Episode 3

Yao Xiang fu was located at the northwest corner of the city, with high ledges that rose proudly, glazed roof tiles and vermilion rafters, the two white marble lions in front of the doors were even more prestigious and awe-inspiring. At present, Yao Mo Wan rushed in directly through the fu doors while gasping for breath.

“Third Miss, it couldn’t be that there’s a dog chasing you? To run this fast?” At the fu doorway, Yao Tu, who had served as Yao fu’s steward for around twenty years now, suspiciously looked at Yao Mo Wan. Though his tone lacked politeness, it carried some warmth. Yao Mo Wan seemed to have not heard Yao Tu’s comment, only gasped for breath at the fu doors for a moment, then madly charged onward towards her own mother, Mo Li’s Bright Virtuous Pavilion.

Seeing Yao Mo Wan running into the fu as if she was throwing away her life, Yao Tu subconsciously walked out the fu doors to look around, but didn’t see any abnormalities. He couldn’t help but lower his head and sigh softly. Based on the Third Miss’s looks, if not for the problem of her intelligence, she would’ve certainly been bestowed the title of consort like Eldest Miss and Second Miss and be pampered.

She passed through the courtyard, and took a detour around the Nine Winding Song Corridors. Just as Yao Mo Wan passed through the arched doors of the Bright Virtuous Pavilion at the speed of storm, she suddenly heard the sound of an ear-piercing cry from within.

“Lao ye, you’ve gone insane! What wrong has this qie done? For you to punish this qie this way?” On the elegant, jade-colored stone floor, a still attractive and beautiful woman covered her swollen cheek with one hand, her slender red phoenix eyes disbelievingly looking at the middle aged man before her.

老爷 – “lao ye” master of the house, wives also sometimes call their husbands this way

The man wore a dark purple wide sleeved embroidered gown, his stature was pretty well proportioned, his appearance scholarly and refined, his countenance solemn with a scholar’s air, serenely distant eyes were calm and reserved, in between, the strict creases showed unconcealable rigorous schemes and deep foresight. This person was precisely great Chu’s prime minister, Yao Zhen Ting. And the one who he struck, knocking off her gold hairpin was his legal wife, Yao Su Luan’s birth mother, Dou Xiang Lan.

At this moment, Yao Zhen Ting was furious to the point of spitting thunder. Both his eyes glowered at Dou Xiang Lan as he fiercely pointed at the already breathless Mo Li on top of the bed couch and roared in a low tone.

“You malicious woman! How you usually bully Mo Li everyday, even adding slow poison into her food and drink and causing her body to be in poor health, all this lao fu could tolerate from you! But you actually poisoned her to death! As the legal wife, you are petty, vicious and narrow-minded! Lao fu can no longer tolerate you!” Yao Zhen Ting started speaking with a cold scoff, his ice-cold eyes did not contain the slightest trace of warmth.

老夫 – “lao fu” translated to old husband, way for husbands to refer to themselves

“What lao ye said is right, it was this qie that poisoned her to death! From the day that lao ye got drunk and started to pamper and visit her, a thorn started to pierce this qie’s heart! It was because this qie was benevolent, lenient, and had allowed her to give birth to Yao Mo Xin that sort of lowlife! Which caused Su Luan’s position as Empress to be snatched away! If this qie didn’t give her slow poison when she became pregnant with Yao Mo Wan, that Yao Mo Wan would definitely become a fox enchantress like her sister! Although Yao Mo Wan didn’t die as a fetus in her belly, but at least she was born as an idiot!” Dou Xiang Lan’s appearance was sinister as she glared towards the bed couch at Mo Li, shrieking hatefully.

‘Pah—‘ In midst of Dou Xiang Lan’s unrestrained deride, Yao Zhen Ting’s palm once again swept over.

“Since you’ve already admitted it, then lao fu will place righteousness before family and personally accompany you to the Ministry of Justice!” Yao Zhen Ting spoke vehemently, walking ahead with the intent to drag Dou Xiang Lan, but had his path obstructed.

“Lao ye should look at this secret report first, taking action later won’t be too late!” Dou Xiang Lan abruptly shook off Yao Zhen Ting’s palm, flinging the paper tucked in her sleeve over. Yao Zhen Ting hesitated for a moment, but in the end bent over to pick up the letter.

Looking at the letter in his hands, Yao Zhen Ting’s facial color turned more and more purple, changing at the speed of flipping through a book, until at last, with a faint frown Yao Zhen Ting tucked the letter into his sleeve. After a flash of hesitation ran through his eyes, he slowly walked towards Dou Xiang Lan and, with a small smile, reached out to help Dou Xiang Lan up.

