Chapter 148 Her tears stirred his heart.

When Xiao Huaiyi saw Shen Qingnian being humiliated by Xie Yanzhi, he was already unable to control his anger.

“Since Your Highness is reluctant to part with them, you should treat the people around you well.”

Originally, Miss Shen was going to leave the capital with him, but Xie Yanzhi forcibly brought her back.

Now that Miss Shen is being treated this way, how could he not feel a surge of anger?

Xie Yanzhi looked at Xiao Huaiyi with a hint of smugness: "Is Young Master Xiao feeling sorry for you?"

"Unfortunately, she is now my concubine, and I can do whatever I want with her."

As he spoke, he pinched Shen Qingnian's chin, forcing her to turn her head.

So that Xiao Huaiyi could see the mark he had left on her lips, he reached out and pulled the coat off her shoulder.

Shen Qingnian almost grabbed him in terror, shouting, "No!"

Upon seeing this, Xiao Huaiyi immediately turned around, his only thought now being to punch Xie Yanzhi in the face.

But he knew that the more he defended Miss Shen, the more Xie Yanzhi would humiliate her.

Only if I leave now will Xie Yanzhi have any chance of letting Miss Shen go.

"Since the young master and Miss Shen are so deeply in love, I will not disturb them any longer!"

His deep voice was filled with suppressed anger.

After saying that, he turned and left.

Xie Yanzhi watched Xiao Huaiyi's angry figure leave, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Xiao Huaiyi still dared to try and compete with him; how could he possibly win?

Shen Qingnian's heart trembled upon hearing Xiao Huaiyi's words. They were even more painful than the humiliation she had suffered at Xie Yanzhi's hands.

She also knew that Young Master Xiao said this only because he didn't want Xie Yanzhi to humiliate her like this again.

But she was still very upset, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, he jumped up from Xie Yanzhi's lap and ran toward the carriage.

Xie Yanzhi watched the departing figure, his face immediately darkening, a flash of anger appearing in his eyes.

Shouldn't she explain something to him?

She was caught having an affair with another man behind his back, even though she was the one in the wrong.

Why does she seem like the one who's been wronged the most?

Hongyu watched as Aunt Qing ran past her, and then saw the eldest son's dark face. She quickly curtsied and followed after him.

The eldest son's actions today seemed somewhat frightening. She was terrified to stay here even a moment longer.

Shen Qingnian ran to the carriage, where Liu Momo was already waiting on the carriage floor.

Her eyes were red, and her lips were swollen and cracked.

She pursed her lips, thankfully the eldest young master himself came and caught this unfaithful woman.

Hongyu caught up at this moment and reached out to help Shen Qingnian into the car.

Shen Qingnian ignored the gloating in Liu Momo's eyes, bent down and entered the carriage, instructing the coachman, "Hurry up."

Thinking of the humiliation Xie Yanzhi had just inflicted on her in front of Xiao Huaiyi, tears streamed down her face.

She didn't want to spend a single moment with Xie Yanzhi.

Right now, all she wants to do is escape and stay far away from him.

So she ran over without a care in the world, hoping the carriage would take her away from him.

The coachman glanced back and saw that the eldest son had not followed, assuming that he was not riding in the same carriage as them.

He then cracked his whip and spurred the carriage toward the Marquis of Jingnan's residence.

Xie Yanzhi saw the figure running while wiping away tears, looking very aggrieved, and felt extremely annoyed.

He had already sent people to follow Shen Qingnian, and he knew her every move.

After all, how could he expect a woman he had begged to be devoted to him now?

It will take her some time to realize how good he is, and how happy she will be with his affection.

His guards also noticed that someone had been loitering around the Marquis's residence in recent days.

Upon closer investigation, it turned out to be Xiao Huaiyi's man.

He had already made it clear that day that he was not allowed to have any more feelings for Shen Qingnian.

But he didn't listen to him and tried to get close to Shen Qingnian again and again.

He naturally had to teach him and her a lesson!

The thought of how he had just looked like someone who had caught someone cheating made his eyes turn cold again.

He flicked his sleeve and walked toward his carriage.

As soon as Shen Qingnian got off the carriage, she rushed to the bedroom and burst into tears on the couch.

Seeing this, Hongyu said softly, "Auntie, don't be too sad."

"Young Master is just... just too worried about you."

That's why they did such an absurd thing.

She felt that the eldest son's behavior today was somewhat shameless, and for a moment she couldn't think of anything to defend him.

It can only be said that they cared too much.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian stood up, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Hongyu: "You should go out first. I want to be by myself for a while."

