Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

81. Where is Cao Mo?

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo sat in a moving carriage, he had no idea what he could do to help himself.

All of a sudden, Cao Mo heard a familiar voice from outside. He popped his head out of the portiere, it was Cao Le who was slapping a beggar on the street.

Cao Mo kicked one of his shoes out, the shoe happened to land on Cao Le’s head.

Cao Le turned his head in a rage, what came to his sight was Cao Mo who was bind up and gagged with a towel in the mouth.

Cao Le ran a few steps to figure out what was going on, then he recognized that was one of Lu Manor’s carriage. Cao Le responded with a sneer, he was in such a good mood that he even let go of the beggar.

… …

In Magnolia House, Xiao Yi slowly woke up after two hours or so. He walked to the yard and no one responded to his order.

Xiao Yi looked around, he saw Mohua crying under the pillar, “Mohua, where is the Young Madam?”

Mohua opened and closed his mouth in turn, it looked like he was swallowing back the words on the tip of his tongue.

Xiao Yi pressed his forehead and said, “It’s all right, I will go find him myself.”

In Pear Fragrance Hall, the guests were all hungry, but Cao Mo was nowhere to be seen, he was the one who was in charge of the banquet.

Dowager Xiao looked rather displeased, “Where is the Young Madam?”

All the pages and maids shook their heads in unison.

So the servants were busy looking for Cao Mo when Xiao Yi arrived.

In order to mollify the guests, Xiao Yugui ordered the kitchen to serve the food without Cao Mo.

About half an hour later, all the servants came back with the same message, ‘the Young Madam is nowhere to be seen.’

It wasn’t until then did people realize Cao Mo was missing.

The doorman came with the message that Cao Mo left the manor about three hours ago, but no one knew where he had gone to.

“Father, please excuse me, I need to go to Cao Manor to have a look.” Xiao Yi bowed to Xiao Yugui.

This didn’t feel like something that Cao Mo would do, he would always tell Xiao Yi wherever he was going or he planned to go, ‘this doesn’t bode well’, thought Xiao Yi.

… …

Magistrate Cao wasn’t home, the butler told Xiao Yi that they hadn’t seen Cao Mo.

Xiao Yi rushed to Yao Manor and asked Yao Wenyuan the same question, Yao Wenyuan shook his head and replied, “Please bring him with you next time you visit, I’m obsessed with Sudoku now, it’s so much fun… …”

Xiao Yi left the room before Yao Wenyuan could finish his sentence.

Xiao Yi stood on the street in a daze, thinking where else could Cao Mo possibly had gone to. He knew how much Xiao Yi hated the Lus, so he ruled the Lus out in his mind.

All of a sudden, Xiao Yi saw a beggar sitting on the street’s corner, holding a shoe.

Xiao Yi’s eyes sparkled when he saw the shoe, he alighted from the horse and ran towards the beggar, “Have you seen the shoe’s owner?”

The beggar blew his nose and said, “My Lord, please have mercy, I’m starving here.”

Xiao Yi withdrew a silver ingot from his sleeve and put it in the beggar’s bowl, “Here, this will buy you food for an entire year, please tell me now.”

“The owner of the shoe was in a carriage, but it looked like he is abducted, because his mouth was gagged with a towel and he was struggling so hard. He kicked his shoe and the shoe landed on someone’s head, but that someone was so happy that the shoe’s owner was suffering.”

The beggar had run away before Xiao Yi could ask who that ‘someone’ was, somehow Xiao Yi suspected it was Prince Xing.

… …

Xiao Yi banged the gate of Prince Xing’s manor, “This is Xiao Yi, son of Marquis Valour, I need to see Prince Xing, this is an emergency.”

“May I ask what this is about, I need to report to His Highness before I let you in.” the door man opened a creak.

“Prince Xing is my cousin, this is about my wife, you tell me whether this is an emergency!” Xiao Yi tried to push the gate open, “Let me in!”

“Young Master, please come back tomorrow morning, His Lordship is asleep now, no one dares to disturb!” the doorman showed signs of reluctance.

“No, go report now! You are landing yourself in some serious trouble, go now!” Xiao Yi gnashed his teeth.

The doorman had to report to Prince Xing about Xiao Yi’s arrival.

About half an hour later, Xiao Yi was escorted to Prince Xing’s study.

On seeing Xiao Yi, Prince Xing yawned, “Cousin, so good to see you, I heard your wife is missing, and it looks like you are suspecting I’m behind the scene?”

Xiao Yi begged, “Cousin, please help me find Mo!”

“You know what, I have nothing to do with this. But you are at the right place now, I’m the only one who is able to find Mo in the whole capital city. It’s just your wife has started on the wrong foot with me and Wenyuan… …”

Xiao Yi bit his lips, “Cousin, I can convince Mo to give you the manufacture method of soap, and he will show more respect to Wenyuan.”

Prince Xing chuckled, “I’m kidding, you are my cousin, of course I will help you.”

Xiao Yi finally showed a smile, “Thank you so much!”

“Just try to keep it in mind that I’ve helped you and your wife.” a meaningful smile flashed across Prince Xing’s face.

“We will have undying gratitude for your great kindness.”

Xiao Yi and Prince Xing had never been close, Prince Xing just felt so touched seeing how desperate Xiao Yi was when Cao Mo was missing. He wished the emperor had cared for his mother like this… …

“Butler Wang, go find out whether Mo’s carriage has left the capital city or not.” Prince Xing ordered his butler.

Butler Wang returned at dawn with the great news that there was no carriage had left the city at night.

Xiao Yi heaved a sigh of relief, it would be a whole lot easier to find Mo as long as he was still in the city.

“Cousin, does Mo have any enemies?” Prince Xing asked.

“I don’t think so, Mo is just a carefree person, people like him, but why?” Xiao Yi replied.

“Hmm, the emperor has ordered Department of Palace Construction to present him a mirror within three days”, Prince Xing explained, “I just think this must have something to do with Mo’s missing.”

“You mean this is Lu Jianzhong and Imperial Censor Li’s doing?” Xiao Yi’s eyes sparkled.

Prince Xing didn’t answer, he circled some suspicious spots on the map, “Look, you can bring my people to all these spots, I guarantee you Mo is taken by them.”

“Wait, just say you asked me to give you some people but you didn’t tell me why you have borrowed them from me if anybody has asked.” Prince Xing said in a serious manner.

“Of course! I will be forever grateful, cousin.” Xiao Yi bowed to Prince Xing.