Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Tang Rong’s Scheme Succeeds

Tang Rong was still reeling over the fact that Tang Mo had received more than thirty thousand taels of silver, when he then heard his usually partial father praising Tang Mo to the skies. A strong sense of crisis rose in his chest, and it was a pity he failed to understand his father’s difficulties; he merely assumed that once the Xin family’s money arrived, his father had grown biased. [After the Tao family’s scandal, what else could I expect?]

Speaking perfunctorily to cover his resentment, he said to his father: “As the elder brother, I should naturally look after Second Brother.” He added with a bow: “If Father has nothing further, I will take my leave.”

Tang Gang plainly saw the unwillingness in his eyes and felt quite satisfied as he continued to needle him: “Although the Xin family is the marquisate’s purse, your second brother is at present their son?in?law. It is only human that the Xin family would favor him. Even if the share is thirty percent, or more, we can only accept it.”

With that he pulled open a drawer and took out two banknotes, saying in an even tone: “Here is one thousand taels as a subsidy from the household.”

The other party had more than thirty thousand taels while he had one thousand; the gulf insulted the ever?proud Tang Rong. The banknotes felt scalding hot in his hand, and anger rose in his heart.

Passing by Qiu Shi Courtyard and hearing the laughter within, he grew even more stifled. In his eyes now, Xin An not only had ability of her own, the Xin family was a powerful support as well. Though they lacked official power, they had money. [If she were to cooperate with me, I would have power and wealth both, and we could help each other rise.]

Then he looked again at the Tao family. To date it had offered him not the least assistance. It opened its mouth to demand an official post yet refused to pay in advance. [Do they think an office is something I can conjure with a word?]

And there was that Grand Matron who could not be shown in daylight. By the time he reached the gate of Chun Hua Courtyard, his mood had soured further. Tao Yi Ran saw him return and came smiling to greet him, her attitude gentler than before as she said with solicitous warmth: “Lord Rong, you are back. Was today hard on you?” She added in a soft rush, merging sweetness with care: “I have made sweet soup. Drink a bowl and then take a short rest, and I have also made a pair of shoes for you. Try and see if they fit.”

In the past, Tang Rong would certainly have been delighted. Wasn’t this his dream of a wife, beautiful, kind, talented, and attending to him in every detail? Yet now he found it tasteless.

Once inside, he drank the sweet soup and felt it coat his throat; he only felt better after switching back to tea. Tao Yi Ran brought over a list and presented it to him, speaking with careful brightness: “Lord Rong, I tallied my dowry when I was idle and found quite a few items I do not use. It would be a pity to leave them in the storeroom to gather dust. These are all fine objects my father collected over the years. See if there is anything you can use.”

Though under restrictions, she knew the Xin family had delivered things to the household. Aware of her current situation, she refused to sit and await fate; she would use her own dowry to win Tang Rong’s favor. She was confident that as long as she kept Tang Rong firmly in hand and later bore the legitimate eldest grandson of the house, what she offered today would sooner or later return to her, and in greater measure.

Sure enough, the moment Tang Rong saw the names of the items on the list, his mood improved markedly, though he kept a calm face as he said in measured tones: “Since these are your dowry, they should be properly kept. How could they be taken out at will? I am a man. How can I use my wife’s dowry?”

She countered with a tremor of emotion in her voice: “Lord Rong, how can you think so? Husband and wife are one. Why divide your and mine? Besides, my maiden family may have matters that will need to trouble you in the future. If you refuse to accept, it means you bear a knot in your heart and want to draw a clear line with the Tao family.”

Her tears fell before she finished speaking. Her mother had said such tactics were unwise, but she did not realize they were the perfect weapon for dealing with men.

At this time, Tao Yi Ran still did not know that Tang Rong was the sort of man who wanted everything. Even if he coveted her dowry he would never ask for it outright. Unless necessary, he would not touch it himself, yet he had ways to make those objects serve his purposes.

