Chapter 125

Chapter 125: When Something Is Off, There Is Trouble

The hostess smiled with affection as she looked at it and said in reminiscence: “This osmanthus tree was planted the year I married in. Every September it blooms, and the whole residence is filled with its fragrance. It is one of our home’s rare elegant delights.”

Madam Wang of the marquisate tilted her head and asked, genuinely curious: “Was it planted by General Wang’s own hand?”

“It was,” the other replied, her eyes brimming with happiness, no doubt recalling those early days.

Madam Wang of the marquisate felt a twinge of envy and praised from the heart: “These branches and leaves speak of flourishing growth, just like the sons of the Wang residence, each one outstanding.”

Though the Wangs were not so wealthy, the two elders above were kind, and the three sons and two daughters below were all promising; the whole family lived in harmony. How could Madam Wang of the marquisate not feel a little envy? She added with a smile that softened her voice: “I have heard General Wang has a good temper and is devoted to his family. Madam Wang, you are blessed.”

“You flatter me,” said the hostess, a little embarrassed.

A servant came to invite them, and Madam Wang of the Wang family said with hospitable cheer as she led the way: “Madam, Second Young Madam, please take tea in the main hall.”

The tea served turned out to be Xin An’s own Huaijiang Silver Flower Tea. After the Wang family’s four storefronts were transferred under Xin An’s name, Tang Mo had sent it over. The hostess demurred again and again, but Xin An laughed and smoothed it over, saying with friendly candor: “Aunt Wang, you needn’t be so formal. My husband and General Wang have known each other for years. A bit of tea is not worth mention.”

She then added with quiet sincerity: “My husband often says that the Huaiyuan Commander is loyal and righteous, and that the Wang family is true?hearted and faithful. He only regrets that his own ability is limited and he cannot help more.”

Madam Wang of the Wang family waved it off with a smile: “How could Second Young Master have praised us so much? We only support a few people, and we should also thank Second Young Master. If he had not sent silver from time to time, we could not have managed on our own.”

After a round of polite modesty on both sides, Madam Wang of the marquisate turned to business with a warm yet serious tone: “We came today first to congratulate your son on his marriage, and second because there is a matter I would like to discuss with you.”

The hostess sat up straight at once and said with attentive respect: “Please speak, Madam.”

Madam Wang of the marquisate said plainly: “You must know something of the marquisate’s situation. Before the Old Master passed, what weighed on his heart were his old subordinates. Yet there are simply too many of them. Even if the marquisate wishes to fulfill the Old Master’s last wish, there are times when we are powerless.”

This, the Wang hostess understood well. By the measure of her own family, there were many times when even they felt strained. And what the Wangs could support were far fewer than what the marquisate had to shoulder.

Madam Wang of the marquisate continued, giving credit where it was due: “Fortunately, General Wang has quietly supported a portion of them over these years. Only because of this has the marquisate not reached the point of being stretched past its limit. The Grand Matron has always kept this matter in mind. Not long after the two sons of the house were married, she raised it again.”

She wished to put Tang Mo at the forefront, carrying the Grand Matron’s banner, for the Grand Matron’s authority on this matter far outstripped Tang Mo’s. She explained with gentle emphasis: “The Grand Matron’s meaning is that the Marquis will be responsible for one part, and the remainder will be entrusted to my second son.”

This delighted Madam Wang of the Wang family. They had been in contact with Tang Mo for two or three years, had grown used to him, and found him a man without airs, easy to speak to. Though he did not have that much money at hand, his character could be trusted. If someone else were to take over, for example the Heir Apparent, who seemed to live above ordinary human concerns, they would only feel constrained.

She praised him sincerely in her rustic way: “Second Young Master is good?hearted and forthright. These two years, thanks to him…” One compliment followed another, each landing squarely in Madam Wang of the marquisate’s heart. Her favor for the hostess deepened, and her tone grew more intimate as she volunteered a family detail: “You know my Grand Matron. Though her maiden clan has no one in court, it is an old gentry house of plow and book, and each year they send the Grand Matron several thousand jin of grain so she can taste the flavors of home.”

