Chapter 020

Chapter 20: Chun Lv: The Heir Apparent is no good

Tang Rong accompanied Tao Yi Ran on her first visit home after the wedding; as the new son-in-law he not only failed to receive a gift from his father-in-law but was given a stern lecture that clung to yesterday’s incident. Madam Tao also kept nagging about how aggrieved Tao Yi Ran had been and how he must behave from now on.

He was already in a foul mood, and before he even crossed the threshold he caught sight of Tang Mo’s beaming face; his chest burned hotter. After forcing himself to calm down, he tugged out a smile and said to him: “Uncle Xin thinks highly of you, Second Brother; you are blessed.”

Before Tang Mo could go on being pleased with himself, Tang Rong took Tao Yi Ran by the hand and went inside. Madam Wang came bustling up to greet the pair with warmth, and when she saw how many gifts Tang Mo had received from his father-in-law her brows lifted with delight as she raised her voice to order: “Quickly send a few more people to carry all these things to Qiu Shi Courtyard.”

She then said to the newlyweds: “Go back and rest. In a little over half an hour we will eat.”

The two returned to Qiu Shi Courtyard. Auntie Wang did not rest; she busied herself directing people to clear out the storeroom in the courtyard. To avoid mistakes on the wedding day, the marquisate had placed the dowries of Xin An and Tao Yi Ran in another courtyard under guard; tomorrow all the trousseau items would be carried back.

Tang Mo happily counted the money his father-in-law had given him, and the more he counted the merrier he felt. In the end he divided out half for Xin An and said to her: “Here, this is yours.”

Reclining on the beauty couch, Xin An said: “Go buy the qi nourishing pill as soon as you can, and bring a portion for me too; I need to lift my energy.”

Tang Mo asked with a grin: “You still need that stuff?”

Xin An replied lightly: “How could I not?” [My body is young but my mindset is old; I need a tonic.]

Tang Mo tucked the remaining banknotes into his robe. In truth he was not that cheerful; something weighed on his chest. He then suggested: “After we send Father-in-law and Mother-in-law off, shall we go stay at the estate in the suburbs for a couple of days?”

Xin An agreed without thinking it over and said: “All right. I have long wanted to go out and get some air; let’s stay a few extra days before we return.”

Tang Mo leaned closer and asked with a gleam in his eye: “Why don’t we bring Grandmother along?”

He was still thinking about the treasure-filled room in the Grand Matron’s quarters. Xin An lifted her gaze and answered crisply: “Of course.”

She herself was not in a good state; she kept feeling that brooding alone would lead to trouble. It was quite nice to be a young girl again in front of the Grand Matron; perhaps the Grand Matron could even cure her and make her heart grow young too.

Tang Mo then waggled his brows at her; Xin An edged back a little and asked coolly: “Do your eyes have an illness?”

Tang Mo replied with a chuckle: “You have lived many more years than I have; do you still remember the questions from the civil service exam?”

Xin An snorted and said: “Do you think I would care about that?”

She added with mild mischief: “If you want to hear a couple of juicy stories from the various inner courtyards, I can pick two to tell you.”

Tang Mo, hating iron for not becoming steel, said: “Look at you; is there anything in your eyes besides that heartless and unfeeling man next door? Is he really that good?”

Xin An gave him a kick and said curtly: “Shut up; just the sight of you annoys me.”

Clicking his tongue, Tang Mo rubbed his chin and said: “What did you say before? You said I am three points better-looking than the man next door. Now I annoy you already; you change affections fast.”

Xin An rolled her eyes, and just as she was about to speak, Chun Yang came in carrying a bowl. At once Xin An lowered her eyes, pressing the corners with her kerchief, and said in a muffled voice: “If you dislike me so much, why don’t you strangle me.”

Tang Mo started, then said: “You are acting again…”

Chun Yang cut him off and said with righteous fury: “Young Master, you are bullying the young madam again. Today you said in front of the Master that you would be good to the young madam.” She glared at him and even threatened: “If you keep being so fierce to the young madam, we will go complain to the Marquis and the Master about you.”

