TSWRLM -Chapter 7 She Accidentally Kissed His Neck

Xiao Qinghe was only passing by. After chatting with Wei Lingze for a while, she prepared to leave.

Wei Lingze personally escorted her out.

As soon as the two of them left, Chun Xi crawled out from under the desk.

She hadn’t committed any crime—Wei Lingze had only used a public excuse for private purposes, dragging her here just to talk.

Once outside, Chun Xi slipped away quickly, but at a corner, she ran straight into someone.

She was moving too fast to avoid it and crashed directly into the man’s arms.

Flustered, she hurriedly pushed him away. When she saw it wasn’t Wei Lingze, she let out a sigh of relief. Then her eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped forward, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear:

“Someone is investigating the grave-robbing case. Sir, you must be careful.”

Shen Qingyuan also recognized Chun Xi.

The girl had her hair neatly arranged now, her small face fair and clean, her features delicate. She no longer looked as disheveled as that night. Her bright, lively eyes were full of spirit.

He hadn’t expected that after pushing him away, she would suddenly lean in so close again. The warm breath brushing his ear made his whole body tense unconsciously.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

He was a head taller than Chun Xi. When she had bumped into him just now, her lips had accidentally brushed against his throat.

Though it had only been for a fleeting moment, that soft, warm touch lingered like a brand on his skin, impossible to shake off.

Chun Xi didn’t notice anything unusual about Shen Qingyuan. After saying her warning, she stepped back.

At that moment, Wei Lingze strode over. “Who allowed you to come out?”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Chun Xi.

But before he could even touch her sleeve, Shen Qingyuan pulled her behind him.

After three years of injury, Wei Lingze’s physique was no longer as robust as before. Compared to Shen Qingyuan’s broad shoulders and solid back, he appeared thinner.

Wei Lingze’s expression darkened.

He had been at the Jingzhao Prefecture for over ten days and had already built relationships with most of his colleagues—except for Shen Qingyuan, who neither attended his banquets nor accepted his gifts.

Completely unsociable.

Wei Lingze hadn’t expected Shen Qingyuan to meddle. A flash of hostility passed through his eyes.

But Shen Qingyuan outranked him. At least within the Jingzhao Prefecture, he couldn’t act against him.

Suppressing his anger, Wei Lingze said coldly, “She is my maid. I am disciplining my own servant. Please step aside, Lord Shen.”

“My lord, I’ve already regained my free status—I am not his maid anymore!”

Chun Xi immediately spoke up, then boldly grabbed Shen Qingyuan’s sleeve. “This commoner went to visit her father’s grave and happened to run into Lord Wei investigating the grave-robbing case. I knew nothing, yet he dragged me back here. Lord Shen, you must stand up for me!”

Mentioning the grave-robbing case gave Chun Xi more confidence.

Right now, she and Lord Shen were on the same side.

Shen Qingyuan looked at Wei Lingze. “Is what she says true?”

He had always kept to himself. Wei Lingze had thought him dull and rigid, but now, under that stern gaze, he realized Shen Qingyuan carried a powerful, imposing presence.

Wei Lingze felt a trace of caution—but it quickly turned into irritation.

If not for his injury, he should have already been commanding troops as a cavalry officer. Now he was only temporarily serving at the Jingzhao Prefecture. Promotion would come soon—what right did Shen Qingyuan have to speak to him like this?

Ignoring Shen Qingyuan, Wei Lingze coldly ordered Chun Xi, “Come here now, and I won’t punish you.”

Punish me? I’ve already regained my freedom—what right do you have?

Chun Xi tugged at Shen Qingyuan’s sleeve and said softly, “My lord, I’m so scared~”

Her fair skin had a rosy tint, and her fingernails were pink and glossy. Against the dark sleeve she clutched, the contrast was striking. Combined with her deliberately softened voice, she looked pitiful and delicate.

Shen Qingyuan glanced down briefly.

