Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Chapter 6 Part 2

At this moment, the Xiao Family was really as worried as Xiao Youning thought they would be. Second Madam Xiao was feeling so regretful that her intestines were turning and she was anxiously waiting for something.

It was not until the second watch1 that her trusted pozi hurried back to the residence through the back door and finally reached her.

“Madam, the Li Family was going to take the dowry out and give it to the Master. As a result, Minister Li went home and asked someone to carry it back. He was also accompanied by the magistrate Daren, who asked him to check the dowry against the list from the Main Branch. Then, he affixed a seal saying that he could not give the dowry to our Second Branch if he did not see the Main Branch’s Young Miss in person or have a handwritten letter from her.”

“Minister Li said that the Xiao Family’s branches have not been in touch with each other for a long time, and he did not want to rashly hand over so much property! The way this old servant sees it, it is the Li Family who wants to take the money! With the dowry and the properties, it will amount to tens of thousands of taels, and we only got 12,000 silver when we separated!”

The pozi spoke with strong emotions. She spat like it was her own money, and her eyes were full of hatred.

When Second Madam Xiao heard the servant, she took a few steps back and fell into the chair.

When her husband went to ask for the dowry for the first time, Minister Li had hesitated. She also heard the Li Family say that they would not give them the dowry until they saw Xiao Youning.

At that time, she felt like she didn’t know where the Li Family had such big courage to dare to keep the dowry even after divorcing Xiao Youning when she didn’t care for her dowry.

In the end, when she looked for the meaning behind her husband’s words, he said that the matter would not go smoothly and that they had to seriously give consideration to the Li Family.

This was because the Li Family had previously lost their reputation after Xiao Youning made a scene in front of the people. A few days later, the people found out that the Xiao Family had helped and were criticized. The Li Family wanted to break off the relationship and return to receiving praises from the people, so the Li Family could not take Xiao Youning’s dowry. But who would have known that the dowry had not been sent back and Xiao Youning had left the capital.

Everyone in the capital knew that the Xiao Family’s Main Branch and Second Branch did not get along. Second Master Xiao said that his niece asked him to get the dowry, and there was no letter or one of Xiao Youning’s servants to prove that the Li Family could give the dowry away. Naturally, they had to worry about whether the people would say that they had conspired with the Xiao Family’s Second Branch to bully the little girl.

Therefore, when Madam Li wanted to get the dowry back, Minister Li had prevented  it. When Second Master Xiao went to visit them again today, the Li Family was determined to see Xiao Youning before giving the dowry away.

“That cruel and hypocritical Li Family!” Second Madam Xiao fell into her chair and scolded them with hatred. “They have a bad reputation, and they still want to drag us down with them! It’s obvious that they want to keep it to themselves!”

“Madam, what shall we do now? After the magistrate put the seal on it, the dowry list was taken back by the magistrate and he said that he would keep a copy of it. As long as the Main Branch’s Young Miss does not show up, then it would be impossible for us to get the dowry!”

Second Madam Xiao recalled what she had ordered when the pozi anxiously asked what they were going to do. She was so angry that she was about to vomit blood.

“—it was you, you idiot, who encouraged me to do that! Send someone to chase her and make them bring her back to me! Otherwise, so much money will be wasted!”

The pozi was directly scolded as being an idiot and she held back from saying another word.

If it wasn’t for the madam viciously wanting to take the dowry from the Main Branch, then how could she agree with her about it? And now she was being blamed for everything!

The pozi tried to hide her anger, and could only scold her master secretly in her heart and want to go make amends.

Who would have known that as soon as she turned around, she saw a person standing at the door. The pozi saw the man’s face clearly and cried Master in a trembling voice. She was so scared that she fell to her knees.

When Second Madam Xiao saw the rage on her husband’s face, she thought of what they had just said, and a chill rose from her feet.

——

Jian Yin was driving the carriage and they continued to run until dawn before stopping in front of the town gate.

The town gate was not open yet. There were many people outside of the town that had rushed to the town to wait in line. He looked around and did not find anything unusual. He pushed the round-faced maid away, who was asleep against him. He jumped out of the shaft of the carriage and went to the window to speak in a low voice.

“Fifth Master, we have arrived at the county town. The gate hasn’t opened yet. Please wait patiently.”

Ye Shen opened his eyes instantly when he heard the voice. His eyes were bright and calm, without a trace of drowsiness.

He never fell asleep during the whole journey.

Ye Shen had opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Youning from the corner of his eyes. She was sleeping soundly in the corner. He gave a low grunt in response.

Jian Yin heard his response from outside, and knew that it was convenient to talk to him at this time. He took the opportunity to tell him the information he got last night. “The map was very ripped up. I only found a small piece of paper from that man yesterday, and I don’t know whether it is real or not.”

They went to the village because they were ordered by the emperor to find something. The village was strange, but they already knew that. They deliberately rushed there to take a detour and to stay overnight before approaching their target. But they didn’t expect to run into Xiao Youning and her maid.

“the things should be sent back as soon as possible…” Ye Shen gave orders in a low voice, and his eyes fell on Xiao Youning again and said, “Go to the town and find a doctor first.”

Jian Yin was surprised. “Fifth Master, are you hurt?!”

Ye Shen leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes again. “It’s not me.”

It was the one he had taken into the carriage during a moment of kindness.

He really caused trouble for himself.

The author has something to say:

Ye Shen: I really got myself into trouble.

Later, Ye Shen wondered why the little trouble didn’t come to him every day.

Footnotes

9PM-11PM