Chapter 2.2

Master Li, in his early years, was appointed to a post outside the capital to Da Tong. It was during that period that he got to know the Xiao Family’s father and son while they were guarding a strategic position on the frontier. After he was transferred to another post and returned to the capital, he entered the Ministry of War, taking up the post of Assistant Minister. In the same year, he was blamed and thrown into prison. It was Father Xiao who sought a relationship, grabbing this fellow worker out of prison and setting the marriage between the two families.

Master Li, during his time in the frontier’s yellow sands, had soaked in the sun for many years. His appearance, when compared to someone of the same age, seemed to have experienced much more, also giving him a more imposing visage than the other cabinet ministers in general.

Xiao Youning, at that moment, turned her body and coldly gazed at him. It was a look so filled with hatred that it made Master Li recall the matters from those old days, his previously dignified face awash with shame

Following the appearance of the people from the Li Family, the arguing voices quieted down.

Madam Li scolded them with a single sentence. Seeing that Xiao Youning had escaped, she was annoyed to the point the pit of her stomach hurt. Those broken words, of course, without missing a single one, all entered her ears. She moved forward a step, wanting to save the Li Family’s reputation, but Master Li blocked her path with his arm and gestured for her to go back.

“Master?!”

Madam Li was bewildered by the negative order and glanced at the solemn face of her husband. Master Li hadn’t responded to her; rather, facing the miss standing down the flight of stairs, he said: “Youning, this matter is my, this Li Family’s head, responsibility for not being able to control and teach well the people of my family. Regardless of whether or not the fault lies with Elder Brother Xiao, you and Second Son have already paid your respects in the marriage hall, so you already are my Li Family’s daughter-in-law—”

“I don’t dare accept the Assistant Minister’s words!” Xiao Youning then raised her hand, holding the divorce papers Madam Li had given her up high. “This is the letter of divorce given by your Li Family, written in black and white! I don’t want to allow everyone to think that it was I, Xiao Youning, who tried to make trouble for no reason!”

Master Li saw her holding the document in her hand and suddenly turned his head, staring at Madam Li in disbelief. He had absolutely not agreed to that, so where did the divorce come from?!

This wife of his … Relying on a maiden family that was difficult to deal with, she even went as far as to take such rash actions!

Madam Li, hearing her husband unexpectedly wanting to bring the Xiao Family’s daughter once again into their family, saying words to face-slap her for being too lax on the family, immediately turned pale. However, seeing Xiao Youning holding the letter of divorce and her husband’s enraged look, her already pale face was now ashen.

She had closely followed what her husband had suggested and, after receiving the news, directly pulled her son to immediately write down the letter of divorce, wanting to immediately grab the person and drive her out. Who would have imagined that Xiao Youning, that wench, would start a fire, taking advantage of the confusion to escape outside!

In the end, she now was a little lacking in confidence. After all, her husband still hadn’t officially consented to this matter. The situation developing to this point and attracting outsiders to watch the drama unfold was somewhat the result of her willfulness.

Could it be that she would be blamed for the sake of this family?

“Master, I …” Madam Li lost her aloof and victorious mien. At her husband’s sharp gaze, she withdrew her neck, but in her heart she felt wronged.

Xiao Youning stood not too far away from them. She wasn’t blind, she was able to understand that there was more to the story from watching them. But regardless of what Master Li was thinking, it didn’t matter if he had been moved by her words or not. One Madam Li and one Li Qingzhi were enough to make her avoid the Li Family as if they were snakes and scorpions.

“Since both our families already lack any relations, then I ask you to return my dowry in its entirety. Naturally, my father went through a lot of trouble to save it bit by bit for me, so there is no reason for it to remain in the Li Family to feed the dogs!”

When the young lady became spiteful, she would naturally say whatever she wanted to say.

Those two words, “feeding dogs”, Master Li sucked in a breath and was rendered speechless. But what could he say? As this was indeed the Li Family letting the young lady down first, he didn’t have the means to remedy the situation!

Madam Li heard what was said and recoiled at her husband’s angry words. With one eyebrow raised, the resentment in her heart against Xiao Youning arose once again and she said, unkindly, “You still dare mention your dowry? You set my home on fire, then you ran out to instigate the people who don’t know the actual facts against us, and now you come to blame us, the Li Family? Your dowry was entirely burned up in the fire you set! What, do you want to once again grab what you personally did and push it onto my Li Family’s head?! You are very young, but your thoughts are actually this cunning, digging one hole after another for me to jump into!”

“You shut up!” Master Li shouted angrily, extremely annoyed at his wife’s competitive mind. At such a time and still spouting scathing remarks, was she truly wanting to shout until the entire capital saw their family being made fun of?!

Madam Li, admonished by her husband in public, was unable to worry about her face anymore. Her eyes reddened and her entire body shook in anger.

“Master, I am your wife! Also, I am the Ye Family’s daughter!” She hissed a sentence in between clenched teeth.

Master Li’s face changed color when she suddenly brought out her maiden family’s name.