Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

29. Cao Mo is Framed up

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo was doing his own business in the toilet, he thought Xiao Qian’s wet nurse must be feeding Xiao Qian the duck bun for courtesy sake when she saw him and Xiao Yi, she was going to eat the bun herself, but she wanted to leave a good impression on them, so she pretended to feed the bun to Xiao Qian.

Cao Mo felt glad it was him not Xiao Qian who had eaten the questionable bun and suffered diarrhoea.

‘Wait, why was the wet nurse waiting for me and Yi at the door? It’s so windy there, how can a toddler take that?’

Cao Mo thought for a while and came up with a conclusion, the wet nurse was waiting for him and Xiao Yi on purpose, and she new Cao Mo would grab the greasy bun from her and ate it himself, it was a trap!

With that in mind, Cao Mo finished his business and walked out.

Mammy Wang had been waiting to catch him outside, seeing Cao Mo’s figure, Mammy Wang shouted, “There he is, go get him!”

Two servants came tackle Cao Mo, Cao Mo demanded, “What are you doing? What is going on?”

Mammy Wang answered in smug satisfaction, “Young Madam, you think no one knows your doing in this family? You shouldn’t scheme against the Second Young Master!”

Cao Mo was forced to Cunxi Hall by the servants.

What came to Cao Mo’s sight was Mrs. Cao, his mother, wailing miserably, “My poor son… …”

Cao Mo was so confused.

Cao Le was lying on a futon, his clothes torn and tattered.

Xiao Jin was kneeling on the ground, looking crestfallen.

Cao Mo took a few deep breath, he knew this had nothing to do with him for he was absent for the past hour or so, he collected himself and asked, “What’s going on?”

Cao Le said tearfully, “I know you have been holding some grudge against me since I forced you to marry Xiao Yi, but I’m your elder brother after all, how could you do this to me!”

Cao Mo wasn’t following, he replied, “I said thank you already, me and my husband are very happy, and I don’t know what you are talking about, I haven’t done anything to you.”

Cao Le trembled, “You put philter in the Second Young Master’s wine, and I… I…”

Cao Mo gasped in astonishment, he defended himself, “I have nothing to do with this, I had a questionable duck bun and had been in the toilet for the past hour or so, how can I possibly be the one who had put philter in the wine?”

While Cao Mo thought Magistrate Cao must be smiling in secret now, for he now had a irrefutable excuse to marry Cao Le to the Xiao Family too.

Mammy Wang sneered, “Young Madam, please stop lying, no one has seen you in the toilet, plus someone has found your hairpin in the kitchen!”

Cao Mo replied, “What if I’ve accidentally lost my hairpin?”

Mammy Wang continued aggressively, “There are servants who have seen you sneaking into the kitchen, and we’ve found a sachet philter powder in the pocket your cloak, solid evidence!”

“Would I leave so many clues against myself if it’s really me? Which servants have seen me? I’d like to meet them!” Cao Mo glared at Mammy Wang.

Dowager Xiao reproached Cao Mo, “What have you taken us for? I won’t just sit and watch you being so shrewish and make a scene like this. We shouldn’t make this issue public, it’s true Jin has done something horrible to Cao Le, Mammy Wang, escort Cao Le to Liu Heng, tell Liu Heng to take good care of Cao Le. I will find out the truth and uphold justice for him. Servants, take Cao Mo to the utility room and lock him in!”

Cao Mo yelled, “Dowager Xiao, please think twice, I haven’t done anything wrong. Why are you doing this to me, this is outrageous! Dowager Xiao please give me the opportunity to cross-examine those servants!”

Dowager Xiao’s face darkened, “You are still making a scene, shut it!”

“This is your side of the story, you say you have witnessed and you say you have material evidence, but can I see them before you sentence me! I swear whoever does this will die a horrible death!” Cao Mo gritted his teeth and looked at Mammy Wang.

Mammy Wang’s face turned red, but she was still firm in speech, “Young Madam, how can you say such uncouth thing in front of Her Ladyship?”

“Her Ladyship is not upholding justice for me, I’m getting locked in and I don’t have a chance to even defend myself. Please think, does this make sense? Why would I risk everything I have now to hurt my own brother?”

Lady Lu didn’t want to hear one more word, “You bastard, you’ve ruined my son’s good name! Bad excuses are worse than none! Just quit it!”

“It’s not me! I was framed too, I had a bun and suffered diarrhea, I was in the toilet for the past hour or so. I’d like to ask Mammy Wang why is she wronging me like this? Listen, Cao Le is my own brother, why would I hurt him in a family gathering? Plus… …” Cao Mo was dragged out before he could finish.

Lady Lu narrowed her eyes, if this was really Cao Mo’s doing, it was too risky for him. And obviously the loss outweighted the gain, Cao Mo wouldn’t like to see his brother be someone’s wife or concubine, of course he would hope his brother to marry a girl and have kids.

Mammy Wang knew Lady Lu the best, she knew Lady Lu was having second thoughts now, so she chimed in, “Your Ladyship, don’t listen to the nonsense. Young Madam is doing this to set the Second Young Master up, he is doing his best to defame the Second Young Master. Plus there are both witnesses and material evidence, I’m afraid that’s not a coincidence!”

Lady Lu didn’t know whom she should believe at this point.

“It’s not me!” screamed Cao Mo, he grabbed the door frame and struggled. But Lady Lu’s hatred against Cao Mo prevailed, she was more willing to believe Cao Mo was guilty.

Cao Le added fuel to the fire by rising to his feet and walking to Cao Mo, “Mo, you are my little brother, how can you do this to me!”

Cao Mo rejected anxiously, “No, it’s not me, you know it’s not me!”

Cao Le whispered at Cao Mo’s ear, “It’s time to return what you owe me! Do you think you have destroyed me by defaming me through some story-tellers? This time I will take back what belongs to me!”