“The Grand Matron has decided to set aside half of this grain to aid those old soldiers. She has already entrusted it to this daughter?in?law of mine. After your son’s wedding is concluded, it can be delivered.”

“Henceforth, whether General Wang or Madam Wang has any matter of this kind, you may go directly to my second son and second daughter?in?law.”

Madam Wang of the Wang family nodded with a smile and asked with a hint of humor: “Does this mean it’s now aboveboard?”

The Wang family knew well that in the past Tang Mo had supported them on the quiet. “Aboveboard,” Madam Wang of the marquisate confirmed with a friendly firmness. She added with honest humility: “It is just that my second boy is young. He will be careless in many things. In the future, I must ask General Wang and Madam Wang to advise and look after him.”

“You are too polite,” the hostess replied, then returned the compliment with warmth: “Second Young Master and the Second Young Madam are both outstanding. If anyone is blessed, it is you, Madam, who are most blessed.”

After another round of conventional praise, the hostess summoned her two daughters to pay their respects. She explained apologetically to Madam Wang of the marquisate: “Girls in military families are a bit wild. Please do not laugh at them.”

“I like a lively spirit,” Madam Wang of the marquisate answered with a grin. “If a person is too rigid and rule?bound, I don’t care for it.”

The two women, at this point, were as friendly as sisters. Xin An spoke only once from beginning to end, letting the two of them exchange compliments as if they had known each other for years. [Two cups of tea, and feelings are already this warm?]

The Wang girls arrived quickly. The elder, Wang Xiao Yan, was sixteen; the younger, Wang Xiao Chen, was thirteen. Neither had inherited their mother’s tall stature. Their faces were somewhat square, likely taking after their father. After they entered and saluted, Madam Wang of the marquisate praised them generously for being fresh?faced and bright?eyed, looking clever at a glance. Who doesn’t like hearing their daughters praised? Even if one knows it’s courtesy talk, one still feels happy.

Madam Wang of the marquisate asked with interest: “Has the eldest been promised in marriage?”

“She has,” the hostess answered, explaining that the bridegroom’s family was also a military household and the young man worked at the yamen. “This year her sister?in?law entered the door, and next spring she will go out in marriage.”

Madam Wang of the marquisate offered congratulations again and gave each girl a hairpin as a meeting gift, adding with cordial encouragement: “In the future, visit the marquisate often and chat with your sister?in?law.”

Xin An also presented gifts, cloth for clothes and a few small trinkets, and said with a friendly smile: “I have only just come to the capital and do not know many people. You two younger sisters must come and talk with me often.”

Of course, this was conventional politeness. One girl would soon be preparing for marriage, and the younger was still small; they could hardly come and go freely. But outwardly they agreed with bright smiles.

After another cup of tea, the mother?in?law and daughter?in?law took their leave, escorted to the gate by the hostess and her two daughters. After an exchange of courtesies, they boarded the carriage. On the way back, Madam Wang of the marquisate sighed with genuine appreciation: “The Wang family is upright indeed. We should keep closer ties.”

Tang Gang might look down on the Wangs, but that was his loss.

Over the next few days, Xin An was busy. Besides attending the Wang family wedding feast, she went out with Madam Wang of the marquisate to two banquets and made the acquaintance of several ladies.

Full of energy, Fang Da arrived in the capital, rested only a day, and then began to measure the main streets of the city with his own feet. When tired, he went to a teahouse to drink tea and chat with patrons about local anecdotes, seeking to understand the capital as quickly as possible. He was in no hurry to renovate the Herbal Cuisine Pavilion. Every other day he visited the marquisate to confer with Xin An on important matters.

Only, amid this bustle something left Xin An ill at ease, for Steward Zhang had delivered things to Qiu Shi Courtyard two days in a row. The first time it was several ornaments; the second time it was a few antiques. In his words, all showed how highly Tang Gang, as a father, regarded Tang Mo, his son. Had it been an ordinary household, there would be nothing amiss. But that was Tang Gang, biased to no bounds in favor of his precious eldest. Good things for Tang Mo rather than his cherished firstborn?

Xin An thought it over and tightened her guard. [Something this out of the ordinary must hide a problem.]