Chapter 057

Chapter 57: Tang Rong’s Sense of Crisis

Madam You said, laughing at herself: “Look at me, I was so happy I neglected my niece-in-law.”

She affectionately took Xin An’s hand and said: “The day I drank your new daughter-in-law tea, I already felt this girl’s looks stood out. Seeing you today, you truly are one in a thousand. Our boy Mo has good fortune.”

Xin An smiled and said: “Second Aunt flatters me. Seeing Second Aunt so happy makes me happy too. I love listening to Mother and Second Aunt talk.”

Introducing her own daughter-in-law, Madam You said: “This is Yao Ming’s wife. Knowing you were coming, she specially sent someone to buy pastries from Pastry Confectionery. You sisters-in-law can enjoy tea and cakes and have a good chat.”

Slightly plump, Madam Gu smiled with arched brows over almond-shaped eyes and said: “There are still two sticks of incense before the meal. Little sister, come sit with me.”

Xin An nodded and, after saluting Madam Wang and Madam You, followed Madam Gu to the veranda. There stood a Western-style table with fruits and pastries laid out. A clump of luxuriant roses nearby was in full bloom.

Madam Gu said: “Sit, little sister.”

Smiling radiantly, she added: “I did not know what pastries you like, so I bought a bit of everything. See if there is anything you fancy. But in this heat pastries are a bit dry. Try these grapes first; they are sweet and sour.”

Xin An said: “Elder sister-in-law, you are very thoughtful.”

She sat with a smile, took the grapes Madam Gu handed over, peeled one and tasted it, then squinted and shivered. Madam Gu hurried to ask: “Is it very sour?”

She said: “I tasted two this morning; they were not that sour.”

To verify, Madam Gu ate one herself, nearly rolling her eyes from the sourness, then quickly spat it out. Looking at Xin An in embarrassment, the two of them burst out laughing together. She said: “Honestly, when I tried them this morning they were not sour at all. How did they become so sour now?”

Xin An bit into a piece of water chestnut cake to press down the sourness and asked: “Was it perhaps a different bunch?”

Also eating water chestnut cake, Madam Gu said: “No. That other bunch had sparse grapes and did not look as good as this one. Since you were coming, I deliberately chose this bunch with the best appearance.”

Once the sourness faded, Xin An smiled and said: “For a bunch of grapes, the ones that grow sparse with bigger berries are the sweet ones.”

Madam Gu said that next time she would take Xin An to pick out a bunch herself: “There will surely be sweet ones.”

Xin An asked: “Do you grow them yourself, elder sister-in-law?”

Madam Gu answered: “Yes.”

Her father worked at the Astronomical Bureau and liked to grow flowers and plants in his spare time, especially grapes, which he grew well. When Madam Gu married over, one part of her dowry was two grapevines, which bore abundant fruit every year. She said: “Isn’t it strange? My father’s grapes look good and taste even better. I raise mine following his methods, yet they still cannot compare. Never mind that the flavor is not as good; they do not bear as many as his either.”

Listening, Xin An wanted to go see the grapevines that came with her dowry immediately. Madam Gu promptly took her to have a look. Thus the two grew warm with each other over a mere bunch of grapes. From not far away, Madam Wang and Madam You watched with smiles in their eyes, saying: “Young people can always find things to talk about.”

Curious to the point of bursting, Madam Wang wanted to know the details. She had not been free to ask before, but with the person right before her now, she could not help it. Lowering her voice, she asked: “Does niece-in-law get along well with Mo?”

Having been cooped up in the marquisate for a long time, Madam You also wanted someone to talk to. She nodded with a smile and said: “Very well. I think that boy has turned misfortune into blessing. The young couple get along harmoniously, their temperaments are similar, they like to talk and laugh. I see that boy is most devoted to his wife. You did not see…”

She went on to describe how Tang Mo treated his father-in-law and how he took Xin An out to play, adding: “Even this time when I went to stay at the estate for a few days, it was thanks to my daughter-in-law.”

