Chapter 16: Informing

Even in brothels, unless a young male courtesan repeatedly disobeyed rules and tried to escape, he would not be easily tattooed with such a shameful word.

Once branded with such a mark, one’s life was destined to be lowly, with no hope of ever going straight.

“I really didn’t expect Xie Yi to be this kind of person. Miss Su… Young Madam Su definitely doesn’t know, otherwise she certainly wouldn’t have bought him. As long as this matter is told to the young madam, Xie Yi’s good days will be over!” Xiao Ping said in a flattering tone.

No wonder in the previous life, despite Xie Yi being so favored, Su Mu had not the slightest intention of accepting him. Such a lowly prostitute was unworthy of being near Su Mu.

Yan Jiyue’s narrow eyes focused on Xiao Ping. “Don’t spread this matter for now.”

Xiao Ping prostrated. “Yes.”

Although Xie Yi was despicable, if this matter became known to everyone, Xie Yi would at most commit suicide out of shame, but in the end, the one losing face would still be Su Mu.

After all, Xie Yi was taken home by Su Mu in full view of everyone. Because of the uxorilocal marriage, Su Mu was already looked down upon. If those gossipmongers found out that the Xie Yi she brought home had such moral conduct, they would certainly point fingers behind her back.

Now that he was divorced from Su Mu, Su Mu obviously harbored resentment towards him.

He could no longer act recklessly without regard for consequences like before. Dealing with Xie Yi was secondary. The most important thing was to change Su Mu’s opinion of him.

Let her know that the current Yan Jiyue was different from before. He was a thousand times better than the despicable Xie Yi. One’s temper could change, but a brand on the body could never be changed in this lifetime.

“Young Master, the lord invites you to dine at Mei Pavilion,” Hua Lu said in a low voice at the door.

“Only my father?”

Hua Lu said, “Also the eldest miss, the cousin miss, and…”

“Enough, I understand.” Yan Jiyue cut off his words and got up from the soft couch, leaning on the velvet pillow.

Hua Lu led the way with a lantern in front, while Xiao Ping followed behind Yan Jiyue.

As soon as he entered Mei Pavilion, Yan Jiyue heard Liu Cui’s sharp, shrill voice laughing loudly in the hall, as if pinching her throat.

The room was brightly lit. Yan Zhujun, Yan Ting, Yan Ruyu, Liu Cui, and several elders from the countryside were all gathered together.

Yan Ting’s forehead was still wrapped in gauze, her eyes wandering, seeming not to recognize anyone. Yan Zhujun patiently introduced the family relatives to her.

It was as if these people, who had nearly torn their faces apart demanding to divide the family property that night, were not the same ones who could sit here with a clear conscience.

Yan Jiyue felt disgusted just looking at these people!

“Jiyue, you’re here. Everyone is waiting for you. Come sit.” Yan Zhujun waved at Yan Jiyue with a smile.

“The eldest young master just divorced Su Mu. Without facing an unwanted woman, he must have more leisure time in his Handie Courtyard, hehe.” Liu Cui covered her mouth and laughed lightly.

Yan Jiyue looked at Liu Cui expressionlessly, his eyes reflecting a cold light. “Yes, I didn’t expect Cousin and Uncle to come. A while ago, you were shouting and making a scene about dividing the family, yelling until you were hoarse. You’ve recovered quite quickly!”

Liu Cui smiled and avoided his gaze, picking food for her daughter. “Jiyue, what are you talking about? At that time, none of us knew Ting’er was alive. We only wanted to do more for the Yan family. How could it be about dividing the family!”

Yan Jiyue snorted coldly. “Uncle is good at whitewashing.”

Yan Zhujun patted Yan Jiyue’s hand lightly. “Alright, alright. We’re all family. Let’s not speak of two households.”

“Exactly, exactly. We’re all one family, one family.” Yan Ruyu hurriedly echoed.

Yan Zhujun continued, “The elders will return to the countryside tomorrow. Tonight is to see them off.”

“Is that so?” Yan Jiyue’s cold eyes narrowed slightly. He raised his cup. “Then Jiyue wishes you all a smooth journey.”

Everyone raised their cups together. After three rounds of wine, those elders couldn’t hold their liquor and left first. Liu Cui also took Yan Ruyu and slipped away.

In an instant, only Yan Jiyue, Yan Ting, and Yan Zhujun remained in the hall.

Yan Zhujun put down his wine cup and glanced at Yan Jiyue. “Liu Cui only said a few words to you. Why are you so impatient?”

Yan Jiyue sneered at the corner of his mouth. “The night those people were clamoring to divide the family was so dangerous. Father may have forgotten, but I haven’t.”

