Chapter 140

Chapter 140: A Few Boudoir Affairs of Tang and Tao

News that Tang Rong had been bitten by a dog spread through the back courtyards like an autumn wind, reaching every household in a short time. Some people sighed and some lamented, saying: “What a fine junior; how could his luck be so poor?”

Others murmured with sympathy and scorn mixed together: “Has he had a single peaceful day since the wedding? As for that marriage…” Another clicked her tongue and concluded: “He was muddleheaded.”

People compared the two new brides without restraint: “What is so good about that Tao Family girl? Compared with the Xin Family’s salt merchant’s daughter, she has nothing special except a better birth; in every other way she falls short.”

It must be said that Xin An had not gone out in vain these days. She specialized in listening, could exchange a few words with anyone, and always had a response to whatever others said. From time to time someone even received a gift from her. For the moment, her reputation among the noble ladies was passable.

Those who disliked Tao Yi Ran the most hinted openly and needled covertly that her fate was thin and she lacked the look of one who prospers her husband. Some even joked with cutting irony: “Well, now she has what she wanted; she can sit at the bedside every day and play the zither for her amusement.”

Once the ladies had whispered their pillow talk, the Imperial Court’s court officials felt even more strongly that Tang Rong should not be deluded by beauty into foolishness. They said with rueful admiration: “Old Master Tang rose from humble beginnings but had both courage and strategy; otherwise he could not have amassed such a household in just a few decades. What a pity.”

Another agreed and praised the heir: “The Heir Apparent of the marquis’s household is accomplished in letters and arms, of excellent appearance, a gentleman of upright bearing. He was meant to bring prosperity to the marquisate, yet even he can be muddleheaded.” A third laughed softly and concluded: “Even heroes stumble at the pass of beauty.”

A well?informed senior official smiled with layered meaning and observed: “If you ask me, that Tao Family girl is the truly formidable one.” Someone added in a low voice: “I heard she was raised from childhood at Old Madam Tao’s knee; I fear…” The rest of the sentence was left unsaid, which only made it more savory to those who understood. They were still smiling and shaking their heads when they saw Tang Gang approaching from afar; they changed the subject at once, though the looks they gave him were a touch peculiar.

If this was the tone at the Imperial Court, the rumors outside were even livelier, blown up out of all proportion. People said all manner of things, and a fallen scholar even used the scandal as a template to dash off a storybook overnight, which he sold to storytellers for a tidy profit.

In the Northern Garrison Army, because Zhuang Shi had spoken from personal experience, it became common knowledge that Tang Gang was partial. Men looked at Tang Mo with sympathy; he seized the chance to sell his own misfortune once more, and because he was decent and generous by nature, many felt indignant on his behalf and grew displeased with Tang Rong.

Tang Gang himself knew none of this. For the past two days he had been frowning incessantly.

Previously, because of strong performance a few years back, Lord Tao had caught the Crown Prince’s eye. Confident of advancement, he did not hoard the benefits. The key reason was that the Tao Family’s Grand Matron was a liability and a potential landmine, and for the time being they relied entirely on the marquis’s household to stand in front and clear obstacles. In return, he reciprocated: he paid a price to usher Tang Rong into the Crown Prince’s presence.

Everything had been set up so well. They needed only for Tang Rong to win the Crown Prince’s trust, and the bright future of the Tang and Tao families would be within reach. Who could have guessed that at this critical moment Tang Rong would suffer such an accident? A message had already come from the Crown Prince’s people advising that Tang Rong should rest and recuperate; the task originally meant for him had now been assigned to someone else.

Once an opportunity slips away, it does not return. What was worse, Tang Gang learned that the Crown Prince’s circle put great stock in luck; they now believed Tang Rong had fallen into bad luck and they did not want that ill fortune brought into their orbit. The path to the Crown Prince, unless heaven offered a new chance, was closed.

He gave a hard order with a frigid face: “Go and investigate. This Marquis does not believe those two beasts appeared without cause. If This Marquis discovers that someone deliberately plotted harm, This Marquis will be sure to make him die a miserable death.”

The last time Tang Rong had been beaten, the matter had petered out. This time, he vowed to dig three feet into the ground to find the truth. He added curtly: “And those two bodyguards, deal with them according to the rules.” If they could not even handle beasts, of what use were they?

