Chapter 009

Chapter 9: Tang Mo Gains Another Advantage

Staggering to her feet, Auntie Cai retreated behind Tang Rong. With a face like still water, Tang Rong cupped his hands to Xin An and said: “It was my fault that my sister-in-law was frightened. I thank my sister-in-law for her forbearance. If my sister-in-law ever has need of me, I will spare no effort. I only ask that my sister-in-law not continue to hold this against me.”

Xin An wanted to continue lashing him with words, but with his father present she could not. She only regretted that she had not scolded him more when the chance was perfect. [She thought: if he dared fire back even half a word today, I would make him pay dearly.] But alas, a missed chance is gone forever.

She answered, saying: “The Heir Apparent need not take it to heart either. Last night the second young master did not, in a fit of rage, take revenge or humiliate me. He even offered me a few words of comfort and sat fully clothed all night. On that point alone, his character is admirable and his conduct upright.”

She added, saying: “The second young master is handsome and straight-backed. Though he may not possess the talent to govern a state, he can certainly be counted as a man of upright disposition. In marrying him, I do not feel wronged.”

Tang Mo still stood with calm composure, only straightening his back a little more. Tang Gang looked him over and conceded that his looks were indeed fine. From last night to today, he had not made trouble; plainly, although he was somewhat scapegrace in daily life, at the critical moment he could distinguish priorities and hold steady. He said to him: “Your wife is a good one. Hereafter you must respect and cherish her.”

Tang Mo bowed and said: “Your son will.”

“Good,” Tang Gang replied, feeling the rascal had changed a little. “Since you are married, you should grow steadier. In a few days, report to the Northern Garrison Army.”

Tang Mo could not believe it, then his face lit up with joy. He had long wanted to join the Northern Garrison Army, but the old man had never agreed. Unlike the Southern Garrison Army’s ruthless combat, the Northern Garrison Army was where many sons of noble families went to temper themselves. After two or three years, with some maneuvering at home, promotion came readily. He said: “Many thanks, Father. Your son will not disappoint.”

Seeing his son so delighted stirred something in Tang Gang’s heart and eased his expression. Madam Wang suppressed the ecstasy in her eyes and stepped out to smooth things over, and only then did the farce finally end.

Lord Tao, who had watched the whole thing, knit his brows. A sense of crisis took hold of him, and he could not help looking more at Xin An. Both brides had entered the wrong bridal chambers, yet his daughter had gained no advantage and only brought trouble on herself, while Tang Mo’s branch had reaped windfalls. The contrast could not have been clearer.

The people in the courtyard soon dispersed. Xin Kuan was pulled back to the front to continue drinking. Tang Rong had meant to go and soothe Tao Yi Ran, but as he was leaving, Tang Gang ordered him to kneel in the ancestral hall and reflect.

Watching him leave, Madam Wang’s lips curled with a trace of mockery, and then she turned warm and affectionate, taking Xin An’s hand and fussing over her.

Madam Xin let out a breath. Previously she had thought Tang Rong excellent in every respect, but today she discovered his face was thick indeed. Up to this moment he had shown no remorse, pushing the mess onto his family and then smoothing it over with a few bland words.

Looking again at Tang Mo, whom she had disliked, she now found him pleasing to the eye. Madam Wang praised Xin An at length, then said she would hand the management of the household over to her in three days.

Xin An had managed household accounts for half a lifetime and knew just how deep those waters ran. How could she take it up again now? She said: “Mother’s favor I am deeply grateful for, but how can I bear such a large responsibility at this moment, when my heart is still in turmoil? I must trouble Mother to continue to oversee matters.”

Madam Wang had never truly wanted to give up control. When she agreed to do so, she had steeled herself with the thought that, at least, it would go to her own daughter-in-law rather than fall into Tao Yi Ran’s hands. Seeing that Xin An did not seem to be speaking falsely, and remembering that, although she had decided to stay, she might still feel ill at ease, Madam Wang said: “Mother knows your heart is unsettled. You have now learned a little of our family’s situation. Tang Mo may be somewhat unruly in daily life, but he does not commit great wrongs and is reasonably honest. Consider him more; perhaps you will discover his good points.”

She added, saying: “For now, Mother will manage household affairs in your stead. Whenever you wish to learn, come and learn from Mother. This authority over the household will always be yours.”

Xin An bowed in thanks. Madam Wang then proposed giving her thirty percent of Tang Rong’s mother’s dowry. Xin An knew those dowry items all too well; in her previous life she had schemed painstakingly to obtain them, only for it all to come to nothing. She replied: “Mother, since by a twist of fate I married Tang Mo, I will from now on live in peace with him. Our elder brother’s mother’s dowry was never mine to claim. I dare not take it. I ask that Mother handle it properly.”

How many military households have deep reserves of wealth? After the Tang family abandoned arms for letters, it was like starting over. Expenses mounted everywhere, and they had to maintain the dignity of the marquisate. Tang Rong’s sterling reputation outside was supported by silver. The family’s coffers, while not yet empty, were close enough. [Xin An thought: in this life, I will not put in a single coin unless I can place the marquisate entirely under my control.]

Moreover, Marquis Weiyuan Tang Gang, that spineless man, was no good thing either. [She thought: when his son makes a mess, a father should clean it up himself. He actually had the gall to use his deceased wife’s dowry as compensation.] If she accepted it, it would be like letting him seize a handle over her. For now, no one would say anything, but in the future, who could tell?

Seeing her so sensible and broad-minded, Madam Wang felt only joy and judged her schemes well spent. Though Tang Gang would blame her, gaining such a formidable daughter-in-law was worth it. After a few more words of comfort, she said that tomorrow they would again hold the formal new-bride tea for Xin An. When she was done at Qiushi Courtyard, she would also visit Chun Hua Courtyard next door. After all, Tao Yi Ran was nominally her “daughter-in-law” now that Tao’s family was still present, and it would not do to skip a few words of consolation.

Once the others left, Xin An sent Tang Mo away and shut herself in with her mother to speak in private. Madam Xin was torn with regret, saying: “Why did I not realize it at the time? What sort of way of handling matters is that for the Tang family, using Tang Rong’s birth mother’s dowry to compensate you? No one does such things.”

Xin An smiled and said: “I suppose the marquisate’s accounts are tight.”

“Thank heavens you were wise enough not to accept,” Madam Xin said. “I am truly frightened now. That Auntie Cai is a bully through and through. If even your mother-in-law cannot suppress her and you had married Tang Rong, would you not have to suffer her temper in the future?” She added, saying: “You should not have interceded just now. It would have been best if she had been beaten to death.”

Xin An took it lightly. In the past she had treated Auntie Cai with deference only because she loved Tang Rong; love me, love my house. Now she wished she could swallow Tang Rong alive. What was Auntie Cai to her? She said: “By sparing her, everyone in the marquisate will deem me tolerant. Sometimes a small loss wins a great gain. That bargain son-in-law of yours is likely snickering next door.”

Madam Xin laughed as well and said: “I see it clearly now. Your mother-in-law does not actually like the people next door. I caught her secretly smiling several times today. She sides with you. Now that her son has gained a posting because of you, she will treat you even better. With a partial mother-in-law to support you, your days will not be too hard.”

She added, saying: “That bargain son-in-law of mine has some wits as well. If the two of you support each other, how could your days not go well?”