Second Marriage

Chapter 20.2

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 20 Part 2

When Mo-shi heard the word “greedy for her little dowry”, her hands began to tremble. She felt embarrassed to be caught off guard. Since she could not say it clearly, she reprimanded her. “What nonsense you speak of!”

Xiao Anning was still stewing in anger after being scolded by Xiao Youning last night, as such she was unable to retort. She snorted, not wanting to be held back at all. She continued, “Am I wrong? Fortunately, Eldest Sister is married, so Fourth Younger Sister and I still have hope for an engagement. She has a bad reputation, so who will come to our family to talk about marriage?”

The Eldest Sister she was talking about was Xiao Lening. She was engaged a year ago and got married during August this year.

Xiao Lening was brought down by her younger sister like that. Her face was slightly hot, and she didn’t know how to answer.

“You simply have no shame. A young girl’s family should be the one discussing the engagement!” Mo-shi scolded first, and tried to cover up her eldest daughter’s embarrassment.

Xiao Anning was scolded until her eyes started to turn red, but she still stubbornly gave a cold snort. “Eldest Sister’s dowry was also a lot, but she is not as well-known as her!”

She probably knew how much money there was in the Xiao Family’s Second Branch as she was a di-daughter. On the contrary, she had heard many people say that the Main Branch had even taken out its own money to subsidize the troops. Therefore, the Main Branch was mostly an empty shelf in her mind.

Xiao Youning’s father was a powerful official. Even if the dowry was not much, the people from the Li Family would not dare embarrass her when they were to be married.

It’s a pity that I was dismissed so quickly!

Xiao Anning’s lips were filled with delight while Mo-shi’s face was livid.

It was Old Madam Xiao who interrupted the mother and daughter’s squabble. “Stop talking. All of you go back to your rooms. People who don’t make money all day have never seen the world before. Go, go.”

Again, Mo-shi was pointed as the mulberry tree and cursed as the locust tree1 by her mother-in-law. Shamed, she left gloomily.

Xiao Youning could already see the magistrate at the other end.

She had run all the way there. When she saw him, the tip of her nose was sweaty and she was panting slightly.

The magistrate was glad to see her like this.

At least the little girl respected him. She didn’t want to keep him waiting for a long time and had run all the way over.

The magistrate smiled and excused her from bowing. Then, he told her his purpose of visit.

“It’s because the Li Family went to this official that this official took the case. I had to follow the procedures. If you go to the yamen tomorrow, we will not go to court. We will only wait for the counsel to bear witness at the yamen, so that your dowry can be sorted out and returned to your hands.”

Xiao Youning had guessed it must have been about the dowry. She respectfully replied and thanked the magistrate, “It was really troublesome to Daren.”

The magistrate smiled and motioned to her that she should not be too polite. “This officer used to drink with General Xiao, and you don’t have to thank this official for anything that doesn’t ask for justice.”

The magistrate left right away. Xiao Youning had accompanied him all the way to the spirit wall to send him off.

When he left, Second Master Xiao turned around and said to her, “I’ll take a leave of absence to accompany you tomorrow. I don’t want to let a young girl like you be frightened by that place.”

Xiao Youning did not reply and faintly smiled.

She didn’t do anything meekly, so there’s nothing to be scared of. She would definitely go to the yamen tomorrow.

Ye Shen reported his assignment to the Emperor. After he came out, the sun was setting. He went to question Jian Yin outside of the palace, and they met on the palace road.

“Fifth Master, that Young Miss from the Xiao Family went to Huo Mingwu’s house this morning.”

After Jian Yin spoke, his eyes looked straight at his master.

He could not understand his master’s actions more and more, nor could he understand the things regarding the little girl from the Xiao Family.

“Huo Mingwu?” Ye Shen murmured. No one knew what he was thinking about.

A group of palace guards happened to pass by him. The leader’s footsteps paused and he hesitated for a moment before stepping out and turning around to Ye Shen. He bowed and asked, “The Young Master is looking for me?”

Huo Mingwu was supposed to take a shift off. However, as soon as Xiao Youning came to ask him for help, he found someone to switch shifts with and was ready to help her get things done today.

He never thought Fifth Master Ye, who never paid attention to others, would say his name.

When Ye Shen heard him, he inexplicably turned around. At the sight of the young man’s appearance, his slight frown could not be seen anymore.

The author has something to say:

Ye Shen: Can this guy really be more popular than me in the palace?