Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

46. One Stone, Two Birds

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Xiao Li cried her eyes out when she heard Xiao Yugui decided to send her to Biayun Taoist Temple, she thumped her head on the ground, begging for another opportunity, yet Xiao Yugui remained untouched.

Mammy Wang was flogged to death, Xiao Yugui wasn’t satisfied by that, he asked his trusted servant Xie Yonghe to sweep Mammy Wang’s family who were also working in Xiao Mansion out like rubbish. Lady Lu dared not say a word for she was busy pretending she had nothing to do with the whole thing.

Xiao Yi didn’t care what anyone else was doing, all he cared was his husband Cao Mo, he suggested, “Father, only Mo knows the last procedure to make mirrors, the accusation doesn’t stand. Obviously that Imperial Censor Li harbors evil intent towards us by slandering us, but the thing is we are not afraid of them!”

“Yi, why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Xiao Yugui frowned, he took a seat and asked Xie Yonghe to call on Imperial Physician and invite him to come treat Cao Mo.”

Hearing that, Xiao Yi heaved a sigh of relief, choking with sobs, “Father, who would expect people would just slander Mo and our family like this, in retrospect, I’m glad we keep this to ourselves, otherwise people might come up with some other evil design against Mo and us.”

Xiao Yugui nodded, “Poor child. You may bring him back to your house and get treatment first. A reminder, son, you may use this opportunity to get rid of anyone looks suspicious in your house, all right? Dali the Highest Judiciary will send people to arrest Mo soon, I will sound them out and buy Mo some time in the Guest Hall, at least we need to let Mo get some treatment first.”

Xiao Yi trembled in fear, “Father, just buying Mo some treatment time is far from enough, look at Mo, I’m afraid I will lose him for good if they really throw him in jail.”

“Yi, I’ve always thought you as a smart kid, but listen to yourself, what else are you expecting me to do? Disobeying the imperial edict and putting our whole clan in jeopardy? For Cao Mo? Yi, sometimes I wonder what Cao Mo has done to you? Are you under his spell or something?” Xiao Yugui grunted.

Xiao Yi knew Xiao Yugui didn’t really care for Cao Mo, he sneered, “Father, I will go to jail to accounted Mo, we’ve made vows, thick and thin.”

Slap!

Xiao Yugui slapped on Xiao Yi’s face, “You unworthy child! What have you seen in him?”

Xiao Yi covered his cheek and looked at Xiao Yugui in the eye, “Father, Mo has the most pure soul I’ve ever met, he is full of surprises but he is like an open book, nice and warm to everyone around him, even the servants. I think he has proved to you that he is willing to give up his own life for me when he took that kick from you, the only thing I can to make me sleep better at night was to do what he is willing to do for me!”

Xiao Yugui was choked.

With that Xiao Yi asked servants to carry Cao Mo back to Magnolia House where Imperial Physician Zhang was waiting for them.

Imperial Physician Zhang frowned at the first sight of Cao Mo, Cao Mo’s shoulder was so swollen that it was impossible to take off his cotton-padded jacket, Xiao Yi had no choice but to ask the servants to cut off the jacket using a scissor.

Imperial Physician Zhang checked Cao Mo’s wounds and acupunctured him, then he comforted Xiao Yi, “Don’t worry too much Young Master, Young Madam passed out due to pain, it’s a good thing that he is passed out, otherwise we need to sedate him by medicine. I’m writing a prescription for him, please ask your servants to get the herbal medicine as soon as possible. All Young Madam needs now is good rest.”

Hearing that, Xiao Yi was loud in thanks, he asked Moqi to escort Imperial Physician Zhang back while he just perched by the bed, taking care of Cao Mo himself.

Soon a servant dashed in, reporting, “Master, Third Lady is here.”

“Please come in!” Xiao Yi rose to his feet and walked to the door to welcome Liu Heng.

Liu Heng and Xiao Yi exchanged a look at the door, he walked in the room and asked, “How is Mo?”

Xiao Yi brimmed with tears, “He has a shoulder fracture and now he is slowly coming back to himself.”

Liu Heng walked to Cao Mo’s bed, “Mo, alas, why did you do that, your father-in-law won’t really kick Yi, you know that?”

Cao Mo who came to himself already grinned, “I know, but I don’t want to take any risks, who could be so sure my father-in-law would see it was Yi?”

“You~ I don’t know what to say about you boys.” Liu Heng shook his head resignedly, but he found what Cao Mo said made perfect sense.

“I’m all right, Third Aunt, are you feeling well now?” asked Cao Mo with a smile.

“Mo, I’m well now. I’ve told you so many times to speak and act cautiously, now I guess you’ve learned it the hard way. I heard Li is going to be send to Baiyun Taoist Temple, hmm, she is the key witness in this case, I don’t think this is a good timing.” said Liu Heng, his voice tight and controlled.

“Plus, Li is getting punished due to Mo, this harms Mo’s reputation!” halted Liu Heng, he took a glimpse at Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi took this the hint, Xiao Yugui was trying to protect Xiao Li and throw Cao Mo to the frontline.

“Moqi, go ask Luda to stop my sister! And you, Moqi go see my Third Uncle… …” ordered Xiao Yi.

Liu Heng chimed in, “Yi, what are you doing? Don’t act on impulse!”

“Third Aunt, His Majesty just suspended court due to the Spring Festival, of course the Ministry of Works is supposed to have holiday too, but is Third Uncle home yet?”

Liu Heng stamped his foot, “Why haven’t I thought about this! Your Third Uncle would be implicated too if Mo is charged, it was him who presented His Majesty the manual, he must have been to confront the craftsmen in Department of Palace Construction!”

Liu Heng’s heart fluttered with fear as he spoke, ‘Such an evil plan! Mo and Yi will be doomed! Me and my husband will suffer as well! One stone, two birds. Only Auntie Lu and her house will escape unscratched!’

“Yi, I can’t believe it, she is family, isn’t she?” Liu Heng clenched his fists.

“I don’t know for sure whether it’s her yet, but we better stop Third Uncle before he falls into any trap.” was the reply.

“Yi, it is her, she hates happy couples the most! Before Mo marries into our family, she loathes me the most and long had she been trying to sow discord between me and your uncle, I guess now she envies you and Mo also!” sighed Liu Heng, “but you are right, we need to find your uncle first!”

Cao Mo mumbled, “I curse Imperial Censor Li till the day I die!”