“Are you really angry about dividing the family, or angry because Liu Cui mentioned Su Mu?” Yan Zhujun saw through Yan Jiyue’s heart at a glance.

Yan Jiyue didn’t deny it.

Yan Zhujun sighed. “I originally had the intention of matchmaking you two. It was you who didn’t want to. Now that you’re divorced, it’s also good.”

“Also good?” Yan Jiyue laughed mockingly. “When you first learned that she and I were divorced, who was the one scheming to keep Su Mu by breaking the engagement? How can you say ‘also good’ so easily? …Oh, Sister is back. The Yan family has an heir. Naturally, everyone is overjoyed. But don’t forget, if it weren’t for Su Mu, Sister probably wouldn’t have been able to return for another ten years!”

“You—” Yan Zhujun angrily smashed his cup. “Well, well, you’ve grown bold, daring to talk back to me! Was it I who made you divorce Su Mu? Wasn’t it yourself!”

Yan Jiyue pursed his lips, clenching his fists tightly. “Yes, it was me.”

After being reborn, his only regret was not coming back earlier, inexplicably signing that divorce agreement.

He regretted it so much that he often dreamed of the moment he signed the divorce agreement.

Watching his pre-rebirth self sign the divorce agreement decisively, he stood aside, his heart aching, screaming his lungs out. But the person in the dream couldn’t hear his hoarse cries until he woke up with tears soaking the pillow.

“Since you were willing to divorce her yourself, why are you angry with me? Go back to your Handie Courtyard!” Yan Zhujun said angrily.

Yan Jiyue left with a sweep of his sleeve.

“Stop!” Yan Zhujun suddenly called out to him.

“Father, is there anything else?” Yan Jiyue asked coldly without turning his head.

“Since you’re already divorced from her, don’t think about Su Mu anymore. I heard she already has a handsome young man by her side. You should also plan for your own future.”

Yan Jiyue’s nails dug deeply into his flesh. “So what does Father mean?”

“When the weather clears up in a while, I will hold a flower appreciation gathering and invite the young masters, misses, and young talents of the city. Oh right, you used to like that Shen Yuxue a lot, right? I’ll invite her too. You two can meet, and then—”

“And then quickly marry off this burden, right?” Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with tears, grief and indignation intertwined. “Before, you thought Sister was dead. You were afraid that if I married, the daughter-in-law would seize the family property, so you let Su Mu marry into our family against my will. Now that Sister is back, you want to push me into Shen Yuxue’s arms without stopping, paving the way for Sister’s future.”

Yan Zhujun angrily said, “Nonsense! I’m doing it all for your own good!”

“For my own good? For me, or for Sister?” Yan Jiyue couldn’t hide his sadness, smiling sarcastically. “I know, our family only looks glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it’s about to become insolvent. So I have to hurry and marry, preferably to Shen Yuxue. The Shen family has money… You want to use me to fill this hole, to plan for Sister’s future prospects.”

“Nonsense! Nonsense! Who taught you to say such rubbish? Xiao Ping? Hua Lu?” Yan Zhujun was so angry he kept coughing, stomping his cane. “Ling Hua, drag those two out and beat them for me!”

“No need. No one taught me.” Yan Jiyue’s gaze was heavy, his brows desolate. “I won’t attend the flower appreciation gathering, and I won’t meet Shen Yuxue either.”

Yan Ting looked at her father and brother parting unhappily, still a bit confused. She had been rescued by a farming family and was developing feelings for their youngest son Guo’er when suddenly a group of people appeared, saying she was some eldest miss of the Yan family and took her back home.

“Ting’er, you were frightened, weren’t you?” Yan Zhujun looked at Yan Ting’s dazed expression with immense heartache.

Yan Ting shook her head. “Father, I’m fine. You argued with Jiyue. You should still persuade him.”

“No need to persuade him.” Yan Zhujun smiled gently. “A man is born to be married off. When you take a husband in the future, naturally there will be a son-in-law to deal with him. By then, he will know that he is no longer the young master in this family, but an outsider.”

Ling Hua listened aside, only feeling a chill in his heart.

Leaving Mei Pavilion, Xiao Ping and Hua Lu kept shrinking two steps behind Yan Jiyue. They knew Yan Jiyue had just had a fight with the lord. They wished they could bury their heads in their chests, not daring to lift their heads and touch upon the taboo subject.

“Xiao Ping, Hua Lu.” Yan Jiyue’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

Xiao Ping and Hua Lu didn’t have time to retract their legs and collided with each other.

Xiao Ping crawled forward. “What are Young Master’s orders?”

“Go handle a matter for me.”

“Father, this bowl of chicken soup was really given to me by Sister Su?” Lin Xiaoxing, having woken up, held the fragrant bowl of chicken soup in his hands, unable to contain his joy.

