Chapter 083

Chapter 83: A Grand Matron Like a Bright Mirror

Grand Matron’s mood just now had not been good. It was not that she blamed Tang Mo and Xin An in her heart; rather, while the Old Master lived he kept a woman outside besides her. Compared with those who got a new woman the moment they marched to a new front, this was already much better. What rankled was that the Old Master had assumed she could not tolerate a concubine’s son and would stoop to cruel deeds, so he guarded against her everywhere. She thought, rueful and tired: [He saw me as too black-hearted. And Tang Gang has learned this habit of his. The very thought is vexing.]

Xin An had, once again, read her correctly. She stood and said with a smile: “Elder Cousin’s wife recently sent me a basket of grapes that her father, Lord Gu, cultivated. She said even His Majesty the Emperor praised them without end. I found them indeed delicious. Cousin Sister-in-law said she left several clusters on the vine for Grandmother. She wanted to bring them but feared Grandmother might not like them.”

Grand Matron smiled: “Since she has the heart, let her send them. This old woman will also taste grapes that even His Majesty praises.”

Xin An agreed happily, chatted a little more, then took her people and left. Gan Lu stepped up to change the tea and could not help saying, gentle but frank: “You are too kind-hearted. I only hope Second Young Madam understands your pains.”

Grand Matron stroked her own cheek and said evenly: “A father’s so-called fairness, which is in truth favoritism, is that he gives the second boy not a single thread of connections. If the boy wants to advance, he must cultivate them himself. Look at the two families we just spoke of; both are people his father was unwilling to befriend. The second boy and his wife do not have it easy.”

She continued, shrewd and calm: “That exchange marriage looked like a loss for the second boy, but in truth he picked up a bargain. Can this little bride not help him a great deal?”

Age had brought perspective. Lifting her tea and blowing on it lightly, Grand Matron went on, amused: “This little couple does not hide at all that they have an eye on my treasures. Do you remember? The first time she came to pay me respects, that girl’s eyes went round at the sight of this room’s furnishings, as if she were intoxicated in a nest of gold and silver. Just looking at her made one want to laugh.”

“She takes pains to please me. When I am delighted, I reward her with a piece or two. She is happy, and I am happy. With so many things, can I really take them all underground?”

Rather than having what she disliked taken by those she disliked, she felt it better to give to those who could make her happy; at least that brought joy.

Grand Matron then remembered she had another granddaughter-in-law. She summoned another old matron who was stationed in Chun Rong Hall. Surnamed Sun, the woman was exceedingly strict. Besides guarding Chun Rong Hall, she served as Grand Matron’s eyes and ears. Everything large and small in the residence was under her gaze. If Grand Matron wished to know what would happen in the house after she herself was no longer present, this woman would naturally report every detail.

On the way back to Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An encountered Madam Wang returning from her errands. One glance and Madam Wang guessed that Xin An had received Grand Matron’s gifts, which pleased her. Xin An took her by the hand to speak in Qiu Shi Courtyard and first recounted the matters concerning Wang You and Tang Yong: “Rather than wait for someone to file a malicious complaint, I told Grandmother myself. Grandmother did not blame us and said her affairs do not involve the juniors.”

Folding her hands, Madam Wang softly chanted, “Amitabha,” then said: “These past few days I have been worried about this. No one knows how much Grand Matron may resent your second uncle. I was thinking of finding a proper time to speak on your behalf.”

She went on, practical and firm: “The Wang family is at least a fifth-rank Huai Yuan Commander, and they support the old soldiers who once followed your grandfather. From both morality and interest, we should not ignore them. Sneaking about is no way to do things. It is best to bring matters into the open. As for your father, do not worry; I have my own ways.” Since their last quarrel, Madam Wang had become someone who could show Tang Gang her colors at any time, and she had mastered both striking first and turning the tables. Tang Gang had no way to deal with her.

“Once it is in the open, we will no longer need to meet privately. Whatever is needed can be done openly. Only one thing: do not let others seize the credit,” she concluded.

“That is what I want as well,” Xin An agreed. She did not wish to toil only for Tang Rong to pluck the peach: “If needed, let Mother and me step forward together.”

“Very well.” Madam Wang now threw her full support behind her own son and daughter-in-law. If Tang Gang could show blatant favoritism, why could she not?

“Your Grandmother gave you the yellow jade peony?” Madam Wang rose, lifted from the casket that piece of yellow jade so beautiful one could not look away, and examined it over and over with delight: “In the future, visit your Grandmother more often and show your filial respect.”

So many years in the Marquis Residence, and she had not known Grand Matron to be so generous.

Besides the yellow jade peony, there was also a White Jade Triangular Thin-walled Jar about the size of a rice bowl. Xin An said, full of appreciation: “The lid was hollowed from inside the body. Thinness aside, it is carved all over with dense patterns. The jade inlaid into the base was even cut from the lid itself. The craftsmanship is wondrous and exquisite.”

Madam Wang sat to admire it slowly: “A fine piece indeed. This thin-walled jar even surpasses the yellow jade peony.”

There was a third item as well, a fish: white jade for the body, with patches of red jade along its back. The white and the red had grown together perfectly. Xin An said, delighted: “It must have been carved to follow the natural shape of the material. Look at the tail, entirely orange-red. It is practically indistinguishable from a living fish.”

The two women could not put the three treasures down. Madam Wang murmured, half joking and half in earnest: “If I had your Grandmother’s collection, I would not wish to mind outside affairs either. I would simply keep to these treasures and take them out to admire at leisure.” Then she added with frank envy: “But I hear your Grandmother’s greatest trove is not these pieces, but her jewelry. Your grandfather brought back how many good things from his campaigns, how many spoils, and gave them all to your Grandmother.” As a fellow woman, she could not help but admire and covet them.

Xin An’s favorite was the yellow jade peony: “It exudes such wealth.”

Madam Wang next asked about Xin An’s preparations for the upcoming banquet. Duke En was the Empress Dowager’s natal kin. She said, instructive and kind: “The Zhou family has flourished for decades, lush with branches and leaves. Every year in this month they host a banquet, one of the more important events among the nobility. Those who receive an invitation never fail to attend. When the time comes, I may not be able to look after you.”

The banquet of Duke En’s household was called the Water Blossom Banquet. As the name suggests, it had begun as an invitation to the capital’s families to admire the lotus. Over the years, admiring lotus had become a small matter, and today the Water Blossom Banquet had already turned into a grand occasion for the nobility to socialize, build connections, and contemplate marriages. Those one usually could not see were, eight or nine times out of ten, present at the Water Blossom Banquet. Because the host, Duke En, possessed unmatched power and rank, even people who were enemies had to pull on a smile and exchange a few words of politeness when they met. This made it all the easier to talk and to get things done. On the day itself the roads were choked with carriages and the scene was exceedingly lively.

Madam Wang could not help worrying for Xin An, not knowing that Xin An had not only attended the Water Blossom Banquet more than once in her previous life but, in fact, had gone more often than Madam Wang herself and thus felt no trepidation. Xin An said with a mild smile: “Mother, be at ease. I am not someone who likes to push to the front or steal the limelight. I will not cause trouble.” She added, practical as ever: “Elder sister from the Yan family also said she will look after me.”

“In that case I can rest easy,” Madam Wang said, standing with a smile. “The women of the Marquis Residence will go together. Tell your maids to prepare two extra sets of clothing. Cosmetics and jewelry must also be set in order so that, should anything unexpected happen, we do not lose propriety. I must go check on your Grandmother. You should rest.”