Chapter 034

Chapter 34: Favoritism Comes Naturally

When Tang Mo returned to the residence, Tang Gang and Madam Wang were still in Chun Rong Courtyard speaking with the Grand Matron about Tang Rong. The matter of his post at the Ministry of Rites had been settled, but since someone had helped pull strings, they felt they ought to show appreciation and set their sights on the Grand Matron’s treasures.

The Grand Matron, if she takes a liking to someone, can be lavish and will hand over valuables with open generosity, yet if she dislikes someone, she can be truly stingy, and no amount of pleading will sway her. She was at present displeased with both Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran, so it was impossible that she would produce anything to pave Tang Rong’s way.

Seeing the Grand Matron unmoved, Tang Gang grew impatient. He was about to speak more bluntly when Tang Mo arrived. With temper already flaring, Tang Gang strode toward him without hesitation and said: “I hear you took your father-in-law drinking at Ten-Mile Fragrance today, and men from the Ministry of War were there?”

He continued: “The Xin family is the purse your grandfather left to the marquisate. Do not think that just because you married into the Xin family you can do as you please, and do not even dream of monopolizing them.”

Tang Mo did not, as he might have in the past, flare up and argue. Instead he bowed respectfully and said: “In reply, Father, the other day Assistant Minister Xu of the Ministry of War ran into my father-in-law, with Uncle Tao present at the time.” He added: “Father-in-law leaves the capital tomorrow. I had planned to take Xin An to see him off, but only when I arrived did I learn that Assistant Minister Xu had already invited him for a farewell drink and brought me along. Assistant Minister Xu also asked several officials to join us. During the banquet they all treated my father-in-law with marked respect and had a most agreeable conversation.”

Tang Gang’s brows knit tight as he inwardly cursed those Imperial Court men for making their poaching so obvious, and also resented Xin Kuan for not avoiding suspicion, for entangling himself with others despite already being an in-law of the marquisate.

The Grand Matron, who had held her tongue, gave a cold snort and said: “Even outsiders know to give the Xin family a proper send-off, yet you, their rightful in-law, did not lift a finger and now you blame the son who has covered your lapse.”

She went on: “Your father once said that the Xin family does not have today’s standing because of the Tang family; it is the Tang family that has today’s standing thanks to the Xin family’s staunch support. By that reckoning, the Xin family has done the Tang family a favor. You have reversed cause and effect and looked down on the Xin family. If they abandon you and seek another backer, it would be perfectly reasonable.”

She said: “You scorn the Xin family, but plenty of people value them. Did you think a marriage alliance would let you sleep easy?”

The Grand Matron had long been dissatisfied with Tang Gang. When he was young, no amount of teaching did any good; once he was older, she simply stopped bothering. She had no extra sons to swap in anyway, so she usually turned a blind eye so long as the marquisate did not topple and her days remained comfortable.

She said: “Luckily the second boy knows what matters and can weigh advantages. Have you not seen how he has been currying favor with his father-in-law these last few days?”

She said: “The switched betrothal was most unfair to him. As his father, have you even comforted him a couple of times? An official father-in-law was exchanged for a merchant, yet he set aside his grievance to win over the Xin family. Is that not sensible, is that not sharing your burdens?”

She said: “If he had not been accompanying them of late, the Xin family might have long since been drawn away by others. Do not be so lopsided.”

[His tiger’s frame… collapsed; he immediately wore the look of a man grievously wronged but resolved not to say so. He was deeply vexed that he had not thought of Grandmother’s rhetoric sooner: he was not fawning on his father-in-law, he was swallowing a vast grievance to help his father shoulder burdens. His image suddenly seemed towering.]

Tang Gang’s gaze swept over him and he asked: “Is that how you see it?”

Tang Mo lowered his voice and said: “You bestowed on your son the chance to train with the Northern Garrison Army that had been meant for Elder Brother, causing you to keep laboring and running about. I am dull and cannot be of real help to you, so I can only do the small things within my power.”

Tang Gang’s expression eased a little as he said: “At least you have grown somewhat sensible.”

Seeing him stand meekly with eyes cast down, and thinking of the famille rose vase in his hand, Tang Gang wanted to speak but lacked any pretext. He was indeed partial, yet he still wanted to save face.

Tang Mo did not linger and soon took his leave. Tang Gang planned to continue persuading the Grand Matron, but she rose and said: “I am tired as well. You two should rest early.”

Tang Gang and Madam Wang stood and departed. Madam Wang said little to him afterward. She had originally planned to send two young, seductive women to drain him, but thinking that her son still needed this father to hold the front line, she abandoned the idea. She said: “Concubine Yang complained of a headache today. Would the Marquis like to look in on her?”

Tang Gang had no such mind. He was thinking how, in the past two days, the Grand Matron’s words had been full of fondness for Xin An and her view of the second son had changed greatly. He pondered that the second had changed somewhat after marriage, yet favoritism had already become second nature. What worried him was that after marriage Tang Rong might not rise further but instead fall behind.

He said: “I will not go. I still have matters to attend to. Turn in early.”

Seeing him turn toward the front courtyard study, Madam Wang’s lips curved. There was no need to inquire; he was off to worry on behalf of his beloved eldest son yet again.

Tang Rong had been in the bedchamber, locked in tender intimacy with Tao Yi Ran; his shoes were already off when Tang Gang’s men summoned him out. Seeing Tang Gang’s dark face, Tang Rong blurted: “Father, are you angry over second brother? Uncle Xin is now his father-in-law, so naturally he takes his side. I imagine second brother knows better than to let Uncle Xin be poached by others.”

Tang Gang snorted and said: “I have my own arrangements regarding the Xin family. As for you, what have you been doing these few days since your wedding?”

Aside from accompanying him on errands, the rest of the time he had been cooped up in Chun Hua Courtyard. A man mired in romance cannot accomplish great things.

Tang Rong bowed and said: “Father, I…”

Tang Gang said: “From the day you entered the residence to now, you and your wife have paid morning and evening respects to the Grand Matron only once. Today her heart is uneasy, tomorrow her body is unwell. Do you think the marquisate’s feng shui is bad and cannot nourish people?”

He meant Tao Yi Ran. He continued: “I had hoped that after your marriage there would be someone to manage the household for you so you would not have to worry about residence affairs, yet instead you have been tethered in your courtyard and cannot step out.”

Precisely because of his partiality toward Tang Rong, his words came down heavy. Tang Gang was already quite displeased with Tao Yi Ran, who fell far short of his expectations for a principal daughter-in-law. He concluded: “You are the Heir Apparent of this marquisate and will inherit the title. Your wife cannot be a mere ornament, pretty but useless. She must have the wrist to handle matters both inside and out. Do not indulge her too much.”

Tang Rong could not remember the last time he had been rebuked like this. He said: “I understand.”

Tang Gang then ordered: “In your wife’s dowry list there is a famille rose vase. Find a way to have her give it to you for use in your official career. You and your wife are one body, without distinction between yours and mine.”

Tang Rong’s brows drew together. To use his wife’s dowry right after the wedding was hardly honorable, so he asked: “Could I ask second brother to part with his?”

Tang Gang’s eyes turned cold as he said: “If you have the ability, go ask your sister-in-law for hers.”

Even as the father he had no grounds to open his mouth, yet this son, who in the second’s eyes bore the enmity of stealing his wife, actually proposed such a thing. Was he to be shameless just because he was the father?