Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

100. Qin’s Father

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo got a bit worried, so he lifted the portiere and asked with concern, “Is everything all right, Yi? Who is the man?”

“Someone we don’t know, but he is severely injured, I think he was hurt by some roving bandits.” Xiao Yi replied and blocked Cao Mo’s view.

Xiao Yi worried Cao Mo might be scared of what had happened to Qin and wanted to butt in, so he said, “We’ve just talked about this, we will only mind our own business from now on.”

“But I heard the man is hurt, isn’t he?” Cao Mo sounded worried.

“Yes, but I have asked our servants to send him to Charity House for help, so don’t worry.” with that the servants came back with a utility cart to carry Qin and Xiao Yi went back to the carriage.

Cao Mo was no longer sleepy after what he had seen, he kept pestering Xiao Yi for more details of the injured man, but Xiao Yi whitewashed it and changed the subject.

Xiao Yi’s right eyelid kept twitching and he kept thinking what Qin had written on the ground with his blood, ‘This doesn’t bode well!’ Xiao Yi exclaimed in his heart.

Cao Mo didn’t get anything juicy about the injured man from Xiao Yi, he got bored and he just rested his head on Xiao Yi’s lap like a cat.

Seeing that, Xiao Yi stroked Cao Mo’s hair gently and sighed and made up his mind ‘Mo, I know you and Qin have really hit it off, but I’m sorry, he is a dangerous man, I will stop you from seeing him.”

The next morning inn Magnolia House.

Cao Mo woke up in a blissful mood but he couldn’t find Xiao Yi anywhere at home, he asked Mohua who walked in carrying a bowl of porridge for him, “Have you seen the Young Master?”

Mohua put the bowl on the table and said, “The Young Master has gone to Prince Xing’s Manor, he asked me to serve you this porridge first thing you wake up before he left.”

“That’s very thoughtful of him, I’m indeed having some sort of a headache now, I can’t even remember how I got home last night.” Cao Mo pressed his forehead, trying to recall what happened last night.

Mohua handed him a spoon, Cao Mo slowly finished the porridge while Mohua walked him in what happened last night, “Young Master said you fell asleep at the dinner table of Big Third Madam’s, Young Master apologized to the madam and said goodbye to them.”

“I’m such a fool! I hope the madam didn’t take it as an offence, anyways I will go pay her a visit and apologize in person.” with that Cao Mo asked Mohua to wait on him outside of his room for he wanted to catch one more hour of sleep or so, however, Moshu came to report that Third Master and Third Madam were waiting for him at Lotus House.

Cao Mo didn’t feel like going.

Moshu put on a big smile and said, “Young Madam, the Third Master knows you like Worshiping the Moon, so he has invited the Spring Joy Troupe just for you, please come have a look.”

“What? Who told Third Uncle that I like Worshiping the Moon?” Cao Mo gasped, “Does Third Aunt know about this? Do they know Qin, the actor who performs Worshiping the Moon in the Spring Joy Troupe, is Prince Ning’s paramour?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry, Young Madam. Even though Prince Ning spoils this Qin, never has he forbidden Qin from performing on stage. Qin said yes happily when he knew it was us Xiao Manor who was inviting him, he said the Young Madam of Xiao Manor has promised to paint his face sometime.” Moshu replied delightfully, trying to change Cao Mo’s mind.

Cao Mo recalled what Xiao Yi said about Qin, he shook his head and said, “I don’t want to have anything to do with this Qin, especially considering his relationship with Prince Ning, I need to stay away from him. Please tell Third Aunt that I’m having a bad hangover and I will visit him and apologize in person.”

Moshu withdrew the room in low spirits.

Cao Mo couldn’t fall asleep after Moshu had left, he found this whole thing rather odd, how come word travelled so fast, he and Qin just met each other the day before. Cao Mo felt there must be somebody who was actively spreading the word with bad intentions.

Xiao Yi came back when this kept preying on Cao Mo’s mind.

“Did you sleep well? How was the porridge?” Xiao Yi perched on the bedside and stroked Cao Mo’s hair with affection.

“Yeah.” Cao Mo forced a dry smile, “Am I the talk of the town today?”

“You… who told you this?”

“Moshu was here, inviting me to watch opera shows with Third Uncle and Third Aunt, but he specifically said Qin would be here. People must have been talking about yesterday about our brief encounter.” Cao Mo pouted.

“Qin always avoids people, but he came to see you by himself yesterday and talked with you for a little while, of course people will talk. Don’t think too much.” Xiao Yi comforted Cao Mo.

“Have I offended Prince Ning?”

“I have no idea.”

“We just talked for a little while, but there were so many people around, it wasn’t like we met in private or we’ve done something improper.”

“But Prince Ning has a special relationship with this Qin.” Xiao Yi held Cao Mo’s hand and said, “I found out more information about Qin today, his father is a merchant and got lost in south sea, people all thought he was dead, but it turned out his father was saved by a princess in a country located in south sea and he married the princess, his father wrote to the court that he was willing to pay ten thousand taels of gold for his son.”

“Prince Ning is having his payback on me for what I have done to Lu Jianzhong? He is creating stories about me and Qin?” Cao Mo asked with concern.

Xiao Yi shook his head, he recalled what Qin had written with his blood, “I’m no spy!”

Xiao Yi hoped Prince Xing would have an answer for him today.

“Mo, the country is suffering a drought at the moment, it’s not looking good.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Cao Mo frowned, then it occurred to him this had everything to do with what they were talking about, “You mean… you mean the court needs that ten thousand taels of gold to relieve the people in stricken areas?”

“Exactly! The country needs that money! The southern country might declare war with us if anything shall happen to Qin.”

“You mean, there are people making rumors about me and Qin, and the court will use me as a scapegoat if they cannot find Qin?” Cao Mo was furious, ‘Such a vicious plan!’