Chapter 143

Chapter 143: Tang Gang’s Self-Inflicted Aggravation

Though Madam Wang still felt hurt, with her son’s gentle persuasion she wished to preserve a mother’s dignity and spare him further distress. She soon dried her tears, drank a cup of tea to press down the sourness in her heart, drew a deep breath, and changed the subject: “How are things between you and Xin An?”

They went out together and returned together, shared a room and a bed, yet had still not consummated their marriage. A mother may keep silent, but her heart was anxious.

Tang Mo rubbed his nose in embarrassment and said: “All right. Let it take its course.”

They knew each other too well, and both carried matters in their hearts. He also feared to take another step forward, lest he spoil the harmony they had now.

Madam Wang did not press. It was only a matter of time. She drew another deep breath to steady herself and began to adjust her state of mind, already considering when to find the right moment to have it out with Tang Gang again, if only to vent the stifling knot in her chest. [She would find a suitable moment to confront him and let it all out.]

Night descended. Having finally put one troublesome matter to rest, Tang Gang was at that very moment being lectured in Chun Rong Hall. The same old sermon fell on his ears, and he could not help feeling irritable.

Tang Rong was his eldest son, born amidst his highest hopes. Clever and lively from childhood, faultless in bearing and rule, and exemplary in learning, he dared say that such a son would be the most cherished junior in any household.

Tang Mo was born later, lacked the standing of the firstborn, and was not as quick and considerate as his elder brother. As he grew, he fell short everywhere. As a father, a measure of favoritism was normal.

Yet no matter how he favored the elder, he had not treated the younger harshly. Had he not allowed him to eat and drink well and grow to this day? Now his marriage was harmonious and his father-in-law partial to him. What cause had he for dissatisfaction?

In short, he could not take in a word of Grand Matron’s speech. He rose and bowed, saying: “Mother, your son is lately busy with matters of the Imperial Court and is at his wits’ end. I cannot attend to the household for the time being. I ask that Mother oversee matters more for me.”

“Your son still has pressing business to handle. I will not disturb Mother’s rest.”

Grand Matron lifted her eyes. Disappointment lay there, and the tight press of her lips told of what she could not bring herself to say: “You will not listen to me anymore.”

Tang Gang’s brows creased slightly: “Mother, I truly am tired.”

Gan Lu stepped forward to smooth things over and said: “Grand Matron, let the Marquis go rest. The Marquis has been constantly busy these days and must be exhausted.”

“Speak again in a few days when the Marquis has time?”

Grand Matron closed her eyes. Tang Gang bowed once more and left quickly. Grand Matron slowly rose without another word, but her heart grew heavier. The wind within the residence had shifted, and the self-styled head of the house, Tang Gang, did not sense it at all. He had yet to learn how hard he would fall.

Unable to grasp Grand Matron’s painstaking concern, Tang Gang only felt his head pounding and a fire smoldering in his chest with nowhere to burn.

Just then he ran into Tang Mo, who had just soothed Madam Wang and was stepping out. Tang Gang looked at him coldly, convinced that he had gone to Grand Matron to complain. Even if it was not him, it must have been Madam Wang or Xin An. One was a woman he could not afford to offend, and one he must not offend. Naturally, all his anger fell on Tang Mo: “Your grandmother is old. Do not trouble her with trifles.”

Tang Mo was speechless. What had he done now? “Father, after returning I went straight to Mother. What has happened with Grandmother?”

“Was it not you who went to your grandmother and spoke recklessly?” His original intent had been to knock on the mountain to scare the tiger; if he scolded Tang Mo, then Madam Wang and Xin An would quiet down. Unfortunately, Tang Mo himself had a fire in his heart, and not being skilled at endurance, he chose to retort directly: “In Father’s eyes, am I someone who only goes to Grandmother to file complaints?”

“Father takes Eldest Brother for a banished immortal, but do not assume I am gutter filth. I am not as contemptible as you imagine.”

“Insolent!” Tang Gang snapped. “Is this the manner in which you speak to your father?”

Tang Mo did not back down: “At the first sight of me, Father assumes I have done something dirty in secret. Am I not allowed to answer back a few words?”

A sardonic light entered his eyes as he said: “Only days ago Father proclaimed everywhere that I was outstanding, making outsiders think Father valued me.”

“What is it now? Am I no longer outstanding?”

He had felt a tiny flame kindle in his heart, a hope that Father had finally noticed his efforts. [How ironic.]

Tang Gang’s face alternated between green and white. Lifting his eyes, he saw Madam Wang standing in the doorway, staring straight at him.

Not wishing his mother to trouble herself to argue on his behalf, Tang Mo stepped forward himself and said: “Eldest Brother is injured, and Father’s distress is understandable, but that does not give you reason to falsely accuse others.”

“Once like this, twice also like this. What have I done to make Father dislike me so?”

“Father, three times makes a pattern. If Father wrongs me again, since I am already carrying the blame, I may as well make it true. When that time comes, do not blame me for disregarding brotherhood.”

Tang Gang clenched his fists. Even if he truly had wronged the boy, he was the father. How dared this unfilial son speak to him like this?

“Father has been tired these days. Rest early,” Tang Mo said, and walked away.

Madam Wang descended the steps at an unhurried pace to face Tang Gang, her gaze icily calm: “I know the last two days have not been easy for you, so when you wronged the second, I did not come to you to argue. But you should not, without asking right from wrong, wrong him again.”

“You have just come from Mother, have you not? Did Mother speak to you of your bias?”

Tang Gang did not answer. Madam Wang’s expression turned to open mockery as she said: “Do you know that Mother heard the rumors outside and decided Eldest Daughter-in-law was inauspicious? Tomorrow she will take her to South Crossing Temple to offer incense and pray to the Bodhisattva for the protection of their marriage.”

“Yet fearing that the outside world will fix the rumor in place, she will also take Second Daughter-in-law. Marquis, if we are to speak of who is most wronged, is it not the second couple?”

“Mother understands every reason. But for the peace of the marquisate, and to steady me lest I lose my wits and do something foolish, she scolded you.”

“This is the truth of the matter. I hope this is the last time the Marquis wrongs the second.”

With that she turned away, ignoring Tang Gang’s stifled grievance and bone-deep exhaustion. She knew well his present plight: the son in whom he had taken pride was nearly ruined, all his plans were thrown into chaos, a single snarl of trouble, and the household had not calmed. Anyone would feel miserable. But was it not of his own making?

Under a moon bright and stars sparse, the agitated Tang Mo walked along the path. After a while he stopped, then turned toward the small garden. He sat at a stone table, wanting to settle his mood before returning.

Lai Lai kept watch not far away and sighed to himself. He had served his young master since childhood and knew how much the young master longed for the Marquis’s approval. [No matter how hard he worked, the Marquis never truly saw him.]

With autumn come, the cicadas had fallen silent; only now and then did insects chirp in the grass. A set of very light footsteps approached from behind. Lai Lai turned his head, then quickly straightened and said: “Greetings, Eldest Young Madam.”