Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

182. Promotion

Translator: Sissy That Walk

The emperor’s audience hall was in an uproar over the dispute. Prince Xing and Prince Ning pointed fingers at each other while Xiao Yugui and Yao Wenyuan argued point by point, Taifu Yao meddled in to protect his grandson, but he was accidentally tripped up by some other official who also tried to appease Xiao Yugui and Yao Wenyuan.

“Silence! Silence!” Eunuch Lai shouted, but no one listened to him.

The emperor pressed his forehead and rose to his feet, “Dismiss! Dismiss!”

Prince Xing threw a punch at Prince Ning’s face as soon as the emperor left. The punch had taken everyone by surprise, Prince Ning got a nosebleed immediately.

The eunuchs reported this to the emperor and the emperor asked his two sons to kneel down at the gate of Chongwu Palace as punishment.

Prince Xing gave a snort and did what he was told, while Prince Ning felt so wronged, “Why am I being punished as well, it’s his fault! I’m the one who got punched!”

Eunuch Gao whispered at Prince Ning’s ear, “Your Highness, we are only doing this to appease His Majesty, everyone knows it’s Prince Xing’s fault, but the emperor will be mad at you as well if you dare disobey him.”

Prince Ning took it out on Eunuch Gao, “This is all your fault, you suggested we should kill Cao Mo and Xiao Yi thus Prince Xing would be helpless. But look what has happened, they have defeated us, we sent over ten thousand troops, but they have defeated us with one thousand people! We have been crumbling and fleeing in one defeat after another due to Cao Mo and Xiao Yi! How come I don’t one capable helper to deal with that male wife!”

Eunuch Gao was choked, he thought for a while and said, “Shizi Madam loves Shizi dearly, what will become of Shizi Madam if Shizi fell in love with someone else?”

Prince Ning showed a cunning smile, “Eunuch Gao, I know I can always rely on you. Cao Mo and Xiao Yi are so in love, I can’t wait to see how this is going to play out. Have you found anyone fit?”

“We don’t necessarily have to find someone to seduce him, I think a girl that will catch Shizi’a attention will do the trick, and hopefully they will get estranged soon. Auntie Lu has found a girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to Shizi’s late mother. The only concern now would be how can we make them meet each other.” Eunuch Gao frowned.

“Eunuch Gao, I will let you take care of this, I have faith in you. Tell the girl I will reward her anything if she can get the job done.”

… …

The court above and the masses below soon heard about what happened between Prince Xing and Prince Ning, soon they drew the conclusion that Prince Ning was in disgrace with the emperor, because he was hit by Prince Xing but the emperor punished them both. Marquis Valour Xiao Yugui and his son Xiao Yi who were in Prince Xing’s camp both got promoted, Xiao Yugui was promoted to Jingguo Duke while Xiao Yi was promoted to be the Hanlin in Imperial Academy.

Prince Xing had made a smart move after his subordinates were promoted, he recommended Prince Ning to take care of the purchasing for the Dragon Boat Festival.

The emperor got so emotional, ‘I have been partial to his brother since they were little boys, and look at him, he recommended his brother for the purchasing matter instead of flaunting his prowess. Such a good son!’

Prince Xing felt so overwhelmed since the emperor show favouritism to him, and Yao Wenyuan seemed to have drifted away from him, he always felt like he had no one to talk to, so he sent Cao Mo and Xiao Yi a letter ask them to come back to the capital city and appointed someone else to take care of the business of Hunan and Hubei region.

… …

Xiao Yugui went to the Yaos to confront Yao Wenyuan with some heated language, Taifu Yao got so mad that he fell ill. The emperor sent an imperial physician to look after Taifu Yao and an Imperial Censor to reproach Xiao Yugui in Xiao Manor.

Xiao Yugui felt so wronged, his gum started to swell and ache so he had to take a few days off.

Xiao Yi dared not to visit Taifu Yao for he didn’t want to upset his father.

Cao Mo came to Osmanthus House to visit Xiao Yugui and discussed a few things with him, “Father, I heard Lu Jianzhong has died. The thing is, we have invested money in his factory, it looks like we won’t get our money back at this point.”

Xiao Yugui rubbed his cheek in pain while Concubine Fang served him some tea, “No way! We invested more than ten thousand taels of silver! He always tried to harm us when he was alive, and he is still taking our money after he died!”

“We can look for someone else to take over our share, otherwise I think we won’t be able to get a cent after Prince Ning takes the factory over.”

“I remember the Yaos have also invested money as well, what are they going to do?” Xiao Yugui asked seriously.

“I haven’t heard anything yet, shall I visit Taifu Yao and ask what his plan is, he won’t be harsh on me considering how young I am.”

Xiao Yugui nodded, “Good point, and ask that Yao Wenyuan is he ashamed to see you!”

Cao Mo left Osmanthus House with a smile on his face.

Xiao Yi who was pacing back and forth in their bedroom hurried to Cao Mo and asked him how everything went.

“Take a guess.”

Xiao Yi chuckled, “Things must have gone well, please tell grandfather that I will visit him when father is appeased.”

“You’ve told me a thousand times already! Don’t worry, I will apologize to grandfather on your behalf.”

Cao Mo selected a few presents for Taifu Yao then he cuddled Xiao Yi, “I will be back before dinner, wait for me.”

“Great! I will ask the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes.” Xiao Yi said with affection.

Cao Le’s page rushed to Magnolia House right after Cao Mo left for the Yao Manor, “Shizi, Second Young Master and Second Young Madam is fighting, please go have a look.”

Xiao Yi’s face darkened, Xiao Jin and Cao Le would always make a row over the slightest matters. Xiao Yugui couldn’t be bothered with them and Lady Lu wouldn’t meddle as long as her son was winning. The servants only reported this to leave a good impression on Cao Mo, they didn’t actually care.

Xiao Yi figured he couldn’t turn a blind eye to this, he knew Cao Mo would ask him about this when he came back because Cao Mo thought he would look bad if his brother was always getting beaten.

Xiao Yi walked to Xiao Jin’s yard with reluctance and he found out they were making a scene over the matter of Lu Jianzhong’s funeral service.

Cao Le dragged Xiao Yi’s sleeve and started to cry, “He has just given the Lus two hundred taels of silver without even asking me, what has he taken me for? I know Lu Jianzhong is his uncle, but how come he didn’t offer us any red packet when we got married, and now we are giving his family two hundred taels, does that make sense!”