Tang Gang’s movements did not escape Tang Mo. With money in hand, Tang Mo quickly planted his own people throughout the residence. Madam Wang, who managed the inner court, never questioned him, so he could place them as he pleased.

Xin An fretted a little and asked in a low voice: “Will this leave a hidden danger?”

Tang Mo had spent the last two days reviewing and sorting matters with care, and he answered with quiet confidence: “I guarantee there will not be the slightest mistake.” The dogs belonged to mountain hunters and were quick?witted; once the deed was done, they vanished without a trace. As for the sachet hanging on Tang Mo that attracted the dogs, he had seized the chance to remove it and destroy every trace. One could say this would become yet another case without a solution.

He clicked his tongue and added with some regret: “If he hadn’t gone drinking with courtesans two nights ago, my people would never have found an opening.”

He went on with cool disdain: “It is a pity about his two bodyguards. They reacted so slowly and were so useless that I suspect the men Grandfather left behind have no real ability. After so many years without being tested, perhaps they have all gone to seed.”

Xin An reported that her agents had taken a roundabout path to bribe several sharp?tongued, big?mouthed market women who sold vegetables at the city gates: “Their poisonous tongues can scold a person half to death, and for the right price they will do the job. These women never ask why. So long as someone hands them silver and points out a target, they will curse the person until he is hovering between life and death. They will not add a single extra word. Even if they are arrested, you will get nothing out of them.”

Tang Mo was amused and surprised: “So there are people who specialize in that line of work. Truly unexpected.”

The capital was indeed a place of dazzling variety; there was even a profession that quarreled and cursed on others’ behalf. When Xin An first learned of it, she had been mildly astonished. But the method was effective.

“No wonder the wind has been blowing so hard these last two days,” Tang Mo said with relish. “Today a few women even went to the Tao Family’s gates to throw rotten vegetable leaves, shouting that the Tao Family had produced a jinx star who had harmed the marquis’s Heir Apparent.”

He clicked his tongue again and laughed: “Some people praised the Heir Apparent as noble and precious, accomplished in letters and arms, dazzling before the wedding but a walking misfortune after. Others cursed the Heir Apparent for lusting after beauty and repeated that vulgar line about preferring to die under a skirt for the sake of romance. Combined with that earlier ‘Eighteen Martial Skills,’ all sorts of titillating booklets are multiplying without end. They say impoverished scholars are writing biographies as we speak. Tell me, will it be titled Heir Apparent Biography or Tao Girl Biography?”

[Tang Mo thought that if this tactic were turned on him, even knowing the inside story he could only stand there and take the abuse. Could he kill all those big?mouthed women? The law would never allow it.]

Xin An sipped her tea with perfect composure and pronounced: “Of course it should be called A Few Boudoir Affairs of Tang and Tao.”

Tang Mo nearly sprayed his tea and exclaimed with a grin: “Truly ruthless.”

She concluded with cool satisfaction: “But our goal has been achieved, and beyond expectation. That is worth celebrating.”

“On the day after tomorrow’s rest day,” Tang Mo said, “if Commander Liao had not invited me, we ought to go out for a stroll.”

Lounging comfortably on the beauty couch, Xin An felt not a whit of sympathy for the two next door. [Compared with what those two did to her in their previous life, this was nothing.] So long as the neighbors suffered, she felt at ease.

“As the weather cools, we should indeed go out for a turn,” she said with a smile. “Next time. Going to the Liao Family is more important.”

Tang Mo agreed. He added that in the Northern Garrison Army one could ask for leave and it would not affect one’s monthly stipend: “But I have just entered and I want to make a name for myself. To ask for leave at a time like this would not look good. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Xin An raised her brows in teasing praise: “Second young master grows ever more ambitious; soaring success is just around the corner.”

Tang Mo looked pleased with himself: “With such a great opportunity and your help, if I do not earn a fine future, then it must be heaven itself blocking me.”

He studied her, half?jesting and half?genuine: “As for the great beauty Xin, you are more leisurely and composed by the day; compared with before, you are a different person.”

Xin An laughed softly: “Life is easier now, there is less to worry about, and you stand in front of most matters. Naturally I can be at ease. Second Young Master Tang, thank you for your care.”