Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 14

“Fifth Master, what does that Xiao Family’s Young Miss mean?!”

Jian Yin’s eyes were still wide open. As he asked the question, he pointed at the departing carriage and turned his head towards his Fifth Master.

Ye Shen stroked the string of beads in his hands, dust floated around a ray of light. The little girl had just arrogantly talked to him like she had no fear of him.

She said come to Qingfeng Daoist Temple on the fifteenth day of every month. Just now he clicked his tongue at the invitation and now these words were whirling around in his heart. The words seemed provocative.

Apparently if he didn’t come during the fifteenth, then he didn’t have the courage to hide from her.

This provocative method to get someone to do something was really used by people born into the families of generals. One of the Thirty-Six Stratagems1 had been used.

Did she just want to see him? 2

Ye Shen gave a low laugh. The cold sound was dyed with sudden pleasure, and there was a hint of indistinguishable gentleness.

When he got out of the carriage and went to the Taoist temple, his expression had regained its usual placidity. His eyes were calm like an old well that did not ripple.

Xiao Youning had left, but the Li Family’s husband and wife were still inside the temple.

Master Li had asked to see Old Madam Ye and even after a long time the messenger had not returned. He could only wait in the outside courtyard, the scorching sun was making his forehead sweat.

When Ye Shen arrived at the courtyard, he saw the husband and wife. He continued to look straight when he passed them by and went to his mother’s side without needing to give any notice.

“Fifth Younger Brother!” Madam Li was using a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. When she saw her younger brother, she gave a cry of surprise.

However, he didn’t look back. The smile she had just forced froze on her face and her husband’s warning flashed in her mind.

——Why is Xiao Youning staying at Qingfeng Daoist Temple?

When she thought about it, the small drops of sweat on her forehead trickled down and her hands turned cold.

Can it be that Fifth Younger Brother is helping Xiao Youning?

But why?

Guzheng in hand, Jian Yin closely followed his master. When he saw the Li Family’s husband and wife, he remembered that just now his master had said he didn’t want to meet them. But how could they enter the Daoist Temple without running into them?

While Madam Li was making conjectures about her brother’s appearance, Jian Yin’s mind was also full of questions. Only Old Madam Ye gave a knowing smile when she saw her youngest son coming over.

The madam had gathered her hair into a bun, her eyes fell on the guzhen in Jian Yin’s hands. Her smile deepened and she said, “Why did you deliver it today? Were you in a hurry to fix it? You child, don’t delay your important matters for such a trivial thing.”

Ye Shen did not understand his mother’s teasing words, but his face did not change. He clasped his hands and bowed to greet her.

Old Madam Ye saw that he was not moved when she teased him. If she was not aware that her youngest son knew how to act stupid and scheme, she would have been deceived by the way he came to deliver the guzheng.

It was obvious that he came here to support the little girl from the Xiao Family.

Well, if she didn’t see her daughter and son-in-law, did she want to give this boy respect?

In the end, he didn’t tell her the truth.

“Mother, the matters regarding Datong are not simple. The Emperor has turned a blind eye to the conviction of Marquis Ningyuan and his son.”

Old Madam Ye felt that her son was being dishonest. She complained in her heart about it when she heard him say those words.

The light in her eyes changed and she put away her smile. She calmly looked at her youngest son sitting in front of her and her expression became more solemn.

“You…,” she asked in an uncertain tone, “are you afraid that something will happen? Did you not want the Xiao Family and Ye Family to become enemies to help that little girl?”

It’s really not what she had thought just now. Did he have a selfish motive for wanting to support the Xiao Family’s little girl in overcoming her difficulties?

Old Madam Ye was skeptical. She looked at Ye Shen’s calm and confident composure and his face couldn’t be more normal.

As a result, Old Madam Ye couldn’t see through the sincerity of her son, so she didn’t bother to continue guessing. She leaned back in her chair and lazily said, “Do as you wish. I have known the little girl since she was a child. Now that something has happened to her family, the people are crying about remorse. It was indeed my daughter who committed the wrong. If son didn’t teach, then it’s the parents’ fault. Take care of the little girl for me and reduce some of your elder sister’s debt.”

Perhaps she wanted her initial thoughts to be wrong.

The little girl and her son were a generation apart and she was once married to her grandson. Her cold little son only had crafty tricks and schemes in his head. How could he have any thoughts for a little girl? At most he was doing this out of pity.

Old Madam Ye had always been an open minded person. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t bring it up again or bother with it. She changed the topic very quickly and spoke to her son about other matters. She forgot about her daughter and son-in-law who were still outside.

When Li Qingzhi arrived at Qingfeng Daoist Temple gasping for air to look for Xiao Youning, Madam Li was so angered by her son that she fainted. It was not until this big commotion outside happened that Old Madam Ye finally met with the three members of the Li Family.

Xiao Youning, who was headed towards the Xiao Family’s Second Branch, was unaware of this. They rushed back to the capital before noon. When she came down from the carriage, she saw a pale faced Second Madam Xiao, Mo-shi, standing in front of the spirit wall3 and eyeing her with resentment.

Xiao Youning had a smile on her face and was holding Yuan Guo’s hand. As if she was completely oblivious to the hatred, she sweetly and clearly cried out a greeting to Mo-shi, “Auntie.”

Mo-shi was so angered by her cheekiness that her breathing became sluggish. She didn’t want to pay any attention to it, but her husband’s cold eyes were focused on her; she grumpily let out a laugh.

If she hadn’t been caught for her mistake, how could she have agreed to let the arrogant little wench from the Main Branch live here!

Since she had faltered, she could only suffer in silence and do as her husband told her to do in order to help save the Second Branch’s reputation.

The sun was fierce in midsummer.  Standing there Mo-shi felt like she was suffering in a pot of frying oil. After laughing, she didn’t even say a word of pleasantry and directly told the maids around her, “Quickly bring the Young Miss to the guest courtyard to rest first.”

Out of sight and out of mind. It’s only proper to bring her away quickly.

“I’m not tired. Thank you Auntie,” Xiao Youning said and contradicted her. “Auntie is so kind-hearted that the Second Branch has wicked servants. Today, if the wicked servants are not taken care of, I will not feel at ease. Don’t you think so Second Uncle…”

The girl spoke and tilted her head with a smile to Second Master Xiao.

Second Master Xiao’s eyes widened. In addition to Mo-shi feeling guilty, she was about to vomit blood. This was not Marquis Ningyuan’s residence, so why did Xiao Youning have the audacity to be savage with them?

The author has something to say:

Xiao Youning: If I was not savage, did you think I was coming to your home for New Years?

Footnotes

三十六计 (sān​shí​liù​jì) – a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and in civil interaction. Source: WikipediaXiao Youning is probably using the strategem: Stomp the grass to scare the snake. This means doing something strange and provocative (stomping the grass or her strange words about hiding and going to the temple) to provoke a response (scaring the snake or in this case, Ye Shen, to be lured out). 影壁 (yǐng​bì) – it’s a wall right after the entrance that is used as a shield. Source: Wikipedia