Chapter 024

Chapter 24: Father-in-law, your son-in-law is here again

Tang Mo presented a little porcelain jar like a treasure and said: “Grandmother, look, this is the newest Complexion Nourishing Balm from the Imperial Medical Bureau. They say it is made with rare herbs and pearl powder. Once you use it, I guarantee you will look ten years younger.”

Seizing a rare chance to show attentiveness, Tang Mo leaned close to the Grand Matron. The Grand Matron accepted the jar, lifted the lid to smell it, and said: “Mm, it’s fragrant.”

She nodded with satisfaction and said: “You boy are rarely this thoughtful. Grandmother will accept it.”

Who does not wish to stay young? The Grand Matron too hoped to postpone old age by a few more years. The more she looked at Tang Mo, the more pleasing he became, thinking: [So marriage really does make a man different; he is even more filial now.] Taking the opportunity, she praised Tang Mo again in front of Xin An and said: “Do you see? This boy is careful and attentive, and his heart is set on you. Grandmother is basking in your light.”

Xin An beamed and said: “It is indeed a pleasant surprise.”

The Grand Matron laughed and invited them both to dine. The two stepped forward eagerly, one on each side, to support the Grand Matron to the table, and they did not forget to call over Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran. Tang Rong had come intending to curry favor with the Grand Matron, only to have Tang Mo steal the spotlight again. Tao Yi Ran paid her respects and then said not another word; she wanted to speak but had no pretext.

The Grand Matron waved them to sit and said: “You two join us as well. It is hard work to rise so early to keep this old woman company. Do not stand.”

The younger ones answered in unison: “Grandmother, please don’t say that.”

Tang Rong finally found a chance to speak and said: “It is this grandson’s good fortune to accompany Grandmother. Yesterday Yi’er felt slightly unwell and could not come. She felt very apologetic and mentioned it for quite a long while last night.”

The Grand Matron did not fuss at him; he was, after all, her grandson. But she did not much like Tao Yi Ran. Her eyes were old, but she was not blind; she had seen the disdain in Tao Yi Ran’s gaze, as if looking down on this old woman. [So you cannot abide the likes of me?]

She set the tone with brisk hospitality and said: “Sit, all of you. Take what you want to eat yourselves. Do not be overly reserved.”

Xin An and Tang Mo helped the Grand Matron sit, then the two busied themselves, one ladling porridge and the other arranging dishes, settling the Grand Matron properly before taking their own seats. Tang Mo had drunk the night before and his stomach felt off; the warm vegetable congee soothed him the moment it touched his tongue. He finished one bowl in a few gulps and went to refill it. Xin An’s appetite was naturally good and she ate with relish; compared with Tao Yi Ran, who nibbled through a single crystal dumpling in five or six bites, Xin An could hardly be called reserved at all.

Tang Rong behaved reasonably enough; after eating he did not leave, but stayed to chat with the Grand Matron. Tang Mo, however, meant to take Xin An out first. He said the Xin family was preparing to depart and who knew when they would meet again, so while they were still in the capital, he wanted to let Xin An spend more time with her parents, adding: “We will not come back for lunch today, and we will not return for dinner either.”

The Grand Matron, ever understanding, had Gan Lu bring out tea and wine and said: “These tea leaves and this wine are both quite good. Take them to honor your father-in-law.”

Tang Mo thanked her cheerfully, said another round of pleasant words, and then led Xin An out. Xin An was a little surprised and said: “You did not say beforehand that you would take me home.”

Tang Mo tilted his head, pleased enough that his tail might as well have been flicking at the sky, and asked: “Well, are you happy?”

He leaned close and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said: “You have lived two lifetimes yet scarcely stepped beyond the marquisate’s gates a few times; don’t you feel that is a loss?”

He grinned and said: “Go out and walk about, meet fresh people and new things, and we will grow young again bit by bit. Otherwise those stale, moldy matters will just fester in the heart and make it hard to breathe.”

