Chapter 072

Chapter 72: Madam Wang’s Plan

Tao Yi Ran was listless and low in spirits; it was easy to see why. She did not like rising early to offer formal greetings, did not enjoy fawning or flattering, did not want to curry favor, and did not wish to force herself to do what she disliked. Yet Tang Rong kept pressing her, and even her mother pushed her; how could she be in a good mood?

Lifting her eyes and seeing Xin An dressed in ostentatious finery, draped in red and green with jewelry piled on as if afraid others would not notice her wealth, she felt it unbearably vulgar and quietly took a step back, as if standing too close to Xin An would leave her reeking of the stink of money: [So gaudy; keep your distance.]

Xin An, for her part, rolled her eyes in her heart and edged away as well: [Better keep a little space, or I might not resist taking a swing.]

Madam Wang arrived. Tang Rong and the others stepped forward to offer their respects, and Madam Wang answered with a curt “Mm,” then let her gaze fall on Tao Yi Ran: “You have been resting these days; is your health somewhat improved?”

Tao Yi Ran also gave a brief “Mm,” then said: “Much better.”

“You are the marquisate’s eldest grandson’s wife, the heir apparent’s lady, and you bear the burden of continuing the marquisate’s line; morning and evening salutations are trifles, but this matter must not be delayed,” said Madam Wang. “If you feel unwell, see to it quickly and adjust your health; above all, your body must come first.”

Her eyes shifted to Tang Rong: “Your wife’s complexion is not good. I hear she has been frail since birth. As her husband, you must take it to heart. Do not let her run short of the tonics she should have. Conceiving an heir is arduous; without a sound body, it will not do. Keep this firmly in mind.”

Parental urging to produce a child brings the greatest pressure. Tang Rong cupped his hands and said: “Many thanks for Mother’s guidance; your son understands.”

Tao Yi Ran also made a proper curtsey and said: “Your daughter-in-law understands.”

“Mm,” Madam Wang replied with a faint smile: “There is much to do today, so I will not keep you to eat. The hour is still early; you may return and sleep a while longer.”

Who could say she was not a tolerant and loving stepmother?

Tang Rong had originally wanted to stay and hear what was to be said this morning, but with Madam Wang’s words coming to that point, he could only take Tao Yi Ran and withdraw.

Once past the gate, Tao Yi Ran let out a breath of relief, thinking: [Tomorrow when I come again, I must coax Madam Wang into saying I should rest more and need not come for morning and evening salutations; then…]

“Mother is kind, and every word she spoke was reasonable,” she said softly. “My body is rather delicate; I will invite a physician today to take my pulse. I also wish to nurse myself back to health quickly and ease your worries.”

Tang Rong felt a little suspicious. Joy as he was, it did not sound like something that fit her temperament. Tao Yi Ran added gently: “Since I have married you, I should be your worthy helpmeet. As for the past few days, take it that I was muddleheaded and did not know how to be a wife.”

They had quarreled over this a few times. Tang Rong had harbored some resentment, but hearing her now, he grew pleased again and clasped her hand: “It is also my fault for not being more considerate. I will send someone at once to invite a doctor. Your health will certainly recover.”

Tao Yi Ran said she had a physician she used regularly: “He has treated me for many years and is familiar with my ailments. Whenever I feel unwell, his prescriptions are effective. Have Auntie Liu invite him later.”

Though this long-time treatment had somehow left her perpetually unwell, Tang Rong at this moment detected nothing amiss and said: “If rare tonics are needed, we will ask Mother to open the storeroom. So long as it restores your health, no medicine is too dear.”

Tao Yi Ran’s gaze turned limpid with shy charm as she said: “Lord Rong is the one who treats me best.”

The bruising on Tang Rong’s face had healed seven or eight parts out of ten and was nearly back to his former handsome look; Tao Yi Ran found him good to look at once more.

What she did not know was that her scheming was somewhat superfluous. Madam Wang had no wish to see her either and, starting this very day, would keep her confined to her courtyard under the pretext of nourishing her health and urging conception, thus granting her wish.

