Chapter 16: Informing

Even for male courtesans in brothels, unless they were unruly and repeatedly tried to escape, they wouldn’t be easily branded with such humiliating words.

Once branded with such a mark, their life would be destined to be lowly, and they could never hope to leave that life behind.

“I really didn’t expect Xie Yi to be such a person. Su… the young lady definitely doesn’t know, otherwise she wouldn’t have bought him. As long as we tell the young lady about this, Xie Yi’s good days will be over!” Xiao Ping said flatteringly.

No wonder in the previous life, even though Xie Yi was so favored, Su Mu didn’t have the slightest intention of marrying him. Such a lowly brothel commodity was not worthy of being close to Su Mu.

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

Xiao Ping bowed down: “Yes.”

Although Xie Yi was lowly, if this matter became known to everyone, at most Xie Yi would commit suicide out of shame, but in the end, it would be Su Mu who would lose face.

After all, Xie Yi was taken home by Su Mu in front of everyone. Because of the uxorilocal marriage, Su Mu was already looked down upon. If those gossips found out that Xie Yi, whom she brought home, was of this nature, there would inevitably be pointing and whispering behind her back.

Now that he and Su Mu were divorced, Su Mu clearly harbored resentment towards him.

He couldn’t act recklessly without considering the consequences like before. Dealing with Xie Yi was secondary; the most important thing was to change Su Mu’s perception of him.

Let her know that the current Yan Jiyue was different from before, that he was a million times better than the lowly Xie Yi. A person’s temper can be changed, but the brand on the body can never be changed in a lifetime.

“Young master, the master invites you to have dinner at Mei Study,” Hua Lu said softly, standing by the door.

“Just my father?”

Hua Lu said: “Also the eldest young lady, the cousin young lady, and…”

“Alright, I know.” Yan Jiyue cut off his words, supporting himself on the velvet cushion of the soft couch to get up.

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

As soon as they entered Mei Study, Yan Jiyue heard Liu Cui’s shrill voice, as if pinching his throat, laughing loudly in the main hall.

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

Yan Ting still had bandages wrapped around her forehead, her eyes wandering, as if unable to recognize people. Yan Zhujun was patiently introducing the clan relatives to her beside her.

It was as if those who had been arguing and almost tearing each other apart over dividing the family property that night were not these people, who could still sit here with peace of mind.

Yan Jiyue felt sick just looking at these people!

“Jiyue, you’re here. Everyone’s been waiting for you, come sit down quickly,” Yan Zhujun smiled and beckoned to Yan Jiyue.

“The eldest young master has just divorced Su Mu and doesn’t have to face a woman he doesn’t like. I suppose he must have been quite leisurely in Hantan Courtyard, hehe,” Liu Cui chuckled, covering his mouth.

Yan Jiyue looked at Liu Cui impassively, his eyes reflecting a cold light: “Yes, I didn’t expect cousin and uncle to come either. A while ago, you were shouting and screaming about dividing the family property, yelling until your voices were hoarse. Now you’ve recovered quite quickly!”

Liu Cui smiled and avoided his gaze, picking up food for his daughter, saying: “Jiyue, what are you saying? At that time, we all didn’t know Ting was alive, we just wanted to do our part for the Yan family. How could that be about dividing the family property!”

Yan Jiyue snorted coldly: “Uncle sure knows how to put on a good face.”

Yan Zhujun took Yan Jiyue’s hand and patted it lightly: “Alright, alright, we’re all family, let’s not speak as if we’re strangers.”

“That’s right, that’s right, we’re all family, family,” Yan Ruyu quickly agreed.

Yan Zhujun continued: “The elders are returning to the countryside tomorrow, tonight is a farewell dinner for them.”

“Is that so?” Yan Jiyue’s cold eyes narrowed slightly as he raised his cup, “Then I wish you all a safe journey.”

Everyone raised their cups together. After three rounds of drinks, those elders who couldn’t hold their liquor retired first, and Liu Cui also left with Yan Ruyu.

For a moment, only Yan Jiyue, Yan Ting, and Yan Zhujun remained in the hall.

Yan Zhujun put down his wine cup and looked at Yan Jiyue: “Liu Cui just said a few words about you, why are you so impatient?”

