Chapter 090

Chapter 90: Tao Yi Ran Is Set Up

With Tao Yi Ran’s small tokens of tenderness, Tang Rong quickly sank into her, and the trace of guilt he felt toward Auntie Liu soon dissipated; he was eager only to drown in Tao Yi Ran’s gentle harbor. At the height of passion he spoke in tangled, impulsive words that made Tao Yi Ran hook her arms around his neck and call his name with feeling, pushing him into deeper abandon.

What should have been a sweet, bashful morning took a turn Tao Yi Ran never expected: at daybreak, Tang Rong sent someone to summon Ying Yue and said to Tao Yi Ran: “Ying Yue is dutiful and well?mannered, and her daily service has been attentive. Today you shall drink her concubine tea; from now on she will be Concubine Yue of this courtyard.”

The night before, Auntie Cai had slipped into Ying Yue’s room and talked with her for an hour. Ying Yue had been half skeptical, but at first light it came true; she hastily knocked her head in thanks before Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran, and in her heart she felt even more grateful to Auntie Cai.

Tao Yi Ran’s head buzzed. Last night they had been so harmonious, and in the depths of feeling he had said words like, “In this life, only you,” yet with dawn he expected her to drink concubine tea for another woman? [So much for only me.] She nearly lost her balance.

Fortunately Auntie Liu reacted quickly. Knowing that after Auntie Cai had been dealt with the Heir Apparent would surely harbor a knot in his heart, and that raising Ying Yue as a concubine was only a matter of time, she promptly offered congratulations to Ying Yue, then said: “Today is Concubine Yue’s good day. Quickly go dress yourself properly; later the young madam will wait in the main hall for Concubine Yue.”

Only then did Ying Yue, beaming, withdraw. Back in her quarters she went to knock her head to Auntie Cai, who had already finished packing to leave. Auntie Cai helped her up and said: “Thus you will be able to serve the Heir Apparent openly, and I can be at ease.”

Auntie Cai continued with detailed instructions: “The young madam only wants to enjoy herself, so you will need to work harder. If the Heir Apparent drinks outside, prepare sobering soup ahead of time; if he comes back late, stand at the door with a lantern and wait. Whenever there is a chance, see to his garments, shoes, and socks yourself, keep everything in perfect order, strive to be with child as soon as possible, and make sure you have your own eyes and ears in the estate…”

To support Ying Yue in vexing Tao Yi Ran, Auntie Cai even handed over the fifty taels Tang Rong had given her: “Once I leave, this courtyard will be the young madam’s world. You will not be able to stand firm without money in hand. Take this.”

Ying Yue’s eyes turned red. She had not liked Auntie Cai before, yet now she suddenly felt the sorrow of shared fate; Auntie Cai was formidable, but as long as she stayed in this courtyard it was still the marquis household’s servants who had a say. Hereafter they would have to live looking at the faces of the young madam’s dowry people. “Aunt…” she began, choked with feeling; [I never knew Auntie Cai could be so good.]

With her purpose achieved, Auntie Cai went out, neat and proper, to bid farewell to Tang Rong and Tao Yi Ran. Afterward her son came to help carry her things away. The servants of Chun Hua Courtyard watched from a distance, their hearts uneasy.

At Qiu Shi Courtyard, after seeing Tang Mo off to his duties, Xin An took Chun Yang and Chun Lv to pay respects to the Grand Matron. On the way, when Chun Lv mentioned that Auntie Cai was leaving that day, Xin An paused. [If it had been before yesterday, my chest would have tightened for a while,] but after Tang Mo’s words of comfort last night, she had thought it through. Everyone’s circumstances differ: Tao Yi Ran is liked by Tang Rong and comes from a good family, so it is normal that Auntie Cai cannot control her. In her previous life, Tao Yi Ran had coaxed Tang Rong around her little finger, even at the cost of her own son; she clearly grasped how to handle him. Removing one Auntie Cai was nothing.

