Chapter 079

Chapter 79: I’m Afraid My Husband Will Mind

Madam Wang understood what Xin An meant and sighed softly. Though she had not been born into a military family, years in the marquisate had taught her how hard a soldier’s life was. Many brave old soldiers, once discharged, lacked any other skill to make a living; life was difficult, and those missing arms or legs had it even harder. Over these years, the marquisate had spent no small sum on them, but the household did not sit on a mountain of gold; one could not care for everyone.

She spoke frankly, her head aching at the topic: “One can say that any time you touch this matter, it is a knot of troubles, and only large sums of silver can smooth it over. When you meet the reasonable ones, it is fine; but some, leaning on their merits, refuse to be reasonable at all, dragging their families along to demand the marquisate’s relief. A couple of years ago, we even had people throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground. So aside from a few crucial people, the rest have been gradually cut off. Behind our backs they curse the marquis, but there is nothing else we can do.”

She added the bitter truth: “These people raised the marquisate to where it stands today, yet they have also become its greatest burden.”

Most military households faced such dilemmas, but the Weiyuan Marquisate had it worst. In the years when Old Master Tang built his merit, the clan’s support had been scant; it had been those old veterans who fought to the death for him. Yet most of those veterans had fought for advancement and profit; when they failed to soar, they changed their tune and said it had all been for loyalty to the Old Master, then clung to the marquisate to provide for their own later years and for their sons and grandsons.

Madam Wang knew that if Tang Mo wanted to gain momentum, he had to cultivate his own sources of support; yet the marquisate’s resources and connections were in the hands of Tang Gang and Tang Rong, leaving little for Tang Mo. Turning his mind to those old soldiers was, in its way, a path.

She gave her consent but with caution: “If you two want to start from here, it is not impossible. I will help you inquire as quickly as I can, but you must be careful. This is a hornets’ nest.”

Xin An nodded solemnly; a plan had already formed in her heart. After a few more words between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Xin An rose to leave.

On the way back, she happened to run into Tang Rong. He had been cooped up at home for days, but had gone out today; the bruises on his face were no longer obvious, the skin fading from blue-black to pale yellow. In a few days it should be no different from the sound skin around it.

He greeted her amiably: “Younger sister-in-law, just back from Mother’s?”

Xin An nodded and replied with courtesy: “I had nothing to do, so I kept Mother company for a chat. Elder Brother is out to meet friends?”

Tang Rong answered readily: “Mm. I will begin my post at the Ministry of Rites tomorrow, so I met a few friends today for a short sit.”

[There was no need to be so specific.] Their courtyards lay in the same direction, so they naturally walked together. Tang Rong carried two packets of pastries and passed one to Xin An, saying with casual generosity: “I passed by Fragrant Pavilion on the way back. The lotus-flower pastries just out of the oven are not bad; take a packet and try them, younger sister-in-law.”

Xin An refused at once; [anything that had passed through Tang Rong’s hands felt as if it were smeared with filth]. She said lightly: “Elder Brother must have bought them for Elder Sister-in-law. If she learns of this, I fear you will find it hard to explain.”

Tang Rong did not withdraw his hand, insisting with a smile: “We are one family; no need to be so distant. Your… Elder Sister-in-law will not mind.”

Xin An turned her head and answered without a ripple: “I’m afraid my husband will mind.”

Tang Rong smiled thinly. Even with her saying that, he still tried to get that packet of pastries through the gates of Qiu Shi Courtyard: “You are worrying too much. It is only a packet of pastries. Second Brother is not so petty.”

Xin An’s lips twitched; she had not wanted to disgust Tao Yi Ran like this, but Tang Rong just had to push it. [If I do not satisfy his wish, how will I not fail that hand of his so stubbornly holding pastries?] With a glance, she sent Chun Yang forward to take the packet. Tang Rong seemed pleased and forced some light conversation. When he put on a show of warmth, he could be witty and glib. Xin An felt a flicker of wry amusement; in her previous life, when had Tang Rong ever spoken so much to her? If one did not ask, he would never say much.

Back in Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An laughed aloud. [So Tang Rong’s zodiac is the dog; suddenly everything felt even more interesting.]

Chun Yang tossed the pastries aside in disgust and muttered, her temper up: “Has that man next door decided the young madam is in favor again? Truly a shameless mutt. Who wants his lousy pastries?”

Xin An felt that Chun Yang made an excellent mouthpiece. Was he not just that, a shameless mutt?

She gave a quiet instruction: “Find a way to let the Eldest Young Madam next door learn of this, without a ripple.”

Chun Yang blinked, then scampered off.

Lounging on the beauty couch, Xin An summoned Nan Feng. She explained briskly: “I had you assist Auntie Wang in managing the courtyard, but this courtyard is small and there is little to manage. I have a task for you: find a way for me to receive news from outside smoothly, and as quickly as possible.”

She asked the key question without hemming or hawing: “Can you do it?”

Nan Feng had never done such work, but that did not dampen her eagerness to try. Xin An told her to learn at once and then bring back a plan; if the plan held water, she would allocate silver: “I will fund you to build the information network steadily.”

For a maid, this was a great opportunity. If she could master this link, her standing at Xin An’s side would be different thereafter. Nan Feng dropped to her knees with a thump and pledged: “Thank you for your promotion, Young Madam. This maid will do everything in her power.”

“Go,” Xin An said.

Nan Feng left in high spirits, but as she reached the gate she ran into the returning Tang Mo. She stopped short, pivoted on her heel, and took another path. Tang Mo snorted and remarked to Lai Lai: “See that? Now she has backing. She does not even put me in her eyes, turning away the moment she sees me. She’s got her temper now.”

Lai Lai grinned broadly: “Nan Feng belongs to the young madam now.”

If the young madam could keep the young master in check, of course her maid could be proud. As for him, that would not do; his lot was to swallow grievances.

He glanced at Er Shan and added with satisfaction: “You did well today. Keep it up and strive to earn the right to serve inside the courtyard.”

There were small side rooms outside the courtyard; Er Shan was living in one now. Though the room was small, he was already very satisfied. He bowed and said cheerfully: “Thank you for teaching me today, Master. Your apprentice will strive to serve inside the courtyard as soon as possible.”

Lai Lai looked triumphant. Tang Mo found the whole thing amusing; he had gained an extra serving lad for himself and won a boon for Lai Lai to boot.

After entering, Tang Mo still expected Xin An to praise him, only to find her asleep on the beauty couch. He asked quietly: “When did she fall asleep?”

Chun Lv said she had been sleeping for a while and reported all that Xin An had done that day, emphasizing that she had skipped her noon rest.

Seeing that dusk was near and they still needed to go to the Wang household to sign the papers, Tang Mo called her awake and warned with a half-smile: “Sleep any longer and you will not sleep tonight.”

Xin An opened her eyes, yawned, and said the first thing that came to mind: “Pour me a cup of water.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the water reached her lips. Tang Mo asked with a teasing smile: “Does that feel considerate?”

Xin An accepted the cup with a laugh, drank, and handed it back: “Sit. I have something to tell you.”

Tang Mo sat on the beauty couch; the two were quite close, and neither found it amiss. After Xin An told him about the Wang family’s situation, Tang Mo instinctively reached to pat her arm, but in mid-air swerved and patted his own thigh instead. He concluded at once: “There really is a connection. We do not need to trouble Mother to check; I know.”

He supplied the missing piece in a low, firm voice: “The Wang family’s Old Master followed my grandfather.”