Yan Jiyue smiled coldly: “The night when those people were arguing about dividing the family was so dangerous. Father may have forgotten, but I haven’t.”

“Are you really angry about the family division, or are you 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: “Initially, I had the intention of matchmaking you two, but you were unwilling. Now that you’re divorced, it’s also good.”

“Also good?” Yan Jiyue laughed sarcastically: “Who was it that, after learning about our divorce, planned to break the agreement and bind Su Mu? Is this how you say ‘also good’?… Oh, sister has returned, the Yan family has an heir now, of course everyone is happy. But don’t forget, if it weren’t for Su Mu, sister might not have returned for ten years!”

“You—” Yan Zhujun angrily smashed his cup: “Well, well, you’ve grown bolder, daring to talk back to me! Did I ask you to divorce Su Mu? It was all your own doing!”

Yan Jiyue pressed his lips together, clenching his fists tightly: “Yes, it was me.”

After his rebirth, the only thing he regretted was not coming back earlier, and inexplicably signing that divorce letter.

He regretted it to death, often dreaming of the moment he signed the divorce letter.

Watching his pre-rebirth self decisively sign the divorce letter, he stood by, his heart aching, screaming hysterically, but the person in the dream couldn’t hear his desperate cries. Until he woke up, tears had soaked his pillow.

“Since you were willing to divorce, why are you angry with me? Go back to your Hantan Courtyard!” Yan Zhujun raged.

Yan Jiyue turned to leave.

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

“Father, is there anything else?” Yan Jiyue spoke coldly without turning back.

“Since you’ve already divorced 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 deep into his flesh: “So what does father mean?”

“After some time when the weather clears up, I will host a flower-viewing party and invite young ladies and gentlemen as well as talented youths from the city. Oh right, that Shen Yuxue, didn’t you like her before? I’ll invite her too, you can meet her, and then—”

“And then quickly marry off this burden, right?” Yan Jiyue’s eyes filled with tears, grief and anger intertwined: “Before, when you thought sister was dead, you were afraid I’d marry and the daughter-in-law would encroach on the family property, so you disregarded my wishes and had Su Mu marry into our family. Now that sister has returned, you want to push me into Shen Yuxue’s arms without delay, to pave the way for sister’s future.”

Yan Zhujun angrily shouted: “Nonsense! I’m doing this for your own good!”

“For my own good? Is it for me, or for sister?” Yan Jiyue couldn’t hide his sadness, smiling bitterly: “I know, our family only looks bright and beautiful on the surface, but in reality, we’re about to be in deficit. So I need to get married quickly, preferably to Shen Yuxue, because the Shen family is rich… You want to use me to fill this hole, to plan for sister’s future.”

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

“No need, no one taught me.” Yan Jiyue’s gaze was deep, his brow desolate: “But I won’t attend the flower-viewing party, nor will I meet Shen Yuxue.”

Yan Ting, watching her father and brother part on bad terms, was still a bit confused. She had been rescued by a farming family and was secretly developing feelings for the family’s youngest son, Guo’er, when suddenly a group of people appeared, saying she was the eldest young lady of the Yan family and brought her home.

“Ting’er, are you scared?” Yan Zhujun looked at Yan Ting’s confused expression with immense heartache.

Yan Ting shook her head: “Father, I’m fine. You had an argument with Jiyue, you should try to persuade him.”

“No need to persuade him.” Yan Zhujun smiled gently: “Men are born to be married off. When you take a husband in the future, naturally your son-in-law will deal with him. Then he’ll know that in this family, he’s no longer the young master, but an outsider.”

Ling Hua, listening on the side, felt a chill in his heart.

After leaving Mei Study, Xiao Ping and Hua Lu kept two steps behind Yan Jiyue, knowing that Yan Jiyue had just had an argument with the master. The two of them kept their heads down, not daring to look up and risk incurring his wrath.

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

Xiao Ping and Hua Lu couldn’t stop in time and bumped into each other.

Xiao Ping crawled forward: “Young master, what are your orders?”

“Go do something for me.”

“Father, is this chicken soup really from Sister Su?” Lin Xiaoxing, who had just woken up, held the fragrant chicken soup in his hands, overjoyed.

“Would I lie to you? It was sent over last night, but you were still unconscious then, so we could only wait until you woke up to reheat it for you to drink,” Yang Shu said.

