Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Seeking to Win Over the Xin Family

“Is it sugar you require, Madam?” Xin An asked.

Her father had spent such a long time away precisely to secure a stable sugar supply. That endeavor traced back to something Old Master Tang had said: on the battlefield, sugar could be as vital as life. Especially for elite troops, after the fight the spirit was exhausted to its limit and could not recover quickly; if an ambush came then, they would be lambs to the slaughter. He had discovered by chance that a bowl of strong sugar-water after battle would restore vigor swiftly, and with a short rest the men could fight again. At that time he had quietly had her father buy large quantities of sugar. [Could the Xu family want it for the same purpose?]

Madam Xu nodded without concealment: “We do need a batch of sugar, and not a small one. Would Second Young Madam be able to contact Boss Xin?”

Xin An asked directly: “Since Madam says you have men in the Huai River region, why not ask my father in person? Or is it that the sugar in his hands does not meet the quantity?”

Her father was the most cautious of men; whether buying salt or sugar, whenever someone wanted too much, he would investigate carefully and avoid trouble. “My father does occasionally sell sugar,” she stated without pretense, “but not in large amounts, and he sells it only at certain times of the year. The most sugar is available just after the spring.”

Madam Xu had come with reliable information and did not expect Xin An to agree on the spot. “It truly is not enough,” she said frankly. “Beijing is too far from the Huai River. Sending people to negotiate again is too troublesome. Since Second Young Madam is before us, we thought to take your route and make contact. If it works, all the better; if it is truly difficult, then never mind and we will look for other ways.”

Xin An neither promised nor refused, but gave just enough: “If it were someone else, I would let it pass. Since Madam Xu has asked me personally, I will write to the Huai River and ask my father. How much does Madam need?”

Smiling, Madam Xu replied that the more, the better, which gave Xin An her measure. “News does not travel easily back and forth,” Xin An added with calm politeness, “so I must trouble Madam Xu to wait a little while.”

“It is no trouble,” Madam Xu said.

The Xu family truly needed sugar, and they truly wished to help the Second Prince draw the Xin family to his side. Though the Xin family leaned on the marquisate, the marquisate no longer held command of troops and had long since surrendered the military seal; monopolizing the Xin family’s allegiance was no longer reasonable. Of course, whether the Xin family was worth the effort still needed observation.

Seeing the topic had run its course, the Second Prince’s Consort guided it back to another point of interest: “How are Tang Rong and that Tao family girl getting along?”

“Like glue,” Xin An answered in two words.

If she had not known that Tao Yi Ran had once flirted with the Second Prince, Xin An would not have understood what the consort wanted to hear. Since the consort wanted to know, she would tell her. [The enemy of my enemy is a friend.]

“My elder brother is a gentleman,” she continued with a mild expression. “On the wedding day he accidentally entered the wrong bridal chamber and formed a match with my sister-in-law. When he learned the matter could not be undone, he took responsibility. The two of them had already seen each other at many banquets before then; though they did not truly know each other, they were at least familiar. Besides, their looks and talents are well matched, and my sister-in-law’s family background is far higher than mine. They are a fitting pair.”

Just that one string of words was enough for others to piece together the truth. At this moment the Second Prince’s Consort looked at her as if at a fool and said bluntly: “Your heart is truly broad.”

Seeing that the consort wanted to ask more, Madam Xu cut in, mindful that this was their first meeting and it was not appropriate to pry into too-private matters. With a smile, she said to Xin An: “We have delayed Second Young Madam’s tour of the grounds. Please do not spread what we spoke of today.”

Rising, Xin An replied with due decorum: “You are too polite, Madam. When a transaction is not yet concluded, it is naturally unfit to let others know. Madam may set her mind at ease.”

She added with equal courtesy: “If Madam and the Second Prince’s Consort have nothing further, I will take my leave.”

Madam Xu stood to see her out. When Xin An had gone, she turned a glare on the Second Prince’s Consort: “When will you mend that impatient temper of yours?”