Hearing that Ying Yue would become a concubine that very day, Xin An guessed it was Auntie Cai’s handiwork. After enjoying years of splendor, how could such a dignified Aunt leave quietly? Today’s departure was likely in order to return in glory later. [A pity that a stirrer of wind and rain like Auntie Cai will be gone for a time; how many amusements will I lose now?]

Chun Yang sighed and said: “It has to be said the young master is better. He may look a bit unserious, but he knows how to coax the young madam to happiness, which is quite good.”

Xin An stopped in her tracks and said with a cool face: “It seems you did not take Auntie Wang’s words to heart. If you keep speaking so lightly and without decorum, you will not come out with me. You can go relearn the rules.”

Chun Yang quickly begged forgiveness and said: “It was this maid who spoke out of turn; this maid will not do so again.”

Xin An withdrew her gaze and walked on. Chun Yang and Chun Lv’s lack of respect for Tang Mo had started with her. From the day of the wedding she had felt flustered and unsettled, and toward Tang Mo, her rival in a past life, she had not been very polite; habits and subconscious perceptions are hard to change in a moment, so she had been lax with these two maids. Now the situation had changed, and her relationship with Tang Mo was growing better by the day, so naturally she did not want to hear anyone speak ill of him.

Walking behind, Chun Lv glared at Chun Yang. So blind to the situation. Had she not noticed that lately the young madam’s attitude toward the young master was quite good, that the two would light up and laugh the moment they met? Auntie Wang had said this was the sign of feelings beginning to grow, and had warned them not to speak recklessly; yet Chun Yang dared to call the young master unserious right in front of the young madam. [That is not something a maid has any right to say.]

Chun Yang lowered her head, wishing she could sew her own mouth shut. [Loose?tongued and ill?mannered, that was me.]

The Grand Matron had slept late the previous night, so she naturally slept a little longer in the morning. Xin An did not leave; seeing the flowers in the courtyard blooming well and feeling her spirits lift, she even watered them. By the time the Grand Matron awoke, Xin An had watered all the flowers in the courtyard.

“Young people are all fond of sleeping; you should sleep more too,” the Grand Matron said. She knew perfectly well that Xin An’s frequent visits had a purpose, but she could not help liking the girl. In her view, this girl merely fancied the piles of fine things in her rooms; what other ulterior motive could she have?

Xin An stepped forward to support the Grand Matron and said: “It truly was a bit hard to wake this morning, but I was thinking about Grandmother’s complexion and wanted to see how it was.” She studied the old lady’s face carefully. In truth there was not much difference from yesterday; after a comfortable night’s sleep, the Grand Matron’s spirit was good and so her color much improved. Xin An said sincerely: “Grandmother need not be anxious. Your complexion and vigor already surpass those of many old madams. To say nothing else, your skin is smooth and almost without wrinkles; at a glance one can tell your blessings are deep. This is something many envy.”

The words were not idle praise. The Grand Matron had been a landlord’s pampered daughter. After marriage her husband was away at war, but there were no parents?in?law or sisters?in?law to deal with. Apart from missing her husband, there had been little to worry about. Later, her husband won honors for her and brought home even more wealth and leisure. Her sons and grandsons were not particularly outstanding, but neither were they outrageous; there was little to be anxious over. No wonder she had kept so well. Time may wear down a beauty, but it cannot easily defeat the comfortably wealthy and untroubled.

The flowers were especially radiant that morning, and the Grand Matron was in excellent spirits. Accepting Xin An’s compliments without modesty, she did not forget to hint about great?grandchildren as she said with a smile: “To speak of fortune, Grandmother does have some. If you and the second boy later add another great?grandchild to run about before me, my fortune will be even greater.”

Xin An was taken aback, then smiled with a touch of embarrassment and said: “I fear that must be left to nature.”

The Grand Matron paused in front of a blossom and said: “Grandmother sees clearly. The second boy surely has a place for you in his heart. The two of you suit each other in temper and appearance, which is a marriage ordained by heaven.” Leaning closer, she teased: “Tell me, is the second boy handsome or not?”

Xin An blushed slightly, then laughed and said: “He is quite good?looking.”