Chapter 039

Chapter 39: Tang Rong Beaten into a Pig’s Head

Earlier that day, Tang Gang had hosted Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites, and there were naturally others present to keep company. After food and drink, someone suggested going out to relax, the faces in the room smiling with meaningful mirth; among those present, it was only Tang Rong, as the junior, who proactively excused himself and left first, and several officials teased him for it.

Who would have expected that his carriage had gone only a short way outside the gate before a gang of men blocked the road. The street was already largely empty, and those men charged up to beat and smash without a word, dragging the Heir Apparent out of the carriage to thrash him. The serving lad Qing Mo, one eye swollen, cheek bruised, and blood at the corner of his mouth, grimaced with pain as he reported: “They were halfway through the beating when someone suddenly said they had the wrong person, that this was not the one. Then the ones hitting me and the Heir Apparent stopped, and they even tossed us a broken bit of silver for shock money.”

Summoned back in haste, Tang Gang arrived with a face like ink. Seeing his son beaten into a pig’s head, he could not keep the rage from his voice as he turned a furious gaze on Tang Mo and demanded: “And what is your explanation?”

Tang Mo hunched like a quail and said meekly: “I was coming from Grandmother’s courtyard when I saw, from a distance, two men limping in and acting furtive, so I thought they were thieves and called the patrolling bodyguards.” He added, aggrieved: “Your son could never have guessed it was Eldest Brother. It was dark and hard to see, and Eldest Brother has always been dignified, upright as a pine. How could he look furtive? Your son truly did not do it on purpose.”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Tang Rong. He had taken the worst of it; both eyes would not open, his nose was a touch crooked, his hair was in disarray, his brocade robe was a wrinkled mess smeared with big muddy footprints. Tao Yi Ran was weeping as if it were raining. The moment Tang Rong tried to tug at the corner of his mouth, his features contorted with pain, so Qing Mo hurried to explain with a bow: “The Heir Apparent said they were only superficial wounds and there was no need to alarm everyone. We purposely avoided the patrolling guards when entering the gate so as not to disturb the household. It was not furtiveness.”

Tang Gang still glared at Tang Mo as he asked coldly: “Do you dare claim this was not done deliberately?”

Tang Mo dropped to his knees at once and cried injustice as he said: “So many years have passed, when has your son ever done that sort of thing? Even if Eldest Brother and I have moments when we do not get along, we say it to each other’s faces. Whenever we meet outside the Marquis’s gates, I treat Eldest Brother with every courtesy. Your son has always remembered your instruction that no matter the grievance at home, once outside we must not let others laugh at us.” He finished with earnestness: “Moreover, Eldest Brother and I have no unresolvable feud. Calling the guards was purely a misunderstanding.”

Tang Gang’s anger surged. First, his precious son had been beaten into this pig?headed state, which pained him; second, he was to take up his post at the Ministry of Rites tomorrow, and how could he go like this? He would have to explain personally to Vice Minister Wang, and if word got out it would be another laughingstock. The Heir Apparent of a marquis’s house beaten by street ruffians, where would the marquisate’s prestige be?

Madam Wang stepped forward to intercede as she said gently: “Marquis, calm yourself. The urgent task now is to send the Heir Apparent back to Chun Hua Courtyard to be washed and put in order. The physician is on his way. The Heir Apparent’s injuries must not be delayed, especially the face.” She concluded with quiet emphasis: “Nothing is more important than the Heir Apparent’s wounds.”

Tang Gang nodded curtly and issued orders with a sweep of his hand: “Dismiss. Every bodyguard who laid hands on the Heir Apparent is to receive twenty strokes of the rod and have three months’ pay docked. The second son will remain.”

Madam Wang would have pleaded again, but Tang Gang gave her a warning look. Anxiety crushed her heart. Tang Mo gave the slightest shake of his head to send her off. When the room held only father and son, Tang Mo still knelt, and Tang Gang still said nothing. In his heart, alongside the fury, there was something more complicated. One voice told him that this was his son, his legitimate son, and he ought to treat him kindly; [he is my son by blood, I should be gentle with him]. Another voice said that this son had courted trouble since childhood, learned nothing good, and could no longer be counted on; [this son is hopeless, any effort spent on him is wasted].

