Chapter 154

Chapter 154: The Liao family is schemed against, Xin An lends silver

At the marquisate’s main gate, Deng Fang and Cao Gui, who had only today been placed under Tang Mo’s command, stood ramrod straight and saluted when they saw him: “Second Young Master, the travel arrangements are ready.”

Tang Mo frowned and said: “What is the meaning of this?” [He had not intended for the two of them to accompany him.]

Deng Fang replied: “From today forward, the two of us are Second Young Master’s bodyguards, and we will safeguard Second Young Master’s safety.”

[So they were here to monitor him.] Tang Mo grew even more certain of it, yet he was unafraid: [Since they have come, I will use them and see whose game is better.]

He said: “Then let us go.”

The weather was good. A fine drizzle had fallen the previous night, damping the dust and leaving the air cooler than usual, though the breeze that blew carried a sharpness hard to name. With two imposing bodyguards in tow, Tang Mo’s departure looked all the more impressive.

When the carriage turned into the street where the Liao family lived, Lai Lai’s voice sounded from beyond the curtain, saying that there were many soldiers in the lane. Tang Mo lifted the curtain and saw them: soldiers, some standing, some sitting, all facing toward the Liao family’s residence.

Xin An saw it as well and asked: “Are they here to cause trouble?”

Tang Mo shook his head. The carriage soon reached the Liao family’s main gate, only to find it tightly shut. Several armored soldiers stood at the entrance with long spears in hand. Lai Lai stepped forward to state their purpose, and someone quickly slipped through the side door to report.

A servant returned and said: “Please, Second Young Master Tang, wait a moment.”

Through the parted curtain one could take in the scene before the gate. The Liao family was populous, and their residence was naturally large. After generations of management, the main gate had become broad and imposing. Yet at the foot of those imposing steps sat quite a few soldiers, and to the side were several large cauldrons propped up with bricks and stones, the surroundings blackened from smoke, clearly used to cook food. The soldiers themselves were no longer young; their clothes were either torn or patched upon patches, a single glance enough to show they were not living well.

Tang Mo asked: “What is going on?”

A crouching fellow started toward the carriage, but before he could speak, one of the spear-bearing guards barked him back. A guarding soldier then explained: “They all used to serve under the Old Master. They accidentally offended Second Young Master. We ask Second Young Master’s pardon.”

That brief sentence revealed enough for anyone to guess the general shape of things. [A new ruler brings a new set of court officials.] The Liao family’s Old Master had died suddenly; the men under him were like a dragon without a head. Liao Zhi had become the head of the house, and likely had not taken these men in. Left with no recourse, they had come to the Liao family to demand an answer.

Tang Mo glanced at Deng Fang and Cao Gui. Both men wore unpleasant expressions; they too had once followed the Old Marquis. Fortunately, before his passing the Old Marquis had arranged a road forward for them. The present Marquis was not exactly harsh, but his impatience had become more apparent by the day. With no wars and no emergencies, such men found themselves of little use. Yet by regulation they could not leave the principal household; they could only languish where they were.

Someone soon emerged from the side door, a steward by the look of him. He hurried to the carriage and bowed: “Greetings to Second Young Master Tang and Second Young Madam.”

“The master awaits you in the courtyard.”

Tang Mo alighted and then turned to help Xin An down. He said: “Lead the way.”

In both her lives combined, it was Xin An’s first time stepping through the Liao family’s gate. At once she felt a hard-to-name sense of crowding. The residence was not small by any means; perhaps the sense came from the sheer number of servants and soldiers along the way.

After winding paths for a time, the couple finally met Liao Zhi. He and Madam Liao were speaking; several account books lay open on a nearby table, and the maids attending them also held ledgers in their hands. Xin An glanced at Tang Mo: [It seems we have come at a bad time today.]

“The Second Young Master and Second Young Madam are here?” Madam Liao set down her ledger and said with a smile: “Forgive the poor reception.”

Tang Mo cupped his hands and said: “We had no idea your household had affairs to attend to today; our visit is ill-timed. If there is anything we can help with, do tell.”

Liao Zhi invited them to sit and said: “I had invited you in the first place, but a thorny matter arose. I even forgot to send word to you. I fear we must fail in hospitality today.”

Tang Mo said: “Commander, you are too polite. Eight or nine out of ten things in life are unforeseen. On our way here I noticed quite a few soldiers at your gate, and heard they had once served under Old Master Liao. Have they come today to seek an answer?”

[Tang Mo thought: If Liao Zhi has run into trouble and I can be of some help, then today’s trip would be well worth it.]

Liao Zhi did not speak plainly, but his expression confirmed as much. Madam Liao, after the briefest consideration, turned to Xin An and said: “There is nothing to hide. Those men were indeed once the household’s soldiers, but now there is no need for so many. We can only ask them to return to their native places. Still, they have toiled for years; we cannot dismiss them lightly.”

“Second Young Madam, there is something I would like to ask your help with.”

The account books on the table told much of the story. Xin An asked: “Is it that the silver is tight, Madam Liao?”

Madam Liao nodded and said: “We have had too many expenses of late and cannot turn the funds in time. I wish to borrow ten thousand taels in cash from Second Young Madam, and I would need it today. Would that be convenient? You may be at ease; I will pay interest at the market rate.”

Why not ask Tang Mo? As a merchant’s daughter, Madam Liao had taken the measure of it that Tang Mo and Liao Zhi were similar sorts; not destitute, but hardly wealthy.

Xin An smiled and said: “Why speak of interest; in business, helping one another with a turn of cash is common.”

For her and Tang Mo, lending ten thousand taels to draw the two families closer was all gain and no loss.

She tilted her head toward Tang Mo and said: “Then I must trouble my husband to make a trip home, fetch banknotes totaling ten thousand taels, exchange them for cash at the money shop, and deliver it here.”

Tang Mo stood at once and said: “I will be back soon.”

Liao Zhi nodded, his gaze toward Madam Liao tinged with apology. Madam Liao rose with a smile and said: “Younger Sister Xin, the front court is a mess; let us go speak in the rear court.”

Xin An said: “Will we disturb Sister Xu?” The form of address shifted, and with it their relationship.

Madam Liao replied: “So long as today’s matter can be solved with silver, once the silver is in hand the rest is simple. It will not affect our talk.”

Having invited a guest, there was no reason to send her away. Madam Liao led Xin An out. Liao Zhi exhaled a long breath, and then his eyes cooled, bit by bit. [If nothing unexpected happened, someone else in the Liao family would soon run into trouble.]

In the rear courtyard, outsiders could not enter freely, and so it felt quiet and spacious. On a stone table lay fruit, pastries, and tea already set out. Madam Liao gestured and said: “Please sit, Younger Sister Xin.”

She drew out a smile and said: “We are fortunate for your help today, Younger Sister. Otherwise I would have had a headache for a long while yet.”

Xin An said: “I will have someone send it to your residence as quickly as possible.”

They were not well acquainted, yet Madam Liao had spoken so directly. It had been an act born of necessity. [She had calculated that while ten thousand taels was out of reach for most people, it would not be difficult for Xin An.]

Once seated, Xin An lifted her tea and said with a smile: “It is only ten thousand taels. Whenever convenient, just have someone send it back, Sister Xu.” [Given the Xu family’s wealth in Lin Prefecture, there was no way they were short of such an amount. For them to be forced to borrow today suggested the Liao family was a bottomless pit.]