In which we see Xiao Wan be a total badass... yeah.
[Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]
[Host: justreads.net]
[Nov. 18th, 2018]
“What are you dawdling for? Get a move on it!” berated the matchmaker in a sharp voice. She was about to yank Xie Chuchen to get him to hurry when something made her let loose a bloodcurdling scream instead.
A distinct brittle cracking sound immediately followed. Two beautiful jade-like fingers pinched the matchmaker’s hand before she could grab Xie Chuchen. Never mind fight back, the matchmaker didn’t even get to see who grabbed her before she was flung loudly against the wall of the gate.
Xiao Wan swept the two standing at Xie Chuchen’s side with a glare, a menacing smile on her face, projecting the aura of a rich aristocrat who did as she pleased. The two understood and made to move away from Xie Chuchen, however before they even got a chance to let go of his arm, Xiao Wan sent one flying far with a kick. Before that one could recover she knocked the other wet nurse down and stepped on that one’s chest.
Xiao Wan twirled her hair around her fingers and stretched her lips up in an insincere smile before saying, “Tell this Young Lady[notes] which foot did you use to kick Xie Chuchen so ruthlessly earlier? Was it this? Or this one?” Xiao Wan tapped each foot to emphasize her point as she spoke.
The wet nurse looked at Xiao Wan’s foot as she tapped, the terror apparent in her eyes. She shook her head vigorously. Her obvious fear only made Xiao Wan sneer. “Oh. You don’t want to say? Why don’t I cripple both your legs then.”
Xiao Wan was basically a tyrant, bossy and domineering, always throwing her weight around. Her ranking in the top four in the capital for being the most terrifying was truly well deserved!
Her intimidating pressure made the wet nurse under her foot howl, begging for forgiveness. “It hurts! It hurts! This servant knows her wrongs. Please Young Miss, spare this servant!”
“Wrongs?” Xiao Wan’s blood boiled when she thought about Xie Chuchen swaying and nearly collapsing from the kick earlier. Unwilling to contain her anger she kicked the wet nurse several times hard in the chest. The kick was so forceful that it sent one of the wet nurse’s tooth flying.
Looking at the swollen and bleeding sorry figure of the woman underneath her made Xiao Wan feel a bit better. She couldn’t help but smile as she turned around to look at Xie Chuchen. She assumed a gallant and handsome pose - at least she thought it was gallant and handsome.
“Don’t be afraid. While I’m here I won’t let anyone bully you.” She kicked the woman under her one more time to emphasize her point, making the other howl in grief and pain.
The previous her hated to read, but she was inclined to learn martial arts. It wasn’t because she liked it or wanted to strengthen her body. It was so she could impress the beauties around her by playing the hero, thrashing the thugs and making a show of it. This way the beauties would admire her for saving them.
Although she earnestly studied martial arts for a period of time, the previous her only studied in fits, a little bit of everything, nevertheless it was enough for her intended purpose. She would carouse the streets looking for beautiful talented young men, oftening paying people to act as thugs and bully them. Then she would appear all bright and dazzling to save the day, winning their affections. This was her three years ago.
She did a complete 180 and stopped playing around when she met Ji Shumo, exclusively giving all her attention to him. She didn't use her martial arts at all after that since she only ever used it for her scams; she herself was heavily guarded by bodyguards, so she never needed to fight personally.
Despite this, her hero-saving-the-beauty-act was still perfect and went off without a hitch. Arrange herself in front of the beautiful youth? Check. Send the bad person flying with a kick? Check. Raise her head with a flourish while delivering her lines? Check. Pose heroically? Check. Every movement was well choreographed and played out. She’d done this so many times it was practically instinct. Especially that last line, it was delivered so well! Earlier when she kicked the wet nurse, she went on autopilot and unconsciously let out her catchphrase.
The strange yet familiar voice caused Xie Chuchen to stiffen. His brain couldn’t wrap itself around the situation. He kept his head down during the entire scuffle, not saying a word or daring to raise his eyes.
It had to be a illusion. Maybe he wanted to see her so much he was imagining her voice. He lifted his head and instantly saw Xiao Wan standing with her back to him. Her hair flying behind her, her dark red robe setting off her body making her look like a god descending, blocking the sun... but also blocking the bone chilling wind.
It was just like three years ago. At that time he’d seen the same image, the same awesome speech, the same body standing in front protecting him.
