Chapter 037

Chapter 37: Another Treasure from the Grand Matron

Under the moon cresting the willow tips, the night market’s clamor gradually faded. Having roamed carefree for a full day, Xin An climbed into the carriage satiated with pleasure and began to yawn one after another as she murmured: “So tired.”

Tang Mo massaged his calves and retorted with a groan: “I thought your feet were made of iron.”

He pounded his thighs and concluded wearily: “From now on, if I take you out, I must plan it well. How can you walk so much?”

Not only could she walk, she could gamble. That afternoon at the cuju grounds she had placed wager after wager and even won two taels of silver; her luck was uncanny.

With tears pricking from a yawn, Xin An blinked and confessed: “How was I to know? I did not feel tired while walking, but once I sat down my legs started to ache.”

She hugged her good mood close and warned with a smile: “Anyway, I am in an especially good mood today. In the future, remember to take me when you go out to have fun. Otherwise, do not blame me for tattling.”

Tang Mo clicked his tongue and muttered: “You are so overbearing.”

He decided on the spot not to go out for the next two days so he could rest properly. Suddenly, even the idea of going to the estate for a short stay felt less appealing, and he thought with a twinge of apprehension: [This one has a wild streak. I fear once she gets there, she will not be able to rein herself in.]

When they reached the marquisate’s gate, they had barely stepped down before they ran into Tang Gang returning home. Tang Mo inwardly muttered that his luck had turned and, bowing, greeted: “Father has returned.”

Tang Gang looked them over and warned curtly: “Do not tell me you left in the morning to see someone off and are only now returning.”

Tang Mo answered respectfully: “Xin An is curious about the various places in the capital. I thought she would often need to move about in the future, so I took her around for the day.”

Tang Gang said nothing more, lifted his foot to cross the threshold, and advised: “Go to bed early.”

Tang Mo cocked his brows at Xin An with a smug little look and asked: “How is that? Not bad, right?”

Xin An replied with equanimity: “Not bad.”

Thinking longingly of a proper foot soak, she quickened her pace through the gate. Tang Mo lengthened his stride to catch up and thought with bafflement: [She was just calling herself tired and sore, so how is she suddenly walking this fast?]

Once inside Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An began giving orders the moment she crossed the sill: “Quick, bring two basins of hot water for a foot soak.”

The moment her feet sank into the steaming water, her whole body relaxed. Chun Lv, who had been idle at home all day, hurried forward to knead her calves while reporting the day’s happenings in the manor, especially the news from Chun Hua Courtyard across the way: “The Eldest Young Madam gave her dowry vase to the Heir Apparent, and in return the Heir Apparent handed over the keys to Chun Hua Courtyard’s storeroom to the Eldest Young Madam.”

Soaking his own feet by her side, Tang Mo let out a contented breath and praised succinctly: “Very clever.”

Chun Lv did not follow, but Xin An understood at once. How much did Tang Rong have to his name? By giving his few belongings over to Tao Yi Ran to keep, he would henceforth have a legitimate reason to let Tao Yi Ran take out money and goods for use, and he would have no choice but to swallow any losses without complaint. Then again, perhaps not. Tao Yi Ran was no longer the person she used to be; perhaps she would not be so foolish now.

After their foot soak, Tang Mo took out a small chest and handed it to Xin An. Inside were the private savings he had scraped together over the years, along with two keys, the keys to his storerooms, as he explained with earnest care: “It is not that I want to take advantage of you. It is just that you will have courtyard expenses day to day, and I cannot let you bear them alone. I still have a few valuable pieces in my storeroom. If you run into a critical moment, you can make the call yourself.”

Xin An accepted without ceremony and said with frank practicality: “Even if you did not volunteer these, I would have come to ask you. If you want to live smoothly in this manor, you have to scatter silver. Stinginess will not do.”

She lifted her eyes and added matter-of-factly: “There is another matter I want to tell you.”

The Xin family residence in the capital was only used when her parents came to stay a few days. Xin An considered and laid out her plan plainly: “A house sits empty and loses its spirit. It rots faster too. I want to spend some silver to renovate it and outfit it properly. As for its purpose, I have not decided yet.”