Madam You’s face was full of gossiping delight as she said: “You can see they are true fated partners. Husband and wife should have compatible temperaments.”

Madam Wang said: “Is that not so.”

In the main hall, after finishing the matter of Tang Yao Ming, Tang Yong turned to talk about Tang Mo. Smiling, Tang Mo said he was going to the Northern Garrison Army. Tang Yong’s brows knit slightly; he had also heard about the marquisate’s impeachment of the Northern Garrison Army. He said: “I hear Commander Liao hates evil like an enemy and repays every slight. If you go at this time, I fear…”

He knew something of his elder brother’s partiality toward Tang Mo, but had not expected him to do such a thing at this time. He said: “If possible, find a middleman to arrange a meeting with this Commander Liao and offer an apology. It would be best to let the matter pass.”

He thought it over but could not think of anyone he knew who was on good terms with Liao Zhi.

Tang Mo already had a plan in mind and said: “I have arranged for this. It is only a matter of expending some effort.”

Tang Yong nodded and said that the household had prepared silver; it would have been impossible for Yao Ming’s matter to be accomplished without spending money. He said: “Spend what should be spent. It is those favors that cost nothing that are hardest to repay.”

Since real silver had indeed been used, Tang Mo did not refuse. He said: “I will arrange a dinner later; cousin and I will go together. Now that we have entered officialdom, we cannot avoid drinking and entertaining. It is always good to make more acquaintances.”

Tang Yao Ming rose and cupped his hands to give thanks. This was not only seeking a post for him; he would also be introduced to connections. If one did not truly regard him as a brother, one would not go this far.

Only in the afternoon did Tang Rong receive the news from Qing Mo. He asked: “You are saying that Tang Yao Ming went to the Inspection Court of the Censorate to serve as an Imperial Censor?”

That was a substantive post, and one with real authority. How could Tang Yao Ming have gone to such a good place?

Qing Mo nodded and said: “He has been there two days already. Lord Liu, the Left Director of the Ministry of Personnel’s bureau, personally delivered the appointment document to Second Master’s residence.”

He added: “People at Second Master’s say the second young master made the connection.”

Sitting up straight, Tang Rong asked: “Is this true?”

This information had only been obtained by Qing Mo with silver spent; he said: “It should be true. Otherwise, Second Master would not have come first thing this morning to invite the second young master to his residence.”

At this moment Tang Rong felt extremely conflicted. First, he could not quite accept that Tang Yao Ming had obtained such an excellent post. Second, he could even less accept that Tang Mo had recommended him. Did Tang Mo have such ability? If Tang Mo could secure office for others, did it not mean he was more capable than Tang Rong?

He suddenly remembered that the Liu family was connected by marriage with the Marquis Qing’s household, and that the marquis’s second son, Yan Shi Mao, had a good relationship with Tang Mo. Could it be that this was the path they took?

The more he thought, the more blocked he felt in his chest. Qing Mo stood there without leaving. Tang Rong asked: “Anything else?”

Qing Mo smiled awkwardly and said: “I would like to request some silver from the Heir Apparent…”

He had, after all, used his own money to gather information today.

Tang Rong told him to go to Tao Yi Ran to draw it and said: “Take a few more coins. Keep a close eye on outside matters these days.”

That Yao Ming had already been working at the Inspection Court for several days and only now did he get the news; it had come far too late. He could not help recalling that in the past his information had not lagged like this. Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

Tao Yi Ran disliked most when a servant came to ask her for money. And since Qing Mo was Tang Rong’s serving lad, it amounted to Tang Rong asking her for money, even though the money in her hands had originally been given by Tang Rong.

Having finally gotten the silver, Qing Mo felt extremely stifled. By rights, he had taken a beating along with the Heir Apparent and continued to serve even before his injuries had healed; the young madam should have given him some reward as a token. Not only did she not, even getting his own silver was so troublesome. The look she had just given him had been as if he were some unclean spirit.