“I’ve wronged fu ren, never would have thought Mo Xin, that ungrateful wretch, would do such an immoral thing. It’s still fu ren that thought things through most clearly, having this lowlife woman die is also good. In a while lao fu will have the steward throw her corpse into the Disorder Burial Mound so as to not irritate fu ren’s mood. Just then lao fu acted with a heavy hand, does fu ren still hurt?” Yao Zhen Ting’s finger stroked across the corner of Dou Xiang Lan’s lip, helping her wipe away the drop of blood, appearing pained and regretful as he spoke.

夫人 – “fu ren” way of saying wife, but also refers to their status as mistress of the house.

“As long as lao ye realizes his wrong, it’s good. Yao Mo Xin has already died, the seat of empress will definitely fall into my daughter, Su Luan’s hands. Henceforth, Yao fu can depend on Su Luan for their honor and reputation!” Dou Xiang Lan cast a side glance at Yao Zhen Ting, deliberately speaking with this reminder.

“Yes, yes…… fu ren must be tired, lao fu will help you back to your room to rest.” Yao Zhen Ting attentively supported Dou Xiang Lan out the door. Giving a glance at Mo Li out of the corner of his eyes, the depths of his eyes showed a thread of a sigh.

Just as Yao Zhen Ting helped Dou Xiang Lan out of the room, Yao Mo Wan suddenly dodged behind the elm tree in the corner of the courtyard to hide. Until the two disappeared from the Bright Virtuous Pavilion, only then did Yao Mo Wan run out, rushing straight into the room.

“Mother…… Daughter came too late…… mother!” Yao Mo Wan threw herself down towards the bed couch, drop after large drop of tears rolled down and dropped. Her knees bent and she dropped into a kneel on the ground, both hands tightly grasping Mo Li’s already cold fingers, she mournfully wailed.

Don’t know how long she had cried before Yao Mo Wan slowly lifted her eyes. In her desolate ice-cold pupils rolled dense hollow darkness.

“Mother…… go at peace, daughter will definitely get justice for you! All the pain that Dou Xiang Lan caused you, I will pay it back hundredfold! And that Yao Zhen Ting that doesn’t deserve to be called a husband, to be called someone’s father! Daughter swears to you, they will die miserably……” A burst of ice cold laughter suddenly sounded forth, resounding in the skies of the Bright Virtuous Pavilion, it was terrifyingly eerie as if the cry of a ghoul. The current Yao Mo Wan’s existence was like that of King Yama from the underworld, from her body to her very bones exuded chilliness.

Right at this moment, the sound of urgent footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Yao Mo Wan’s willow brows knitted, without taking the time to think she instinctively bent over to hide below the bed couch. Before she comes up with a plan, she can’t easily show herself, otherwise she’ll end up inadvertently alerting an enemy.

“Unfold the straw mat.” Yao Tu spoke with a deep voice, his sharp gaze watching the two old servant behind him. Old servant Zi Shi obeyed the order and spread the straw mat that was tucked under his arm out evenly on the ground.

“Steward Yao, are we really going to throw Second Madam into the Disorder Burial Mound?” Old servant Chen Qiang asked doubtfully.

“Here is fifty taels of silver, you two listen carefully. Carry Second Madam out from the back door, buy a top quality coffin and bury her properly!” Yao Tu ordered in a low voice while talking out from his own chest a heavy purse.

“But lao ye……” Chen Qiang reluctantly received the silver as he spoke with a worried frown.

“Would lao ye watch what you guys do!? While Second Madam was alive she didn’t treat us badly, this is all we can do for her. Remember, be covert when you bury her.” Yao Tu exhorted.

“Then what should we write on the gravestone?” Chen Qiang asked.

“Gravestone…… Ah! Just stand a blank gravestone for now! To prevent side issues from continuing to rise.” Yao Tu gave a long sigh. When his gaze landed on the couch where Mo Li was laying, he couldn’t help but sigh.

“Eldest Miss is the current Empress, how could lao ye dare to treat Second Madam this way?” Chen Qiang and another old servant lifted Mo Li off the bed as Chen Qiang grumbled to himself.

“Hush! Just focus on the job, what are you talking so much for!” Yao Tu gave a warning, but he had already guessed a few scenarios. It can be assumed that something must have happened to Eldest Miss in the palace, otherwise, even if lao ye was just putting on an act he would still have given Second Madam a grand burial.

When the two started carrying Mo Li’s corpse out of the Bright Virtuous Pavilion, Yao Tu originally was planning to leave as well, but was suddenly shocked. He ordered Chen Qiang to leave first, turning around to tightly close the doors.

“Third Miss?” After Chen Qiang and the other servant walked pretty far away, Yao Tu then turned around to look below the bed couch, calling out softly. Beneath the bed, Yao Mo Wan knew that she had accidentally let out a sound just now, continuing to hide was already meaningless, so she crawled out from below the bed, choking with sobs.

