Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Resentful of Tang Gang’s Cold Realism

“The Moon Inviting Banquet?” As Tang Gang’s informant, Steward Zhang delivered the news to him at once. Tang Gang asked with mild surprise: “Is the Second Prince’s Consort close with the Second Young Madam?”

Steward Zhang could not say. Tang Gang’s feelings were mixed; last night’s moonlit drinks with Tang Mo had stirred what little fatherly affection he possessed. He murmured with a faint smile: “A blessing in disguise.”

“Second Young Madam is exceptionally clever,” Steward Zhang reported. “She goes out often. Invitations come for her regularly, which shows she is highly adept at socializing.”

This only made Tang Gang angrier at Tang Rong for having no eye for what mattered and for being blinded by beauty. As a father, he had concluded that Tang Rong, driven by lust, had arranged the secret bride swap that led to his present predicament. If he had valued the greater good and restrained his desires, with Xin An’s help he would not be stuck in his courtyard today.

“How is the Heir Apparent’s injury?” Tang Gang asked.

“The household physician says it has improved and begun to scab,” Steward Zhang replied. “As the new skin grows, there will be discomfort. He must endure a few more days. I have already asked: once it scabs over completely, he need not lie abed the whole time. So long as his body can take it, he can get up and walk. He should be able to return to duty at the Ministry of Rites.”

“There is no rush,” Tang Gang said mildly. “Let him recover first.” The instigator behind these incidents had not yet been identified. If he went out and met with another accident, what face would the Marquisate have left?

“I asked you to look into the second son’s movements. Have you learned everything?” he continued. He still thought Tang Mo suspicious; being a man, he understood that the hatred of a wife stolen was not something that could be brushed aside with a few words. Secret retaliation was entirely possible.

Steward Zhang cupped his hands and said: “The second son leaves each morning to perform his duties, and he has been at the Northern Garrison Army every day. Even when he goes out, it is usually with colleagues. In the evening, he returns from the Northern Garrison Army and, most days, goes to a martial training hall. Otherwise he attends a banquet. There were two occasions when he accompanied the Second Young Madam to stroll the night market. Nothing improper.”

He added: “The second son has met a certain scholar. I sent someone to ask about him. He is ordinary and poor. Pressed by creditors, he ran into the second son and Second Young Madam in the street, and the second son helped him out of the scrape. Later he sought the second son again, most likely hoping to find protection by staying close.”

Steward Zhang had received many favors from Xin An and thought highly of her; by extension, his view of Tang Mo had also improved greatly. “Since his marriage,” he said, “the second son has been different from before. He pays his respects to the Grand Matron every morning without fail, goes to the Northern Garrison Army in all weather, and attends far fewer banquets. I imagine he is doing well at his post; otherwise, Commander Liao would not have invited him.”

Tang Gang chuckled, oddly lightened: “He has truly improved a great deal?”

“Yes,” Steward Zhang said without stinting his praise. “Leaving other qualities aside, the second son’s daily martial training already shows results. He has something of the Marquis’s youthful bearing about him. Given time, the capital will have one more handsome and accomplished gentleman to speak of.”

“The Marquis has two sons,” he went on. “Both are dragons among men. That already puts you ahead of nine-tenths of households in the capital.”

Tang Gang laughed. “Then I will borrow your lucky words.” He had no objection to having another son bring him honor. “It seems the boy truly did not make a move.” With that, Tang Mo was officially struck from Tang Gang’s list of suspects. Xin An’s gifts had not been sent in vain; Steward Zhang was a perceptive man.

With Tang Mo discussed, the topic returned to Tang Rong. Steward Zhang advised that they must not favor one over the other: “The rumors about the old Grand Secretary and the Ministry of War’s assistant minister are spreading like wildfire. For these two matters to be exposed right now will make people suspect the Marquisate. You must consider this carefully.”

Tang Gang did not suspect anyone else; he was certain this was Tang Rong’s handiwork. He frowned. The move could indeed suppress news unfavorable to him, but at the same time it offended both the old Grand Secretary and the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. It was a desperate cure for a desperate disease.