At last Tang Gang asked flatly: “Do you harbor resentment over the bride?swap?”

Tang Mo answered: “No.”

Tang Gang said, steely: “Speak the truth.”

Tang Mo answered with candid calm: “Yes.”

He added without flinching, as if stating a simple fact: “Your son is no saint and cannot pretend nothing happened. Eldest Brother behaved despicably. He did it on purpose.”

Tang Gang’s eyes narrowed. He pressed: “So you sent men to beat him up for vengeance?”

Tang Mo fell briefly silent, then replied with a steady face: “It truly was not me. I am dissatisfied with him, yes, but I also got a good bargain out of it, and I think Xin An is actually not bad. It may be that she and I can live well together. These last two days I have been trying to spend more time with her. Things are already as they are, what else can I do?” He added with blunt honesty: “I can also see that Tao Yi Ran likes Eldest Brother. If she looks down on me, how can I force it? If Father insists I admit something, then I admit this much: when I saw Eldest Brother beaten into a pig’s head, I was quite happy. I thank the person who enforced justice for Heaven.”

This attitude, ironically, cooled Tang Gang’s fire a little; he felt that this was the normal reaction. If Tang Mo had said he bore no resentment, that would have been suspicious.

Tang Gang said mildly: “These two days, you have been running to your Grandmother’s quite diligently.”

Tang Mo stiffened his neck and answered without backing down: “Father does not like me. I cannot curry favor or win approval, and whatever I do will not please your eye. Grandmother dotes on me, so of course I go to her.”

Tang Gang’s brows knitted; he did not know what to say. At that moment, Gan Lu from Grand Matron’s side arrived. After a curtsey, she conveyed Grand Matron’s instructions with crisp clarity: “Grand Matron has learned of the Heir Apparent’s matter and commands that he be well tended. The second young master has spent the entire day by Grand Matron’s side performing filial duty. If the Marquis cannot swallow his anger and must strike him with a few lashes, Grand Matron asks that you be gentle. Tomorrow the second young master will accompany Grand Matron for her meals and must also prepare for a short stay at the estate.”

Tang Gang pressed a hand to his brow and said with stiff politeness: “I understand. Ask Mother to rest early. There is no need for her to worry over such trifles.”

Gan Lu slipped away like the wind. Tang Mo adopted an air of having Grand Matron at his back, which made Tang Gang’s temper flare all over again as he barked: “Get out.”

Tang Mo rose and left without a backward glance. Tang Gang stood with one hand braced on his waist as he ground out between his teeth: “Wretch.”

Back at Qiu Shi Courtyard, Tang Mo was still huffing as he ordered the doors shut, wearing a posture of utter indifference. Once inside, he muttered, [the old man is biased]. After the servants withdrew, his expression changed at once; he sidled up to Xin An with a grin and said in a low, proud voice: “I have done what you asked me to do. Are you satisfied?”

Xin An looked up sharply and asked in surprise: “Was it really you?” She had wondered how Tang Rong could have been beaten for no reason, and then how anyone could claim they had the wrong man when the marquisate’s insignia was on the carriage. She added with a spark in her eye: “You are indeed quick?witted. I cannot tell you how pleased I was to see his pig?headed face.”

Tang Mo said with swaggering delight: “I arranged the matter some time ago. I thought I would have to wait a while, but I did not expect retribution to arrive so fast.”

Xin An’s gaze sharpened as she echoed: “Retribution?”

Tang Mo answered with relish: “That is right. I am his retribution.” He went on, boasting without shame: “In fact I recognized him at a glance tonight and had the sudden urge to beat him again. I wanted to rush up and give him two kicks myself, but alas, this young master has his status, and it is not proper to lay hands on him in person.”

Xin An personally poured him tea and offered it with a smile as she said: “Second Young Master truly has great wisdom. I am full of admiration.” Then her tone turned practical as she added: “Tomorrow send some silver to those guards who were implicated because of you. This is an excellent moment to win them over.”

Tang Mo accepted the tea, took a sip, and said at once: “Why wait for tomorrow? Have Lai Lai go now.”