Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Madam Wang’s Stifled Grievance

Xin An soon received the items Gan Lu brought; the things were rare, so she asked: “Why would Grandmother send me such valuable things?”

Gan Lu smiled and said: “We took inventory of the storerooms today. When Grand Matron saw these pieces she said the Second Young Madam would certainly like them, so she told me to deliver them to Second Young Madam at once.”

Xin An admired the treasures, certain Grand Matron must have something in mind, yet she did not ask; she only inquired about the origin of each piece, and Gan Lu cheerfully told her. At the end she added: “Grand Matron wishes to go to South Crossing Temple tomorrow to offer incense and wants Eldest Young Madam and Second Young Madam to accompany her.”

“If Grandmother wishes to go, then of course I will accompany her,” Xin An said. She immediately understood what this meant: [So this is Grand Matron’s intention.] Then she said, “Please tell Grandmother I will send people ahead to put everything in order, and tomorrow at first light I will go to Chun Rong Hall to fetch Grandmother.”

“Aye, Young Madam, please rest; we will take our leave,” said Gan Lu with a smile.

Just outside the gate of Qiu Shi Courtyard, Gan Lu ran into the maid who served at Tao Yi Ran’s side. The maid’s name was Bao Qin; because the zither mattered a great deal to Tao Yi Ran, Bao Qin served as her close attendant. After saluting Gan Lu, she did not return directly to Chun Hua Courtyard; instead she lingered at the gate, peering about, and, prompted by the Qiu Shi Courtyard girls’ bragging, ferreted out the news. She then darted back to report to Tao Yi Ran.

Tao Yi Ran had been making preparations to go offer incense the next day. Upon hearing this, she set her things down and slowly took a seat. Bao Qin spoke up for her: “Grand Matron is far too biased. We are all going to accompany her to offer incense, yet Second Young Madam has received several rare items, while nothing at all has come to our Young Madam.”

Tao Yi Ran raised her eyes to Auntie Liu and asked: “Aunt, does Grandmother have a misunderstanding about me?”

“Please don’t overthink it, Young Madam,” said Auntie Liu. “Second Young Madam goes to Chun Rong Hall every day. She coaxes the old lady so well that the old lady dotes on her, and she has not failed to reap benefits from it.”

“At Grandmother’s age a bit of partiality is only human; it is just a handful of lifeless objects, nothing that truly matters,” Bao Qin said, then added: “Second Young Madam is the best at maneuvering. In such a short time she has even gone to the Second Prince’s Consort’s residence. She really is a merchant’s daughter, without a trace of noble reserve.”

Tao Yi Ran’s brows drew together. Compared with the Tao family’s secret, she did not care in the least if her matter with the Second Prince became known; let alone that Tang Rong had never even asked about it, and even if he did, she could brush it aside in a few sentences. It was nothing more than a prince coveting her; she was too outstanding, that was all. [What truly made her wary was Xin An.]

Bao Qin continued to gripe about Grand Matron’s favoritism, while Tao Yi Ran, unable to appreciate Grand Matron’s painstaking intentions, only instructed her: “Do not let the Heir Apparent know of this, lest he think me useless.”

Auntie Liu felt there was something she was overlooking; after thinking a moment, she shook her head and turned to busy herself with the things Tao Yi Ran would take to offer incense the next day.

They said nothing more, but Tang Rong’s whisperer did. Feeling uneasy, Qing Mo remembered how Nan Feng had repeatedly pressed him for the Heir Apparent’s whereabouts. He suspected the Heir Apparent’s mishap had been engineered by the second young master. Yet Qing Mo had not known in advance that the Heir Apparent would go to the Crown Prince’s Manor, and he was certain he had not spoken of it, so he decided it had nothing to do with the second young master. Whether it did or not, he would not say. He had taken money.

Tang Rong’s gaze turned cold as he gave orders: “Quietly spread the news that the old Grand Secretary has been struck by sudden apoplexy. Also spread that the Vice Minister of War’s wife’s niece climbed into his bed. Aunt and niece sharing one husband will surely make a merry tale.”

