Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 32 Part 2

The Li Family on the other side.

Madam Li had invited all the Madams with a good reputation to the Eldest Princess Residence that day. Although the marriage had yet to be formally set, and they had only verbally exchanged the eight characters1, she was ready to have the eight characters match first. But the marriage was already settled in her mind.

On that day, Madam Li was bursting with joy the entire way home. At home, she saw her resting husband and her back straightened.

In the future, the County Princess would be her daughter-in-law. She had fought for this marriage, and her position as the main Madam of the family was even more unshakable.

Madam Li raised her eyebrows and breathed out. Master Li didn’t feel inclined to look at her villainous proud face. When he saw her coming, he left to see his son.

When Li Qingzhi sent his letter to Xiao Youning, he did not receive any replies. He no longer carried any hope. He knew that his mother went to the Eldest Princess Residence today, and he didn’t even have to ask to know that everyone in the capital knew that the marriage between him and the County Princess had been finalized.

When Master Li came over, he saw his son sitting in a chair with a book in his hand. He called out to him several times but failed to bring him back to his senses.

In the end, he sighed and left. He really didn’t want to see the mother or son anymore.

The Li Family was calm for a few days because Li Qingzhi was depressed. However, Madam Li became more and more restless.

Yesterday, she had been to the Eldest Princess Residence to deliver the result of eight characters. Their children were perfectly compatible, but the Eldest Princess Residence did not reply even after a day had passed.

How could she not be worried? She had been waiting for an answer and deciding if she should visit to make a formal marriage proposal.

Madam Li thought about it and finally sent someone to the Eldest Princess again. In the end, the servant who came back hesitated and said, “The Eldest Princess said that the eight characters were harmonious, but they are not good together. She said that the Second Young Master has a hard life.”

Madam Li thought she had heard it wrong and she raised her voice. “Say it again?!

Why does it sound like the marriage promise is broken?

The Eldest Princess consulted with her husband for a long time and was really ready to put an end to the marriage. She was frightened by the Emperor. She knew very well who gave her honor, didn’t she?

There was no need to create a rift between brother and sister over a marriage.

The Eldest Princess addressed the situation in time, but Princess Huijing went from hope to disappointment. The final part for the marriage to happen unexpectedly was a catastrophe. She spent her days at home crying endlessly.

The Eldest Princess tried to coax her to no avail. In the end, she gritted her teeth and locked her in her room. It just so happened that the Li Family sent someone to ask about the marriage, and they sent a message back to block the marriage from happening.

Fortunately, she did not give the eight character card that day, and could navigate around the oral agreement by pushing off the marriage. The Eldest Princess wanted to go to the palace for a banquet in a few days. There, she would find the Empress, put on a good appearance, and have her daughter persuaded.

But she had underestimated Huijing’s obsession with Li Qingzhi.

No sooner had the servant from the Li Family left, than the servant girl by Princess Huijing’s side came in crying and screamed, “The County Princess is hanging from the beam!”

The Eldest Princess was so frightened that she almost did not get up.

——

Xiao Youning woke up and saw that there was a dim light by her feet. Then she looked up and half of the sky was tinted red, right before it was dusk.

How long had she been sleeping for?!

She stood up swiftly and the Daoist robe on her fell down. She looked at it and realized that it was a man’s clothing.

Xiao Youning bent down to pick it up.

To have a man’s clothes show up on her body at this place meant that it could only be Ye Shen’s.

She grabbed the clothes with the familiar scent and went out without any hesitation.

Yuan Guo had fallen asleep waiting in the corridor. She heard the sound of footsteps and turned around to a pleasant surprise. “Young Miss, you are awake.”

Ye Shen was at the edge of the flower bed in the courtyard. He was holding a pair of silver scissors in his hand and pruning branches at will.

Hearing Yuan Guo’s voice, he turned around. He saw Xiao Youning holding the robe he had worn in her hand and looking at him in a daze.

He immediately abandoned the fruit tree that he had been fiddling with to pass the time and walked towards her step by step.

Xiao Youning saw his tall figure, unconsciously tightened her grip on the robe in her hand, and then came forward.

She bowed to him in an acceptable way. “Greetings to Fifth Master.”

Ye Shen was not used to her well-behaved demeanour. He thought of something and looked at Yuan Guo. Then, he reached out to grab her arm and pulled her up.

Xiao Youning’s head was still lowered, she did not look at him, and stated the reason for her visit in one breath. “Fifth Master, I have a favor I seek from you. Can Fifth Master help me find out the latest and most truthful news about my father?”

As expected.

Upon hearing her words, Ye Shen’s sharp eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Even if she was ready to talk to him, it would be about Marquis Ningyuan. It was not like how he was thinking on the way here. Just now, he had asked her maid the reason for her visit. The reason was: She missed him, so she came to see him.

But as he heard her speak, he was still a little annoyed, even though he tried to prepare himself.

He knew that his annoyance could be classified as jealousy.

Xiao Youning did not hear him speak for a long time. She finally looked up and unexpectedly saw Ye Shen’s cold face.

Why does he have that look on his face? Is he unhappy?

Her heart jumped. She thought about how he had no obligation to help her. Even though she was ready to be rejected, she still felt upset.

It’s fine to be upset, but she was not a person who did not know what was good from bad. She was already extremely grateful for the help he had provided.

She tried to suppress her emotions. She showed him a smile and gave him another bow. “I was too presumptuous. Fifth Master has his own difficulties. I will go now.”

Ye Shen’s eyebrows furrowed even deeper. Did the little girl think he wouldn’t help?!

For some reason, Ye Shen continued to hold his breath. He reached out and grabbed her just as she was trying to quickly escape from him.

“Little girl, is this what you came to find me for?”

The pull nearly made Xiao Youning bump into his arms. When she heard his question, she raised her head blankly.

I… am here regarding my father’s matters.

So why does he seem so angry?

Ye Shen was so angry that he wanted to laugh at the answer written on her face.

Footnotes

八字 (bāzì) – concept where your birthdate times can be used to divine your fate. Wiki