Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 15 Part 1

Xiao Youning was unaware that Mo-shi was guilty, but what the latter was thinking about was exactly what the former was going to do now.

She didn’t come to the Second Branch just to be savage.

The young girl smiled gently at the husband and wife’s silence from the corner of her eyes. Her eyes were clear and had pure kindness. “Auntie is kind-hearted and cannot bear to execute the punishment, while Second Uncle does not have a harsh reputation. Youning has experience in such matters and actually accepts whatever reputation I have. Now, I only want to be happy with everything. I will take care of these wicked people and repay Second Uncle for his care and kindness to me.”

Her voice could not be softer, but every word she said had the glint and flash of cold steel1. Second Master Xiao was stabbed by the word “care”, his eyes widened even more.

Mo-shi’s face turned ugly. This was forcing them to hand over the culprits.

She knew very well what she had done, and even if she had planned everything, she could not stand such an attitude that felt like a direct slap to the face.

Mo-shi was so angry that she ripped the delicate silk handkerchief in her hands. The thought that  Xiao Youning wanted to live here filled her with loathing. Was she so arrogant and domineering that she was not afraid that they would deal with her behind closed doors?!

“Bring out all of those wicked servants!” Second Master Xiao, who had been silent for a long time, raised his hand and ordered the steward next to him to detain the servants.

This was what Xiao Youning was going to do; since it would be the same sooner or later, it would be better to settle it directly for the sake of the future.

Also, he didn’t understand his niece’s thoughts for wanting to personally extract the confession.

It may appear to be a demonstration for them, but in fact it was for her to search for some clues. It seemed reckless, but she was really advancing gradually and wanted to catch them by their mistakes to exploit their shortcomings and guarantee her safety in the future.

A girl who had just reached the marriageable age2 was surprisingly cautious beyond expectation.

Second Master Xiao took early precautions to manipulate the situation; he made threats and promises to several guards to force them to never change their words. Once he was done dealing with this, he would give them a sum of money for their work. Of course, they naturally wouldn’t confess to the foolish actions that Mo-shi committed.

Without this foresight his years as an official would have been in vain and he would not be able to defeat a spoiled little girl.

Second Master Xiao’s face was calm and he allowed the people to be dragged out without raising any objections. Xiao Youning’s eyes turned to him.

Since Second Uncle agreed so readily, it was clear that he was prepared to coax her to calm down.

“Not only shall they be brought out, but since the benches and planks have been prepared for their punishment, then the other servants in the residence will also come here to watch the punishment. They may as well see what happens to the wicked servants who bully their Masters!”

The smile on her face turned serious in an instant. The lights in her eyes changed to a faint dreadful, cold glow and the small cinnabar mole near her right eye was as red as blood.

Second Master Xiao, who had prepared a long speech, choked and was held back by the violent air covering her.

This was really savage, like she was directly stepping on their heads.

“…Go. Assemble all of the servants here.”

In the end, Second Master Xiao said another sentence.

He wanted her to return to protect his reputation. One step back is one step back, but he’s taking two steps back. Also, this was his home, so can a little girl really turn the sky upside down?!

“My Lord, this kind of battle would alarm the Old Madam and you must not let the elderly worry too much!”

Mo-shi really couldn’t swallow this anger. She hurriedly stepped forward and pulled her husband’s sleeve but did not expect her husband to throw a cold glance at her. Her arrogance was instantly extinguished and she resentfully retreated to her original spot. She was so nervous that she continued to twist the handkerchief.

There was no ghost in her heart3 and she was not afraid of the door being knocked in the middle of the night4, but she did something that could not be exposed to the light. She understood that there was a plan, but she couldn’t avoid having difficulty breathing and the fear.

Xiao Youning did not speak anymore and focused her thoughts on the husband and wife. She was not blind. Mo-shi would be angry and nervous, and that kind of guilt was almost clearly written on her face.

She secretly withdrew her gaze to look at her Second Uncle again. She found that the husband and wife were trying to be discreet and made comparisons between their acts.

Second Uncle did not seem a bit out of the ordinary. Although his complexion was not good, he was naturally enduring her arrogant and domineering attitude silently. It could be clear that he was irritated with her actions and that was his only emotion right now.

After making the comparisons, Xiao Youning had a rough understanding of what happened.

She had been left behind in that village and there must be more to the story there.

She had previously guessed that at this time she would be in trouble. Her Second Uncle, who sent people to escort her to Datong, would certainly have left a bad impression in the hearts of the common people and be unrewarded for. Everyone cared about their reputation, especially those who were officials.

The Xiao Family’s Master of the Second Branch was such a fool that he should have failed a long time ago. Now that the matter was really in front of them, then the truth was on the verge of coming out into the open.

When she figured out a clue at this moment, Guard Xie escorted all of the detained people out. Everyone from the Second Branch came when they heard the news. For a while, footsteps were heard everywhere and a crowd of people gathered around the front yard.

It was hot and stuffy in the summer. The crowd blocked the surrounding wind. There were several people tied down to the benches. The tense atmosphere and heat were sticky. It made people unable to breathe.

Second Master Xiao did not want to waste any more time. When culprits were pressed down on the bench, he immediately said the word hit.

Footnotes

刀光剑影 (dāoguāngjiànyǐng) – idiom that means dangerous atmosphere.In Ancient China that age is 15. Comes from the proverb 心中无鬼，自然无鬼 (xīnzhōng wú guǐ, zìrán wú guǐ) which means you don’t need to be suspicious if you didn’t do anything wrong.Comes from the saying 为人不做亏心事,不怕半夜鬼敲门 (wéirén bù zuò kuīxīn shì, bùpà bànyè guǐ qiāo mén) which means if you don’t do bad things for people, then you don’t need to be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door in the middle of the night. Thus, if you are good, then you will have a peaceful mind and clear heart.