Xin An laughed and said: “Nicely arranged; I will credit you with a merit.”

The feeling was novel, and she did not bother to parse it. Cheerfully, she went along. When they reached the Xin family residence, Madam Xin was genuinely surprised to see her, and the delight in her eyes could not be concealed as she asked: “What brings you here?”

Xin An pointed at Tang Mo with a smile and said: “Your son-in-law brought me. He said once you leave, who knows when we will meet again, so we must look at you a few more times while you are in the capital.”

It was half a joke and half meant to ease her parents’ minds. Madam Xin’s eyes reddened as she looked joyfully at Tang Mo and said: “Good son-in-law, thank you.”

Xin Kuan came hurrying in and heard these words, and his impression of Tang Mo rose yet again. Tang Mo stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said: “Father-in-law, your son-in-law has come again.”

Xin Kuan smiled and said: “It is good you came. You are thoughtful.”

Tang Mo said with an easy smile: “If Father-in-law has no plans today, shall your son-in-law take you all around the capital to stroll about and properly savor its local scenes and customs?”

Yesterday he had taken his young brother-in-law out; today he would bring the whole family.

Xin Huan clapped and said: “Good, good, good. Yesterday we did not go to many places. Brother-in-law said one can go boating on the lake in the capital, with musicians playing along. Let us experience that today?”

He added with a grin: “I confess I want to go everywhere.”

Madam Xin shot him a look and said: “You wore your brother-in-law out for a day yesterday. Can you not let him rest today?”

Tang Mo laughed and said: “If Huan wants to go, then we go. Today is for going out to play. Anywhere is fine; I will arrange everything.”

Xin Huan crowed: “Brother-in-law is the best.”

Soon the family set out. Xin An and her mother shared a carriage. Once seated, Madam Xin clasped Xin An’s hand with relief and said: “At first I was truly worried, but after watching these past two days, your husband really is quite good. Whether or not he achieves anything great, his attitude toward our family shows he is a decent person.”

She added, amused: “Did you not see how he accompanied your father drinking yesterday, coaxing your father into broad smiles and calling him a good son-in-law? If it were that Heir Apparent, would he lower himself to please his father-in-law like this?”

Xin An only smiled and said nothing. Madam Xin patted the back of her hand, assuming she still harbored thoughts of Tang Rong, and said: “The matter is settled. You must not entertain any other ideas.”

Xin An answered softly: “I know.”

Mentioning Tang Rong soured Xin An’s mood, so she skipped past it on her own and said: “Mother, once you return this time, who knows when we will meet again. Let us have a proper mother-daughter outing today. I left in a hurry and your good son-in-law did not tell me in advance that he would bring me back, so I did not bring any silver. Whatever I fancy today, you must pay for me.”

Madam Xin tapped her brow with a smile and said: “You are still the same as before. You are Mother’s precious girl. Whatever you take a liking to, I will buy it for you.”

Chatting and laughing, mother and daughter soon arrived at a teahouse. Tang Mo introduced it with a smile and said: “This Yu Xian Teahouse is in the best location and is also the largest in the capital. From a private room on the second floor you can see several streets and also hear the lofty discussions of the tea drinkers downstairs.”

Led upstairs by a server, the family sat as tea and pastries arrived in succession. Xin Kuan took a sip of tea, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and said: “I have come to the capital many times, always in a hurry. Teahouses are the places I visit most, but to sit properly and enjoy the view, that I have never done.”

To be free of social duties and scheming, simply to sit in the sun and sip tea, was already a rare delight.

Xin An felt at ease as well. She had not relaxed in a long while; to sit and think of nothing was supremely pleasant. Leaning by the window, she looked down. Pedestrians came and went, and shouts of vendors and friendly greetings rose and fell without pause. Just as she was about to draw back her gaze, a few dandies dressed in gaudy finery entered her field of vision. She turned her head and asked Tang Mo: “Did you invite friends as well?”