Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

111. No Note of Discord

Translator: Sissy That Walk

In Cunxi Hall.

The lantern show was canceled due to the ill-omened thunder the other day, all the manors chose to be low-ley as well. The Xiao Manor only held a small family gathering in Cunxi Hall to celebrate Dowager Xiao’s birthday.

Auntie Lu snorted on seeing Cao Mo, “Wow, what a busy bee! Showing up late at Dowager Xiao’s birthday banquet!”

Xiao Yi chimed in before Dowager Xiao could reply, “Mo made grandmother a gift by himself, he was back a bit late to make it perfect. You see, he hurried me to come to Cunxi Hall with him as soon as he returned, look how travel-stained he is.”

Auntie Lu sneered, “Yi, I know you dote on your wife, it’s not surprising that you defend him like this. Hopefully you will be this eloquent after watching the performance.”

“Enough.” Dowager Xiao demanded, people stared speechless at the other and no one made any more noise.

Dowager Xiao didn’t take Auntie Lu’s bitter sarcasm to heart, she just thought Auntie Lu was upset because Xiao Yugui forbade raising birds in the manor and Auntie Lu was just venting her anger on the young couple.

Dowager Xiao fondled the wooden box that Cao Mo presented her, she withdrew a porcelain bottle from the box and asked, “It smelt so nice, what is this?”

“Perfume!”

Cao Mo handed the rest of the gifts to Dowager Xiao’s maid and continued, “I made this perfume just for you, grandmother. One drop will last at least two days, isn’t this so much more easier than burning fragrant incense? I know you like gardenia, grandmother, but unfortunately, gardenia is not in season now. I promise I will make better perfume for you in spring, grandmother.”

Hearing that, Auntie Lu kept a straight face while Lady Lu craned her neck trying to have a look at the bottle and cursed Cao Mo in the heart for not making her a bottle as well.

Dowager Xiao beamed, “Good boy, thank you so much for such a nice present, come on over, take you seat, the show is about to start.”

Amid the gong and drum noise, Auntie Lu turned to Cao Mo, “I heard you like Qin’s performance the best, so does Dowager Xiao, you see, I invited Qin over just for you two.”

Cao Mo’s face darkened, he had no idea why Auntie Lu mentioned Qin out of nowhere, but he knew Auntie Lu was up to something.

Xiao Yi’s face took on a ghastly expression, he knew Auntie Lu would try her best to disclose the face that Qin had passed away in the presence of Cao Mo.

Xiao Yi grabbed Cao Mo’s hand, “Follow me, I have something to say to you.”

Cao Mo noticed Xiao Yi’s eyes kept flicking, his heart sank.

“Have you met someone while I was away?” the thought that Xiao Yi might have cheated him infuriated him.

“Tell me who the little bitch is! Seducing my man while I was away!” Cao Mo glared at Xiao Yi.

Auntie Lu enjoyed seeing the love birds having a fight, she raised her volume and shouted at the troupe leader who was seated among the audience, “How dare you deceive me, I paid good money to see Qin, you tell me is that Qin who is on the stage now?”

Xiao Yi’s brow twitched.

Cao Mo knew what Xiao Yi was going to say might have something to do with Qin, he shouted at Auntie Lu, “Aunt, why put on this show? Chances are you already know Qin can’t make it today, why point it out now? If you want to sow discord between me and my husband, I’m afraid it won’t work, I know I act silly sometimes, but no way will I drift away from him because of a performing artist!”

Xiao Yi’s eyes sparkled and squeezed Cao Mo’s hand, “I didn’t cheat on you.”

“Stop talking, I need some air, otherwise I will punch you.” Cao Mo recoiled angrily.

Xiao Yi squeezed even harder, “It’s true, I didn’t cheat on you.”

“Then why did you keep looking away?” Cao Mo stared at Xiao Yi, demanding an answer.

Xiao Yi dragged Cao Mo and walked to a quiet place, he cuddled Cao Mo tightly, “I’m telling you now, but you need to promise me you won’t get mad.”

Cao Mo took a deep breath, “Shoot, who the little bitch is, how did it happen?”

“That’s not the case.”

“There’s more? Are you going to take her as a concubine?” Cao Mo clenched his fists.

Xiao Yi cuddled Cao Mo even tighter, “Qin died.”

“What’s the big deal… …”, what Xiao Yi said took a solid second to sink in. “What did you say?”

Xiao Yi clamped on Cao Mo who anxious to find out the truth, “Qin was poisoned, I’m sorry I was late… …”

Cao Mo swallowed the lump in his throat, “Who did it?”

“Promise me you won’t get mad.” Xiao Yi loosened his arms sensing Cao Mo had calmed down a bit.

“I won’t get mad, just tell me.” Tears welled up in Cao Mo’s eyes.

“It’s father. The emissaries of the Southern Country are coming, Qin has to die.” It ached Xiao Yi to see how sad Cao Mo was, but he dared not to revolt against Xiao Yugui, at least not now.

“I’m exhausted, please tell Dowager Xiao that I’m going to take some rest.”

“But you haven’t eaten anything, at least have a few bites.” Xiao Yi knew Cao Mo was depressed, he didn’t know what he could do to make Cao Mo feel better other than keeping him company.

… …

Cao Mo strolled back to Magnolia House in a daze.

“Why! Qin suffers enough! Why he has to die!” Cao Mo screamed in his heart, he thought Qin might stand a slim chance of survival if he hadn’t picked up Qin’s hairpin.

Cao Mo knew it very well Auntie Lu was the chief culprit, but there was nothing he could do about that. Cao Mo’s heart was like dead ashes.

Qin died, no one did anything for him.

People had been talking about how Prince Ning doted on Qin, but Prince Ning didn’t investigate it either.

Cao Mo slumped down in the bed, he felt so lonely, he thought he was fitting in, but it dawned on him that he was no difference than Qin, he would be doomed if some big shot wanted him out of the picture.

Xiao Yi had never seen Cao Mo this depressed, that made Xiao Yi hate Qin even more.

“Did you fall in love with him?” Xiao Yi clenched his fists and blurted out.

“I didn’t, but I do now. I’m just as lowly as him, as pathetic as him, but no one pitied him. I’m afraid I will become Qin one day.” Cao Mo drew the quilt over his head, he didn’t want to spare one more look at Xiao Yi.