Seeing Shen Qingnian's swollen eyes and cracked lips, Hongyu sighed inwardly: "Then I'll be right outside the door. Just call me if you need anything."

After saying that, he slowly left the room.

Shen Qingnian lay on the bed and cried for a while longer.

Meeting Xiao Huaiyi today was completely unexpected.

She originally intended to make things clear with Xiao Huaiyi, that the two of them should never see each other again.

But Xie Yanzhi really went too far.

He would say he liked her one minute, and then force himself on her the next, humiliating her the next.

He's absolutely a madman!

Thinking back on the events of the past few days, Shen Qingnian wiped away her tears and sat up straight.

Her eyes were filled with determination; she was determined to leave Xie Yanzhi and go far away.

But tears and stubbornness cannot solve the current predicament.

She bit her lip and pondered for a moment.

The only option now is to use the same old trick, making Xie Yanzhi mistakenly believe that she has resigned herself to her fate and can only stay by his side and depend on him.

Only then did he lower his guard and give her a chance.

Seeing that it was getting late, Shen Qingnian got up and went to the bathroom.

At night, Xie Yanzhi returned from outside the mansion, and one foot had already stepped into the courtyard of Guanlan Residence.

He glanced again at the lock on the gate of Yuheng Residence, his eyes somewhat dark and unreadable.

He had been feeling uneasy for the past half day.

The culprit that was causing him unease locked itself before he even returned.

So you just don't want to see him?

Thinking of this, he pulled his foot back, touched the ground with both feet, and flew into Yuheng Residence.

Hongyu had just finished helping Shen Qingnian wash up and lit some calming incense, and was now reaching out to close the door.

Xie Yanzhi suddenly appeared behind her, startling Hongyu.

Before it even got dark, the aunt ordered the locks to be put down.

The eldest son didn't ask anyone to open the door, so how did he get in?

She curtsied and said, "Young Master."

Xie Yanzhi didn't say a word and walked straight in.

Only one red candle was burning in the room. Shen Qingnian sat in front of the bronze mirror, holding a comb in her hand, gently inserting it into her hair, letting it slowly slide down her long hair.

Xie Yanzhi recognized the comb; it was the jade comb he had given her.

Then I noticed that her eyelashes seemed to be touched by the warm light of the candlelight, and when they trembled slightly, they rippled with tiny halos of light.

Her light pink undergarment clung tightly to her body, revealing her exquisite curves.

She was bending down, fiddling with the ends of her hair, a faint smile on her lips, focused on smoothing it, unaware that he was standing behind her.

Xie Yanzhi saw her silhouette and the candlelight intertwine, reflecting a hazy tenderness in the mirror.

"Is this how you seduced Xiao Huaiyi?"

Hearing the sound behind her, Shen Qingnian suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

Seeing Xie Yanzhi standing behind him with a cold face.

She had expected Xie Yanzhi to come looking for her, but she never expected him to say something so insulting.

Even though she was mentally prepared, she was still somewhat annoyed when she heard these words.

When did she ever seduce Xiao Huaiyi?

She never seduced anyone.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she stopped what she was doing.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Xie Yanzhi quickly stepped forward, snatched the comb from her hand, and threw it on the ground.

He grabbed her wrist tightly and pulled her up from the soft stool.

Why don't you speak?

Xie Yanzhi spoke in a low voice, and Shen Qingnian could hear the anger in his voice.

She frowned slightly, looked at the comb on the ground, and choked up, saying, "What does the young master want to hear me say?"

"You know I've never seduced anyone."

Xie Yanzhi narrowed his eyes; Shen Qingnian was referring to him.

She never seduced him, but he always arrogantly thought she was seducing him at every turn.

"You are now my concubine, and you still go to meet with other men in secret. If you're not trying to seduce them, what are you trying to do?"

"Don't you have any sense of womanly virtue?!"

As he spoke, he grabbed her neck again, his expression turning somewhat ferocious: "How could I forget? Taihu Lake is where you two first met. If I go there today, will I be disturbing your reunion with your lover?"

Shen Qingnian instantly felt a suffocating sensation; she could hardly breathe.

Looking at Xie Yanzhi's angry face and hearing his sarcastic words, tears streamed down her cheeks.

Xie Yanzhi saw that the man's face was red from being pinched, but he still stubbornly refused to beg for mercy. Instead, he looked at him with tears in his eyes and a mournful gaze.

He looked as if he had suffered a great injustice, and he loosened his grip.

"I went there today only to clarify things with Young Master Xiao."

"Tell him not to come looking for me again, and that we should have nothing to do with each other from now on."

"That's what Young Master Xiao told you too, but you didn't believe him!"

"If you don't believe me, why bother asking me?"

