Chapter 005

Chapter 5: A Feud Between the Two Courtyards

Tao Yi Ran confessed with soft courage: “The first time I saw you in the Marquis of Qing’s residence, I thought: what kind of woman could match such a dazzling gentleman? When I learned you were betrothed to Miss Xin, I envied her in my heart. Never did I imagine that by a twist of fate you and I would become husband and wife. Lord Rong, am I being terribly forward?”

Tang Rong was the marquisate’s legitimate eldest son, handsome and upright in conduct, and first in line to inherit the title. Compared with Tang Mo, he naturally pleased Tao Yi Ran more.

Seeing her tender and pitiable, Tang Rong softened further, took her hand, and said: “Being able to marry Yi’er was beyond my expectations as well. At the moment the bridal veil was lifted, my heart was filled with joy. I have never liked contention, yet in that instant I wanted to contend just once. I never imagined I would be so reckless, even if it meant doing wrong by Miss Xin and my younger brother.”

Tao Yi Ran’s father was the provincial governor of Cangzhou, and there were several members of the Tao family in court. Tao Yi Ran was not only dignified in looks but also very talented; Xin An could not compare. With joy in her eyes and shy-faced as she nestled into Tang Rong’s arms, she murmured: “Lord Rong.”

The two murmured affectionately for a good while, only separating when they heard whispers outside. After sending someone to inquire and learning the cause, Tang Rong’s expression soured, thinking to himself: [as expected, the conduct of merchant households, unbearably vulgar.]

But giving rewards today was already an unwritten convention, so he immediately ordered money to be brought out: one month’s wages for each person.

The entire courtyard’s servants were deeply disappointed. By rights a month was not little, but they could not ignore that next door it was a year’s worth.

The people of Qiu Shi Courtyard watched the spectacle, suddenly refreshed in spirit. Their twelve taels were already much; upon learning that those across the way had only a month, they were all the more smug. Even the rough-servant girls sweeping the courtyard could cast triumphant looks at the people next door.

The people of Chun Hua Courtyard were livid. Besides secretly resenting their two masters for being stingy, they were forced to watch the folks opposite revel in petty triumph. After a bout of eye-to-eye skirmishing, both sides returned to work.

On the very first day of marriage, the servants of the two courtyards officially formed a grudge.

About an hour later, people from both the Tao family and the Xin family arrived. In contrast to the anxious Xin family, the Tao family were somewhat secretly pleased: when arranging this marriage, what they had set their sights on was Tang Rong, though unfortunately he had already earlier been betrothed to a girl of the Xin family.

Comparing the brothers Tang Rong and Tang Mo, Tang Rong was of course superior. Naturally, they still had to put on faces of shock and anger.

Madam Xin cried out in grief and anger: “Heavens curse it, did the Bodhisattva and the Xin family’s ancestors not open their eyes yesterday? They received my incense at dawn; how could such a thing still happen?”

Seeing Xin An, Madam Xin slapped her thigh, anxious, heartsick, and cautious. Xin An’s tears fell like beads from a broken string as she said: “Mother…”

She plunged into her mother’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, as if to cry out all the grievances of years. [That bastard Tang Rong had said that someone from the Xin family who came to the capital to look for her had met with an accident; she had not even had time to ask what accident, whether it endangered life.] She choked and said: “It is all my fault; I have implicated father and mother…”

[She had been blind-eyed and foolish-hearted, plunging into the web Tang Rong had woven for her; all of it was what she had brought upon herself.]

She lamented through tears: “I was wrong. I am receiving retribution. I truly was wrong…”

Madam Xin’s heart ached, and she too shed tears. Her daughter had been reared like a precious pearl from childhood; when had she ever shed many tears? What kind of man-eating place was this marquisate, that she had entered only yesterday and today had shed more golden-bean tears than in the previous eighteen years.

She coaxed her gently: “Do not fear. Father and mother are here; we will take you home. We will return to Huaijiang and never come to this capital again.”