“Mother wanted to hear it too, did you not?” the consort said as she picked up a piece of candied fruit.

“In the capital, bringing in two bridal sedans in one day is not unheard of,” she went on with undisguised candor before her closest kin, “but only this household had such a mishap: the groom entered the bridal chamber and could not come out. Who would believe that? With so many maids and matrons in the courtyard, are they decorations? The groom being drunk is understandable, but the bride was so drunk she could not even recognize him?”

“They had met before,” she added sharply. “This must be Tao Yi Ran’s doing. And indeed, Tang Rong is more valuable than Tang Mo. A woman who once tried to seduce the Second Prince is not the sort to keep within bounds. With Tang Rong delivered to her, would she push him out?” She sniffed and ended with a cutting proverb: “A dog cannot change its habit of eating filth.”

“Mind your station,” Madam Xu chided with a stern look. “No coarse words.”

“This is, in the end, the marquisate’s affair,” she said more temperately. “Now that she is married, Tao Yi Ran ought to have fewer schemes. Tang Rong is among the most outstanding young men in the capital.”

“As for the Xin family’s Second Young Madam,” Madam Xu continued after a pause, “your father’s men have inquired about her. At her parents’ home she assisted with business; she is not lacking in wits.”

Madam Xu reviewed Xin An’s earlier words and drew a measured conclusion: “If she truly did not care, she would not have spoken that entire string. It sounded like praise that the two are well matched, but in truth she was telling us this was Tao Yi Ran’s doing and that she herself merely compromised.”

“Between the Xin family and the Tang family, there will not be the same lack of resentment as before. Swapping brides is an insult to the Xin family. Tang Gang’s conduct is neither smooth nor thorough. Your father’s advisors have analyzed it carefully: although the Xin family still remains under the marquisate’s shelter, they should be more inclined toward Tang Mo.”

“Much of Tang Mo’s bad reputation comes from Tang Rong,” she added coolly. “People say he likes to snatch things, but how many have actually seen him snatch? Think it through; most of it comes from Tang Rong’s own mouth.”

“As both are legitimate sons, Tang Mo will absolutely not be content to remain beneath another…” She let the thought hang.

After listening a long while, the Second Prince’s Consort asked the practical question: “Mother means the Xin family is worth winning over?”

Seating herself, Madam Xu replied levelly: “They are salt merchants and sugar merchants, and he is also vice-chair of the Huai River Chamber of Commerce. They are indeed valuable.”

They had originally considered the wife of Liao Zhi of the Northern Garrison Army, who was the richest woman in Xu Prefecture. But Liao Zhi was loyal to His Majesty the Emperor, and most of the Xu family’s funds would end up swallowed by Liao Zhi’s needs. Without that vast financial backing, how could Liao Zhi have overmatched his second and third uncles and firmly taken the Liao family’s headship?

“Your father’s men have searched far and wide,” she concluded. “The most valuable and the most likely to be brought to our side is the Xin family. As for the Tang family…” She gave a faint, dismissive smile. “Not worth fearing.”

Old Master Tang, though he had withdrawn at the height of his renown and preserved the Tang family’s honor, had surrendered his command and produced no outstanding sons. With such shallow foundations, the Tang family would only blaze for a few more years.

“There is no need to rush this,” Madam Xu finished. “Whether we can secure the sugar depends entirely on the Xin family’s attitude. Later, find reasons to speak with this Second Young Madam more often and help raise her standing. She is a merchant; she will understand what you mean.”

The Second Prince’s Consort nodded; so long as no one coveted her man, everything could be discussed.

On the way back, Xin An did not delve further into it, mainly because she had no leisure to do so. People were studying her with curiosity, and some gazes held pity, which she found rather novel. [How novel.]

Seeing Xin An return to the pavilion, Yan Wen Hui and the others came forward to ask with concern: “How was it, and why did the Second Prince’s Consort summon you?”

Xin An gave a helpless little smile and answered with disarming simplicity: “Just… curiosity.”