Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

73. Poisonous Gnats

Translator: Sissy That Walk

The guests looked at Big Fifth Madam with disgust, she felt so wronged and aggrieved, she thumped the table and said, “I haven’t done anything, it’s not me! I have no idea why he is poisoned, you cannot just assume it’s me just because the wine pot was in my hand!”

Unfortunately no one believe what she said for she already had a certain reputation over the years, she would seek revenge for the smallest grievance.

Dowager Xiao had to throw her out to mollify the guest, people were worried what if she intended to poison more people.

Big Fifth Madam grieved to the extent of wishing to die on her way home, but no one tried to comfort her. Big Fifth Madam hanged herself on that very night, on the Lunar New Year’s Eve.

… …

Big Fifth Madam’s grandson Xiao Lian came to give an obituary notice, he wept aloud in front of Marquis Valour’s Manor, “My grand mother was so wronged, she hanged herself to prove her innocence! It’s you, it’s you people who have wronged her and made her die, you all should be responsible, my grandmother didn’t poison anyone, I demand justice for my grandmother!”

The doorman was overwhelmed by the news, it was the first day of the lunar year, but a relative came to give an obituary notice and basically accused of them being the killer!

Xiao Yugui asked the doorman to take Xiao Lian to the house and then he sent people to report this to Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi fumed, “Isn’t this a classic show of a thief crying ‘Stop thief, how outrageous! Imperial Physician Zhang is still here, I’m more than happy to look into this and see whose fault this is.”

Xiao Yi rushed to the hall, he glared at Xiao Lian the second he saw him, “How dare you run your mouth like this! We have more than one hundred of witnesses yesterday, it was your grandmother Big Fifth Madam made Mo drink the wine, and Mo showed symptom of being poisoned right after that, he is still unconscious! Look at you, the grandson of the villain brought suit against the victims!”

Xiao Lian gave way to a storm of weeping, “The last words of my grandmother is I’m wronged, it’s not me! Seek justice for me!”

With that Xiao Lian opened a white cloth with a message written in Big Fifth Madam’s blood, “It’s not me! I swear I will suffer in hell if it’s me!”

Xiao Yi and Xiao Yugui exchanged a look, obviously they didn’t expect this to happen, Big Fifth Madam was a relative after all, but they couldn’t be bothered to investigate this case at the moment.

Xiao Yugui pondered for a while, he knew the highest priority at the moment was to pacify Xiao Lian and his family, “Lian, I’m so sorry for your loss, but no one domestic shame should not be made public. I promise you I will look into this soon and I will seek you an official job after the Lantern Festival. Go home now and comfort your family.”

Xiao Lian agreed with alacrity, he left after shedding some more tears.

… …

To return to Cao Mo.

Cao Mo didn’t came to life until night, he had been toiling for the event for a long time, so he took this opportunity as a way to catch up on sleep .

“Aiya, Mo, finally you are waking up! I’ve been worried sick, Amida Buddha, we are really lucky that Imperial Physician Zhang was here last night, do you remember what happened? How are you feeling now?” Xiao Yi jumped for joy when he saw Cao Mo slowly opening his eyes.

Cao Mo opened his eyes with some effort, “What and what now? What time is it now? Didn’t I just fall asleep? Yes, I’m feeling so much better, do you know how long I haven’t slept like this?”

“You were poisoned,” Xiao Yi frowned, “Well, not exactly a strong deadly poison, this poison will make people weak and feeble. I’m so glad you have waken up, I can’t even bear to think what if… what if…”

Xiao Yi couldn’t finish the sentence, “This is all my fault, I should have taken care of everything for you, I’m sorry I have exposed you to danger!”

Cao Mo grabbed Xiao Yi’s hand and said, “That’s nonsense, we both know you are doing as much as me, if not more. Don’t worry, I will be fine, we will be just fine as long as we are together.”

“Mo, do you know what has happened? You were poisoned by Big Fifth Madam, the yellow rice wine you drank was poisoned by her. We thought you knew it, isn’t that why you asked Mohua to get a new pot of wine?”

“What? No! That’s not the reason why I asked Mohua to get a new pot of wine, but I had been watching Big Fifth Madam last night, I don’t think she would have the chance to poison the wine.” Cao Mo was so confused.

“I have no clue then, I thought you knew it was poisoned.”

Cao Mo shook his head, “All I saw was there was a little bug in the cup, so I pretended I was tipsy and knocked over the cup.”

“Really? Just a little bug? It’s really not her? It’s such a shame Big Fifth Madam hanged herself.”

“What? Why? She killed herself? I didn’t mean to… …” Cao Mo was choked with sorrow.

“It’s none of your business, you weren’t even there when she was blamed and thrown out of our manor.” Xiao Yi comforted Cao Mo, “This is not your fault, now let’s try to think what happened last night and find out the truth.”

“Yeah, it’s just a little bug in the cup, I have no idea what happened.”

“A little bug in this cold winter?” Xiao Yi frowned.

“Yeah, Mammy Qian has reminded me to keep an eye on this Big Fifth Madam, so I was very cautious the whole time, I’m sure I’ve seen a little bug in the cup.”

“Hmm, can you recall who gave her the wine pot?”

“Mammy Qin took the wine pot from grandmother’s right side!” Cao Mo exclaimed.

“No way it’s grandmother! Especially not on such auspicious day like yesterday.” Xiao Yi thought for a while and said, “Moqi, go send some fresh fruits to Mammy Qin and look around in her room to see whether there’s poisonous gnats in her room.”

Soon Moqi came back rushing in with a few poisonous gnats in hand, “I found these gnats under the table!”

Cao Mo’s voice trembled, “Mammy Qin is seeking revenge!”

“Probably Mammy Qin was trying to embarrass you because she thought grandmother will scold you if Big Second Madam is poisoned at the dinner organized by you!” Xiao Yi said, “And you will lose the power of manage the household.”

“Such a jerk! We can’t keep her any longer!” Cao Mo sprang to his feet.

Xiao Yi grabbed Cao Mo’s hand and said, “Wait, you cannot confront her now, I will report this to grandmother and send her to one of our country estates. Just don’t confront her now, not worth it.”