Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

184. Locust Plague

Translator: Sissy That Walk

In Prince Xing’s manor.

Prince Xing sat in his room, moping. He hadn’t talked to Yao Wenyuan or made eyes at Yao Wenyuan since he came back to the capital city, he would very much like to grab Yao Wenyuan’s hands and tell him how much he had missed him, but he dared not act rashly at this point.

Eunuch Liu walked in Prince Xing’s room and asked softly, “Your Highness, it’s getting dark, why haven’t you asked the servants to light the candles?”

“It’s getting dark already, I don’t even know I’ve been sitting for so long.” Prince Xing had agreed to select a girl from the ones that Han Qi had picked for him on Dragon Boat Festival, he closed his eyes and couldn’t bear to think how much Yao Wenyuan would hate him once he found that out.

“Have you heard anything from the Xiao Manor?”

Prince Xing had withdrawn Cao Mo’s token, now Cao Mo couldn’t gain access to Prince Xing’s manor as easily as he used to, Prince Xing relied on the shadow guards for updates now.

Eunuch Liu showed a meaningful smile and said, “Something strange has happened, Xiao Jin falls in love with Lian from Bloom Brothel, the thing is Lian looks like Shizi’s late mother, Xiao Jin insisted on buying Lian’s freedom using his own wife’s dowry money, he has even almost repudiated his wife.”

Prince Xing smiled, “Xiao Yi is not a push-over, they are courting death, the Lus! How about Cao Mo? Did he say anything to protect his brother?”

“Shizi Madam doesn’t have time for that farce, he has been looking for buyers to take over the Xiao family’s share in Lu Jianzhong’s factory.” Eunuch Liu said in a serious tone.

Prince Xing nodded, “The factory is indeed a lucrative one, the five main investor are getting at least ten thousand taels per month. Prince Ning for sure will take the factory over now that Lu Jianzhong is dead. Hmm, Cao Mo and Xiao Yi has helped me out big time in Hunan and Hubei, you just tell Cao Mo that I will give him my shares in the factory as a reward, just pass him the message and he will know what to do.”

… …

In Magnolia House.

Xiao Yi was listless after he had seen the painting, he looked so absent-minded when Cao Mo came back.

Cao Mo asked, “Why are you acting like a changed person, I was just out visiting Taifu Yao.”

“Am I? Sorry. It’s just Xiao Jin and Cao Le had a fight when you were out, so I suggested sending Xiao Jin to the academy to father, but Lady Lu got so riled up and accused me of trying to snatch father’s favor from her son. It serves her right, she won’t see her son for at least six months now!” with that Xiao Yi cuddled Cao Mo tightly and heaved a sigh of relief.

Cao Mo had always been a sensitive person, he knew something must have had happened while he was out, so he asked Mohua on the sly and asked him what happened.

“Second Young Master tried to use Second Young Madam’s dowry money to buy a prostitute’s freedom from the brothel.”

Cao Mo murmured, “But why Yi is so mopey?”

“Madam, Lian the prostitute looks exactly like Young Master’s late mother. Lian is fifteen this year, and I heard Young Master’s mother died exactly fifteen years ago, people say Lian is the late madam’s reincarnation.”

“Nonsense! Who has spreading rumors like this?”

Mohua shook his head, “Some servant in Second Young Master’s house, that’s why our Young Master suggested sending Second Young Master to the academy.”

Cao Mo nodded his head and understood why Xiao Yi looked so mopey, no one would be happy to hear things like that.

The shadow guard came back in the evening, he had found out the truth about Lian. Just as Xiao Yi had expected, it was Auntie Lu who had arranged the whole thing, she found the girl three months ago and had been spreading that reincarnation rumor.

Xiao Yi sneered, “Shall we visit the Lus and send condolences in person?”

Cao Mo was worried about Xiao Yi, he tried to comfort his husband, “Lu Jianzhong is just a vile character, plus he is dead now, no need to lower ourselves to his level.”

“Mo, they are spreading rumors about my late mother, they can’t get away with it.” Xiao Yi asked the shadow guard, “Have you finished the job I gave you.”

“Yes, Shizi!”

“Bring it on, time to settle scores with them.” Xiao Yi said with a cold smile on his face.

Cao Mo shuddered on seeing Xiao Yi like this, he hadn’t seen Xiao Yi looking this ferocious before.

… …

In Prince Ning’s manor.

Eunuch Gao rushed to Prince Ning’s room and woke Prince Ning up anxiously.

“What’s the matter?” Prince Ning looked so upset.

“Your Highness, it’s the rice!” Eunuch Gao wiped the sweat beads on his forehead.

Prince Ning sprang to his feet, “What about the presents?”

“The… the twin ear rice… are all ruined!” Eunuch Gao looked so restless for Prince Ning had promised the emperor that he would present the emperor with the auspicious twin ear rice, but now all the rice was ruined, and deceiving the emperor was capital felony!

Prince Ning changed countenance and spat a mouthful of blood, “How did it happen! Who has been guarding the field! What has happened!”

“Your Highness, let’s just say it’s the locusts, there’s a plague of locusts all over the country now.” replied Eunuch Gao.

In a state of utter stupefaction, Prince Ning asked Eunuch Gao to build a temple for the Locust Spirit and worship the Spirit with five different grains.

… …

In the imperial palace.

Prince Ning brought a rod on his back and asked for punishment in the morning court, his behaviour has brought clamours of comments among the other officials, they wondered what Prince Ning had done this time.

Prince Xing cast a glimpse at Xiao Yi, “Is it you?”

“No, I think it’s natural disaster, it’s just karma!” Xiao Yi showed a meaningful smile.

Prince Xing found that hard to believe, he stared at Xiao Yi, hoping to get more information from him. And all of a sudden, he bumped into Yao Wenyuan and Yao Wenyuan jerked away immediately. They couldn’t avoid each other at this point, so Prince Xing said hi to him in a low voice.

Yao Wenyuan stammered, “There’s a locust plague going on now, Prince Ning’s auspicious twin ear rice now has become rather inauspicious.”

Prince Xing now understood what was going on, he sneered at Prince Ning and couldn’t wait to see what was in store for him.

‘Stupid Prince Ning, still waters run deep, you shouldn’t have messed with the wrong person!’ thought Prince Xing.

Prince Ning could die in shame with so many eyes staring at him.

The emperor was so vexed with Prince Ning, he didn’t understand how come this son could never do a decent job on anything, so he didn’t summon Prince Ning into the hall.