Tang Mo fell silent. [Cannot afford to provoke them, not at all.] He protested: “When was I ever fierce to her? Did you not see she set me up?”

Chun Yang declared primly: “The young madam is beautiful and kind; how could she set you up?”

In her eyes, Tang Mo’s character was already rotten. Feeling stifled, he stood, glared at the two, and said: “I admit defeat. I’m leaving.”

Xin An smiled with pleasure. Chun Yang sighed and asked in a whisper: “Young madam, how can you still smile?”

They had switched the marriage on her and she had landed in the hands of the stinking Second Young Master; how could the days ahead go well? Xin An accepted the bird’s nest porridge Chun Yang brought and said: “As if he would really strangle me. Don’t be afraid; he only talks.”

Dinner was again a family affair. After the meal, Madam Wang announced that starting tomorrow both Tao Yi Ran and Xin An would perform morning and evening greetings. Xin An accepted with a smile, while Tao Yi Ran, whose expression had been strained since she appeared, acted as if she had not heard.

Xin An looked over with innocent curiosity and asked: “Elder Sister-in-law?”

She then fanned the flames of the spectacle and said: “Why is Elder Sister-in-law so pale? Are you unwell?”

Everyone turned to look at Tao Yi Ran. Somewhat flustered, she felt Tang Rong take her hand as he said: “Yi’er is feeling a bit unwell.”

Madam Wang, ever considerate, said: “In that case, have a good rest today. You are excused from greetings tomorrow.”

Tao Yi Ran bowed her thanks, and Tang Rong soon helped her away.

Xin An and Tang Mo exchanged a look. Neither of them hurried to leave; after sitting and chatting a while, they departed.

The moment Xin An stepped through the gate of Qiu Shi Courtyard, she gave an order: “Quickly find out what happened next door.”

Chun Lv came running, eyes gleaming with excitement, and reported: “I spent a little money and learned something: the Heir Apparent’s bedchamber maid, the one named Xue Yu, is pregnant.”

She added in a lower voice: “The Heir Apparent has ordered the people of Chun Hua Courtyard to keep it secret and not let a word slip out.”

Even her glance at Tang Mo had softened considerably; if the marriage had not been switched, the one facing this mess now would have been her own young lady. The Heir Apparent, in her heart, was no good at all.

Xin An was taken aback, for this had not happened before. Tang Rong had always cherished his reputation; he would never allow a bedchamber maid to be pregnant before the principal wife. In the previous life, neither Xue Yu nor Ying Yue had ever conceived. The principal wife had only been in the manor three days and the maid was already with child; how was the principal wife to keep face?

Tang Mo’s brows knit. He had not expected prior intelligence to deviate.

Xin An said calmly: “Since the Heir Apparent is not speaking of it, we need not spread it now. Chun Lv, keep an eye on our own people; do not let anyone blurt it out.”

Chun Lv nodded in agreement. As soon as she left, Tang Mo leaned in and asked: “What is this about? Did anything like this happen before?”

Xin An shook her head and sighed: “It is normal for things to turn out differently. We will watch and wait.”

Tang Mo’s face sank; he feared he might never overturn his lot even in this lifetime. Xin An tapped her leg and said: “While the people across the way are too busy to handle you, the pressing matter is to strengthen yourself. You need more allies. I will tell you a few households later; find a way to befriend them.”

She added, voice level: “Do not agonize over your reputation; that is not important. Remember: when you see Tang Rong, be a little humble. Do as he does, walk the road he walks, until he has no road left to walk.”

Tang Mo savored these words; the more he rolled them over, the more interesting they became. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled back into his room, cheerful.

The next day, Tang Mo pocketed the banknotes and went out. He had planned to visit Tang Yong, but currying favor with his father-in-law was more important now. After buying the qi nourishing pills at the Imperial Medical Bureau, he also bought the bureau’s most popular beauty preserving pills, then trotted over to present them to his mother-in-law. As expected, Madam Xin beamed, thinking this inexpensive son-in-law quite sensible.

Xin Huan also thought this brother-in-law very good, far easier to deal with than the previous Tang Rong.