Only after she spoke a few more soft words did Tang Rong take her hand, his voice tender as he soothed her: “I know your heart is with me. I have said that no matter how the world criticizes us, my heart will not change. You need not worry.”

Tao Yi Ran was deeply moved and began to pledge herself: “Lord Rong treats me with true feeling, and I am grateful. I shall…” He stroked her lips lightly and ended it with soft certainty: “I know.”

After a time of intimate murmurs, Tang Rong’s gaze returned to the list as if seeing it for the first time, and he asked with deliberate casualness: “Is there a five?colored glazed plate?”

“There is,” she answered at once, adding with a touch of pride: “I heard it came from overseas. Set under the light, it shimmers with shifting colors.”

Tang Rong said he wanted to see it, and Tao Yi Ran immediately sent Auntie Liu to fetch it. He played with it for a moment and remarked as if idly: “The Minister of Rites, Lord Cao, loves glassware. If he were to see such a fine piece, he would be delighted.”

Tao Yi Ran took the hint at once and said they should present it to Lord Cao, but Tang Rong shook his head with a half?smile: “I was only speaking offhand. A piece this good should be carefully kept. Even if I gave it to Lord Cao, he would not accept it.”

Her wits were sharp at this moment as she suggested in a lowered voice: “Then we can use my name and send this five?colored glazed plate to Lady Cao, saying it is to thank Lord Cao for looking after you. What do you think?”

Tang Rong squeezed her hand and poured out sweet words. [Perfect. I thought it would take some effort to achieve this, yet it proved so easy.] Tao Yi Ran’s proposal was exactly what he wanted.

One wall away, after admiring the heap of silver worth more than thirty thousand taels a few rounds, Tang Mo did not hesitate to hand it to Xin An, saying with frank ease: “You keep it. When I need it, I will ask you for it.”

He continued in a practical tone: “If the chance is right, let’s buy more property. We need money to make money. We cannot just wait for Father?in?law’s support.”

Xin An did not decline. Of course the money her father gave should be managed by her. She teased as she fished out a reward: “Given that you are very sensible, I plan to give you one hundred taels first so you have something handy for treating people when you go out.”

“One hundred taels?” he echoed with mock amazement, then cupped his fists and bowed with a grin: “That is more than half a year of my monthly stipend. Many thanks, Lady Xin, peerless beauty.”

“It’s nothing,” Xin An laughed back, playing along with bright eyes: “Behave well, and in the future this great beauty will reward you more and more.”

The two joked and laughed until they lay down, still smiling. After all, if anyone suddenly received such a large sum, who wouldn’t be happy?

That night, Madam Wang had been prepared to quarrel with Tang Gang and had even prepared her lines for the fight, but Tang Gang, contrary to his habit, began praising Tang Mo. She found she could not get a word in; before lying down she was still wondering with bafflement: [Has Tang Gang taken leave of his senses from anger?]

Early the next morning, Xin An took the congratulatory gifts meant for the Wang household and went to find Madam Wang. The two of them first paid respects to the Grand Matron, then took advantage of the cool of the morning to set out.

The Wang residence was in a place more out of the way than the marquisate. The compound was a two?entry house, and one could see it had just been renovated. The hostess smiled a little shyly and explained with modesty: “We only did a simple repainting, added some new furniture, and set out a few flowers and plants. Please do not laugh at it, Madam, Second Young Madam.”

Madam Wang of the Wang family was taller than most women, with a broad frame and a face marked by the traces of long labor. Speaking of her household, she was a little ill at ease. Madam Wang of the marquisate answered with warm approval: “The residence is proper and well laid out, and everything is swept clean from top to bottom. It feels open, airy, and comfortable to the eye. Madam Wang, you are skilled in managing a household.”

She pointed with interest and asked with a smile: “Is this an osmanthus tree?”

Before them stood a tree with a trunk as thick around as a large bowl, its branches straight, crown dense, the sunlight unable to penetrate easily. She praised with genuine feeling, her gaze lingering on the glossy leaves: “It has grown wonderfully.”