“Since it’s from Sister Su, I must drink it all.” Lin Xiaoxing drank the chicken soup in big gulps.

Yang Shu felt quite pleased: “I’ve noticed that recently, Su girl seems to care about you more than before.”

“Really?”

“Haven’t you noticed?” Yang Shu smiled: “Think about it, before she married into the Yan family, except for when she first rented a room, when else did she come to our house? It was always you personally going to deliver things to her. But this time it’s different, giving candies, sending chicken soup, I think she must have feelings for you now.”

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

“Oh, slow down, slow down, the doctor said you need to lie down and not move.” Yang Shu quickly pressed Lin Xiaoxing back onto the bed: “Look, after you fell ill, she even came to visit you on her own initiative. If she didn’t have feelings for you, I wouldn’t believe it. I guess she must have been mistreated by Yan Jiyue and now knows to marry a worthy husband.”

Lin Xiaoxing shyly covered his face with the blanket: “If that’s really the case, when I get better, I’ll go see Sister Su.”

“What will you say when you see her? Sister Su, will you marry me? Do you still want your dignity as a man?” Yang Shu comforted him: “The most important thing for you now is to recover from your injury.”

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

“Xiaomei went out to play. Last night I gave her a good beating with a cane, and this morning she was still crying.”

Lin Xiaoxing held Yang Shu’s hand: “Father, don’t blame Xiaomei. Actually, it was all my fault. I didn’t see the green apricot under my foot and just happened to step on it, that’s why… It’s strange, I clearly saw that the ground was empty.”

Yang Shu sighed: “Ah, it’s all in the past. Speaking of which, we should be thankful to Xie Yi for helping you back. When you recover, you must thank him properly.”

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

“Xiaoxing, let your father say something selfish. Although Xie Yi saved you, I sincerely hope he can return to where he belongs soon. He’s too handsome, and staying around Su Mu all the time will inevitably make it hard for people to control themselves.”

Lin Xiaoxing lowered his head: “I understand.”

Wasn’t he himself the same? Even though Xie Yi was his savior, having him live under the same roof with the person he loved inevitably made him feel unbearably jealous.

“Look at those women who frequently visit brothels, which one of them has a steady character like Su Mu? Don’t worry, when you get better, I’ll certainly find someone to arrange a marriage for you.”

Lin Xiaoxing shook his head: “No, father, you need to do it quickly.”

“Why? Are you in such a hurry?” Yang Shu teased.

“Father!” Lin Xiaoxing’s face turned red: “That’s not what I meant. I was thinking that in a few days, the results of the prefectural examination will be out. If Sister Su doesn’t pass, it’s fine, but if she passes, she’ll become a xiucai. Many men in the city will want to marry her, and then I won’t be able to match up to her.”

“Oh, right!” Yang Shu slapped his forehead: “How could I have forgotten about this?”

Juancheng was not a big city, and it was far from the capital. In twenty years, only one person had become a juren. Being able to pass the xiucai examination and receive a government salary already put one a cut above the rest.

“You stay at home and rest. I’ll go find a matchmaker I know to discuss this.” Yang Shu hurriedly put on his outer garment and locked the door from the outside.

The bluestone slabs, not fully covered with moss, were wet and slippery. Yang Shu had to take each step carefully. As he looked up, he suddenly saw Su Mu’s familiar red clothes flash by at the corner.

Yang Shu curiously followed.

He saw a male servant standing in front of Su Mu, quite handsome in appearance. But Su Mu’s expression was serious, not like a secret romantic meeting.

Yang Shu pressed his ear closer to listen.

“Who sent you here?” Su Mu asked.

The servant smiled and said: “Miss Su, since you bought Xie Yi last time, my master has been feeling uneasy. After much thought, he decided to tell you about this matter.”

“Just say what it is, why make it so mysterious?”

The servant smiled and leaned closer to Su Mu: “My master asked me to tell you that the Xie Yi you bought is actually not worth 20 taels of silver. Because of his fickle nature and not upholding male virtue, he seduced his previous master. As a result, the word ‘lust’ was branded on his chest, making him even lower than the most lowly men in brothels.”

Yang Shu covered his mouth in shock, utterly astonished.

He never imagined that Xie Yi, who looked so clean and was the most gentle and kind, could be so filthy underneath.