Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 17 Part 2

Madam Li cried all the way back to the Li Family. Li Qingzhi was not scolded anymore, but he took a blow from Old Madam Ye that had stupefied him even until now. He was like a puppet without spirit, decaying into a piece of rotten wood.

Master Li couldn’t bear to mull over his mother-in-law’s words for a long time in the carriage. When he got out of the carriage, he dropped one line to his wife. “Tomorrow you will follow me to the Xiao Family’s Second Branch to return the dowry!”

The Ye Family could not be provoked now. When he married Ye-shi, he saw her family suddenly rise again. Since he had borrowed their power to always move up, then he should be grateful. Ye-shi sometimes made mistakes and was stupid, so he should tolerate it. But the matter regarding Xiao Youning was something he couldn’t bear alone.

As soon as this remark fell, there was a wailing cry in the carriage. A servant girl shouted that Madam must not have an accident. It sounded like Madam Li could not help but seek death. Master Li did not care for this kind of tantrum, so he brushed his sleeves and left. He didn’t even look at the people inside of the carriage.

The sun was setting and it would soon be the evening. The clouds on the horizon were plated with gold and sprinkled down. Everything under the heavens and on the earth was covered with a soft glow.

Xiao Youning leaned on the beauty bench1 under the corridor to listen to the chirps of tired birds returning to their nests. In the courtyard there were servants her step-grandmother had sent to deliver furniture.

The original black lacquered furniture in her room was replaced with red sandalwood. They carried a marble arhat bed to the outside room. The outside of the room was arranged into a small reception hall that could be used to receive guests, but it wasted a lot of thought.

Yuan Guo watched those busy people, and whispered, “Young Miss, what do they mean? Is it because I caught the spy that they want to curry favor with us?”

Xiao Youning looked around at the exquisite furniture in the room. She fanned herself with a circular fan and in the breeze she said, “This is paralyzing us.”

There was no need to curry favor in this way and do it for outsiders to see. There was also no need to set up the small reception hall to receive guests, but she reckoned that one day she would have to be the host.

Otherwise, no one would be able to see these good things and the Second Branch’s kindness to her.

Xiao Youning didn’t care about any movements from the Second Branch for now. Anyway, she was barefooted and was not afraid of shoes2; she was also not afraid of dropping all pretenses. She now held power with the strong evidence, and she didn’t have that many reservations.

An unknown bird landed on the railing and turned its head to look at her.

She was in a good mood and was amused. She made Yuan Guo bring some pastries and leaned on the beauty bench to feed it.

There was a pozi from outside that came over. With a tense face, she smiled and greeted her first.

“Third Eldest Miss, Old Madam said she wants to hold a welcome banquet and will arrange the seat for you. Please come over later.”

Xiao Youning held the pastry crumbs in her hand and looked pitifully at the bird that flew away startled. She gave a neutral response that she understood.

The pozi smiled and was about to leave, but was called to a stop. “Are you the one in charge by Old Madam’s side? Can you order to have a carriage prepared for tomorrow morning? I am going out.”

The pozi was surprised and then smiled again. She pressed her hands against the corners of her second-hand clothes and said, “This servant has no ability to be in charge and can only follow orders. But where Young Miss is going, this servant can report back first.”

“Mama3 has been a courteous person since she came in. I thought you were someone in charge at first glance. As expected, the people around Old Madam are excellent. Then I will trouble mama to help mention this. If it is not in compliance with the rules of this house, then mama can also give me some advice.”

Xiao Youning pretended to be amazed, then covered her mouth with the circular fan and smiled with her peach blossom eyes turning into half moons.

She spoke politely and looked beautiful. With a smile, even the cinnabar mole looked alive. Everyone loved looking at a delicate and sweet girl, and the pozi standing in front of her enjoyed herself comfortably.

Yuan Guo had a bold temper, but she was also very clever. As soon as she heard her Young Miss’s words, she didn’t even have to think before she took out some silver from her purse to give the pozi.

The pozi smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into a slit. She repeatedly said her thanks and happily helped Xiao Youning inquire about the carriage.

When the pozi left, Yuan Guo strangely asked, “Young Miss, where are you going tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is the fifteenth…” Xiao Youning slowly flapped the fan and genuinely smiled.

She’s going to Qingfeng Daoist Temple of course.

She had said it to Daoist Priest Wu Ye on purpose. And she was looking to see if he really wanted to hide from her. He was obviously a kind-hearted person, but his face was cold.

Before going to Qingfeng Daoist Temple, she had to go outside and inquire about the matters regarding her father and brother. She suddenly thought of someone today. Perhaps she could ask that person to pull strings and let her get in touch with some of the people in the Imperial Court.

While Xiao Youning was preparing for tomorrow’s trip, Ye Shen still knew what had happened at his mother’s side.

He did not find out from Qingfeng Daoist Temple, but from Madam Li angrily running back to her maternal home to complain to her older brother. When Eldest Master Ye heard that Ye Shen might have helped Xiao Youning, he sent someone to meet with him on the matters about Li Qingzhi welcoming back Xiao Youning and wanted to inquire about what he meant.

The Emperor had been slow to take action on the Xiao Family’s father and son’s mishap. Eldest Master Ye already had second thoughts about this and since this concerned Xiao Youning, he would discreetly ask his younger brother for information in passing.

Ye Shen had just taken a bath. In the afternoon, he had been asked over several princes to shoot arrows on horseback. He was so sticky that he could not stand it for another moment. He had always been fond of being clean.

The sides of his hair were still wet and a few droplets of water were about to fall. They reflected on the sunlight and made the cold man look like there were sparks of fireworks around him.

Jian Yin sent the people from Eldest Master Ye away. When he came back, he saw his Master standing by the window with his Daoist robes loosely draped over his body.

“They are really senseless. Young Miss’s troubles have been tossed around and still have not stopped. Whoever wants to marry or not, they asked Fifth Master everything. It was like Fifth Master’s name was crowned on Young Miss Xiao’s head.”

Jian Yin had been doing trivial things the past two days and his mood was not very good. When he found something to talk about then he used it to vent.

Ye Shen did not speak, but he heard every word.

Li Qingzhi wants Xiao Youning again?

His fingers were slightly bent and tapped on the window frame. Xiao Youning’s appearance of tugging at his sleeve suddenly jumped into his mind without warning. Such a pitiful appearance was always trying to soften his heart.

Just like when she was young, she was obviously unreasonable. She cried like everything was collapsing when she hurt him, and as if he was the unpardonable sinner.

“Tomorrow is the fifteenth?”

Ye Shen stared at a small scar on his finger and asked.

Jian Yin still wanted to nag with a few more words, but when he heard the question, he exclaimed, “Yes, tomorrow is the fifteen.”

Footnotes

美人靠 (měirén kào) – name of the seating in ancient homes where boudoir women sat because they couldn’t easily go out or go downstairs. They would sit on it to look outside or take a look at what was happening downstairs. Pictures光脚不怕穿鞋(guāngjiǎobùpàchuānxié) – A proverb where barefoot refers to people who have nothing to lose so they are willing to be brazen and shoes refers to people with status and wealth who are afraid of doing anything unusual. The shoes people are afraid of the barefooted people and often the shoes people will have to pay a high price. 妈妈 (māmā) – term for older woman who takes care of their mistress of the residence