Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Xin An’s Underhanded Move in Public

All eyes swung to Tao Yi Ran. A few of the men’s gazes even turned a touch lewd, while others frowned, finding the Crown Princess’s proposal rather in poor taste.

Just as Tao Yi Ran was about to rise, a flutter of panic seized her. Xin An turned her head to look at her, a warning clear in her eyes, and Tao Yi Ran understood perfectly.

The Crown Princess’s voice cooled: “Lady Tang, are you unwilling?”

Seeing Tao Yi Ran fail to respond at once, annoyance crept into her tone. Tao Yi Ran’s heart tightened; she blamed Xin An for nearly ruining her great moment and shifted a leg to stand. At that instant, Xin An’s hand darted to a place the crowd could not see. There was a swift, vicious twist, and Xin An let out a soft, startled cry: “Ah.”

She shot up to support Tao Yi Ran, and under the cover of her sleeve dug her fingers hard into the tender flesh of Tao Yi Ran’s underarm, pinching and turning in a full circle. She cried again, higher: “Ah.”

She asked with anxious concern: “Elder Sister-in-law, where are you uncomfortable?”

To the onlookers, Tao Yi Ran had abruptly cried out for no reason, while Xin An wore a face of worry; no one had any idea what had happened. Tao Yi Ran tried to shove her away, but before she could speak, Xin An breathed against her ear: “If you don’t cooperate, I will strip your clothes off.”

Xin An raised her voice to the room with convincing panic: “Oh no, Elder Sister-in-law, you are shaking all over. What is the matter with you?”

She stepped out toward the Second Prince’s Consort, dipped a curtsy, and said: “Second Prince’s Consort, my Elder Sister-in-law is feeling unwell. Allow me to escort her to seek a diagnosis.”

At that moment Tao Yi Ran hugged her arm, face contorted in pain, eyes brimming with tears, looking more than a little disheveled. The underarm is the most tender of places to pinch; Xin An had not held back, and there was personal spite in it. It might ache for ten days or half a month. Even then, Tao Yi Ran still found time to cast a glance of utmost grievance toward the Second Prince, as if to elicit his pity, yet he happened to be watching Xin An and did not catch it.

The Crown Princess’s displeasure was near written across her face. Xin An’s move had been hidden and fast; aside from Madam Liao, who had been watching Xin An closely, no one had seen it, so no one suspected her. The Crown Princess felt only that Tao Yi Ran had toyed with her.

Second Prince’s Consort more or less guessed that Xin An had done something to Tao Yi Ran. The principle of shared honor and disgrace was simple enough, but her purpose had already been met, and she was willing to give Xin An some face. She said: “She was perfectly fine a moment ago; how is she suddenly unwell? Have the household physician take a look. Send a message to the marquis’s manor and have them dispatch someone to fetch her. The roads are bad in the dark; one escort might not be enough, and it would not be suitable for the second young master to take her himself.”

Learning that Xin An had a good relationship with Madam Liao struck the Second Prince’s Consort as an unexpected boon. The Xu family of Lin Prefecture was wealthy, and Liao Zhi commanded troops stationed close at hand. Both offered advantages more immediate than her own father’s distant influence; her desire to cultivate Xin An grew stronger. How could she simply let Xin An leave?

With arrangements made, the inner-court stewardess of the Second Prince’s residence soon led attendants to support Tao Yi Ran away to be examined. Xin An, claiming she was worried, asked to go along, and the Consort did not stop her.

Tang Mo went as well. The Second Prince’s Consort turned to the Crown Princess and said: “Elder Sister-in-law, do not be angry. Anyone can play the zither.”

Soon several court musicians entered with different instruments. After saluting, they headed to the artificial hill, and melodious music drifted through every ear. The courtyard grew lively again.

With Xin An present, Tao Yi Ran dared not make trouble. After the physician took her pulse, he pronounced there was nothing serious. As for why she suddenly hurt all over, perhaps it was a chill from the wind. The grand personages suffered all manner of odd ailments; the household physician was long used to it. If he could enter a prince’s residence to serve, he had skill enough. Could he not tell whether there was an actual illness? It was feigned, of course. But he knew the rules.

