Chapter 029

Chapter 29: Dealing with Nan Feng

On the way back from Chun Rong Courtyard to Qiu Shi Courtyard, any servant who saw Xin An bowed respectfully; some even offered warm greetings and careful reminders: “Second Young Madam, please watch the steps,” and, “Second Young Madam, the path ahead was just watered. If you are not in a hurry you can detour through the back of the garden; this maidservant can lead the way.” A faint smile lingered at Xin An’s lips, making her seem extremely easy to approach. She replied with unforced courtesy: “Thank you for the trouble.”

After she left, Tang Rong stepped out from behind the rockery. He had avoided meeting her, worried that Xin An would speak bluntly and to prevent awkwardness, but this instead allowed him to witness firsthand how the household treated her. His serving lad Qing Mo had watched it all as well and sighed by Tang Rong’s ear: “Second Young Madam truly has ability. It has only been a few days, yet the people of the manor think to pass by before her whenever they have nothing to do.”

Tang Rong tilted his head and asked without expression: “Why?” They had entered the household on the same day; Tao Yi Ran had hardly even left her courtyard, yet Xin An had already won over the servants?

Qing Mo explained that Xin An was generous and brought up the day when people helped carry her dowry: “It was originally their duty, yet Second Young Madam courteously rewarded each of them with one tael of silver, saying everyone had worked hard, and treated them to tea.”

He added with growing enthusiasm: “Whenever someone completes even a small errand for her, there is always a reward, no matter how big or small. The people of Qiu Shi Courtyard are enjoying blessings…” In his excitement he forgot himself. Tang Rong’s gaze cooled, and Qing Mo, belatedly noticing, fell silent.

Tang Rong asked curtly: “Did the Young Madam give rewards on the day of carrying the dowry?”

Qing Mo shook his head and answered simply: “No.” What he did not dare voice was this: precisely because of that, the Eldest Young Madam’s stingy reputation was already known by everyone in the manor. There was no helping it; Qiu Shi Courtyard and Chun Hua Courtyard were separated by only a wall, and the contrast between the two was far too great. Tang Rong said nothing and strode forward; Qing Mo followed with lowered eyes.

When Xin An returned to Qiu Shi Courtyard, she entered to see Nan Feng kneeling in the courtyard, her face streaked with tears. She asked with calm restraint: “Did you anger the Second Young Master?”

Nan Feng stubbornly kept silent. Chun Yang said with displeasure, stepping forward to press her: “Second Young Madam asked you a question; are you mute?”

Nan Feng still did not speak. Instead, Tang Mo stood under the eaves with a dark expression and said brusquely: “Do not mind her. I will go to Mother later and have her sent away.”

“Second Young Master, I beg you, do not drive me away.” Nan Feng crawled forward on her knees a few steps and pleaded with a trembling voice: “Second Young Master, I will never dare again; please do not expel me.”

People from Chun Hua Courtyard were watching the commotion at the gate. Chun Yang was about to step forward to scold them, but Xin An spoke first with an even tone: “Take Nan Feng to wash her face.” As she spoke she also whispered a few words into Chun Yang’s ear. When Nan Feng wanted to plead again, Xin An stepped forward and lowered her voice so only Nan Feng could hear: “If you dare to make a racket and let the neighbors watch a joke again, I will have you bound and sold to the brothels.”

Frightened, Nan Feng shut her mouth at once, and Chun Yang seized her by the arm and dragged her away.

Back inside, Tang Mo followed in with an irritated face and complained hotly: “That girl is not honest. At dawn she came into my room without permission and touched me, intending to take liberties with me. This is not the first time; this courtyard cannot keep her.”

Xin An sat and poured herself tea, her voice cool as water: “Whether or not she can stay, what is the meaning of making someone kneel in the courtyard? How much do you want the neighbors to watch your spectacle?”

