TSWRLM -Chapter 75 Wei Lingze Wants to Apologize in Person

Just after Imperial Physician Zhang left the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion, Wei Lingze received the news.

In a good mood, he went to Wufangzhai to buy the hibiscus and lotus seed cakes that Xiao Qinghe loved and brought them home.

The weather had grown increasingly hot. Even with ice in the room, Xiao Qinghe wore very light clothing.

The sun had not yet set. Its brilliant rays streamed through the window, casting golden light across the beauty couch. Xiao Qinghe, leaning on the couch reading a book, was bathed in the glowing sunlight, looking almost like a goddess.

This was the scene Wei Lingze saw the moment he entered.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as memories of many beautiful moments passed through his mind, but soon his expression returned to calm.

“What are you reading, Madam?”

Wei Lingze sat beside the couch and naturally wrapped his arm around Xiao Qinghe.

Xiao Qinghe stiffened for a moment but did not resist. She leaned softly against him and said gently, “The younger brothers are growing up. Mother wants to hold a flower-viewing banquet in the autumn to match them off. I’m checking which flowers the gardener should plant.”

Wei Lingze had been injured, which had affected his brother’ marriages somewhat. As the late third-year entry eldest sister-in-law, Xiao Qinghe naturally had to take extra care organizing the banquet.

“Let the servants handle this. You don’t need to do it yourself.”

Wei Lingze dismissed it lightly, snatched the book from her hands, tossed it aside, opened the food box, and fed her a piece of cake.

The sweet fragrance wafted into her nose, but Xiao Qinghe only felt it cloying. She furrowed her brows and turned her head away. “Wei Lang, leave it for now. I don’t feel like eating.”

“Weren’t you fond of these before? I specially bought them today after work.”

He moved the cake toward her lips again.

Though his tone was gentle, his action was insistent.

He had gone out specifically to buy what she liked, and whether she had an appetite or not, she had to eat.

This half-forced gesture made Xiao Qinghe very uncomfortable.

She was the precious eldest daughter of the Xiao family, always pampered since childhood. Even when she had resisted her mother these past three years, refusing to proceed with the Wei family marriage, her family had never forced her like this.

“Wei Lang, I really don’t want to eat right now.”

Xiao Qinghe emphasized her words and reached to push Wei Lingze.

The two were uneven in strength. Wei Lingze didn’t budge, and the air grew tense.

After an unknown amount of time, Wei Lingze suddenly swept the entire box of cakes to the floor. “If He’er doesn’t want it, then she won’t eat.”

Though he said she didn’t have to eat, it was clearly a display of anger.

Xiao Qinghe curled her fingers, her heart aching.

The Wei Lingze before her was so different from the young man she remembered—she barely recognized him.

Her face darkened, but Wei Lingze, as if nothing had happened, held her hand and played with it. “I said I’d take you boating to relax. When do you want to go?”

Handling half the household affairs in the mansion, Xiao Qinghe had been busy and tired, but having already refused him once, she didn’t want to anger him again. “Whenever you have leisure time, Wei Lang, I’m free.”

She thought agreeing to the outing would end the matter. But the next moment, Wei Lingze said: “I have leisure five days from now. He’er, send an invitation to Madam Shen. I’ll apologize in person and also bid Sir Shen farewell.”

Xiao Qinghe’s head whipped toward him. Wei Lingze’s expression was calm. “He’er, haven’t you always advised me not to clash with him? I did misunderstand him before. Wouldn’t it be better to apologize in person?”

“If you want to apologize to Uncle Shen, you can go to him alone. Why involve me and bring Madam Shen along?”

A chill ran through Xiao Qinghe. Her face darkened.

She would rather Wei Lingze remain cold toward her, as he had in previous days, than pretend affection and insist she witness his attachment to Chun Xi.

“You don’t want to see Madam Shen?” Wei Lingze raised his eyebrows. Before she could answer, he added, “She’s plain, of low status, not even comparable to a strand of your hair. Since when have you become so intolerant?”

His tone was gentle, his expression patient, as if she were being unreasonable.

Xiao Qinghe felt as though a punch had landed on cotton. She was completely powerless.

She did not reflect on his words but said firmly: “I am capable of tolerance. Had you wanted to give Chun Xi a status before, I would have been willing to share you. But now she is my little aunt-in-law. I ask that you forget the past and keep your distance.”

The slip of “little aunt-in-law” displeased Wei Lingze, but he concealed it and remained gentle: “He’er is right. After this apology, I won’t see her again. Is that alright?”

“……”

Wei Lingze insisted on apologizing in person before Shen Qingyuan left for Xuzhou. Xiao Qinghe finally agreed, and an invitation was sent to the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion.

As usual, the invitation was first delivered to Madam Mo.

Madam Mo, having “recovered,” was displeased upon reading it.

The Xiao family had a deliberate agenda. Xiao Qingyue and Xiao Qinghe consecutively invited, and even though Chun Xi was of low status, she would still have a place in front of the influential ladies. Moreover, Shen Qingyuan had been appointed imperial commissioner. If he succeeded and returned, it would be difficult to wrest the heir position from him.

Madam Mo immediately wrote a letter for her confidante to deliver back to her family, then called Chun Xi: “The Wei Young Madam is holding a farewell banquet for Yuan’er. You should go with Chi’er. She is old enough now. You don’t know the elite families of Hanjing—ask Wei Young Madam and see if there are suitable matches.”

Chun Xi’s eyes widened in surprise: “Mother, Chi’er and I are younger, but by seniority, we outrank Wei Young Madam. Why should elders matchmake for juniors?”

Madam Mo’s face darkened.

By seniority, Xiao Qinghe should still call her great-aunt, but the Xiao family always treated her and the Xiao clan separately. She had gained nothing from the Xiao family all these years!

Yet Madam Mo could not refute Chun Xi.

If she said the Xiao family did not recognize the marriage, on what grounds could she send Chun Xi to negotiate a match for her daughter?

Madam Mo felt her chest tighten with anger. “You do as I say. Enough nonsense.”

“Alright.”

Chun Xi nodded, took the invitation, and left.

Madam Mo fumed for a while, then summoned Nanny Jia: “Go to the rice shop in the western city and bring that old man back to the mansion.”

Nanny Jia blinked: “Madam, you once used tremendous effort to drive the poor relatives out of the mansion. Bringing this one back will surely attract the others like rabid dogs…”

Madam Mo gripped her handkerchief and sneered: “I could drive them away once, I can do it again. Right now, the most important thing is to prevent this unfilial son from regaining power!”

Her eyes were full of malice. Nanny Jia dared not argue and left immediately.