Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

23. Jealousy and Slander

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo frowned, he looked at Xiao Yi, “What can we do for him?”

Xiao Yi said with indifference, “Indenture isn’t easy to break, plus I don’t have title of nobility yet, my hands are tied on this one. However, now that you’ve asked, I’m willing to ask a favor from my uncle who works in the Ministry of Works, he can reduce your tax for half a year.”

The craftsman thumped his head on the ground and was loud in his thanks.

Cao Mo felt sorry for this old man, unfortunately that was how it worked in this time and space, class division was real.

Cao Mo was satisfied with the plaster and ink that Inspector brought him, but the plaster need to be calcinated before it was put into use. There were five thousand commonly used characters, but the tricky thing was the handwriting needed to be his, so he asked Lu to record Inspector Liang’s address, he would ask Lu to send his handwriting to Inspector Liang thi night, he asked the craftsman to calcinate the plaster over night.

It was until now that Xiao Yi understood Cao Mo was doing his own typography using his own handwriting.

Cao Mo rewarded the old man a heavy tip, the old man was experienced enough, he deemed this as a cushy job so he took the job with profuse gratitude.

Xiao Yi allowed Inspector Liang to visit him in the mansion if he needed anything, Inspector Liang was wild with joy, he swore he would do his best to make sure everything went well.

With that, Cao Mo and Xiao Yi left the tea shop.

Xiao Yi looked at Cao Mo with a meaningful smile on his face, “Mo, you are so clever.”

Cao Mo said, “I’m so flattered, I just don’t have time to transcribe so many characters, so I figured I might as well do the job using typography, I will cut some templates so Qingxue can finish it for me.”

Xiao Yi somehow wasn’t happy about how Cao Mo trusted Qingxue, “Qingxue again? Aren’t you worried that she might betray you?”

Cao Mo teased Xiao Yi, “You are right, cats hide their claws, don’t they? But Cao Le is my brother, even he would slander me, with that being said, should I return my husband to him?”

Xiao Yi didn’t find it funny at all, he glared at Cao Mo, “Do you really think me as a present? And you can exchange me just like that?”

Cao Mo somehow was overwhelmed by the glare, he wanted to run away even though he knew Xiao Yi wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.

“Vice versa.” Cao Mo was so stubborn and he was reluctant to admit mistakes even though he knew he was being ridiculous.

Xiao Yi pressed Cao Mo’s shoulder and said seriously, “Ah I see, you think you can change your mind anytime now that we have not consummate yet?”

Cao Mo’s heart was pounding as Xiao Yi came closer and closer to him, he was kind of glad that there were only him and Xiao Yi in the carriage, no one else could see how blushed he was.

Cao Mo lowered his head and murmured, “What are you doing?”

Xiao Yi put his finger at Cao Mo’s chin and said, “Well, you said it yourself, ‘luckily, the younger brother’s husband was nice and gentle, they made a sweet couple’, I guess I just want to get sweet with you.”

With that Xiao Yi kissed Cao Mo before he could make any reply, Xiao Yi was a gentle kisser, Cao Mo was a sucker for the gentleness.

Cao Mo was at a loss when his husband was being so proactive, he had always thought his husband as the reserved one.

Cao Mo closed his eyes and was lost in this moment, seeing that, Xiao Yi’s lips curled, ‘great, I know we should consummate as soon as possible.’

Little did the could knew Cao Le was peeking at their carriage across the street.

As luck would have it, a breeze lifted the curtain of the carriage, Cao Le happened to see the two cuddled and kissed tenderly, ‘It should be me who is having all the happiness, I should be the one who is being loved!’

In the tea shop, the storyteller was performing a new story, “Greetings, guests! Today I will tell a new story about two brothers… … the older brother was so lonely and poor in old age while the younger brother lived happily ever after, karma is real, you will get what you give.”

Cao Le ran into the tea pot like crazy, “Nonsense! Nonsense! I will live happily, but he will suffer for the rest of his life, I’m sure, I’m sure!”

… …

In Cien Temple, Dowager Xiao was chanting scriptures when her maid Mammy Qin presented her a letter.

Dowager Xiao opened the letter and read it, “I’m not dead yet, but I guess I’m dead to the kids.”

Mammy Qin didn’t know what was on the letter, so she took the letter and read it, it was the news that Xiao Yi got married with a man, from an ordinary family. No wonder Dowager Xiao was mad, the juniors in the house informed Dowager Xiao about this information via a letter.

“What do you have in mind, Dowager Xiao?” asked Mammy Qin with concern.

Dowager Xiao said, “They say the bride is from an ordinary family, go find out his family background for me. And go grind some ink and spread out a sheet of paper, I will write a letter to Lady Xiao, how dare she arrange a male wife for the eldest grandson in our family!”

Mammy Qin came back after an hour, “Dowager Xiao, please forgive me for what I’m about to say.”

Dowager Xiao had seen it all, she asked Mammy Qin in a calm and collected manner, “Tell me, what have you found?”

Mammy Qin lowered her voice, “Young Madam’s father is just a magistrate, but that’s fine, the thing is neither he nor his older brother has a good name, they fight for Young Master’s favor, it has raised an uproar of ridicule.”

Dowager Xiao put away the wooden knocker and asked, “Is that true? Where have you heard that?”

“All the storytellers are telling stories about the two brothers, it ruined our Young Master’s good name.” with that Mammy Qin peeped at Dowager Xiao’s expressions, she didn’t want Dowager Xiao to get too upset by this.

“It must be Lady Xiao! I cannot stand that woman for one more day, the length she would go to defame my Yi and pave the way for her son, it’s outrageous! Mammy Qin, we are going back home tomorrow!” said Dowager Xiao loud and clear.