Tang Mo, sullen, drank the tea she had just poured. He already had a headache from his hangover; when he opened his eyes in the morning, Nan Feng was touching his face, scaring him half to death. His temper surged and he could not suppress it. In consideration of how he had given her full face yesterday, Xin An had Chun Lv bring him a light breakfast. When he finished eating and had calmed somewhat, she spoke plainly: “I do not know when Nan Feng arrived either, but I imagine that the purpose of her serving by your side includes serving you in bed. It may even be with Mother’s consent. She has long regarded herself as your woman.”

She added without sentiment: “If you dismiss her, she will have no way to live.”

Tang Mo rolled his eyes and countered with bravado: “I have never touched her; how could she pin it on me?” Then he waved a hand as if brushing away a gnat: “Otherwise, make the decision to match her to someone at will, so long as she does not serve in this courtyard.”

He was the master; how could he concern himself with the life and death of a bed-climbing maid? Next door, while Chun Yang kept hold of Nan Feng, they clearly heard Tang Mo’s words. Nan Feng’s tears fell like a broken string of beads; she had not expected Tang Mo to loathe her so, and [she felt that she had no future]. Chun Yang dragged her away.

Only after hearing the door close did Xin An smile and say to Tang Mo with light irony: “In light of how you have behaved these two days, I will handle Nan Feng’s matter.”

Tang Mo gave a short laugh; [he knew this woman was very pragmatic]. Xin An picked up a piece of pastry and spoke of yesterday’s events in Chun Hua Courtyard next door. After listening, Tang Mo slapped his thigh and blurted out, unable to hold back: “You are so… foolish.” He pressed, voice rising: “Why not take this chance to make Tang Rong look bad? You should have let the news spread, so people outside would know what kind of character he is. Do not tell me you still have lingering feelings and could not bear to do it.” [What a good opportunity, simply wasted.]

The corner of Xin An’s mouth twitched as she replied with half-mocking calm: “With that brain of yours, in your previous life you would not have lived long even without me. Dying muddleheaded would have been a blessing; if you had lingered, would you not have ended in ruin and disgrace?”

His freshly cooled anger surged again. The last two days had gone smoothly in all respects, and yesterday he had been fulsomely praised by Assistant Minister Xu; Tang Mo already thought he was capable and that in this life he would surely be invincible. Xin An’s words displeased him greatly; [was she not boosting others’ morale while crushing his own?]

“You are not convinced?” Xin An asked, watching him with an even gaze.

She knew he was impulsive. Though he looked unreliable on the surface, he was actually relatively simple and not particularly scheming. She guided him with blunt logic: “Can a bedchamber maid’s pregnancy topple a marquisate’s Heir Apparent? Do you think having a bedchamber beauty will tarnish his name?”

Tang Mo was not a fool; with her slight prompting he understood. He argued weakly, like a boy caught out: “He has pressed me down for too long; I am a bit impatient.”

“Endure it,” Xin An said. “Let me tell you, at most people will laugh and say ‘so you are one of us after all,’ which will only make him seem more real in the eyes of those outside. He will be fine, but your father may not be. A charge of failing to manage the household strictly will certainly be pinned on him. Add in the bride swap; if there are any other unsavory matters, this will evolve into a major incident with endless consequences.”

She pressed the lesson home: “You want to contend for the title, but the precondition is that the marquisate’s title is worth contending for. If the marquisate stinks upwind for ten miles and everyone keeps their distance, what would you fight for?”

Her gaze settled on him as she set the course: “Remember this: outside, you are a humble and courteous younger brother. Together with him you will put on an appearance of brotherly harmony. First, earn yourself a reputation for turning over a new leaf; other matters can be planned slowly behind closed doors.”

Tang Mo listened intently. Then, hearing the phrase again, he sighed feebly and muttered with a pained look: “Must you keep saying ‘turning over a new leaf’?”

Xin An asked with a laugh, teasing without mercy: “Reform from evil to righteousness? Mend past mistakes? A prodigal who returns is priceless? Pick one yourself.”

Tang Mo felt his chest choke with frustration and ground his teeth; [he wished he could rush to Chun Hua Courtyard that instant and stab Tang Rong through the heart. It was all his fault!!!]