Rubbing his hands, Tang Mo sidled up with a hopeful grin and suggested: “When Father-in-law and Mother-in-law are not here, we can use it as our secondary residence. We will certainly build more friendships in time, and we will need a place to receive guests. This manor is inconvenient for that.”

Xin An nodded; it truly was inconvenient. Any little movement would be known next door in no time. Tang Mo had already begun planning in his head and said with enthusiasm: “The focus is to create a proper garden, one suited for entertaining and conversation. The courtyards where Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, and Huan will live should also be refurbished, but left unoccupied. Have them swept and aired daily so that when they arrive, they can settle in comfortably.”

He added with practicality: “Pick a few reliable people to move in and handle the daily upkeep.”

Xin An agreed at once and assigned the work: “I will have Uncle Wang come find you. Hand over the specifics of the renovation to him.”

Ready to turn in, Tang Mo paused in the doorway and asked solicitously: “Do you want me to tell the Grand Matron tomorrow morning that you are too tired and need a little more sleep?”

Xin An shook her head and answered: “No need.”

She still wanted to win the Grand Matron’s goodwill and, if possible, her support. Accompanying her at breakfast every morning was essential. Besides, she added with simple honesty: “Breakfast at the Grand Matron’s is delicious.”

Tang Mo brightened and agreed from the heart: “True, and there is plenty of variety. I will go with you tomorrow morning.” He thought with private delight: [Breakfast in the manor is fixed in number; if you want more variety, you have to pay out of pocket. Eating at Grand Matron’s saves a little. How delightful.]

Yawning, Xin An turned and climbed onto the bed. Outside, Auntie Wang hesitated, words on the tip of her tongue, and thought in puzzled bemusement: [I cannot make sense of the relationship between these two. They are harmonious, discuss everything together, look well matched when they stand side by side, and at times show little strictness about the separation of men and women. They were just now soaking their feet side by side, seeing each other’s toes and all. With things like this, why do they still not live together? The relationship between them is truly a riddle.]

Perhaps she was simply too tired, or perhaps her mood was truly that good. Xin An fell asleep almost the moment she touched the pillow. When she woke, she felt clear-headed and refreshed. Together with Tang Mo she headed to Chun Rong Courtyard, only to find Tang Rong and his wife already waiting outside ahead of them.

With his incorrigible tongue, Tang Mo could not resist a jab and greeted them with a grin: “Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law arriving so early, how rare.”

Tang Rong produced his professional false smile and returned blandly: “Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are not late either.”

He added with a hint of inquire-after: “I heard you two spent the whole day out enjoying yourselves yesterday?”

Tang Mo laughed and answered breezily: “We are not like Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law, who carry heavy burdens for great prospects. Naturally, we live as carefree as we can.”

He slid in another line with practiced nonchalance: “By the way, I have been wanting a fine piece of tianhuang stone to carve a seal. I heard Elder Brother recently obtained a pair. Could you part with one?”

He thought with a wicked little spark: [Had they not been saying I like to snatch things? Since that blame has been hung on me for so long, I might as well lean into it.]

The false smile cracked on Tang Rong’s face as he replied, strained: “That pair was found specifically to carve into seals so that my wife and I could each have one. If Second Brother wants one, I will help you find a better piece.”

Tang Mo smiled and concluded with cheerful politeness: “Many thanks, Elder Brother.”

Gan Lu opened the door and beckoned them in to pay their respects. The Grand Matron was drinking water; when she saw them, a smile touched her lips. After they greeted her, she asked with interest: “I heard you speaking outside just now. What were you talking about?”

Tang Mo stepped forward with a grin and explained brightly: “Elder Brother said he found a pair of tianhuang stones to carve into seals so he and Elder Sister-in-law could each have one. When he learned that I also like tianhuang stone, he said he would help me find a piece. I am here to thank Elder Brother.”

The Grand Matron smiled and said with amused practicality: “Your elder brother is about to take a post in the Ministry of Rites. How will he have the time to help you search in the future?”

Then she added with generosity: “As it happens, Grandmother has a pair of tianhuang stones. They are of no use to me. I will give them to you to carve. One each for you husband and wife, signifying harmony.”

Never expecting such a windfall, Tang Mo dropped to his knees and knocked his head to the floor, exclaiming with heartfelt delight: “Many thanks, Grandmother. Your grandson knew Grandmother was the dearest.”