TSWRLM -Chapter 53 Something Happens

The wedding celebrations of the Wei and Xiao families were extremely grand. The Wei family had prepared a huge set of return-visit gifts for Xiao Qinghe—five entire carts’ worth. With accompanying maids and guards, the procession was massive and drew a large crowd along the way.

The streets were so crowded that a woman was accidentally pushed out and struck her head on one of the Wei family’s carriages. She bled profusely and lost consciousness. A group immediately gathered around the carriage, shouting that a life had been recklessly taken.

The commotion grew, attracting even more onlookers, and two adjacent streets became completely blocked.

Qing Shu quickly reported what he had learned in a low voice: “My lord, the road ahead is blocked. Should we take another route?”

“Mm.”

With permission granted, Qing Shu immediately turned the carriage around.

Inside, Shen Qingyuan’s expression was unusually serious. Chun Xi instantly sensed something wrong.

Both the Wei and Xiao families were highly respected noble houses, and today was Xiao Qinghe’s grand return visit. If an accident occurred, the families would likely settle it quietly with money and still not delay the ceremonies. Could… someone be deliberately causing trouble?

No sooner had the thought occurred than a disturbance erupted outside. Qing Shu shouted:
“My lord, something’s wrong!”

Before he finished, the carriage was abruptly pulled to a halt.

Chun Xi couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look back.

The crowd, which had been pressing in to watch the spectacle, was now running wildly outward.

In the panic, many people fell to the ground, but those behind kept pushing forward. The wide street quickly became completely clogged, and some people were trampled, crying out in pain.

This could kill people!

Chun Xi’s face changed. She turned to speak to Shen Qingyuan, but he had already stepped out of the carriage.

“Qing Shu, protect the young madam.”

Leaving only that instruction, Shen Qingyuan strode against the crowd.

“My lord, I’ll go with you!”

Qing Shu tried to leap from the carriage, but Chun Xi grabbed him by the waistband: “Go? At a time like this, we need to get help to save people!”

She slapped the horse’s rear, and the carriage plowed through the chaotic crowd.

Qing Shu, still unaccustomed to Chun Xi’s authority, widened his eyes: “You…”

“Stop hesitating! Hurry to Jingzhao Prefecture—get as many people as you can.”

By now, the carriage had reached an open area. Chun Xi braced herself and jumped down.

Qing Shu screamed: “Young madam!”

Chun Xi rolled, landed safely, and waved at him: “I’ll go to the clinic to get doctors. We split up.”

Qing Shu was speechless. “Not fair! You could’ve at least warned me—I almost died from fright!”

Chun Xi’s legs were fast. She quickly rounded up doctors and their assistants from nearby clinics. She instructed them to bring bandages and external medications and rush back to the scene. Those who could run had fled; those who hadn’t were sitting on the ground, screaming in pain.

The closer she got, the more horrific the scene.

The nearest teahouse to the accident was filled with endless wailing.

The teahouse had been directly in the path of the Wei family procession. When people heard someone had died, many rushed in to watch. Later, panic broke out, and people tried desperately to escape the teahouse. The door was narrow, and once someone fell, the crowd became jammed.

People were stacked atop one another, layer upon layer, all stretching their arms, trying to escape, but pressed down by the surrounding bodies.

Those trapped at the bottom had turned pale and had stopped breathing.

The once leisurely, peaceful teahouse had become a living hell.

The doctors and assistants behind Chun Xi were all pale.

If it weren’t for the young woman prepaying some consultation fees, they wouldn’t have come. Chaos in the imperial city? Impossible.

Yet the scene before them sent chills down their spines.

What was happening? Could traitors be trying to stage a coup?

“Why are you all standing there? Save them!”

Chun Xi shouted, snapping everyone into action. Then, she climbed the teahouse’s columns up to the second floor.

The crowd stared in disbelief: “Who is this young lady? How is she so fearless?”

Inside, the situation was even worse.

The teahouse had four floors. Normally busy, today each floor was packed with people watching the commotion. The first-floor hall had people piled on people, and the stairways were equally crowded.

To reach the top, she had to climb higher.

Just as Chun Xi was figuring out a way upstairs, Shen Qingyuan’s voice came from above: “How did you get in here?”

Looking up, she saw Shen Qingyuan had cleared the stairs to the fourth floor. Those rescued were helping behind him.

His hair was disheveled, but his expression remained calm and composed, showing no panic.

Chun Xi shouted: “I sent Qing Shu to Jingzhao Prefecture for help and found doctors! I’ll have ladders brought up to evacuate the injured first.”

Without waiting for Shen Qingyuan’s response, Chun Xi ran to the street-side private rooms to organize assistance.

When Qing Shu returned with magistrate’s officers from Jingzhao Prefecture, Chun Xi and Shen Qingyuan had already used rope and bamboo ladders to create a passage, rescuing many.

With the officers’ help, the rescue went faster.

Once the teahouse was cleared, Shen Qingyuan approached Chun Xi.

Chun Xi immediately said: “My lord, I went to a safe place first before getting help.”

She was drenched in sweat but her eyes shone brightly, like a little dog wagging its tail for praise.

Shen Qingyuan reached out, brushed hair from her temple, and said: “You did very well.”

If it weren’t for her, who knows how many more innocent lives would have been lost today.

Chun Xi smiled, about to speak, when she suddenly felt a burning gaze.

Turning, she saw Wei Lingze standing not far away, his expression dark as he watched her and Shen Qingyuan.

It felt as if he were staring at an adulterous couple.

Chun Xi furrowed her brow, and Shen Qingyuan suddenly held her chin straight, his voice deep:
“What’s so interesting?”

Chun Xi whispered: “I didn’t think it was interesting. He was glaring at me, so I glared back.”

“Mm.”

Shen Qingyuan nodded and glared back at Wei Lingze on her behalf.

At that moment, Prefect Li Mingde and a group arrived, surrounding Wei Lingze like stars around the moon.

“Master Wei already captured the culprit so quickly—truly impressive!”

“In such chaos, Master Wei stayed calm, preventing these schemes from succeeding. Such intellect is rare indeed.”

The crowd praised him endlessly, as if trying to make him omnipotent.

Chun Xi scoffed.

She still thought her lord was the most amazing.

After all, the culprit could be caught slowly, but the lives already lost could never be restored.

Shen Qingyuan cared little for praise and was about to leave with Chun Xi, when Wei Lingze shouted: “Such a disaster occurs, and Master Shen just watches and leaves? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility as a magistrate?”

At these words, the sycophantic crowd around Wei Lingze cast disdainful looks at the pair.

Chun Xi: “…???”

Wait, the flatterers are now looking down on those who saved lives? This is utterly absurd!