Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

163. Soft Body Armor

Translator: Sissy That Walk

The examination results were announced three days after, Yao Wenyuan won the title of Number One Scholar (title conferred on the one who came first in the imperial examination), while Xiao Yi was the second place. The two did a parade riding on horseback, becoming the talk of the town.

Censorate Supervisor was even conferred on Yao Wenyuan, a sixth ranking position. He was honored to take a trip to Jiangnan and Jiangxi on the emperor’s behalf, thus he became Prince Xing, Cao Mo and Xiao Yi’s fellow traveller.

Cao Mo was annoyed by that, he didn’t think Yao Wenyuan would do better than Xiao Yi in the exam. ‘Prince Ning must have tampered with the result, to fawn upon Prince Xing?’

Cao Mo swore he would find out the truth, “What’s going on? How come you two are on the top of the list after the cheating scandal you two found out?”

“Don’t think Prince Ning mean well? He just wants me and Yao Wenyuan become the target of public criticism.” Xiao Yi sneered, “People were already pointing finger at me and Wenyuan when we checked the results, they accused us of employing trickery in the exam. They didn’t shut up until Wenyuan wrote the answers from his memory on the wall. Prince Ning, clever people may be victims of their own cleverness, he has given Wenyuan an opportunity to prove his talent.”

“Are you fine with this? You were confident to get the title of Number One Scholar!” Cao Mo felt indignant, he knew Prince Ning was sowing discord by making Yao Wenyuan the Number One Scholar, he wanted Xiao Yi and Prince Xing to fall out, but Xiao Yi had seen through Prince Ning’s trick.

Xiao Yi nodded, “It’s okay I’m just the second the place, the first place is liable to be attacked.”

“No, your eyes are saying otherwise, you care!” Cao Mo replied, “You always stoop to compromise for the bigger picture, but do you know how greedy people could be? Prince Xing is someone who kicks down the ladder after he is done, we definitely need to make a point!”

… …

Xiao Yugui held a three-day banquet in the manor to celebrate this event for Xiao Yi, all the servants got perks of one more month’s salary. He even asked Cao Mo and Xiao Yi to greet guests at the gate.

Xiao Yugui beamed with smile the whole time, he couldn’t help but imagine the day he and Xiao Yi both become important officials in court, thus their positions would be more secured. And he praised Cao Mo in the heart, Cao Mo had indeed bring good luck to their family.

Prince Xing had sent them a lavish gift to Xiao Yi — the title of academician in National Academy, also a sixth ranking official position! And Xiao Yi would join the trip on the ground of collecting the ancient books in Hunan and Hubei.

… …

They picked an auspicious day to set out.

Xiao Yugui took the couple to bid farewell to Dowager Xiao and arranged the household affairs before they actually left, soon they and the family members who were seeing them off arrived at the city gate.

Prince Xing and his three thousand troop were marching towards them in formidable array, Prince Xing held the plaque written by the emperor in his chest, it meant Prince Xing would wield power as the emperor himself in Hunan and Hubei.

Seeing this, Cao Le turned green with envy.

Lady Lu sneered, “You are ill-stared, you would be the one who is enjoying all these if you had married Xiao Yi yourself.”

Cao Le didn’t say anything, he knew Lady Lu just wanted him and Cao Mo to fight at outrance, but he was in no position to fight Cao Mo at this point.

A familiar figure emerged behind him, it was Auntie Lu, she said coldly, “I don’t think you can suppress your indignation.”

Cao Le replied in resentment, “Please enlighten me, Second Aunt.”

Auntie Lu said with indifference, “I am detested by them too, I will help you if you are having a hard time as well, but you need to do something for me first. We both know Prince Xing and they are going to Hunan and Hubei to raise army provisions, I want to know their plan, you will be rewarded handsomely if you can find out.”

With that Auntie Lu stared at Cao Le, ‘You will take my offer!’

Cao Le smiled, “How can I find out their plan now that they all have left.”

“But their servants in the manor haven’t left, especially the ones in Magnolia House, surely they know what Cao Mo has been doing.” Auntie Lu spoon-fed Cao Le.

Cao Le sneered, “Second Aunt, I do hate Cao Mo, but I’m his brother after all. Do you think I don’t know you are involved in the candle scandal? I know who you work for. I also know why Marquis Valour insisted on separating from your house! Don’t underestimate me!”

“What if the Xiaos are toppled, but you are conferred a rank of nobility? I swear I will help you to take down Xiao Jin as long as you help me, how do you like that?” Auntie Lu looked confident, then she smiled with disdain, “Let me know when you have an answer, and no one can help you after tomorrow!”

Cao Le stared at Auntie Lu’s retiring figure and thought about what she just said, ‘Is that possible?’

… …

Prince Xing’s carriage and the troop were not going fast.

But Cao Mo got bored soon after they left the capital city, he insisted on riding a horse instead of sitting in the carriage, Xiao Yi picked two meek horses and accompanied him.

“Watch out!” Cao Mo cried out loud not long after he rode the horse.

An arrow was shot at Cao Mo’s chest with a flash as he cried out to warn others!

“Mo!” with that Xiao Yi charged forward like crazy, he drew his sword from his sheath and was ready to avenge Cao Mo.

Prince Xing asked his troop to search the forest as he heard Cao Mo, and to his surprise, Xiao Yi wasn’t the invalid he appeared as, he was a very capable martial artist instead.

Xiao Yi cleared a path using his sword in no time, but all there left was bows and arrows scattered on the ground, it looked like the assassins had already left.

Imperial Physician Zhang was already there to take care Cao Mo when Xiao Yi came back, Imperial Physician Zhang found the tip of the arrow was bent, his eyebrow raised and he thought the arrow must have met something harder.

Imperial Physician Zhang checked Cao Mo and found he was perfectly fine, he didn’t say anything and brought the arrow to Prince Xing instead.

“Mo, how are you?” Xiao Yi asked with concern.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” Cao Mo flashed a cunning smile, “I’m wearing the soft body armor, I’m not hurt.”

“Oh no, Imperial Physician Zhang has taken the arrow to Prince Xing!” Xiao Yi frowned.

“That’s okay, it’s just a matter of time before he finds out. What we need to do now is to think what else we can ask from him, is it too soon if I ask for a fifth ranking position for you?”