Xie Chuchen couldn’t breathe. Memories he’d buried deep in his heart came crashing back, weighing like a stone on his heart. Despite this the hope that there was something he could depend on refused to leave.
It felt like it was just another one of the dreams he’d had over and over the past few years - a dream of being saved. This thought terrified him. Despite his fear, he walked forward with measured steps. Upon reaching her he tugged at the hem of her sleeve then slowly and resolutely leaned forward into her body, hoping the warmth would reach the darkest place in his heart.
Xie Qingrong stared with knitted brows clearly distressed at the scene. Her daughter, Xie Xi, too aggravated to contain herself or notice the look on her mother’s face, walked over and shoved her finger in Xiao Wan’s face yelling, "How dare you! How dare you come into the Xie House and be so disrespectful! You wild woman! Come! Give this lady--!"[notes]Seeing her beloved wet nurse who had mothered her since infancy be assaulted and her teeth knocked out angered her so greatly she could only sputter. Her brother also glared on at the scene in anger once the shock of the events wore off.
Xiao Wan interrupted Xie Xi’s angry tirade with, “This person... are you born from such lowly birth? Dare have the audacity to point at this Young Miss’s face and raise such a ruckus. Such poor upbringing can only reflect badly on the Master of the House. How worrisome!” Xiao Wan mockingly laughed at the young woman in front of her as she fiercely slapped the woman’s finger away from her face.
Xie Xi only knew a life of luxury and constant pampering. Her delicate finger immediately turned red at the harsh slap and she, perhaps because her balance wasn’t stable to begin with, took a tumble leaving her in an undignified and sorry looking state. Xie Xi held her aching finger in her hand.
Xiao Wan took out an embroidered kerchief and used it to wipe her hand and the bloodstains that splattered on her clothes. Once done she tossed the soiled fabric disdainfully away.
In an instant Xie Xi’s expression changed. She was interrupted by Xiao Wan’s sharp tongue before she could fully let out her rage, choking her up and making her face pale.
Xiao Wan continued in a cold voice, "The upbringing of the people in this family isn’t the only thing at issue either. A mere servant," she pointed to the wet nurse on the ground, "was actually audacious enough to kick my house’s Zhangzi[notes]. A recognized husband of my house? This kind of insolence needs to be punished. According to common law she should be flogged fifty times then ejected from the house."
Immediately after Xiao Wan raised her hand calling over her servant. "Hua Xia bring this Young Lady a sturdy board! One that can be used without breaking easily!"
Xie Xi could only stutter, “You, you!” when she saw Hua Xia’s quick return with a heavy coarse looking board in hand. Her face paled as she yelled, “You dare!” How could her elderly wet nurse withstand such a thing?!
“What doesn’t this Young Lady dare not do?” Xiao Wan asked looking at Xie Xi out of the corner of her eye as she directed Hua Xia to carry out the punishment. The wet nurse had long since fainted from fear.
“Oh? Are you going to stop this Young Lady from carrying out the law? Didn’t expect the Xie people would not only lack a proper upbringing, but to also lack family law. Indeed, this Young Lady is truly disappointed!”
Xie Xi in a fluster said, “How can I allow an outsider like you to pass judgement and punishment on my family servants?!”
“Outsider?” Xiao Wan bared her teeth in a smile. She looked at Xie Xi contemptuously. What a stupid girl. “I am Xiao Wan and this person you’re bullying is my husband. How can you say I don’t have the right to enforce punishment? The fact that this Young Lady has not crippled her is merciful enough!”
“Xiao, Xiao Wan!” Startled, Xie Xi could only repeat the name. The anger she felt drained away and a new terrified expression replaced it. Her House was a small common House; there was no way it could compete with an influential one like Xiao Wan’s. Xie Xi had certainly heard of Xiao Wan’s name, but this was the first time she’d clap eyes on the person.
She looked at Xie Chuchen and yelled, “You, you’re really his official husband?!” before swiveling her head to Xiao Wan and adding, “And you, you’re really Xiao Wan?!”
Xie Chuchen was standing against Xiao Wan barely daring to breathe in her scent. The moment he heard his cousin’s words, he completely froze. He scurried away the instant Xiao Wan turned her head away, as though the idea of clinging to her warmth had never occurred to him.
