Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

197. Disturbances Arose Repeatedly

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo and Xiao Yi were surrounded by the Yangs as soon as they dismounted from the horseback.

Madam Yang wailed on seeing Cao Mo, “My daughter just died a horrible death! I’m not asking for much today, I just want her to rest in peace, you need to take her memorial tablet to your ancestral hall!”

Xiao Yi stepped forward and glared at Madam Yang, “I’m sorry for what has happened to your daughter, but you cannot just ask someone to just take her memorial tablet. I haven’t even touched your daughter, I cannot take such responsibility!”

Madam Yang knelt down in front of Cao Mo, she grabbed Cao Mo’s thigh and wept bitterly, “Shizi Madam, please uphold justice for me! My daughter is ill-starred, she couldn’t marry into Xiao family when she was alive, but please take her memorial tablet now that she is dead already! This is a way to accumulate virtue for yourself!”

Cao Mo frowned, “Madam Yang, you better talk to Prince Ning instead of me and my husband. Every injustice has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor! I was drunk that night, but I knew me and Yi got so busy that it was impossible for him to capture your daughter and get intimate with her!”

Xiao Yi managed to keep a straight face on hearing that, he produced a jade pendant from his sleeve and showed it to Madam Yang. It was such an exquisite pendant with the engraving of the character of Ning, one could tell immediately this pendant was made in the palace by the craftsmanship.

“Madam Yang, Lady Yang had been carrying this thing around, you are one sophisticated lady, I’m sure you can tell who is the owner of this pendant. Why not stop this nonsense and take your daughter’s body back to your own manor. You have your family’s reputation to consider as well.”

Madam Yang felt so embarrassed on seeing the jade pendant.

Cao Mo then supported her to stand up, “Madam Yang, I feel sorry for what happened to your daughter, the pressing matter of the moment is to wrap Lady Yang in a shroud and find her a good coffin. Me and Yi can be her sworn brothers and do this for you, what do you think?”

Madam Yang nodded tearfully, she kept sobbing about her daughter but she didn’t mention a word about asking Xiao Yi to take her daughter’s memorial tablet.

Xiao Yi soon purchased shroud and coffin for Yao Wenyuan in the name of her sworn brother and put her coffin in a temple in the suburb temporarily.

Prince Ning threw a tantrum on hearing how Cao Mo and Xiao Yi smoothed that over, he said furiously, “What a loyal couple! They are still helping Prince Xing out at this point!”

“Your Highness, the only way out now is to say Xiao Yi bribed your page and asked him to steal your jade pendant!” said Eunuch Gao.

Prince Ning turned more livid, “Am I a joke to you! By accusing Xiao Yi of bribing my page and stealing my jade pendant is no difference than telling the whole country that killing me is mighty easy!”

Eunuch Gao looked so confused, “But are you going to admit you and Lady Yang were lovers?”

Prince Ning sneered, “A wanton like her doesn’t deserve that! She was in my carriage and got in intimate with me, then she was willing to leave me for Xiao Yi the next second! What a wanton!”

Eunuch Gao lowered his head and said, “I got it, Lady Yang died because of him!”

Prince Ning nodded and said, “I will separate those two for sure this time… …”

Cao Mo and Xiao Yi went to Prince Xing’s manor hand in hand.

Prince Xing pulled a long face, “Mo! What a temper you have! You cannot even tolerate a memorial tablet!”

“It’s not just a memorial tablet, it’s telling the country that Yi and Lady Yang were lovers, and we all know that’s not true! How are people going to see Yi? It’s not good for your reputation, either, Your Highness!”

Eunuch Gao flared up, “But I have offended the empress because of this, the emperor has even sent Wenyuan to the temple! And you can solve all these by taking Lady Yang’s memorial tablet into your ancestral hall!”

Cao Mo sneered, “Your problems will be solved by that! But what about Yi’s problem, my problem? What if Madam Yang asks us to adopt a son in her dead daughter’s name? What if Madam Yang asks me to kowtow to her daughter’s memorial tablet? Your Highness, me and Yi have been working hard for you, how can you do this to us?”

“How ungovernable!” Prince Xing roared, “Do you know how many scholars are talking about this now? They all say Xiao Yi has seduced Lady Yang when he knew Lady Yang was Prince Ning’s lover, but Xiao Yi denied it after Lady Yang committed suicide for him! Xiao Yi now is being condemned by them, are you happy now?”

Cao Mo averted his face and asked Xiao Yi, “Are you afraid?”

Xiao Yi smiled with affection, “I’m not afraid of anything as long as you are here with me.”

Prince Xing pressed his forehead and said, “Don’t act on impulse, a repeated slander makes others believe!”

“But everyone knows me and Yi are in love, isn’t it ridiculous to say Xiao Yi has seduced Lady Yang? What are those scholars thinking, me and Yi have exchanged vows! Plus, is it that easy to seduce Lady Yang?”

“Your Highness, I believe this is all Prince Ning’s doing. I won’t defend myself, all I want to do is to hold Mo’s hand tightly, we will advance and retreat together.” Xiao Yi grabbed Cao Mo’s hand and said, “You have been talking about conquering the sea, let’s do that instead of arguing with those scholars!”

Prince Xing shook his head, “I’m looking forward to seeing how you are going to end this!”

“I will prove to the world that I love and I only love Mo!”

“How are you going to prove that?” Cao Mo’s eyes sparkled.

“I will take you to admire the stars tonight!” Xiao Yi said in earnest.

… …

Sky Lanterns had been flying to the sky after sunset in Xiao Manor.

There were a poem and a drawing on every lantern, all the drawings were two men who were either hugging each other or laughing together, you could tell it was Cao Mo and Xiao Yi on a second look, the drawings had recorded their everyday life.

“You are the sun that shines brightly throughout my day. You are the moon that shimmers throughout my night. You are stars that glimmer oh so bright.”

“Thoughts of you surround me. You’re the beating of my heart. The love you give defines me. My life is no longer dark.”