“Would Father deceive you? It was sent over last night, but you were still unconscious then. We could only wait until you woke up to heat it up for you to drink.” Uncle Yang said.

“Since it was sent by Sister Su, I must drink it all.” Lin Xiaoxing gulped down the chicken soup.

Uncle Yang felt quite gratified. “I see that recently, Miss Su has been more attentive to you than before.”

“Really?”

“Haven’t you noticed?” Uncle Yang smiled. “Think about it. Before she married into the Yan family, except for when she first rented a place and came to our house, when else did she not have you personally deliver things to her? But this time it’s different. Sending candies and chicken soup, I think she probably has you in her heart.”

Lin Xiaoxing sat up excitedly. “Father, do you really think so?”

“Hey, slow down. The doctor said you have to lie down and can’t move.” Uncle Yang hurriedly pushed Lin Xiaoxing back onto the bed. “You see, after you fell ill, she even took the initiative to visit you. If you say she doesn’t have you in her heart, I don’t believe it. She probably suffered at Yan Jiyue’s place and realized she should marry a worthy husband.”

Lin Xiaoxing was so embarrassed he kept covering his face with the blanket. “If it’s really like that, I’ll go see Sister Su when I’m better.”

“What will you say when you see her? ‘Sister Su, please marry me’? Where’s your dignity as a man?” Uncle Yang comforted him. “The most important thing for you now is to recuperate.”

Lin Xiaoxing nodded. “I understand. By the way, Father, where’s Xiaomei?”

“Xiaomei went out to play. Last night I gave her a fierce glare with the rattan cane. This morning she was still crying.”

Lin Xiaoxing held Uncle Yang’s hand. “Father, don’t blame Xiaomei. Actually, it’s all my fault. I didn’t see the green apricots underfoot and just happened to step on them, that’s why… You say, how strange. I clearly saw it was empty underfoot.”

Uncle Yang sighed. “Sigh, it’s all in the past. Speaking of which, it was thanks to Xie Yi supporting you back. When you’re well, you must thank him properly.”

“Yes, just don’t know if he’ll have returned to the desert by the time I recover.”

“Xiaoxing, Father will say something selfish. Although Xie Yi saved you, Father sincerely hopes he can return to where he should go soon. He’s too good-looking. Staying by Su Mu’s side all the time, it’s hard for people not to lose control.”

Lin Xiaoxing lowered his head. “I understand.”

How could he not feel the same way? Even if he was a benefactor, constantly living under the same roof as the person in one’s heart, it was hard not to feel unbearable jealousy.

“You see those women who often frequent brothels. None of them have Su Mu’s steady character. Don’t worry. When you’re well, I will find someone to be your matchmaker.”

Lin Xiaoxing shook his head. “No, Father, you have to hurry.”

“Why? Are you in such a rush?” Uncle Yang teased.

“Father!” Lin Xiaoxing blushed. “That’s not what I meant. I’m thinking, in a few days, the results of the provincial examination will be out. If Sister Su doesn’t pass, it’s fine. But if she passes, she’ll become a scholar. Many men in the city will want to marry her. I won’t be able to match her then.”

“Right!” Uncle Yang slapped his forehead. “How could I have forgotten about this?”

Juancheng was not big, and with the emperor far away in the sky, only one ranked scholar appeared every twenty years. Being able to pass the county-level exam and receive a government stipend was already a cut above the rest.

“You lie obediently at home. I’ll go find an acquainted matchmaker to discuss it right now.” Uncle Yang hurriedly put on his outer robe and locked the door from the outside.

The bluestone tiles, not fully covered in moss, were wet and slippery. Uncle Yang had to be careful with every step. Suddenly looking up, he saw Su Mu’s familiar red clothes flash by at the corner.

Uncle Yang followed curiously.

He saw a man dressed as a servant standing in front of Su Mu. He was quite good-looking. But Su Mu’s expression was solemn, not like a secret romantic rendezvous.

Uncle Yang pressed his ear against the wall.

“Who sent you?” Su Mu asked.

The servant smiled. “Miss Su, ever since you bought Xie Yi last time, my master has felt bad about it. After much thought, he decided to tell you about this matter.”

“Just say it directly. Why make it so mysterious?”

The servant smiled and leaned close to Su Mu. “My master told this servant to pass a message to you. The Xie Yi you bought is actually not worth 20 taels of silver at all. Because he was promiscuous and didn’t maintain male virtue, seducing his former masters, the word ‘lewd’ was branded on his chest. He’s even lower than the lowliest prostitutes in brothels.”

Uncle Yang instantly covered his mouth, utterly shocked.

He really didn’t expect that Xie Yi, who looked so clean and was most gentle and kind, would actually be so filthy and shameless in private.