Chapter 089

Chapter 89: Auntie Cai Is Driven Out of the Residence

Unlike the rapid warming of Tang Mo and Xin An’s feelings, the atmosphere in Chun Hua Courtyard was far from harmonious. First, Tang Rong locked the two chests of property he had received in his study instead of handing them to Tao Yi Ran, and on the spot he gave silver to Qing Mo for gathering information.

To Tao Yi Ran, this looked like distrust, and she could not help feeling despondent.

Second, Auntie Cai was still confined. After Tang Rong quickly learned the ins and outs of the matter, he suppressed his displeasure and asked Tao Yi Ran her reasons. Tao Yi Ran said Auntie Cai was vulgar. Tang Rong drew a deep breath and said: “Auntie Cai’s voice may be loud, but this is not something you learned today. I asked you before, and you were unwilling to manage matters, so you pushed them onto Auntie Cai. Yet today, with no proper cause, you punish her and even say such things. What will those below think, and how will you command their respect in the future?”

Questioned thus, Tao Yi Ran’s eyes immediately reddened: “Are you blaming me?”

“I knew Auntie Cai was your wet nurse, so I relied on her everywhere and entrusted the affairs large and small in the courtyard to her. But as we spent more time together, I discovered problems. If she were merely vulgar and ignorant, it could be overlooked. Yet she also docked the monthly stipends of those under her, practiced lip service and defiance, and constantly claimed that she ‘raised the Heir Apparent’.”

“The Heir Apparent is the Heir Apparent of the Marquis’s residence, and she is a servant of the residence. How dare she claim she raised the Heir Apparent? If word spreads, the whole residence will become a laughingstock. Of course I had to discipline her. As for what I said, it was blurted out in a moment of urgency only after Auntie Liu shouted in protest at my decision. If you think I did wrong, I will personally apologize to Auntie Cai.”

She sat with lowered eyes wiping her tears, infinitely aggrieved. Auntie Liu stepped forward and listed Auntie Cai’s misdeeds one by one, including the docking of monthly pay: “Every servant in the courtyard had to hand over two-tenths of their monthly wage to Auntie Cai, all because she constantly said she raised the Heir Apparent and that the Heir Apparent listens to her. The people below even thought it was the Heir Apparent’s intention.”

Tang Rong’s brows knitted tight. He had Qing Mo summon several maids for questioning, and the maids, cowering, admitted the truth. Tang Rong drew a long breath, and two parts of guilt toward Tao Yi Ran rose in his heart. Auntie Liu withdrew with the others, the corner of her lips lifting. It had not been in vain to hold on to Auntie Cai’s little faults for so long or to offer the young madam timely counsel. Starting the next day, the steward Aunt in charge of Chun Hua Courtyard would be her.

After a bout of tears, Tao Yi Ran spoke softly again, then worriedly gripped Tang Rong’s hand: “My body is frail and cannot share your burdens. If Auntie Cai were reliable, I would never have done this. To speak so self-righteously even in front of me shows she truly thinks that way in her bones. She is setting herself up as your Mother; how could I ignore it?”

Her words succeeded in making Tang Rong give up on Auntie Cai. Perhaps he too despised Auntie Cai’s ignorance and vulgarity. If it were known that such a person had nursed him, where would his face be?

Moreover, he had sensed that Auntie Cai had grown overbold.

A quarrel that might have erupted dissolved into nothing under Auntie Liu’s evidence and Tao Yi Ran’s tears. Still waiting for Tang Rong to come rescue her, Auntie Cai instead received word that she would be sent out of the residence to live in honorable retirement.

“External matters must always have eyes on them,” Tang Rong said. “Aunt is the person I trust most. Aside from Aunt, I am not at ease letting another handle this.”

Auntie Cai could not believe her ears: “Is it that the young madam cannot tolerate me?”

Tang Rong shook his head: “Mother makes the decisions in the residence. Chun Hua Courtyard has little enough to do anyway. Rest easy: your husband and your son will keep their original posts in service here. Have them keep careful watch on matters outside as well.”

“Very well, pack up and leave first thing tomorrow.”

There was nothing Auntie Cai did not understand now: it was Tao Yi Ran and Auntie Liu who could not tolerate her. After the Heir Apparent listened to their slanders, he was expelling her. She had devoted herself to the Heir Apparent for years, yet never expected this outcome.

Her years of serving Tang Rong told her that kneeling to beg would do no good. He was soft-eared; one had to advance by retreat. She drew a deep breath and said: “Since the Heir Apparent has decided, your maidservant will naturally obey. I will keep a close watch on matters outside and, at the first sign of anything, have my son come into the residence to report.”

Tang Rong nodded in satisfaction, handed Auntie Cai fifty taels of silver, and considered the matter settled: “Also, please do your best not to let others know of our connection while you are outside, so as not to hinder the gathering of information.”

Once calm, Auntie Cai’s mind moved swiftly. She understood Tang Rong’s meaning and did not blame him; all her hatred turned toward Tao Yi Ran.

She could leave for now, but she must not leave so easily. Lowering her gaze, she let two tears fall: “I have served the Heir Apparent since his birth. At times I cannot help but have thoughts I should not have. Going out may be for the best. Though I am reluctant, I know my station; such a day was bound to come.”

“Only, I have two requests I hope the Heir Apparent will grant.”

Tang Rong nodded: “Speak.”

“Xue Yu is still at the country estate. She carries the Heir Apparent’s flesh and blood. Leaving her alone at the estate leaves me uneasy. I ask that the Heir Apparent allow me to go and tend to her from time to time.”

Tang Rong felt a stir in his heart. [He could not be entirely indifferent to his heirs.] Xue Yu’s birth was too low; even if she bore a son, he would be a concubine-born eldest, unlikely to amount to much. But Tao Yi Ran was delicate and frail; the future was uncertain. The matter of offspring was especially important. He was not wholly unconcerned about Xue Yu’s child.

Thinking that Auntie Cai was, after all, on his side, Tang Rong’s displeasure with her lessened somewhat: “Aunt is indeed thorough; then please see to her on my behalf.”

With that, Auntie Cai had a new prop to lean on. Pleased inside, she made her manner even more respectful: “And there is Ying Yue. That girl’s heart for the Heir Apparent is plain to me. When the Heir Apparent was injured, she secretly wiped her tears several times. Only because of the young madam did she not dare visit and serve often. The young madam is too frail; I fear she cannot attend to the Heir Apparent well. With another attentive person at your side, I too can be at ease.”

“Bold as I am, I ask the Heir Apparent to grant that girl a formal status.”

Tang Rong recalled the meticulous care Ying Yue had shown while serving him. Thinking that it was merely a concubine’s position, he felt Tao Yi Ran should not object. By custom, after the principal wife entered the door, she ought to bring up such matters herself to display magnanimity. With that thought, he felt Tao Yi Ran somewhat remiss.

In the end, he agreed to both requests. Auntie Cai knelt and kowtowed: “With someone attentive to serve at your side, I will have no worries. I beg the Heir Apparent to take good care.”

Tang Rong nodded with feeling: “Aunt, you take care as well.”

That night, Tao Yi Ran was exceptionally gentle, for she saw in this matter Tang Rong’s partiality toward her: with only a few of her words, he had cut off the wet nurse who had cared for him since childhood. Even Auntie Liu said: “The Heir Apparent truly holds you in his heart, but there may be a thorn in it as well. You should comfort her more.”

As for what comfort meant, she understood perfectly.