Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Tang Rong’s Schemes

From a distance, Tang Gang saw the two walking toward the courtyard. Seeing how harmoniously they chatted and smiled, he grew even more angry.

He had already learned how Tang Mo had made a splash at the Water Blossom Banquet. Knowing it only deepened his regret and his anger at Tang Rong. He increasingly felt that a woman like Xin An, adept at maneuvering and bringing a plentiful dowry, should have been matched to Tang Rong. Had there been no mishap, where would today’s troubles be?

“Where did the two of you go?” he demanded without warning.

The abrupt question startled them both. They hurried to pay respects. Tang Mo said: “I have just returned from duty, and Xin An has just come back from an appointment.”

“An appointment?” Tang Gang was curious. Xin An had only been in the capital a short while. Who had invited her out?

Xin An did not hide it: “It was the Second Young Madam of Marquis Qing’s manor and the young madam of General Zhang’s residence, along with a few others. We agreed to go to South Crossing Temple to offer incense.”

Marquis Qing’s household was no surprise; Tang Gang knew that its scion was friendly with Tang Mo. But how did the household of General Zhang come into it?

“Back already?” Madam Wang came up just as he was about to ask further. “Have you two eaten?”

“Not yet,” Xin An said, stepping forward to bow.

“Then let us dine together,” Madam Wang said. She glanced at Tang Gang and added: “Marquis, will you join us? Our elder daughter?in?law personally cooked a dish of braised fish today. You should try your daughter?in?law’s handiwork.”

Tao Yi Ran truly seemed determined to improve herself. She had personally gone into the kitchen to cook. Xin An remarked that she must taste it and shot Tang Mo a look that said: You have not had any yet, have you?

[ I do not care for it,] thought Tang Mo.

Now Tang Gang could not bear the sight of Tao Yi Ran. Just seeing her made him angry. He would never blame his son for lacking backbone. He would only blame Tao Yi Ran’s bewitchment for luring his son into disobedience. It filled him with rage and humiliation.

“Was she not confined?” he snapped. “What is she doing making fish? Have her stay properly in Chun Hua Courtyard and not come out for no reason.”

The angrier he grew, the happier Madam Wang seemed. “She did not go out,” Madam Wang said, still smiling. “She cooked in the small kitchen of her own courtyard and had Auntie Liu send it over. I thought it looked good. Marquis, will you not try a bite?”

Tang Gang snorted. Madam Wang pretended not to notice and turned to chat brightly with Tang Mo and Xin An. Seeing the three of them talking and laughing, Tang Gang turned on his heel and left. Tang Mo and Xin An exchanged a look. Both felt that something serious lay behind this. If it were only about playing the zither, how could he be so furious?

Tang Mo immediately sidled up to Madam Wang and asked in a low voice: “Mother, why is Father so angry? What happened?”

“Do your work properly and do not pry,” she said.

At that very moment, Tang Rong returned and happened to hear Tang Mo’s question. Relief flickered through his heart. It seemed Mother had not told Tang Mo. He came forward, bowed, and said: “Mother. Second Brother, Second Brother’s wife.”

“Eldest Brother, you are back,” they replied.

After greetings, Madam Wang said: “Your father has been waiting for you. He was just here. Go find him. He likely has something important to say.”

Tang Rong’s first instinct was to resist. He could already guess what it would be. It would be a scolding, nothing more. “Go on,” Madam Wang urged. Tang Rong had no choice. This hurdle had to be faced sooner or later.

No sooner had he left than Tang Mo edged back to Madam Wang’s side: “There is definitely something going on. Mother, tell me.”

“Take your wife back to rest and stop poking your nose into things,” she said.

Left with no choice, Tang Mo returned with Xin An, muttering on the way about what might lie behind it.

In the study, Tang Gang’s face was calm enough. “Tell me your thinking,” he said.

Tang Rong knew this calm was only his father’s temper held down for the moment, so he could only speak honestly: “Father, let us leave this matter be.”

“Countess Chang Ning is difficult and is surely watching us right now. If anything happens to Yi’er, they will seize on it to condemn us. It is better to accept openly.”

Seeing that his father was about to erupt, Tang Rong hurried on: “If we speak frankly, this is not such a great matter. If gossip spreads, we can claim complete ignorance and shift everything onto the Tao Family. Father can then use this to take full control of my father?in?law. Over the past few years, he has gained a decent reputation. If we pull him up at this moment, his prospects will stretch far beyond the present.”

“As for the Tao Family’s grandmother, her birth is low, but a courtesan who marries into a merchant household is a woman who has reformed. By such reckoning, the Tao Family’s grandmother is merely of merchant birth. That is no crime. Many officials of the Imperial Court keep favored concubines who came from the pleasure quarters. If anyone insists on harping on this, they should first examine whether they themselves are spotless.”

“Yi’er has entered our marquisal household. I will protect her, so that outsiders see I am not a petty man. It will benefit my reputation. For now, however, she must be wronged. She cannot go out of the gates for the time being.”

He had calculated all this. He knew many in the city were waiting to laugh at him. If he divorced his wife and married anew, or if Tao Yi Ran were to fall ill and die suddenly, rumors would never end and they would thoroughly offend the Tao Family. Either path would gravely harm his name and future. Better to extract the greatest benefit from the situation. It was a pity the grandmother was hale and hearty. Had there been the slightest unwellness, having Yi’er attend at her sickbed daily would have been a fresh sprig in his crown of virtue.

Half of Tang Gang’s fury dissipated. Looking at his tall and handsome son before him, pride rose unbidden. Well born, good looking, and with a brain. This was a blessing for a marquisal house. It was only a pity that the wife had been chosen poorly.

“Tell me your next steps,” he said.

Relieved, Tang Rong launched into his plan. In short, through this affair he would bestow favors on the Tao Family, then take hold of them and make them serve the marquisal household.

“So the Marquis will acknowledge this matter just like that?” Madam Wang was taken aback by the result of the father?and?son discussion. She had thought that for the sake of their future they would sacrifice Tao Yi Ran.

Since the follow?up required Madam Wang’s cooperation, Tang Gang did not conceal anything. He explained Tang Rong’s analysis and told her his decision. Only then did Madam Wang understand: they intended to step on the Tao Family to erect a reputation for responsibility and then draw benefits from them long?term.

In her heart she despised the pair all the more. Outwardly, she felt a visible relaxation and let a smile appear: “In this way we preserve both families’ faces and can still win advantages for the marquisal household. No wonder our Heir Apparent is both brave and resourceful.”

Calculating one’s own pillow?mate without the least softness. Given Tao Yi Ran’s current situation, would she not be at Tang Rong’s mercy in the future? [They never suffer a loss. Truly shrewd.]

In a good mood, Tang Gang felt no issue with Tang Rong’s approach. In his eyes this was what a proper Heir Apparent should be. He even took the rare step of praising Tang Mo: “He is not the same after marriage. He is making progress. After he spends two more years toughening himself in the Northern Garrison Army, we will move him to another post.”

Madam Wang nodded and asked about their stance toward Tao Yi Ran going forward. Tang Gang’s view, naturally, was that she must be strictly taught. “I will ask you to bear the burden, madam,” he said.

Madam Wang’s lips curved in a faint smile, but she did not answer directly. Her view was much the same as Xin An’s. If possible, they would keep Tao Yi Ran confined within the residence and not allow her to go out. One daughter?in?law to manage social obligations outside was quite enough.