Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

155. Stalling is the Way out

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Officer Fang pounded on the table with attention-catching block instead of replying Cao Mo, which had startled him.

“I summoned you here to ask you a few questions about the candles in the examination compound, according to your brother Cao Le, the shop that sells those questionable candles is under your name. Cao Mo, are you conspiring with your husband Xiao Yi to slander Prince Ning and cause trouble in the examination compound?”

Cao Mo exclaimed in his heart, ‘What unfounded countercharges! I gotta put my foot down, if I show the slightest uncertainty, not only Yi will be implicated but Prince Xing will be in trouble too!’

Cao Mo put on a solemn face, “Officer Fang, I need to see m brother, I don’t have any shops in my dowry list, it’s a well-known fact that I only have country estate under my name, please investigate this. Dare I ask you, Officer Fang, who told you the nonsense of me and my husband are trying to slander Prince Ning? I once was praised by is His Majesty for coming up with the prescription to curb the pandemic and my contribution in Dingzhou, no way would I get involved in shady business like selling questionable candles!”

Officer Fang was choked, he didn’t know what to say.

Cao Mo, on the other hand, gritted his teeth and continued, “Officer Fang, I won’t leave the matter at that if someone creates some unfounded countercharges. I’m deprived of my title, but I still enjoy my Shizi Madam rights! I will take no unjust accusation! I’m going to excuse myself now, Officer Fang, a friendly reminder, please show me solid evidence next time you summon me, otherwise let’s ask the emperor to uphold justice!”

With that Cao Mo turned away while Officer Fang was dumbstruck.

Cao Le jumped out from the screen, “Don’t you leave just yet, what about me!”

“Don’t try to drag me into your shit, I’m not obliged to clear up your mess! Are you that stupid? How dare you just admit something you haven’t done? Courting death is your own business, don’t drag me into it! What have I done in my last life to deserve a brother like you!”

Cao Mo averted his gaze with disgust, he didn’t want to spare Cao Le one more look.

Cao Le replied promptly, “They are beating me to death, so I had to say something they like to hear!” with that Cao Le pulled up his sleeves, both his hands were red and swollen from the sticks for squeezing a person’s fingers.

Cao Mo charged towards Officer Fang and grabbed him by the collar, “Is this your way of obtaining a confession by means of torture? All right, here’s my confession, that is my shop, Prince Ning gave it to me, I have the title deed!”

Officer Fang gasped, ‘Prince Ning? Isn’t it supposed to be Prince Xing’s, if anything?’

“Show me your title deed!” Officer Fang broke out in a cold sweat.

Cao Mo sneered, “I will only show it on the trial held by the Dali the Highest Judiciary! Tell Prince Ning, I’m no push-over!”

Cao Mo wasn’t just bluffing, he indeed had some evidence.

Some shop managers resorted to Lady Lu when all of Lu Jianzhong’s shops and properties were confiscated, Lady Lu arranged one shop manager to work at one of Cao Le’s shops, and Cao Mo’s shadow guard found that out.

Cao Mo figured it must be the Lus who are behind the scene and he was fed up! He decided to drag the real evil in!

“It’s a rather complicated case, I need more time and evidence!” Officer Fang retreated back to the backyard.

… …

“What? He doesn’t admit it?” Eunuch Gao asked Officer Fang while he was sipping some tea.

“That’s right, Eunuch Gao, Cao Mo is still Shizi Madam, I dare not exact confession by torture, plus he had dragged Prince Ning into this, what do you say if we stall him a bit longer while we think about some other ways to deal with him?”

“Nonsense!” Eunuch Gao threw the teacup on Officer Fang’s head, Officer Fang’s black gauze cap was knocked askew by the blow. “Do you think I will make this trip myself if we can afford to stall? We need to get his testimony as soon as possible, he is the Chief steward of Prince Xing’s manor, make him confess that Prince Xing has something to do with it! As for the confrontation, that’s all right, just bring Cao Mo the Chief steward of Prince Ning’s manor, whose whole family is at the mercy of me, hehe… …”

Officer Fang turned livid with fear, he had already put his family’s life at risk by framing Cao Mo, but he just realized he just had put all his clan’s life at risk because Eunuch Gao’s target was Prince Xing instead of Cao Mo.

Officer Fang returned to the yamen hall listlessly.

Cao Mo noticed the tea stains and a piece of tea leaf on Officer Fang’s black gauze cap, Cao Mo realized Officer Fang was taking orders from someone else.

“Officer, there’s some pee stains on your cap, would you like to get changed first?” Cao Mo sneered.

Officer Fang pounded on the table with his attention-catching block, “Cao Mo! How dare you slander Prince Ning! I will uphold justice and expose your lie!”

Cao Mo made a face and walked to Officer Fang with a cold smile, “Officer Fang, you are taking Prince Ning’s side now? I just heard that the empress is going to register Prince Xing under his name, I suggest you should really uphold justice in this case. Do you really think this candle farce will stop the Censorate from investigating the cheating scandal?”

Officer Fang slumped down on his chair.

“I’m feeling unwell, I will deal with this case tomorrow!”

With that Officer Fang walked Cao Mo out respectfully.

“Shizi Madam, please forgive me, I did that against my will!” Officer Fang apologized cautiously.

Cao Mo stuffed some banknotes in Officer Fang’s sleeve, “I understand, I have a suggestion for you, why not stall is as long as possible instead of coveting gaining profit in risk and pulling chestnuts out of the fire? It’s better to work when you have a clear direction, right?”

“But the thing is I can’t find a pretext.”

“I heard an employee who had dealt with the candles went missing in that shop, why not conduct a through investigation about him?” Cao Mo stressed the words ‘through investigation’.

Officer Fang nodded, he knew the only way that would keep him safe was — stalling!

Cao Le yelled when he saw Cao Mo was about to leave, “Cao Mo, come back, I’m wronged, you can’t just leave me here!”

Cao Mo replied, “You asked for it! Why did you use someone Lady Lu assigned for you? Just use this period time to reflect on yourself.”

With that Cao Mo whispered to Officer Fang, “Please take care of my good brother, I know I can count on you, Officer Fang!”

Officer Fang chuckled, he took the hint and replied, “I won’t disappoint you.”

That had sent chills down Cao Le’s spine.