“I will consider it. You may go,” he said at last. Hearing this, Steward Zhang felt even more certain of his guess. He shook his head inwardly. The Heir Apparent’s married life seemed like sinking into a mire. It was painful even to watch.

After a moment’s thought, Tang Gang went straight to Chun Hua Courtyard, confronted Tang Rong, and gave him a thorough scolding. With Tang Rong lying abed to recuperate, everything outside needed the father to go out and smooth over. He was already exhausted, and now there was this blunder on top of it. How could he feel at ease?

Tang Rong’s eyes were dark. Gone was the calm composure of a refined gentleman. He believed that Tang Mo had used his injury to snatch his father’s favor. He hated Tang Mo’s petty conduct and resented Tang Gang’s cold realism. He said in a low, strained voice: “Your son has suffered mishap after mishap. Do you not think this is someone’s doing?”

“Besides Second Brother,” he added, “I truly cannot think of anyone who would hate me this much.”

Tang Gang had already cleared Tang Mo and thus would not suspect him again, particularly because he trusted his subordinates. He said flatly: “It has been confirmed. It has nothing to do with Tang Mo.”

Tang Rong could not believe it. These past few days he had carefully reviewed everything since his wedding and felt that Tang Mo was the most suspicious. He had always treated people amiably on the outside and had never clashed with anyone. Why had he run into one accident after another as soon as he married? It had to be Tang Mo bearing a grudge. Now he was told Tang Mo was not the culprit. “Have you truly verified this?” he asked.

“Steward Zhang investigated personally. There is no mistake,” Tang Gang said. In his heart, he was unwilling for the culprit to be Tang Mo. It was not that he was keen to protect him. Rather, fraternal strife would disgrace the Marquisate.

“The men below are still investigating,” he continued. “What you need to do is find a way to suppress the rumors outside. This was done too plainly. It is hard not to make people suspicious of you.”

Tang Rong was unwilling. “If, like last time, it becomes a headless case again, what then?”

“Then you can only count yourself unlucky,” Tang Gang replied, his temper rekindled. “Everything today is because you were muddleheaded. If you had not indulged your desires, you would still be the most outstanding Heir Apparent among the Marquisates of the capital, and you would not be suffering these calamities.”

He was firmly convinced that if Tang Rong had married Xin An, his official path would have been smoother. When the wife is virtuous, the husband has fewer calamities. How could the Old Ancestor’s words be wrong?

“Since you have to lie there with nothing else to do,” he said as he rose, “use the time to think about what to do next.”

Tang Gang turned and left. Tang Rong closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was murky. No one knew what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, the much-suspected Tang Mo was taking Xin An to the opera. That day’s show was a comic farce. Onstage, the actors pulled faces and played the fool, making the audience roar with laughter. Xin An laughed to her heart’s content. She had never seen such a performance before. If not for Tang Mo, she would not have known there were such unique, unabashedly silly plays. They were irreverent and wonderfully funny.

Pointing with delight, she said: “Look at the one with the little braids, so funny.” Then, leaning closer, she added: “That little child is adorable. How old do you think he is? Look at his round little belly, hahaha.”

Laughing until tears came, she dabbed at her eyes while Tang Mo beside her topped up her tea and handed her fruit, saying with a grin: “Steady now, or you will laugh your jaw right off.” She gasped between giggles: “It is too funny. Oh, I cannot.”

She could not stop; even her cheeks ached from smiling. Urged by Tang Mo to drink some water, she finally felt better. He teased lightly: “Laugh any farther and your powder will be ruined.”

“It is funny,” she protested, eyes still shining. “You are the one who brought me to such a funny place.”

When she turned to ask Nan Feng to touch up her makeup, she noticed that Deng Fang and the others behind them were grinning so hard their faces were twisted, yet they clung to discipline and did not dare laugh aloud. They had held it in until tears leaked from their eyes.