He meant to bury the story of having been bitten by a dog beneath more explosive gossip.

Qing Mo took the order and, in passing, mentioned what had just transpired. Tang Rong needed only a moment to understand that this was Grandmother’s way of protecting him, and protecting Tao Yi Ran even more.

Concubine Yue asked to be received at the door, and Qing Mo discreetly withdrew. Entering, Concubine Yue’s eyes brimmed with tears when she saw Tang Rong. Holding a book, she met Tang Rong’s gaze and forced a smile, saying: “I was worried the Heir Apparent might be bored, so I brought a book and thought to read to the Heir Apparent. Would the Heir Apparent like to listen?”

Tang Rong nodded and said: “You have worked hard.”

Concubine Yue smiled and sat at the edge of the bed: “To be able to read to the Heir Apparent makes me happy.”

“It is thanks to the Heir Apparent and to Auntie Cai that I learned my letters. If I can relieve the Heir Apparent’s boredom, then that is the best use of my learning.”

At this, Tang Rong remembered Auntie Cai’s merits. The moment he lay down, the courtyard had slipped a little beyond his grasp. Tao Yi Ran’s Auntie Liu was a bit dull; Auntie Cai, though a touch less punctilious, got things done. [If only Auntie Cai were still here; she could have gone to Chun Rong Hall herself to thank Grandmother in full propriety on his behalf.]

“How is Auntie Cai?” he asked.

Concubine Yue shook her head: “I cannot leave Chun Hua Courtyard, but I imagine Aunt is thinking of the Heir Apparent.”

“Mmm,” Tang Rong said. “Read.”

Meanwhile, in Qiu Shi Courtyard, Madam Wang sought out Xin An. She felt somewhat sorry toward her; the earlier grievances still weighed on her, and now she had to ask Xin An to take this trip for the sake of Tang Rong’s and Tao Yi Ran’s face.

“Grandmother means well. I am fine,” Xin An comforted her, then added: “It is only a visit to offer incense. We will be back in half a day. Mother need not worry.”

“Grandmother even had Auntie Ganlu deliver several costly items to me. I know what that signifies. I will simply treat it as taking someone’s money to ward off their calamity,” she said after a steadying breath.

“No matter what, it still wrongs you,” Madam Wang said, her expression still poor.

“It does not. Truly,” Xin An replied. [Everything that ought to be done has been done; what harm is there in being the good person now?] Even so, she had no intention of making the trip for free; after all, in outsiders’ eyes her recent experience invited real sympathy. [She certainly would not let that go to waste.]

Madam Wang’s heart ached, for Tang Mo as well, but some things were inconvenient to say to her daughter-in-law. She could only send for Tang Mo when he returned to the residence and bring him before her.

Tang Mo took it in stride and said: “I had thought to test him before, but now there is no need. Ten fingers are not the same length. I have Mother’s affection and Xin An’s help. I feel I am much better off than Tang Rong.”

When disappointment curdled to the dregs, there were no expectations left. It was his fate not to receive his father’s favor.

Madam Wang wiped her tears, feeling she owed Tang Mo much. After she gave birth to Tang Mo, Tang Rong fell ill day in and day out. Chills and high fevers, headaches and bouts of diarrhea came in turns, and with the stepmother making things difficult, she could only pour more of her energy into Tang Rong. Later, Tang Gang would mutter in her ear that Tang Rong was pitiable and studied diligently, while paying little mind to Tang Mo. Every time she saw the thirst in Tang Mo’s eyes for his father’s affection, her heart twisted. Later still she discovered that when she was good to Tang Rong, Tang Gang would spare a bit of kindness for Tang Mo, so she became even better to Tang Rong. Looking back now, she felt chilled. To this day she could not fathom what kind of father that was. She hated her own foolishness as well. He was not born of her body; what use was all her goodness to him?

“Mother, I truly am fine. Is there any need to cry over it?” Tang Mo said, a little restless. When his mother cried, he felt useless.

Madam Wang dabbed at her eyes: “I just feel stifled.”