Xie Yanzhi lifted her chin and scrutinized her with his gaze: "You almost eloped with him the day before yesterday, and today you say you want to sever your ties with him. How can I believe you?"

"If I hadn't arrived in time today, would you two be embracing each other and pouring out your hearts to one another?"

Shen Qingnian looked at him with red eyes and a hint of reproach: "I am yours now, so naturally I can't be ambiguous with other people anymore."

"Besides, Hongyu and the others were all watching. I and Young Master Xiao did not overstep any boundaries!"

"What right do you have to slander me!"

"If you don't believe me, you can simply kick me out of the manor. Why humiliate me in front of others?"

As she spoke, Shen Qingnian sat back on the soft stool, turned her back to Xie Yanzhi, and sobbed while leaning on the dressing table.

Xie Yanzhi looked at the person in front of him, his shoulders trembling slightly, and faint sobs could be heard.

He felt agitated again.

It was clearly her fault, so why did it seem like he had wronged her?

Who's that aggrieved look on your face for!

Xie Yanzhi then noticed the red mark on Shen Qingnian's wrist. Her skin was fair and smooth, and the red mark was now quite glaring.

He bent down, picked up the jade comb, placed it beside Shen Qingnian, and turned to leave.

His heart was in turmoil whenever she cried.

Xie Yanzhi saw Hongyu standing respectfully bowing her head to the side.

With a cold face, she asked, "What exactly did the concubine and that young master talk about today?"

Hongyu noticed that Xie Yanzhi looked unwell, and guessed that he must have just had another argument with his aunt in the room.

Seeing Xie Yanzhi's cold gaze scrutinizing her again, she dared not hide anything: "The young master asked if my aunt was well."

"My aunt said she is very good, and that you treat her very well. You are the man of her life."

"Later, my aunt told that young master not to come looking for her again."

Xie Yanzhi frowned upon hearing this: "What else did you say?"

Hongyu quickly shook her head: "You'll be here shortly after."

She dared not say that the young master had also expressed his feelings to the concubine.

"Go and take ten strokes of the cane. If it happens again, you'll pay with your life."

Xie Yanzhi suddenly said something else.

Upon hearing this, Hongyu was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily: "Yes, Young Master."

Xie Yanzhi walked out of the courtyard expressionlessly.

Hongyu then relaxed and sat slumped on the ground.

I still can't help feeling lingering fear.

Today's chestnut cake was given to me by a beautiful woman.

It is said that once Aunt Qing sees this, she will know what it means.

Little did they expect that the woman was actually delivering a message for the young master.

Who knew that the young man was actually the concubine's former lover.

And then, by sheer coincidence, the eldest son caught the two of them meeting.

If she had known that the letter would lead to this disaster, she wouldn't have dared to deliver the message to Aunt Qing even if she had ten times the courage.

However, the young master was handsome, gentle and refined, and remained devoted to his concubine.

No wonder Aunt Qing cried so bitterly that day when she was favored.

She could have been the young master's principal wife, but she was forcibly taken by the prince to be his concubine.

Anyone in that situation would be unwilling and resentful.

Hongyu leaned against the wall to stand up and quietly approached the bedroom: "Auntie, are you alright?"

After Xie Yanzhi left, Shen Qingnian blew out the candles, plunging the room into darkness.

By the moonlight, Hongyu peered inside and could vaguely see a small bulge on the bed.

"I'm fine, I'm just tired and want to rest for a while," came Shen Qingnian's voice from the bed.

Hongyu heard the nasal tone and hoarseness in Shen Qingnian's voice and knew that she had been crying again.

But she didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only whisper, "Then this servant will stay outside and watch over you."

There was no more sound coming from inside the house.

Hongyu thought that her aunt had cried for a long time after returning today, and was now extremely tired and should fall asleep.

As she turned to leave, she heard Shen Qingnian say again, "Thank you for today."

If it weren't for Hongyu helping to deliver the message, she would never have been able to meet Xiao Huaiyi.

She has said what she needed to say, and I'm sure Young Master Xiao understands what she means.

She just hoped he would stop interfering in her affairs in the future.

Xie Yanzhi had once again shown Xiao Huaiyi such an absurd and disgusting scene. He must be extremely disappointed and would no longer pay attention to her.

Shen Qingnian looked at the gauze curtain above her head and felt a little sad.

At least he's safe now.

Thinking this, Shen Qingnian pulled the blanket up a little higher and closed her eyes.

She was indeed tired today and needed to rest well to be in good spirits to deal with Xie Yanzhi.

She seemed to have thought of something again, opened her eyes, and looked serious.

There might be an even bigger problem waiting for her tomorrow.