Drunk on Madness - Chapter 77

In the first year of arriving in Taoyuan Village, an incident occurred.

While Su Mo was on his way to town, he encountered a young woman named Qiu He who had been injured by a carriage. The carriage that hit her had long since fled, and no one had stepped forward to help her. Passing by out of kindness, Su Mo had his attendant Yun Shi fetch a doctor to treat her injuries while he stayed with Qiu He for a while.

Qiu He saw that her rescuer was a young gentleman, dressed in a simple blue robe with a long sword hanging at his waist. He stood tall and straight, as elegant as a pine tree. It was the first time Qiu He had seen such a handsome man, and she naturally blushed with shyness. In that one glance, Qiu He fell in love with Su Mo at first sight.

After the doctor treated her injuries, Su Mo and his attendant left without saying goodbye. Qiu He asked the doctor and learned that they were the wealthy family who had recently moved to the village entrance.

After recovering from her injuries, Qiu He brought gifts to thank Su Mo in person.

That day, Su Mo and Li Xiang were playing with Little Tuanzi on the lawn in the courtyard when Xi Yu interrupted them, saying a woman had come to see Young Master Su.

When Qiu He entered, Su Mo looked up at this unexpected guest. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He set Little Tuanzi down, stood up to greet her, and his words carried a hint of polite distance: “Who are you, miss, and why have you come here?”

Qiu He bowed slightly in greeting, her voice clear and pleasant: “My name is Qiu He. Some days ago, I was hit by a carriage while out, and fortunately, you called a doctor for me, allowing me to recover.”

Suddenly, Qiu He lowered her head, mustered her courage, and expressed her desire to become his concubine: “You are kind-hearted, and I have developed feelings of admiration for you. Today, I boldly come to your door, willing to serve you in any humble capacity, as a concubine or a maid, all according to your wishes.”

Before Su Mo could refuse, Li Xiang happened to overhear Qiu He’s words as she approached from the courtyard, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Seeing Li Xiang, Su Mo immediately went to her. “Xiangxiang, you’re here.”

He led her to Qiu He and introduced her: “Qiu He, is it? This is my wife. She makes all the decisions in the household. I listen to her in everything.”

Hearing this, Li Xiang withdrew her hand from Su Mo’s grasp. Suppressing her anger, she said calmly, “I don’t have the ability to make decisions for you. If you want to marry her, then marry her. At most, I’ll make room for the two of you.”

Su Mo knew she had misunderstood him. He immediately grabbed her hand and explained, “Xiangxiang, you’ve misunderstood me.”

Li Xiang didn’t want to listen. She picked up Little Tuanzi and looked as if she was about to run away in a huff.

Frightened, Su Mo stopped her. “Xiangxiang, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have saved her.”

Beside them, Qiu He watched in disbelief, her eyes slightly reddening.

Su Mo felt even more aggrieved: “Why are you upset? I just saw you lying on the ground, unable to get up, and had Yun Shi call a doctor. I didn’t do anything else. Xiangxiang, believe me.”

“Yun Shi, Yun Shi! Come out and testify for me!”

“Miss Qiu, Yun Shi is your savior. He was the one who called the doctor. I did nothing.”

Su Mo held Li Xiang back and explained everything. Li Xiang naturally believed him; she was just angry that he had attracted another woman’s attention and hadn’t refused directly, instead using her as a shield.

Tears welled up in her eyes, making Su Mo extremely anxious. “I don’t even know her, Xiangxiang. Believe me.”

Mother Su, who had been napping, was awakened by the noise and came out to see what was happening. She saw Qiu He standing in the room and Li Xiang holding the child while wiping away tears.

Mother Su immediately understood that her son had wronged Xiangxiang, and now someone had come to confront him. Furious, she grabbed a broom from under the eaves and struck Su Mo squarely on the back of his head.

Li Xiang was startled by the sudden turn of events. She quickly set Little Tuanzi aside and rushed to check Su Mo’s injury.

Still seething, Mother Su continued hitting Su Mo’s head, landing five or six heavy blows in a row. Su Mo was bent over by the force of the broom, shielding his head with his hands.

He didn’t plead for mercy, but Li Xiang, growing anxious, cried out, “Mother, please stop hitting him!”

Mother Su paused, handed the broom to Li Xiang, and said, “Xiangxiang, this scoundrel dared to wrong you. Hit him hard, don’t hold back.”

Li Xiang took the broom, gave it a casual swing, and tossed it far away. “Mother, you’ve misunderstood Momo,” she explained. “Miss Qiu came to thank him for saving her life. There’s nothing more to it.”

As she finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Qiu He, who, under their gazes, had no choice but to nod stiffly in agreement.

The tension in the air instantly eased. Li Xiang helped Su Mo to his feet and gently smoothed the stray hairs at his temples. Seeing how his hairpiece had been knocked askew by his own mother, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

Seeing her smile, Su Mo’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Xiangxiang, you scared me to death just now,” he said. “I thought you were going to take our child and leave me.”

Li Xiang lowered her head, hiding the shadow that flickered in her eyes.

After all they had been through, she understood Su Mo and never doubted his love for her. In the end, it was this era that left her feeling insecure.

Had Zhou Mingxuan not loved her? He had, so much so that he’d sacrificed his pride and friendships. Yet he still married a principal consort, even if he didn’t love Chen Minying.

Born into nobility, he had carried his family’s lofty expectations since childhood. How could he abandon his grand future for her sake? She couldn’t, and wouldn’t, ask that of him.

It seemed he wasn’t at fault; the fault lay with her for even entertaining such thoughts.

If she didn’t love him, it wouldn’t matter whom he married or took as a concubine. But once she loved him, she couldn’t bear the thought of another woman by his side, even just to care for him.

Sometimes Li Xiang wondered: if this era permitted men to take multiple wives, and if a man truly wished to marry another, why should a wife stand in his way?

Yet the moment he considered taking another woman, that man was no longer worthy of entrusting her life to.