At that moment, Madam Wang was listening to the stewards’ reports: staffing increases and reductions, and the matters upcoming. Xin An sat to the side watching, feeling a faint nostalgia for such scenes.

“There is one more matter beyond what was just discussed,” said Madam Wang.

She lifted her hand toward Xin An. Xin An rose, stepped forward, and stood beside her. Madam Wang announced: “From today, Second Young Madam will assist in managing the household. Whenever I am out or have no energy to handle the inner residence’s affairs, you may go to Second Young Madam; her word is my word. You need only obey.”

All bowed in assent, and from that moment Xin An’s standing in the household changed.

When the others dispersed, Madam Wang rose and asked Xin An to dine with her, saying: “Once you go out, enjoy yourself well; there is no need to hurry back.”

In Madam Wang’s eyes, this was Xin An’s first time going out to make acquaintances among the capital’s ladies, and she felt uneasy, so she could not help but give a few more reminders, offering examples from the etiquette of sitting and drinking tea to safe topics of conversation. These were things Xin An in her previous life had never enjoyed.

“Many thanks for Mother’s guidance,” Xin An said.

Madam Wang smiled: “It hardly counts as guidance. The Xin family is a great household in Huaijiang; you are not lacking in rules. In social dealings, I find you quite good as well. Only the customs of the two places differ a little; take slight care and that will suffice.”

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke for quite a while. As the sun rose higher, Xin An dressed once again and, taking Chun Yang and Nan Feng with her, went out.

The Great Qian was strong and prosperous. The streets bustled with crowds; now and then faces from beyond could be seen weaving among them. The avenues were clean and orderly; the common people were well-off.

After roughly the time to burn two sticks of incense, the marquisate’s carriage arrived at Bao Yin Pavilion. Alighting, Xin An learned that Yan Wen Hui had not yet arrived, but the private box for the performance had long been reserved. The theater’s attendant, all enthusiasm, led them up to the second floor, and tea and refreshments were promptly brought in.

The play had not yet begun; only the warm-up performers were singing their hearts out on stage, drawing a shout or two of bravo from time to time.

“Greetings to Madam,” said an attendant approaching with a basket and a smile. “Madam, today’s play is our Bao Yin Pavilion’s new production from last month, The Fox’s Grateful Return, with our two headliners, Boss Fang and Boss Qin, appearing together. Everyone says it is exquisite. Would you like some lucky blossoms to add to the fun?”

The basket held silver paper folded into little triangular blossoms. By custom, if a spectator felt a particular performer sang well, the spectator could pin one of these blossoms on the performer; it counted as a personal tip to that performer.

“Since you have brought them, leave them all,” said Xin An.

The attendant beamed. Chun Yang asked the price and checked the count; when the attendant left, she said: “People in the capital really know how to scoop up silver. Such a small basket costs ten taels.”

Nan Feng said: “Anyone who can sit in this sort of box hardly cares about ten taels. These attendants are very shrewd and know exactly how much to bring. You see, he would never try to sell these silver paper blossoms down in the common hall.”

Xin An laughed and said: “Chun Yang, did you forget? The theaters in Huaijiang are even better at scooping silver.”

Chun Yang thought a moment, then smiled in embarrassment: “The capital truly is a place that honors propriety.”

Curious, Nan Feng tilted her head, and Chun Yang indulged her curiosity: in Huaijiang there were many troupes and many wealthy patrons, and tips were given directly as banknotes: “If a performer sings well, by the end of a show their head is covered in banknotes.”

“Those with great fame have to stuff their sashes with them,” she added.

Nan Feng imagined the scene and suddenly felt that this basket worth ten taels was not much after all.

The private box had a wide view. Xin An saw Yan Wen Hui come up the stairs, with a young matron in green walking ahead of her and another young matron following behind; these must be the friends she had mentioned.

“The one in green in the middle is Young Madam Yan; remember her,” Xin An told her maids.

Chun Yang and Nan Feng answered in embarrassment, especially Nan Feng. She had come to help the young madam, yet it was the young madam introducing people to her; she felt rather sheepish.