Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Slowly, Good People Gather Around

They sipped their tea, and the matter was as good as settled. Seeing that it was about time, Xin An rose to depart. Madam Liao said with pleasant consideration: “I ought to keep you for a meal, but this afternoon we must go to the Second Prince’s residence for the banquet. You will want to go back and prepare. I will not keep you. We can talk more there.”

Xin An answered with a courteous smile: “Sister Xu, no need to see me out.”

Once she left the Liao Family, Xin An sent Fang Da to make the arrangements. Fang Da sighed from the heart, thinking: [Having someone at the imperial court makes things easy. A few words, and the deal is struck.] He also understood why the old master, though furious, could only grit his teeth and let the young lady remain at the marquis’s residence.

If the Xin Family had come to negotiate instead, it was uncertain they could even have stepped through the Liao gates.

Even if they had, no agreement would have been reached in only a few exchanges.

After returning home and taking lunch, Xin An napped briefly, then bathed and dressed. Autumn had set in, and clothing and jewelry must fit the season. At a banquet, one must neither steal the limelight nor fall short, which demanded care.

Auntie Wang brought in the clothes and said with tactful frankness: “I hear the palace releases a batch of palace attendants every year around this time. Would the young madam like to invite an Aunt who knows the rules?”

She knew her own abilities well. Since the young madam often went out to socialize now, this was where she could no longer help. It was time to yield her place to someone who could assist the young lady more.

“We should indeed invite someone familiar with the ties among noble houses,” Xin An agreed.

She did not offer false modesty. With Auntie Wang attending her, the woman could not often see Wang Jin and his son Wang Fu. Wang Fu was of marrying age; how could he proceed without his mother to arrange things?

The Xin Family residence also needed a careful woman to manage it.

“Wang Fu should be marrying soon, should he not?” Xin An asked. “Will you return to Huaijiang, or should we ask the Zhao Family to come to the capital?”

Last year her father had already arranged a match for Wang Jin with the daughter of another steward in the household.

Auntie Wang’s eyes curved with joy as she reported: “Steward Zhao has sent word. Early next spring he will come to the capital with the young master, and he will bring Cai Mei as well. The two families will hold the weddings here in the capital.”

“That is wonderful. When the time comes, Auntie Wang, move back to the Xin Family residence to oversee things. How nice for the whole family to be together,” Xin An said warmly.

Auntie Wang replied with steady devotion: “We will see when the time comes. If by then there is someone even more capable by your side, I will go with an easy mind. Otherwise, how could I be at ease?”

Xin An smiled with crescent eyes and said: “Aunt is the most thorough person there is.”

Auntie Wang gazed at her with maternal affection. She had raised Xin An and loved her dearly, and she knew what was truly best for her.

After Xin An finished dressing, Madam Wang came by with a few elegant trinkets and said with practical care: “You will attend many banquets from now on and maintain various social ties. Keep these and use them as gifts.”

Looking her over, Madam Wang’s eyes filled with admiration as she praised: “So beautiful. You are young; you should dress this brightly.”

Xin An touched her hairpin with a smile and teased: “I hope Mother will not think me gaudy every day.”

“Mother hopes you will dress up beautifully every day. It is a pleasure to look at,” Madam Wang said, taking a seat.

She spoke of the palace releasing attendants: “Earlier you asked that Mother provide someone for you, but those by my side are not suitable. I have been keeping an eye out. They say a dozen Aunties have been released this time, and a few have nowhere to go. Why don’t I invite one for you?”

“Ask for one named Ping Cui,” Xin An said without thinking.

“It was Sister Lin who told me,” she added.

Ping Cui was truly capable. In her previous life, the newly minted top scholar’s wife had hired her, and that inconspicuous lady quickly found her place among the wives. Later, someone tried to poach Ping Cui, but Ping Cui was loyal and impossible to pry away.

Madam Wang did not doubt her in the least: “In that case, I will send someone to contact her.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Xin An said.

“There is no need to be so polite. I am glad to help you,” Madam Wang replied.

After sitting a while, Madam Wang left to see Tang Rong next door. Her feelings toward him were no longer complicated. She had once believed that sincerity would be repaid, that because she had cared and put in effort for this child, heart would answer heart. But some people were born ungrateful. No matter how well you treated them, it was useless.

Now she had let go. She would be a superficially kind stepmother, and that would be enough.

Xin An looked at the trinkets on the table, and the corners of her lips lifted. [In my previous life I felt surrounded by enemies, my nerves taut every day without a single moment of ease. Given a second chance, even with only a different husband, I find many more kind people around me.] The Grand Matron, her mother-in-law, Second Uncle, and Tang Mo… all were good.

Tang Mo returned earlier than usual that day. He came in with a grin and said, eager to change and go out with her: “Shall I wear new clothes today? On the way back, I kept imagining how dashing I would look in them.”

Chun Yang and the other maids laughed. Xin An smiled and said: “Everything is ready for you. There are new clothes and new boots. I have even changed the jade pendant and the sachet at your waist for new ones.”

Tang Mo clasped his hands with a playful bow and said: “Much obliged.”

A man’s grooming was ten times faster than a woman’s. In the span of a single incense stick, he reappeared before Xin An, clear-eyed and spirited. He wore a jade coronet and a brocade robe of deep blue with an understated cloud motif that flattered his form. At his waist hung a fine jade pendant and a delicately made sachet that released a faint scent of mint. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he looked very much the promising young gentleman.

Xin An appraised him and said with satisfaction: “Clothes truly make the man; you are a sight.”

Admiring his sleeve, Tang Mo replied with cheerful vanity: “The tailoring is excellent, and this fabric is fine.”

He stroked the material contentedly, feeling utterly comfortable. Before the mirror he turned from side to side and added with relish: “This color is good. It really suits me.”

Seeing him preen, Xin An could not help laughing and teased: “And you call me vain. Look at you now. I should stick a flower in your hair.”

Tilting his head, Tang Mo declared with utter candor: “I simply look handsome.”

The attending maids all lowered their heads to hide their giggles. Xin An rose and said: “If you are dressed, let us go.”

They stepped out together and met Tang Gang on the way back. Seeing their formal attire reminded him of the banquet they were attending. He could not help feeling a pang of regret, for his favored elder son still lay in bed, tormented by the maddening itch of new flesh as it healed, grown haggard.

Tang Gang’s gaze naturally fell on Tang Mo. As if suddenly noticing that this son’s looks were not bad, a trace of satisfaction returned to his eyes. He said evenly: “Your spirit is good.”

There was, indeed, something of his own youthful bearing in the boy.

Tang Mo did not say much. He simply informed him: “We are going to the banquet and may return late. Father need not worry.”

“Very well. Mind your manners at the banquet,” Tang Gang said.

Tang Mo led Xin An away. Steward Zhang, watching them go, remarked with a smile: “The Second Young Master grows more and more refined. Standing beside Second Young Madam, they are a talented man and a beautiful woman. Who could say this is not Heaven’s will?”

Tang Gang liked hearing that. His mood improved.

One son had run into trouble, and the other, formerly carefree, had suddenly become motivated, with clear results to show. Tang Gang felt the Tang Family’s ancestors were blessing him and was privately pleased.

He had been about to visit Tang Rong. Though Tang Mo was improving, catching up to Tang Rong seemed almost impossible; the latter remained his true hope.

Just then Madam Wang, no longer wearing the cross look she had in recent days, forced a smile to greet him and said: “Marquis, you are back?”