Volume 1 Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Tears, Forced Their Way Out
“Not possible, I personally saw that Big Madam and Lou Yu Xing were getting hot and heavy on the second floor theatre box…… I can’t let lao ye just leave like this! Otherwise the Third Miss’s intentions will be wasted. I’m going to block the sedan!” Liu Xing spoke rapidly.
“We can’t! Third Miss only instructed us to watch carefully. She didn’t give us any other orders, it’s best if we head back first.” Ting Yue held onto Liu Xing tightly as she firmly spoke.
Inside the inn, when Ting Yue and Liu Xing entered with their heads hanged, Yao Mo Wan was currently sitting next to the table leisurely. Her jade fingers were pinching a tea lid, gently brushing it a few times against the rim of the teacup before taking a sip.
“You’re back? How did the task go?” Yao Mo Wan set the teacup aside, her long full eyelashes slightly blinked as she looked towards Ting Yue.
“Miss. Sorry, we messed up the task. For some reason lao ye entered the Virtue Cloud House but came out again without a sound. Nothing happened at all.” Ting Yue looked apologetically at Yao Mo Wan.
“What did you think would happen?” Yao Mo Wan’s cherry lips faintly curled as she lifted an eyebrow and looked at Ting Yue. The depths of her eyes were filled with amusement, sure enough it kept in line with her father’s conduct style.
“Catching them on the bed, of course Big Madam would be drowned in a pig cage!” Ting Yue spoke as if it was a matter of course.
“drowned in a pig cage” another Chinese form of punishment sentence usually for people that commit a love affair. The criminal is driven into a pig cage. A light punishment will just consist of dunking you in the river a couple times. A heavy crime will sentence you to drown.
“Yue er, remember well. Even the highest ranking person will face a time where they choke on their knocked in teeth.” Yao Mo Wan softly explained.
“Then didn’t we just rush around for nothing?” Liu Xing looked at Yao Mo Wan, not comprehending.
“All the men in this world, regardless of status or age, the thing they find most intolerable is their women lying in another man’s embrace, regardless of whether or not they love this woman…… Not to mention that Father saw it firsthand. Father is able to conceal it well, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. Perhaps right now he might be vomiting blood. Ting Yue, does Father still have the habit of drinking lotus seed soup after supper?” Yao Mo Wan retrained the chill in her eyes, suddenly switching the topic.
“Ah, he does. He’s already had this habit for many years. In the past it was always Mistress that prepared it herself but ever since Mistress’s body became weak, this task was always left to High Mo Mo.” Ting Yue replied according to the facts.
“Is that so……” Yao Mo Wan’s eyes slightly lowered pensively.
“Miss, you had me give all the banknotes to that small actor, so what are we going to use to pay the rent?” Ting er seemed to have abruptly thought of something and suddenly asked.
“Tonight we’re returning to Xiang fu. High Mo Mo treated Mother so well, I must properly repay her.” Yao Mo Wan’s pupils suddenly became cold, a sharp chill burst forth from the depths of her eyes. At the side, Ting Yue and Liu Xing shared a glance, silently astonished.
“You guys come and sit. You guys have been busy the entire day, you should rest.” Yao Mo Wan’s gaze shift as she looked towards Ting Yue and Liu Xing with a gentle smile. That smile was brilliant like the spring wind and refreshing rain, as if she was a completely different person from a few moments ago. At this moment, they were truly convinced. Third Miss has changed, changed to become hard to fathom, wise and calm.
The golden bird of the sun set in the west and the jade hare of the moon rose in the east. Moonlight streamed down like water through the mottled shadows left behind by the tree branches. The wind roused, the tree shadows danced. That swaying silhouette made this night become particularly secluded and cold.
Yao Xiang fu Main Hall
After supper, Yao Tu ordered the servants to clear the food. Dou Xiang Lan rinsed her mouth with tea, then handed the cup to her personal maid, Yu Zhi. Her gaze, out of the corner of her eye, accidentally swept across Yao Zhen Ting’s left thumb. Her heart slightly jolted.
“Yu Zhi, have High Mo Mo hurry up. Don’t let lao ye wait so long. Lao ye, did something unpleasant happen at court today? This qie sees that your complexion isn’t too good?” Dou Xiang Lan cautiously asked.
“The queen had a difficult birth, one corpse two lives. Now that the empress position is empty, all the concubines in the harem are vying for the position. If you have time visit the palace more and remind Su Luan to be careful.” Yao Zhen Ting spoke with a frown, not mentioning a word of the Virtue Cloud House matter.
一尸两命 “one corpse two lives” refers to the situation when the baby dies inside the mother’s womb, so two people die, but there’s kind of only one corpse.
“Rest assured, lao ye. Su Luan has always been clever and sensible, not to mention she has his highness’s adoration and is also gui fei. Naturally she’ll be the first choice for empress, she will certainly bring honor to the family.” Dou Xiang Lan deliberately spoke the words ‘bring honor to the family’ with emphasized bite as her heart felt unspoken criticism. Even if she had lost her feminine virtue, but she had a daughter that was about to become the empress to support her, so she wasn’t afraid.
“It’d be best if it ends up as you desired.” A fleeting cold light flashed for a moment in Yao Zhen Ting’s eyes as he spoke mildly. Right at this time, High Mo Mo with a face of eager attentiveness entered, carrying a tureen containing lotus seed soup.
“Lao ye, the lotus seed soup is here. Please drink while it’s still hot.” As High Mo Mo spoke, she placed the soup tureen in front of Yao Zhen Ting and respectfully lifted the soup lid.
Yao Zhen Ting sighed, lifted the soup spoon and scooped up the lotus seed soup. Just as he was lifting it to his mouth, Yao Mo Wan suddenly ran in with a beautifully tear-stained face.
“Yao Mo Wan really misses Father…… Wuuwuuu……” Yao Mo Wan’s appearance shocked everyone present, especially Dou Xiang Lan. At this moment, Dou Xiang Lan’s pupils flashed with sinister light as she glared fiercely at High Mo Mo while High Mo Mo showed a face of grievances. Yao Tu who was positioned at the entrance was also extremely surprised, and looked with suspicion towards Ting Yue who had entered together with Yao Mo Wan.
“I haven’t seen you around these past two days, where did you run off to?” Yao Zhen Ting subconsciously glanced at Dou Xiang Lan. Originally he thought she would cut the weeds and eliminate all the roots.
“Wuuuwuuu…… High Mo Mo told Mo Wan Mother went somewhere far away and had Mo Wan go find her. But Mo Wan looked for a long time and couldn’t find Mother at all. Mother doesn’t want Mo Wan anymore. Father, Mo Wan only has Father left!” Yao Mo Wan wiped her tears while facing Yao Zhen Ting, sobbing as she spoke disjointedly.
“Lao nu…… this old servant didn’t! Big Madam……” High Mo Mo never would’ve dreamed that Yao Mo Wan would say this, her forehead immediately exuded cold sweat.
“Mo Mo, all the money you gave Mo Wan has been spent…… Wuuwuuu……” Yao Mo Wan wiped her tears with both hands, looking pitifully towards High Mo Mo.
“High Mo Mo, you sure are loyal!” Beside the table, Dou Xiang Lan naturally worked out the clues. Her voice held a chill that stung like ice.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira, Edited by Sonia
[Chiyomira’s Corner]
Enjoy~