The next moment, Wei Lingze’s sharp punch came straight at him.

Shen Qingyuan’s eyes sharpened. He wrapped an arm around Chun Xi’s waist, dodged the blow, and counterattacked with a kick.

The moment they exchanged blows, Wei Lingze realized Shen Qingyuan’s martial skills were actually superior. Having underestimated him at first, after just a few moves, he was forced back by a short-range punch.

It looked effortless, yet it drove Wei Lingze back several steps, his shoulder throbbing with pain. Meanwhile, Shen Qingyuan stood steady, protecting Chun Xi, his expression calm as ever.

“Lord Wei first detained someone without cause, and now you attack your superior. Are you truly disregarding the laws of Zhaoling?”

Shen Qingyuan had worked at the Jingzhao Prefecture for nearly ten years without promotion, yet he was famous as an incorruptible judge. On Wei Lingze’s first day, he had been warned not to let Shen Qingyuan catch any fault—otherwise, even the smallest matter could be reported all the way to the emperor.

In the wrong and unable to win, Wei Lingze had no choice but to yield.

“I acted impulsively just now. Please don’t take offense, Lord Shen.”

After speaking, he cast Chun Xi a cold glance.

He knew hiding her under the desk earlier had hurt her. He intended to compensate her—but only if she didn’t make a scene in front of others.

His gaze carried a dangerous edge. Chun Xi felt a chill down her spine, yet she remained firmly by Shen Qingyuan’s side.

She was no longer a maid of the Wei family. She didn’t need to obey Wei Lingze anymore—nor could she let him think she was playing games to raise her status.

She truly just wanted a peaceful life.

After a brief standoff, Wei Lingze sneered and left.

It had only been a few days since she left the Wei household, yet Chun Xi had already become so bold. It seemed he had spoiled her too much before.

He would see how long she could keep this up.

Once Wei Lingze was gone, Chun Xi relaxed and looked at Shen Qingyuan gratefully. “Thank you, Lord Shen, for saving me again. I will never forget such great kindness.”

The recovery of the Wei family’s eldest young master after three years of paralysis was a hot topic in the capital. Even Shen Qingyuan had heard about the loyal maid the Wei family had kept.

People said the maid was fortunate—after three years of close companionship, she would surely gain a status and become a respectable concubine.

But Chun Xi had chosen freedom instead.

Having seen her twice now, both times in rather sorry states, Shen Qingyuan looked at her bright eyes for a moment and said in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“I’ll take you home.”

Chun Xi’s eyes lit up even more. “Lord Shen, you truly are a good official.”

It was the same carriage as before. Though there was no corpse this time, it was still cramped for two people.

Chun Xi tried to shrink into a corner, but her knees inevitably brushed against Shen Qingyuan’s.

Through the thin spring clothing, his body heat transferred to her.

The sunlight outside was bright, and the carriage was well-lit. Looking at Shen Qingyuan’s upright and righteous face, Chun Xi couldn’t entertain a single improper thought—she only wanted to cling to him for protection.

She had completely offended Wei Lingze today. And Ye Er, having been stabbed, would surely hold a grudge too. If she could build a good relationship with Shen Qingyuan, at least she’d have someone to turn to for justice in the future.

Her thoughts clicked rapidly like an abacus, and she couldn’t help sneaking a few more glances at him.

Suddenly, Shen Qingyuan raised his eyes and looked straight at her. “What are you looking at?”

“My lord is handsome and dignified. I couldn’t help but take a few more looks.”

Flattery came naturally to Chun Xi now—she had honed that skill thoroughly while serving Wei Lingze.

Just as she was about to probe his preferences further, the carriage suddenly stopped.

The sudden halt sent Chun Xi stumbling sideways. Just as she was about to hit the carriage wall, Shen Qingyuan grabbed her arm and pulled her back—right into his firm, pine-scented chest.

“…”

Seriously? Even someone as upright as Lord Shen is starting to have bad luck after getting involved with me?