, but beneath it was also an uncontrollable panic.

He had indeed arranged the Yunzhou residence, and there were witnesses and evidence. Now the Yunzhou prefecture already believed he was keeping a concubine, had a child with her, and had crippled someone’s son for her. If this reached Hanjing, he couldn’t explain himself.

The Xiao family was already furious over He’er’s miscarriage. If they learned of this incident, they could easily use it as a reason to demand a divorce.

If a divorce happened, he and He’er would have no future.

The thought alone made his chest tighten painfully.

At this moment, he realized with crystal clarity: he cannot lose He’er.

But he had already missed the chance to confront Chun Xi directly. To keep this secret now, the prefect’s wife and her son would have to die on the road.

Wei Lingze’s eyes turned cold, and he quickly made a decision.

Meanwhile, at the Xiao household: Chun Xi recounted everything—how after being abducted, she turned Uncle Hu and Uncle Bao against the kidnappers, discovered the mastermind, and ultimately caused a huge commotion in Yunzhou under the Wei family’s name.

At first, Madam Xiao was uneasy hearing that Wei Lingze intended to keep Chun Xi secretly in Yunzhou. But as Chun Xi continued, she was utterly shocked.

Ordinary girls, when abducted, would be terrified and helpless. How could Chun Xi not only turn the kidnappers, but also act under Wei’s name to cripple the Yunzhou prefecture’s son?

Old Madam Xiao, however, accepted this easily. She tilted her head and told Madam Xiao: “Send fifty skilled men to secretly escort the prefect’s wife. Ensure mother and son arrive safely in Hanjing.”

Madam Xiao’s eyelids twitched as she asked hesitantly: “Mother, are you saying Ze’er would harm them?”

Although angry about Xiao Qinghe’s situation, Madam Xiao’s impression of Wei Lingze remained from years ago. She didn’t believe he would dare murder the prefect’s wife.

Old Madam Xiao didn’t elaborate, simply saying: “The journey is long and treacherous; it’s always better to be safe.”

Once the prefect’s wife reached Hanjing, the Xiao family could use Wei Lingze’s secret of keeping a concubine and a child to push for a divorce.

Understanding her mother’s plan, Madam Xiao nodded: “Good, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Xiao Qinghe was still weak. Chun Xi stayed and talked with her for a long while, and only left after dinner.

Chun Xi hadn’t expected Wei Lingze to act so vilely. Leaving the Xiao household, her mood was somber. She decided to spend the next few days visiting to keep He’er company, so she wouldn’t spiral into despair.

Lost in thought, Chun Xi lifted the carriage curtain and was startled to see Xiao Yechen standing inside. She nearly screamed.

“Madam Shen, don’t be afraid. It’s me,” Xiao Yechen said just in time. Still, Chun Xi’s heart pounded.

It was almost dark, and suddenly a fully grown man appeared in the carriage—who wouldn’t be startled?

She patted her chest and took deep breaths before sitting down. Just as she settled, Xiao Yechen asked: “Is the young mistress alright?”

Chun Xi blinked—she wasn’t used to this title—and realized he meant Xiao Qinghe.

She replied truthfully: “He’er still has a slight fever and is shaken by last night. She’s very upset and not in good condition.”

“Then can Madam Shen accompany the young mistress these next few days?” Xiao Yechen asked urgently, adding before Chun Xi could respond: “As long as you agree to help, Wuyou Pavilion will support you in any matter in the future!”

The offer was tempting.

But Chun Xi immediately refused without hesitation: “He’er calls me ‘little aunt,’ treating me as an elder. Caring for her is my duty; I don’t need any reward.”

Xiao Yechen’s eyes darkened.

Indeed, Madam Shen was He’er’s senior. Caring for her was her responsibility. No one else had the right to care for the young mistress—certainly not him.

“Thank you,” he said, then began to step out of the carriage. As he lifted the curtain, Chun Xi added: “Oh, He’er asked me to give you a message: thank you for saving her last night.”

Xiao Yechen’s eyes lit up, and his heart raced uncontrollably. He wanted to ask if He’er had said anything more, but the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted by Shen Qingyuan, who had come to fetch Chun Xi: “What are you two doing?”

Chun Xi: “…”!!!