Immersed in grief, Xin An only cried. Tang Mo, at the side, said nothing, but inwardly he was intensely curious about what had happened after his death in his previous life: [before he died, this woman had been so ruthless; whatever Tang Rong wanted, she would find ways to extract it from his hands. She could even contend against his mother; in several bouts his mother had not managed to gain the upper hand. For such a ruthless woman, what on earth had made her so heartbroken?]

[Could it be that later Tang Rong abandoned wife and child?]

When Xin An had cried herself tired, her eyes swollen so she could hardly open them and dry as could be, Chun Yang brought water to wash her face. Madam Xin ordered Granny Wang and others to pack and said: “We will leave in a little while.”

Xin An pulled at her mother’s sleeve and said: “Mother.”

Xin An took hold of her and, not avoiding speaking in front of Tang Mo, said: “Let it be like this. If I leave just like this, we will certainly offend the Marquis. The Marquis does not have a broad heart; with the slightest tactic, father would not be able to withstand it.”

She continued after a glance at Tang Mo: “Everyone knows I rode the Tang family’s bridal sedan, entered the Tang family’s gates, and spent the night in the same room with Tang Mo. There will be gossip; I must consider my younger sisters.”

The Xin family was not only their branch; the second branch also had two girls who were of an age for marriage negotiations.

She added, worried: “Huan has only just settled his engagement; the girl’s side agreed in large part because they knew I was to marry into the marquisate…”

Before she finished, a voice came in from outside the doorway: “If the Zhou family wants to break the engagement because of this, then it is better not to marry.”

Xin Huan, her younger brother, entered and said with firmness: “Sister, you do not need to consider me.”

Seeing him, Xin An wanted to cry again. Xin Huan was two years younger than she and had respected his eldest sister since childhood. For Tang Rong’s sake, she had not forced Xin Huan to do errands; Xin Huan had advised her time and again to keep an extra eye open, but at that time she simply would not listen. [Truly, good words had failed to persuade this damned fool that she had been.]

She scolded him with affection: “There you go talking nonsense again. If I did not consider you, would you not be flying to Heaven?”

Xin Huan scratched the back of his head awkwardly, looked at Tang Mo, and asked: “So how are things now; can he be my brother-in-law?”

All eyes fell on Tang Mo. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, bowed, and said: “Though I did not know much about Miss Xin before, by twists of fate this counts as a destined bond. I only hope that henceforth husband and wife will join hands and treat each other with respect.”

Madam Xin had not liked Tang Mo before, having heard that he was at odds with Tang Rong in all things, narrow-minded and always stirring up trouble. Now that he had become her son-in-law, naturally it was different; in looks he even seemed a bit better than Tang Rong. Although his mother was a second wife, she had been formally married, and having a mother-in-law to look after her was better than being disliked by a stepmother-in-law.

A mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law grew more satisfied the more she looked; besides, his attitude was good, more pleasing than Tang Rong’s otherworldly air. Her worrying gaze fell once again on Xin An as she asked: “Are you truly willing?”

Had she not just yesterday happily married Tang Rong, and today already let go?

Xin An nodded in confirmation and even took the initiative to make it plain: “I did favor Tang Rong, but he feigned drunkenness last night to consummate with Tao Yi Ran. Evidently he does not like me; why should I throw myself into a one-sided affair?”

Madam Xin patted the back of her hand and said: “From childhood to now, whatever you do, mother has supported you. Since that is so, changing sons-in-law is no big matter, but mother cannot let you suffer a loss.”

Xin An meant the same. Although in the end this matter would be smoothed over, she first wanted to find Tang Rong’s misfortune, to make Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran stifle for a spell and amuse herself. She beckoned to Xin Huan and said in a low voice: “Lean in, let me tell you a couple of things.”

Madam Xin also beckoned to Tang Mo and said: “Son-in-law, come with me to the front courtyard to see your father and mother. This matter cannot be let go just like this.”

The Tao family girl was shameless, and the Tao family were no better. Had she not just seen how they had almost laughed out loud with pride? The sight was galling.

Seeing that his mother-in-law was going to back him up, Tang Mo was more than willing, trotting along after her.