Chapter 035

Chapter 35: Tang Rong Schemes Against Tao Yi Ran

Naturally, Tang Rong did not dare go to Xin An to ask for that vase. He could only set his sights on Tao Yi Ran. When he returned to the bedchamber he wore a deep frown. When she asked, he would not say, wearing a look of heavy worry.

The less he said, the more Tao Yi Ran wanted to know. While he went to wash, she asked his serving lad, Qing Mo. Qing Mo spilled everything in a rush and finally sighed as he said: “That vase is in Second Young Master’s hands. He has always liked to cross the Heir Apparent, so he will certainly refuse.”

He added: “For the Marquis to have the Heir Apparent go and ask is to put the Heir Apparent in a bind.”

Tao Yi Ran dismissed him. When Tang Rong returned, she said that she would give him her own famille rose vase. Tang Rong frowned and asked: “How do you know about this?”

He said: “Do not concern yourself. I will handle it. How can I take your dowry? That is something your father and mother gave to you. I cannot accept it.”

She stepped forward to help him undress and said: “It is only a vase, an external thing. If it can help Lord Rong, I will be happy.” She said: “You and I are husband and wife, without dividing yours and mine.”

Tang Rong still tried to refuse, but Tao Yi Ran’s gentle words laid bare her sincerity, and Tang Rong was greatly moved.

That night he was especially tender and passionate, exerting himself with special zeal, giving Tao Yi Ran immense satisfaction in body and heart, and she fell deeply into it.

At dawn the pink-enameled vase had been boxed. Tang Rong wrapped an arm around her waist with deep affection and said: “With a wife like you, what more could a husband seek?”

Tao Yi Ran smiled in contentment. After he left carrying the box, Auntie Liu came in and voiced her disapproval as she said: “That famille rose vase is extremely rare and is the master’s favorite object. Young Madam, how could you give it to the Heir Apparent so lightly?”

Married only a few days and already using the wife’s dowry, she felt this Heir Apparent was not as lofty as rumor had it.

Tao Yi Ran knew well how rare the vase was. She said: “Lord Rong has entrusted me with all the dowries that belonged to his birth mother. With such trust, can I not repay him with a single vase of mine?” She added: “It is only a decoration, Aunt. Do not distress yourself.”

Auntie Cai arrived, bringing the keys to Chun Hua Courtyard’s storeroom, and said: “The Heir Apparent instructed upon leaving that from now on all matters in Chun Hua Courtyard are to be managed by Young Madam.” She said: “Please accept them, Young Madam. The Heir Apparent truly holds you in his heart.”

Tao Yi Ran accepted with pleasure. Auntie Cai cast a glance at Auntie Liu, triumph plain in her eyes, which only inflamed Auntie Liu’s annoyance, though she could do nothing.

She said: “Do not see me out. Go back.”

The Xin family set out at daybreak. Tang Mo arrived at first light and, with Xin An, escorted them all the way to the city gates. Tang Gang appeared at the last moment and managed to exchange a few words, which was at least something.

As the carriage rolled farther and farther away, Xin An could not collect herself for a long time. Only when it vanished from view did Tang Mo remind her as he said: “Let us go back.”

Tang Gang climbed into his carriage first and instructed Tang Mo: “Report to the Northern Garrison Army tomorrow.”

Tang Mo said he would take Xin An to see a suburban estate and stay there for three to five days, then return and go, and he said: “I already promised Grandmother and should not go back on my word.”

At mention of that estate, Tang Gang’s brows creased as he said: “As long as you know what you are doing.” He then told the driver to whip up the horses and go. Tang Mo gave a light snort and said: “He is feeling distressed.”

He helped Xin An into the carriage. Seated opposite her, he began to complain, speaking of how yesterday he had nearly lost his temper, and he said: “You did not see how Grand Matron lectured him. We are all his sons, yet I am not even as good as the grass.”

He added: “He shows his favoritism without the slightest disguise.”

Xin An slowly let out a breath, adjusted her mood, and said: “Just win him some credit a few times.”

Tang Mo said: “That is not possible.”

He stretched his legs and said: “When I was young, I tried behaving well. When the tutor praised my recitation, he praised me to my face and then drove Tang Rong in secret to surpass me.” He said: “My good performance only spurred him to treat Tang Rong even more harshly. He has poured so much effort into Tang Rong that he cannot allow that effort to be wasted. If this wild weed of a son were to surpass Tang Rong, would that not slap him in the face?”

This was what he had figured out over the last two days. To try to curry favor with the old man was simply too hard.

Xin An sighed and said: “I once saw an old man who doted on his eldest son. There were three younger sons after him, all by the same mother. The old man suppressed the younger three to support the eldest. Those three later succeeded without relying on the family. I thought the old man would then look upon them more favorably, but instead he squeezed them even harder to prop up the eldest. He ignored the eldest’s uselessness, and even the eldest’s son was the one he favored.” She said: “They even had a rationale: when several horses pull a carriage, there will always be one that runs the fastest. The whip must fall on the fastest horse so that the diligent one runs faster still, since whipping the lazy ones does no good.” She added: “More importantly, seniority must be observed and rules maintained.”

Tang Mo wore a look of disdain and, secretly, a touch of relief, relieved that the old man was not forcing him to support his cherished eldest son, only neglecting him. [Oddly, his heart eased a little.]

He said: “How did you sleep last night? If you are feeling energetic, shall we take another walk?”

She said: “All right.”

Xin An was very willing to go out now; she felt that in the last two days her mindset had brightened and she felt a bit young again. She said: “Let us go somewhere lively.”

Tang Mo stroked his chin and said: “Lively? Are you sure?”

Xin An nodded, quite sure.

Half an hour later, Tang Mo brought Xin An to a lively place and said with pride: “At this hour, nowhere is livelier than here.”

Cheers rose around them in surging waves. At first Xin An grew inexplicably tense; she had never imagined Tang Mo would bring her to watch cuju. She had of course seen cuju in her previous life, but always at the Imperial Drill Ground, where the spectators were self-restrained. She had never witnessed such frenzy, such a clamor that seemed to split the clouds, not in two lifetimes combined.

Tang Mo shouted in her ear: “This used to be the Tiger Might General’s racecourse and later became a cuju field. The two teams in blue belong to the Tiger Might General’s residence and are called Huntianyuan. The red side is the Blazing Lion of the Gale Escort Agency. Come, let us find seats.”

She exclaimed: “Good!”

Suddenly a roar like a landslide and a tidal wave erupted. Xin An felt a stir of panic and asked: “What happened, was that a goal?”

He said: “The Blazing Lion scored.”

Tang Mo paid for seats and led her to a fairly prominent spot. The noise beat without cease in their ears. Gradually Xin An’s gaze followed the ball, and she no longer felt so nervous. With Tang Mo speaking beside her and clapping and cheering from time to time, she relaxed. After about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, she began clapping and cheering along, and she discussed with Tang Mo whose skills looked sharp.

She said: “The Blazing Lion’s striker is pretty good.”

He said: “Of course. He is also the head courier of the escort agency.”

She said: “The men of Huntianyuan are all retired soldiers, so they are rather fierce.”

He said with a teasing note: “Oh, you can tell that. Not bad.”