In the end, it was Steward Zhang who came personally to escort Tao Yi Ran home. When she received the message, she was bewildered. She had been out on errands all afternoon and had no idea Tao Yi Ran had left the manor, much less that she had come to a banquet without an invitation. To demonstrate her conscientiousness, Xin An even walked Tao Yi Ran all the way to the gate. Tao Yi Ran’s gaze turned venomous as she lowered her voice: “The marquis’s manor is not yours. Know your place.”

She sneered: “Do not think a little money lets you do as you please. This is the capital, where nobles and marquises gather. You of the Xin family, a mere merchant, dare such insolence. Do you think your second brother can protect you?”

She finished in a hiss: “For what happened today, you must give me an explanation.”

Xin An had gone too far, daring to lay hands on her before so many people. If she did not retaliate in kind, would they truly think she was easy to bully?

Xin An answered mildly: “Elder Sister-in-law, the roads are bad after dark. Do go back early.”

She paid no heed to Tao Yi Ran’s anger. If she had dared to act, naturally she had the means to absolve herself. She watched Tao Yi Ran climb into the carriage. Once it had gone far, Xin An and Tang Mo returned together to the Moon Inviting Banquet. No sooner had they sat than Madam Liao shifted over to her side, eyes bright with interest. She had seen Xin An’s move with her own eyes. [Tsk, tsk, tsk. It hurts just to think about it.]

The courtyard was already full of music. Following the sound, one could see the musicians seated below the rockery. Not only were their figures graceful, their playing was finer still, and as the Crown Princess had said, it lent the Moon Inviting Banquet a richer charm.

The Crown Princess looked toward Xin An. Xin An inclined her head slightly, thinking: [This lump of filth dares cast me a look of displeasure? Does she think she can escape unscathed?] [If I were the Second Prince, I would memorialize against this filth at once. Tao Yi Ran is the marquis household’s eldest daughter-in-law, the Heir Apparent’s wife. How long has it been since the Old Marquis passed? His military merit is not yet cold, and his descendants are already to be bullied like this?] [Handled properly, both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will be up to their necks in trouble.] [More importantly, Tang Gang and his son will have no chance to curry favor with the Crown Prince again.]

In fact, the strategist seated at the end of the banquet was already devising several schemes to smear the Crown Prince and was eager to set them in motion.

Those who fancied themselves literary rose one after another to show their learning. Someone was assigned to record the verses. Whether good or bad, each effort drew applause. When it came to Tang Mo, the crowd clamored, refusing to let him off without saying a few lines, any nonsense would do.

Tang Mo laughed and protested: “How could I compose a poem? When I studied, I burst into tears the moment I lifted the brush. I took no few strokes of the teacher’s board.”

The crowd would not relent, insisting that even a bit of doggerel would do. Helpless and smiling, Tang Mo could only bite the bullet: “Then I shall make a little doggerel to amuse you all, shall I?”

There were laughs and nods all around, and even the Second Prince said it had been too long since he had heard doggerel: “Quickly, recite it.”

Tang Mo clasped his hands, cleared his throat importantly, and intoned: “Before I even lift the brush, tears already stream, the teacher stands before me; if I cannot make a poem today, my wife will surely dislike me.”

Laughter exploded, rolling through the crowd. Xin An could not stop laughing either. Madam Liao laughed until tears came and said: “Younger Sister Xin, do not be too hard on him. How difficult this is for him.”

Lin Yao laughed as well: “Second Brother is truly a treasure.”

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince were laughing too. The Second Prince raised his cup: “This poem is most amusing. One can hear Second Young Master Tang’s anxieties in it. Come, this prince drinks to you.”

Tang Mo hastened to raise his cup: “I fear I have made the Second Prince laugh.”

The Second Prince said warmly: “Second Young Master Tang is openhearted. Drink.”

Second Prince’s Consort smiled at Xin An and said: “Even when composing, Second Young Master Tang is thinking of Second Young Madam. Your affection is admirable and enviable.”

Lin Yao and the others chimed in to agree, and they succeeded in making Xin An’s ears turn red.