Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

88. Mohua’s Confession

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Prince Xing rubbed his cheek in pain, little did he expect their first intimate contact would be face slapping, but he wasn’t upset about it.

“Are you done yet? I’m right here, you are welcome to slap more if you are not done!”

Prince Xing meant to make this occasion light-hearted by making a joke, but his poker face didn’t quite convey his intention.

Yao Wenyuan took it completely wrong, he thought Prince Xing was blaming him, so he… so he pretended to faint.

Prince Xing grabbed Yao Wenyuan before he actually fell on the ground, while Cao Mo stood behind them like an onlooker, showing no trace of fear or worry.

“Cao Mo, why are you standing there like nothing happened? Aren’t you afraid of me?” Prince Xing asked.

“Ah?” Cao Mo just realized he was facing His Highness, so he nodded and said, “Yeah, yeah, I am, I truly am.”

With that Cao Mo pretended he was fainting as well, Prince Xing kicked Cao Mo on his foot, “Quit your monkey business! Otherwise I will lock Xiao Yi up and separate you love birds forever!”

Hearing that, Cao Mo showed a smile but still kept his eyes shut.

Prince Xing took a deep breath and said, “I know you are not afraid of me, and that’s fine, I just want you to tell me why.”

“You gotta promise me you won’t get upset and punish me.” Cao Mo opened one eye to observe whether Prince Xing was telling the truth.

“You have my word, I will pardon you no matter how disrespectful your words are.” Prince Xing promised.

“Hmm, a mere verbal statement is no guarantee, you gotta give me some sort of a token.” Cao Mo wished he could record what Prince Xing said.

Prince Xing produced a passing token from his sleeve, “Here, this is a passing token of my manor, it represents my status and my authority, is this good enough?”

Cao Mo fondled the passing token admiringly, then he picked himself up from the ground, “Firstly, you are Prince Xing, basically the most influential and powerful person in the capital city, but you have a good reputation, I don’t think you will just abuse your power. You need to have a solid reason to punish me, just ‘Cao Mo being rude’ is not good enough. Secondly, I’m Xiao Yi’s wife, and you are his cousin, punishing me is no difference than punishing your cousin, you don’t want to risk your relationship with your cousin just because of me. Thirdly, I’m a nobody in the capital city, you don’t want to risk your reputation over a nobody like me.”

Prince Xing smiled, “Ha, I’ve underestimated you, Cousin Yi has underestimated you too, you are not what you look like, you are sharper than I gave you credit for.”

“Aww, isn’t that flattering?” Cao Mo still fondled with the passing token he just got from Prince Xing, “As I just said, I’m just a nobody, it doesn’t bother me how people think of me.”

“I heard you promised Xiao Yugui that you could make a profit of two hundred thousand taels of silver?”

“Yeah, I said that. But damn me now, I don’t think I will be able to realize that goal now that XieYonghe is back, and I think it’s just a matter of time that I will be replaced by him or Lady Lu in managing the household.” said Cao Mo.

“Come to my manor then, manage my manor for me, I give you full authority, you get to do whatever you want, and I will only expect a double profit in three years.” with that Prince Xing left carrying Yao Wenyuan in his arms.

Cao Mo stood stupefied, “Hmm, no wonder he has given me his passing token just like that, this is all part of his plan, so shrewd!”

A page came reporting that a servant from Magnolia House was here to see Cao Mo, Cao Mo asked who it was, the page said the servant was called Mohua.

Hearing that, Cao Mo’s face darkened, “What is he doing here? Bring him in!”

“Young Madam, Childe Cao just came to our house and asked me about your whereabouts, I didn’t tell him, but I’m worried about you and Young Master, so I’m here to remind you to watch out.”

Cao Mo pressed his forehead on hearing ‘Childe Cao’, ‘this doesn’t bode well’, thought Cao Mo.

“Mohua, thank you for letting me know.” said Cao Mo.

Mohua noticed how indifferent Cao Mo was, he explained, “Young Madam, I wasn’t trying to help Lady Lu by hiding the fact that you were abducted by her from Young Master, I did that for Moqi! Lady Lu threatened Moqi’s mother with the evidence of her embezzlement, Moqi begged me to save his mother! Please forgive me, Young Madam!”

Cao Mo didn’t want to blame Mohua or Moqi, but he didn’t know what else he should feel, “All right, just go back home now, and remember to ask Mammy Qian to come to report me, I think Lady Lu is keeping an eye on you.”

Mohua panicked on hearing that, he hurried back to Marquis Valour’s Manor.

… …

Cao Le tailed Mohua all the way to Yao Manor, and he was surprise that Mohua left Yao Manor within ten minutes or so, he meant to grab Mohua and asked him what was he doing in Yao Manor, but he didn’t get to stop Mohua for he was running too fast. So Cao Le had to tail Mohua back to Xiao Manor.

Cao Le ran into Mammy Shao at the gate.

Mammy Shao stopped him and said, “It’s great you are still here, Childe Cao, Lady Lu is waiting for you, follow me.”

Cao Le was happy to hear Lady Lu was waiting for him, he meant to tell Lady Lu that Mohua just went to Yao Manor and he thought Cao Mo was hiding in Yao Manor at the moment.

Cao Le followed Mammy Shao to Osmanthus House.

Seeing Cao Le, Lady Lu frowned and said, “I have been hesitating about this, but I think you have the right to know the truth, your brother is missing since yesterday, please join us and find him.”

“He is missing since yesterday? I’m sure Young Master is worried sick!”

“That’s so true, Yi has been out looking for him since last night! Good boy, you know your younger brother’s character, please think, where could he possibly be?” Lady Lu coaxed Cao Le.

“Hmm, we don’t have relatives in the capital city, I think chances are Young Master has found Mo already, does Young Master have any close relatives in the capital city?” Cao Le led Lady Lu to think about Yao Manor.

Lady Lu got the hint and looked at Mammy Shao, “Mammy, you and Childe Cao go pay a visit to Yao Manor now.”

Cao Le shook his head, “How can I just pay a visit to Taifu Yao’s manor just like this?”

“Don’t be silly, Yi is Taifu Yao’s grandson, of course you can go pay a visit.” with that Lady Lu signaled Mammy Shao to drag Cao Le.

Xiao Yugui came back while Mammy Shao tried to drag Cao Le.

Cao Le made a bow with hands folded in front promptly.

Xiao Yugui ignored Cao Le and asked, “Is he back yet?”

Mammy Shao put on a fawning smile, “To reply to Your Lordship, we are about to pay a visit to Yao Manor.”

“Humph, who do you think you are? Paying a visit to Yao Manor? Without an invitation?” Xiao Yugui stormed into the room, “I need to pay a visit by myself.”

Lady Lu bit her lips, “Cao Le is Mo’s brother, of course he can pay a visit there!”

“Don’t flatter Cao Le, do you think Yao Manor will just let anyone in their manor? Don’t embarrass yourself!” Xiao Yugui sighed, “I gotta get changed now, I need to pay a visit myself!”