TSWRLM -Chapter 99 Do You Want to Do It Yourself, or Should I?

After working almost non-stop for more than half a month, Liang Weimin finally confessed the whole truth. The other implicated officials also gave up resisting.

Shen Qingyuan first wrote a memorial to send back to the capital via secret guards, then escorted the criminals back to the capital to face interrogation by the Censorate.

To avoid delaying the journey, Chun Xi changed back into her male disguise and rode along with everyone.

Shen Qingyu immediately protested: “Big Brother, now that the case is cleared, whether we return to the capital a little earlier or later doesn’t matter. My… cousin and I are still injured. Couldn’t you at least consider us?”

That day, when the citizens rioted, Chun Xi’s carriage had been surrounded. Shen Qingyu didn’t help and even watched with glee. After Shen Qingyuan interrogated the rioters, he kicked Shen Qingyu out of the infirmary.

Having witnessed Shen Qingyuan’s decisive raid on the Liang family, Shen Qingyu no longer dared to address Mo Yunwan as “Sister-in-law” in front of Shen Qingyuan. He had to call her “cousin” based on her status before marriage.

Shen Qingyuan gave him a cold, emotionless glance and said: “Why should I consider you? Did I call you here?”

Shen Qingyu was stumped.

He had come on his mother’s orders to escort Mo Yunwan home. He was supposed to take her back to the capital earlier to secure her position in the Hou residence. But he had been injured upon arrival, unable to travel, and had delayed until now.

Although Mo Yunwan had agreed to annul her engagement with Shen Qingyuan once back, without the elders’ permission from both families, the matter was not finalized. They had to return to the capital together; otherwise, Shen Qingyuan would settle things before them, and everything would be too late.

Knowing Shen Qingyuan was strict and decisive, Shen Qingyu could only turn to Chun Xi: “Haven’t you always wanted me to accept you as my big sister-in-law? Why aren’t you saying anything now?”

Clearly asking for help, yet Shen Qingyu still maintained an arrogant posture, as if granting Chun Xi the chance to be his sister-in-law were a great honor.

“Third Brother, your sister-in-law naturally cares for you,” Chun Xi said, playing along. Shen Qingyu was about to feel proud, but she added: “Yet there’s a difference in closeness. Your injuries are trivial compared to my husband’s future.”

Shen Qingyu: “….”

Indeed, people can’t change. His big brother was a sanctimonious hypocrite—of course he’d prefer someone worthy.

Unable to change Shen Qingyuan’s decision, Shen Qingyu spent money hiring the best coachmen in Xuzhou and reinforced the carriage with thick padding to reduce jolts.

This did make the carriage smoother, but soon they were left far behind.

Mo Yunwan urged Shen Qingyu: “Third Brother, at this rate we won’t catch up. Let’s switch to riding horses.”

“I can endure the pain, but can you?”

“I can.”

Mo Yunwan nodded without hesitation.

She had narrowly escaped with her life. Finally able to return to her family, she would endure any hardship, no matter how dangerous.

Her determined gaze added strength to her usually gentle and melancholy demeanor, sending a shiver through Shen Qingyu.

He had never seen a woman so gentle yet strong. If only… if only she hadn’t married his elder brother first.

Following Mo Yunwan’s insistence, Shen Qingyu decisively switched from carriage to horseback.

They rode day and night, finally catching up with Shen Qingyuan at the Yizhou relay station ten days later.

It was nighttime. Shen Qingyuan and Chun Xi had just finished dinner and had roasted a whole lamb to reward everyone.

Although they couldn’t drink, everyone shared the lamb until nothing was left.

Shen Qingyu, weary and sore from travel, stared at the still-smoking fire and the intact lamb skeleton, grumbling and pointing at Shen Qingyuan: “Big Brother rushed ahead and left us behind. Are you hiding something, afraid to face Cousin?”

Shen Qingyuan ignored him and instead turned to Chun Xi: “I have medicine. Let me apply it for you.”

Chun Xi shook her head immediately: “I’m not hurt. No need for medicine.”

The long journey and sweat had caused some chafing. Chun Xi had only noticed it today when dismounting. She didn’t want Shen Qingyuan to see the wound on her inner thigh.

Blinking sincerely, Chun Xi said: “Husband, I really am not hurt. Trust is the most important thing between a couple. Don’t you have a little trust in me?”

Shen Qingyuan closed the door and looked at her steadily: “Do you want to remove it yourself, or should I?”

Chun Xi froze.

Lord, your expression is serious and you’re doing something proper… but why do your words make my mind wander?

Not wanting him to strip her on the bed, she compromised: “The moon is bright tonight. I’ll do it myself. Can you turn off the light first?”

“Okay.”

Shen Qingyuan agreed without hesitation.

The journey had been exhausting. Even a strong man like him couldn’t endure without fatigue. It wasn’t a time to push for anything else.

With the light off, Chun Xi obediently removed her pants and lay on the bed.

By moonlight, Shen Qingyuan noticed the inner side of her thigh was not only chafed, but bleeding heavily.

Yet for days she had been lively, joking with everyone. Had he not overheard her catch her breath at the relay station, he would never have known how serious the injury was.

As he applied the ointment, Chun Xi shivered. She tried to distract herself with words, but Shen Qingyuan asked: “Why didn’t you tell me it was this bad?”

“It was fine the past couple of days. Today was too hot, that’s why. I planned to apply some ointment tonight anyway.”

She spoke quickly, obviously having prepared her excuse in advance.

Shen Qingyuan’s tone intensified: “Cao Chun Xi, do you know I am your husband?”

It was the first time Chun Xi heard him say her full name so earnestly. Her heart trembled.

“Husband, I was wrong. I won’t hide anything from you again.”

She immediately admitted her mistake.

She feared angering Shen Qingyuan.

He treated her well, protected her, entrusted her with her mother’s dowry, let her build a small kitchen in the courtyard—he had made her feel at home in the Hou residence. She was overjoyed and only wanted to remain happy with him.

“Husband…”

Shen Qingyuan didn’t answer. Chun Xi grew anxious and turned to explain further, but he whispered sharply: “Don’t speak.”

“….”

Lord scolded her?

Previously, Chun Xi had thought it foolish for women in stories to go to extremes for a man. At this moment, she understood.

Just one scolding from him made her heart ache. No wonder those women suffered from betrayal—it was entirely understandable.

Just then, the window screen at the room’s door was pierced. A bamboo tube was inserted, blowing wisps of white smoke inside.

Chun Xi: “….”

Damn assassins! My pants aren’t even back up yet!