“Steward Yao…… Waaah…… Mo Wan is scared…… Mother doesn’t want Mo Wan anymore……” Yao Mo Wan pretended to be frightened as she huddled at the corner of the bed, both hands wiping tears, appearing just like she had lost her head out of fear.

“Fuu! Third Miss, don’t cry, Second Madam just went to some place really far away, do you want to go find her?” Yao Tu’s heart ached as he crouched down next to Yao Mo Wan, in his eyes were evident pity.

“Want…… Mo Wan doesn’t want to be apart from mother……” Yao Mo Wan nodded vigorously, her tear stained face like raindrops on a pear blossom turned towards Yao Tu. In her heart though, she started to become on guard.

“Third Miss, listen carefully, right now Ting Yue is waiting for you in the firewood room. Here is the key and ten or so banknotes. Go find her, she’ll bring you to find Second Madam. Remember, you can’t let anyone find out, otherwise they’ll capture you and won’t let you go to find your mother.” Yao Tu pondered for a short moment before squeezing the firewood room’s key and the banknotes from his waist into Yao Mo Wan’s palm. Yao Tu knew clearly, if Third Miss stayed in the fu, Big Madam would definitely not let her off. He himself was slight of body and light of words, all that he could do he has done.

”slight of body and light of words” means basically, he’s not that strong either physically or with influence, aka his words are light and not many people would listen to him.

Looking at the key and banknotes in her hand, a smudge of relief streaked through Yao Mo Wan’s heart. Then she looked at Yao Tu.

“Thank you……” You will definitely receive good karma due to your kindness, Yao Mo Wan pledged to herself.

“Third Miss…… Hurry and go! Ting Yue has probably gotten anxious waiting.” Seeing the glistening tears in Yao Mo Wan’s eye, Yao Tu couldn’t help himself from wiping the tears. He, when all’s said and done, had watched Third Miss grow up from the time she was an infant, in his heart he was somewhat reluctant to part with her.

“En, then Mo Wan is going!” Yao Mo Wan knew in her heart she could not tarry, so she got up and left the Bright Virtuous Pavilion.

On the road, Yao Mo Wan meticulously avoided the servants, very soon she arrived at the firewood room in the back garden. Seeing that there was no one around, Yao Mo Wan hurriedly opened the firewood door lock. Ting Yue was a little yatou her mother had saved off the streets in the past, afterwards she had always served at her mother’s side. Perhaps because of that saving grace, Ting Yue was loyal and devoted towards her mother. This is probably also the reason Yao Tu had her find Ting Yue, Yao Mo Wan thus thought.

丫头 – “yatou” = servant girl

At precisely the moment she opened the door, Yao Mo Wan’s pupils dilated. Suddenly everything else blanked out, all she could see was Ting Yue hanged from the roof beams, her hair disheveled, the corner of her mouth dyed with blood, her entire body covered with cuts and bruises.

“Ting Yue…… Ting Yue!” Yao Mo Wan was only shocked still for a moment before she hurriedly turned to close the door securely, then carried over a stool to step onto and release Ting Yue.

“Third Miss…… Third Miss! Are you alright? That’s great! You’re alright!” When Ting Yue opened her eyes and saw Yao Mo Wan, she immediately started crying tears of joy.

“Who was it that beat you up like this?” The rim of Yao Mo Wan’s eyes were tearful as she reached out to tuck a strand of Ting Yue’s messy hair behind her ear.

“It was…… Third Miss, why would you be here? Hurry and leave! Leave from the back door! It would be terrible if you get caught by high mo mo! Hurry and go! Ah……” Ting Yue seemed to have remembered something and tired to push Mo Wan away with all her might, but because it implicated her wounds she involuntarily cried out in pain.

高嬷嬷 – “high mo mo” it translates to elderly lady, wet nurse, catholic nun. This isn’t a servant position I’m familiar with. I’m guessing wet nurse because nurses often stay in the fu to serve the child they were brought to take care of, but the fact she seems to be a highranked ‘mo mo’… I’m not sure it’s a wet nurse so I’m leaving it as ‘mo mo’ for the time being.

“I’ll bring you with me!” Yao Mo Wan resisted, not letting her tears fall as she shouldered Ting Yue up and strenuously walked out of the firewood room. Luckily, the back door was only a few meters away from the firewood room. Yao Mo Wan and Ting Yue left Yao Xiang fu without a single hindrance.

“Third Miss…… You……” Seeming to notice that Yao Mo Wan was different from how she usually was, Ting Yue spoke with suspicion.

“Let’s find an inn first, then I’ll explain to you.” Yao Mo Wan interrupted Ting Yue’s question, arduously supported Ting Yue to the closest inn to settle down, then sent one of the inn’s waiter to find a doctor to treat Ting Yue. Throughout this entire process she exhibited extraordinary precision, not the slightest trace of foolishness could be seen.

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