Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

26. An Iron Hand in a Velvet Glove

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Hearing that, Xiao Yi raise his glass and said to Dowager Xiao, “Grandmother, as you can tell, thanks to Mo I’m getting better and better every single day, I’ll definitely study harder and pass the provincial civil service examination next year.”

Dowager Xiao beamed, “How great, I know my grandson has good prospects, I’m just so happy for your dead mother that you turn out to be such a good boy.”

Xiao Yi grabbed Cao Mo and kowtowed to Dowager Xiao, “Me and Mo may grandmother live a hundred years!”

Elders like Dowager Xiao liked to hear auspicious greetings like this, she smiled, “Good kids, I wasn’t home when you kids got married, but I’m so happy for you kids, Mammy Qin, go fetch the jade ruyi in my room.”

Mammy Qin soon returned with a sparkling jade ruyi in her hand, Dowager Xiao handed the ruyi to Cao Mo in person, Cao Mo could feel the audience were lashing jealous glares on him.

Xiao Yi pulled Cao Mo’s sleeve, signaling him to take the ruyi.

“Thank you so much, grandmother.” said Cao Mo shyly, “I will take good care of Yi.”

Mammy Qin supported the two to rise, Moqi took the ruyi from Cao Mo and went back to Magnolia House to keep it in a proper place.

Mrs. Lu grabbed Cao Mo and exclaimed, “What a beauty, you surely are Yi’s lucky star, he is turning better and better thanks to you, hmm, my daughter does have done a great matchmaking for you and Yi.”

Dowager Xiao didn’t say anything, she just smiled as a reply. She knew Mrs. Lu was trying to talk her daughter up, but Dowager Xiao held that behaviour in contempt.

Mrs. Lu smiled at Mrs. Liu, “My good sister, have you heard that the Ministry of Works has successfully developed the way to produce mirrors, your son-in-law, Liu Heng’s husband Xiao Yuzhen supervised the craftsmen with a manual, but he respects his elder brother too much that he gives the credit to my son-in-law, Xiao Yugui. Thank you so much for instructing such a good son-in-law, my good sister, can I ask you a favor, please save some mirrors for me.”

Mrs. Liu preferred to stay low key, she said modestly, “My good sister, I’m flattered, it’s just mirrors are so precious, I’m afraid my son-in-law won’t have them even for himself.”

Lady Lu glared at Mrs. Liu for turning her mother down, Cao Mo and Xiao Yi just got some mirrors from Xiao Yuzhen and Liu Heng, now they were turning her mother down, she had heard that it was Cao Mo who had presented Xiao Yuzhen the manual, probably that was why Cao Mo could have the mirrors. Probably that was also why Xiao Yugui had been partial to Magnolia House.

That was news to Dowager Xiao as well, she did not like it when she had to hear about the updated of her sons from someone else.

Cao Mo had no idea about that either, he was mad at Xiao Yi for he was kept in the dark about the updates of mirror producing.

Xiao Yi tried to appease his wife’s anger, he stepped forward and bowed to Mrs. Lu, “Mrs. Lu, Mo is still learning etiquette, is he doing all right, aiya, look at him holding your hand like this!” with that Xiao Yi pulled Cao Mo aside, saving him from the lady’d touching.

Mrs. Lu gave a dry laugh, “You wife is doing so great, no wonder everyone in the family speaks so highly of him.”

Dowager Xiao also laughed, “How could the kids deserve your praise like this, you are spoiling them, Mrs. Lu.”

Mrs. Liu chimed in, “I agree with Mrs. Lu, the kids make a perfect couple, we are just stating the truth because we are family, tonight is a family gathering, that’s why me and Mrs. Lu are so happy and talk to the kids so much, Mo is indeed a good kid.”

Xiao Yi bowed to Mrs. Liu.

Cao Mo followed suits, again he didn’t do it properly, Mrs. Liu instructed a few times and Cao Mo made some progress.

Dowager Xiao watched that and nodded in approval, “Thank you so much for willing to instruct him, Mo indeed is a good kid, the only thing is he comes from humble origins, and I was in the temple when Yi married him… …”

Cao Mo narrowed his eyes, ‘yep, I’ve been waiting for this the whole night, I know you will bring this up. Deep down Dowager Xiao isn’t happy about this marriage either, she of course hopes her first grandson could find a well-matched marriage which will do their entire family good, her sons will secure more alliance in court if Xiao Yi can find a perfect match, why not?’

Just now Dowager Xiao comforted him in front of everyone and gave him a precious jade ruyi, she didn’t really mean it, she was just taking down Lady Lu a peg or two by being nice to Cao Mo.

Cao Mo was so sick and tired of these fake smiles, it felt like an iron hand in a velvet glove. Mrs. Lu was reminding him that he needed to be grateful to her daughter for aranging this marriage for him, Mrs. Liu was reminding him to just behave himself, Dowager Xiao was reminding him that he was not the ideal match for her grandson. Cao Mo was so done, he didn’t understand why everyone was trying to talk him down and meddle in his life.

Lady Lu put on a friendly smile and chimed in, “It’s all my fault that Mo is missing some instructions, but Mo has been busy taking care of Yi since they got married, please forgive him.”

Cao Mo didn’t appreciate the fake help, “Lady Lu has taught me, I’m just too stupid to make any progress, I figure I better transcribe more The Classic of Filial Piety as I was told to.”

Lady Lu flushed crimson in embarrassment, “I dared not to instruct you any more, it seems like you are holding a grudge against me for disciplining you, you are certainly no paragon of virtue, not the ideal wife material!”

Mrs. Lu also tried to defend her daughter, “You mother-in-law is helping you to understand the philosophy of filial piety, you are the Young Madam after all.”

Cao Mo was about to talk back when he felt Xiao Yi pinched him on his thigh, he turned back and shot a glare at Xiao Yi.