Xiao Wan followed Xie Xi’s gaze that was directed at Xie Chuchen. Seeing his horrified face as he retreated away from her made her frown. She heaved a sigh wondering if her earlier violence scared him. She hadn’t meant to be so rough, but the sight of him being bullied really rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn’t resist making an example of them!
“You, is it possible you’re deaf? Chuchen said it earlier. This Young Lady just said it not a minute ago. What’s there to misunderstand? Are you deaf and stupid?” Xiao Wan looked around arrogantly before speaking. “Listen, and listen well! This Young Lady will not cower or back down from anyone! This Young Lady stands by her actions. I am Xiao Wan, Xie Chuchen’s wife. I ask that you speak more respectfully. I’m not some rude wild woman or some ill-mannered concubine born child!” Xiao Wan straight out called Xie Xi out for being a concubine’s daughter and of low birth.
It made Xie Xi livid! However her anger had nowhere to go since she couldn’t take it out on Xiao Wan as she was actually afraid of Xiao Wan. Unbearable! She could only turn to her mother beseechingly.
After clearing up the misunderstanding caused by the gossip at the wedding, Xiao Wan snuck a peek at Xie Chuchen. She couldn’t help but smile slightly as she did so, imagining his reaction. Surely he’ll be moved to tears! Sadly this was not the case. Instead Xie Chuchen retreated even farther from her, treating her as though she was diseased.
How upsetting! She reached forward wanting to pull him back against her side, but he only glanced at her quickly before tucking his head down, a frightened look of alarm on his face.
Xie Chuchen’s body was a dirty mess but the smell of him soothed her and set her mind at east. The warmth of his body and the pliant yielding way he molded to her side had given her a strange sense of satisfaction she couldn’t describe. If she were to voice a complaint, it would be that he was too thin. A plumper him would feel even better!
Just as she was letting her imagination roam she saw the horror on Xie Chuchen’s face. He was scared stiff. She took advantage of his stillness and reached over to sweep his hair from his face. So dirty! She took out a clean cloth and carefully wiped his face.
Soon enough Xie Chuchen’s handsome face emerged once the grime and dirt was cleared away. Their faces were close enough to each other that their breaths intermingled in the air. Xiao Wan’s expression grew softer as she stared at him. He was like a treasure she wanted to grasp.
“Chuchen, how could you return to your ancestral home without me? Were you angry I accompanied Shumo to his home first? I promised that I’d accompany you later. How could you return by yourself like that? Won’t people get the wrong idea?”
Her line of questioning was meant to let everyone know she officially recognized Xie Chuchen as her husband, that he was a person of the Xiao House, and that he made the groom home visit on his own out of jealousy. It was absolutely not because he was abandoned or discarded.
Xie Chuchen’s lips trembled as he spoke. “Xiao, Young Miss Xiao...”
Regardless of whether it was this life or the previous, this was the first time Xiao Wan referred to Xie Chuchen so intimately by his first name, “Chuchen.”
Chuchen, Chuchen, a name that stood for something exceptional. Although people ridiculed him for not living up to his name, looking at him now, Xiao Wan felt the he was the embodiment of it. He was so beautiful his brightness outshone everything around him. It was truly a pleasure to be with him in that moment.
His name was so pleasant to say and hear that Xiao Wan couldn’t resist calling out to him again. “Chuchen.” It really was addictive this feeling! A bright smile formed on her lips as she spoke.
In this life she vowed to be more perceptive; she would never be so blind again as to let a wonderful treasure gather dust! Xie Chuchen looked like he just lost his soul. Xiao Wan laughed joyfully at his stupefied expression. He had so many faces! “What? How is it now you’re call me Young Miss Xiao when last night you were passionately calling me “dear wife” and clinging to me like glue? Not letting me leave. Do you know how sore my body is because of you?”
Her words were a bombshell that shocked everyone present. Xie Chuchen’s originally pale face turned the color of cooked shrimp. Was there a hole he could run into?
Last night should have been Xiao Wan and Ji Shumo’s consummation. Was it safe to assume from her words that she left Ji Shumo, the apple of her eye, to be with the good for nothing Xie Chuchen? Moreover was she -herself- publicly acknowledging she was Xie Chuchen’s darling wife?!!
Xie Qingrong’s eyes lit up like a marquee, dollar signs flashing away.