Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Am I the One Who Kicks People When They Are Down?

She asked, unable to stop herself once the thought rose: “In your last life, did you ever feel that everyone in the residence was your enemy?”

Tang Mo started slightly, then said haltingly: “Hearing you say that, I…”

He swallowed and admitted: “I feel a wave of bitterness.”

Thinking back to before, those days… [ah…]

[Her chest suddenly tightened for no reason. Why did she feel so bad?]

Realizing she had touched a sore spot, Xin An hurried to comfort him and said: “Just take it as my nonsense.”

She added, steady and practical: “But you do not need to be too pessimistic. It is possible our conjecture is wrong, that he is simply disappointed in Tang Rong, has now set his sights on you, and is preparing to give you opportunities.”

“No matter what his actual thinking is, it does not affect us at all in borrowing his tailwind. With him backing you, you will find it much easier to make connections outside.”

This matched Tang Mo’s own thinking. He gave a short, derisive laugh, lay down, and said: “Let us sleep. I cannot be bothered to think about it. As you said, if he has delivered himself to our door this time, I will of course climb the pole he is holding out.”

He was hurting; Tang Rong surely would not be comfortable either. He did not mind making him even more uncomfortable.

That night Tang Mo slept poorly. His dreams were full of scenes from his previous life; in them everyone laughed at him, pointing and whispering, and every gaze was full of disdain, including Xin An’s. He woke drenched in sweat, saw that it was no longer early, and simply rose to the courtyard for martial training to vent his frustration.

Xin An herself had not expected a single sentence to leave such an aftershock. When she woke, Tang Mo had already washed and was getting ready for breakfast. Seeing his low spirits, she asked: “What is the matter?”

He came over and sat at the edge of the bed and said: “I had a bad dream.”

He recounted the dream. Xin An could not help a trace of regret and said: “It was thoughtless of me. Those things are past. Why dwell on them?”

She smiled and patted his arm, then said: “As you are now, you are the marquis’s second young master riding a crest of attention. You have someone as smart as me to help, Mother has let go of her scruples to assist you, and your wealthy father-in-law is there to support you. Grandmother likes you as well. It is completely different from what you saw in your dream, so you have no need to be troubled.”

Tang Mo raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips lifting, and said: “Hearing you say that, I do seem rather impressive now.”

She answered with bright certainty: “You are indeed.”

Amused, he noticed that her hair had twisted around her neck as she slept. He put on a mock-disgusted look and said: “Up you get and tidy yourself; you look like a female ghost.”

Xin An instantly did not want to look at him and said: “Even if so, I would be a good-looking female ghost.”

He conceded with a grin and said: “Yes, yes, yes, you are beautiful. The most beautiful in the world, all right?”

Before going out he grew curious about how Xin An would deal with Tao Yi Ran. Xin An looked up and said: “Now that her feigned illness has been exposed and the Tao family’s fig leaf has been torn away, she has no road other than to grip Tang Rong tightly.”

Tang Mo said seriously: “You could easily finish her off now.”

Xin An’s lips curved and she asked: “Do you think I am the sort of person who kicks someone when they are down?”

Tang Mo said she was and added frankly: “I thought you would strike while she is ill and take her life.”

“I am not,” she said.

Xin An crooked a finger at him and said: “Do something for me.”

Tang Mo obediently leaned close. Hearing that she wanted him to have people secretly spread the story that Tang Rong was deeply in love with Tao Yi Ran, he was baffled and asked: “What, you want to set him up as a devoted lover?”

Xin An said: “After a good night’s sleep, many things became clearer. Father dislikes Tao Yi Ran and would love to see her dead, to clear the way for his son’s bright future. I intend to protect Tao Yi Ran instead and to have her firmly occupy the position of Marquis Wei Yuan’s Heir Apparent’s wife, so that Tang Rong will not go on to harm other women.”

“I want to watch the two of them use each other and despise each other, unable to bear it yet unable to part, and even at death still thinking of dragging the other down as a cushion.”

She added with a soft laugh: “Besides, did you not say that people outside claim Tang Rong is obsessed with women? Then let us cement that rumor. We can work the Tao family’s affair into it. Say that Tao Yi Ran comes from a well-tutored house and is skilled in the eighteen martial skills, so that she has Tang Rong bewitched and wishing to drown in it.”

Tang Mo leaned back slightly and clicked his tongue, saying: “The eighteen martial skills?”

[He instantly understood that this was not the martial skill he had first thought of.]

“The most poisonous heart is a woman’s,” he said with wicked delight. “You are delightfully ruthless. I like it very much. I admire it.”

He admitted to himself that with Xin An’s underhanded tricks not even aimed at him yet, he had already become obedient. [How had he, in his previous life, decided to oppose her?]

Xin An shot him a look and said: “I am no bodhisattva. Why should I be forgiving toward them?”

Grinning, Tang Mo nodded; only then did his mood clear completely. He said: “Do not worry. I will see this done quietly and clearly.”

“Mm,” Xin An answered. She began to get up and said: “The money is in the drawer. Take what you need when the time comes.”

Tang Mo laughed and asked her to make him a few more outfits, saying: “So I can show off when I go out. Also, at the Water Blossom Banquet several people said they would invite their wives to dine with you and ask you for a few clothing patterns. I will make the arrangements. I will trouble you to attend when the time comes.”

She said without fuss: “Understood.”

One cannot become fat with a single bite; in a short time she had already made quite a few acquaintances and needed time to draw some of them closer. The need for fresh introductions among new ladies was no longer so pressing.

Tang Mo leaned closer once again and said: “A tavern has opened recently on Blue Wave Lake. I hear the dishes are good, the view is lovely, and it is not hot. I have not yet been. Shall we go try it together?”

For no particular reason, he wanted to share many amusing things with Xin An; the places he wanted to visit, he wanted to go with her.

Seeing his intent, expectant gaze, Xin An did not hesitate and nodded, saying: “Then come back early. We can also stroll the streets.”

“Agreed,” he said.

In high spirits, Tang Mo rose and prepared to head out to his duties. He said: “It is too hot during the day. Some matters are not urgent these few days. Wait until it cools down before heading out. Rest at home. I am off.”

Watching him leave, brimming with energy, Xin An smiled, got out of bed, and called Chun Yang and the others in to attend her.

That day Tang Gang took leave and did not attend morning court. He had returned late the previous night and had little energy in the morning. Madam Wang, by his side, brought up Tang Mo’s matter and said: “It looks tricky to me. Is the Marquis not going to help him?”

Tang Gang had no mind for it; his eldest son’s affairs were trouble enough. As for Tang Mo, a second son merely needed not to cause trouble.

He said with bland seriousness: “For him this is an opportunity for tempering. I cannot help him with everything. He must rely on himself.”

A faintly cold smile touched Madam Wang’s lips and she said: “You make it sound as if you have helped him with many things.”

Tang Gang turned his head, but Madam Wang had already turned away. She said: “Since the Marquis is unwilling, take it as if I never spoke. That child has always relied on himself. Now he can rely on his father-in-law. Whether he can rely on his father is unimportant.”

Her words stung Tang Gang. Above all, he could not accept that Xin Kuan, a merchant, would sit above him. To prove that he, as a father, could not be matched by just anyone, he decided he would help Tang Mo this once.

It would also ratchet up the pressure on Tang Rong.