Chapter 174

Chapter 174: I think your son is not your blood

Tang Rong did not feel there was anything wrong with this plan. If one gives nothing, how could there be unearned benefits? Besides, they were not selling the women of the clan; they were finding them good marriages. He would not speak to other matters, but the families would certainly not be inferior.

It was, if anything, those women who would be taking advantage.

Father and son were, it had to be said, surprisingly aligned in their views on certain issues.

After the two discussed for a while, they still found no good countermeasure. Tang Rong, whose healing wounds itched unbearably, could not sit still; he rose, cupped his hands, and said, “Your son will think of a response as quickly as possible, and as for the Tao family we will proceed as Father wishes.”

He admitted that Tao Yi Ran was beautiful and to his taste; he liked her gentle attentiveness. He had thought that joining with her would become a celebrated tale of mutual fulfillment, but events had defied his wishes.

Between a woman and his future, he knew well which weighed more.

Tang Gang was finally satisfied and said, “I have asked your mother to look again among the outstanding noble ladies in the capital. We will certainly find you someone to your liking.”

Tang Rong said, “Father, please do not act in haste.”

He refused again. He could abandon Tao Yi Ran, even demote his wife to concubine, but he should not speak first, nor should the marquisate’s household. The Tao family must come to beg; only thus could he preserve his reputation for being a man of deep feeling.

One misstep had already made his path difficult. He would not repeat it, and [he already had a plan].

Tang Rong was cautious, so cautious that he would not share certain ideas even with his father Tang Gang, keeping them to himself.

For example, he did not trust Tang Gang now. So when he learned that Tang Gang would use the clan’s women to form alliances and strengthen their power, he also prepared to send word to his maternal uncle’s household. He had two cousins; he had seen them in childhood, and they were not lacking in looks.

He feigned obedience. Although Tang Gang felt a moment’s disappointment in him, it did not affect his standing in his father’s eyes.

Tang Gang said, “So long as you know what you are doing. Do not let the previous matter occur again, and as for later…” He added, “I will have your mother pay more attention, in case of need.”

Tang Rong nodded and, upon leaving, his face grew unpleasant. The wounds itched too much.

The two did not know that everything they said had been overheard by a cleaning servant behind the rear wall. As soon as Tang Mo returned to the residence he received the news, and upon reaching Qiu Shi Courtyard he told Xin An at once, saying gloomily, “I thought he was finished; how can he still stir up trouble?”

Xin An looked at him as if he were a fool and sighed, “You grew up under the same roof; how can your minds be so different?” She continued, “He only had a run of bad luck and his reputation is damaged for the moment. You do not think this alone will topple him, do you?” She went on, “Reputation, as long as it is managed well, can be ruined today and picked up again tomorrow. Do you think it is some decisive weapon?”

Tang Mo said, “I know, it is just…” He conceded, “He truly cannot be underestimated.”

Admitting that one’s enemy is stronger than oneself also takes courage.

He muttered, “The old man as well…”

He had wanted to say that Tang Gang was shameless to set his sights on the clan’s women, but Xin An said, “He is selfish and unwilling to let others benefit from his shine. This step should have been taken years ago.” She continued, “Look across the capital, which noble house does not do the same? Women who enjoy the clan’s protection should contribute to it. Marriages of alliance have existed since ancient times and are nothing rare. It would not be surprising if those in the clan who hear the news are overjoyed and feel they have finally awaited this day.” She said, “They are all blind marriages, all gambles on luck, so of course one strives for a better match.”

Relying on women’s marriages to stabilize a family’s standing may sound unpleasant, but the greater the house, the more it is done. Do princesses not also marry for politics?

In the end it is simply that women’s status is too low, and they cannot decide their own fates.

Xin An said, “I only worry that at this rate he will truly be able to marry a capable wife again and gain a powerful father-in-law. That would be difficult.”

Speaking of it made her irritable. She had wanted to keep Tao Yi Ran, but who knew Tao Yi Ran would make such trouble?

Now look, she had tossed herself into such a state.

A sudden idea flashed and she seized it quickly, saying, “If he must seek someone, I do have a candidate. Her status is exalted; I just do not know if he can handle it.”

Tang Mo asked, “Who?”

Tang Mo suddenly thought of someone as well and said, “You are not talking about Princess Qiong Hua, are you?”

Xin An raised a brow and said, “Well? Very exalted, is she not?”

Tang Mo’s expression was complicated. Princess Qiong Hua’s prince consort had died two years ago, and for these two years her residence had been a place of nightly revelry, with one male favorite after another. She was the Emperor’s youngest sister; although the Emperor did not think highly of her, he did not allow her to suffer, turning a blind eye and letting her live comfortably.

Tang Mo said, “He probably does not have the fortune to enjoy that.”

According to rumor, Princess Qiong Hua had unusually large needs in certain aspects. Tsk tsk.

Xin An had only made the suggestion; the specifics would require further inquiry.

Tang Mo said, “Given what he is like, what good girl would marry him?”

Xin An asked, “What is he like?”

Xin An felt that Tang Mo did not understand women at all and understood Tang Rong even less. She said, “He started cultivating his reputation even before he came of age. Everyone knows he is outstanding in looks and learning, steady and adept at advancing and retreating, the model of a noble scion, and he is shameless enough and exceedingly skilled at gaining without labor. As long as he discards Tao Yi Ran and does a bit of management, do you know how people will judge him?”

Tang Mo was not stupid; after thinking for a moment he understood and said, “On his wedding day he was made drunk and went to the wrong bridal chamber, then could not get out. Afterwards he bravely took responsibility and was willing to bear the scolding, even using thirty percent of his late mother’s dowry as compensation.” He added, “It could be called affectionate and righteous.”

Xin An said, “Could be?” She felt he still had not seen through it and said, “His wife disgraced herself in public and he did not utter a word of complaint or commit any excessive act. Ill-starred, he met mishaps one after another, everyone said his wife jinxed her husband, yet he ignored it and bore no resentment.” She continued, “With his handsome looks, outstanding talent, and kindly temperament, to suffer such misfortune checks all the boxes of beautiful, capable, and tragic. Naive girls will only pity his fate and wish to compensate him personally. How could there be no one willing to marry him?”

Tang Mo’s expression could only be called shocked. Xin An raised a brow and said, “Now you see how formidable he is?” She said, “You were protected too well by Mother when you were young. The most vicious person you saw in your past life was probably me, right?”

Tang Mo did not deny it. Xin An bent down to meet his eyes and said, “If you were familiar with Tang Rong’s righteous facade and had seen his cruelty and shamelessness, then…” She said, “I would absolutely count as a good person, even if I am no Bodhisattva.” She added, “As for him, a man who, for selfish desire, can easily scheme against and abandon even his own son and grandson, can he still be called human?”

To let Tang Mo grasp Tang Rong’s cruelty and ruthlessness more directly, she recounted what Tang Rong had done in their previous life. Even though it was a matter of the past life, speaking of it still filled her with fury. Fortunately, after these days of cultivation, she could control herself, and she voiced the suspicion in her heart as well.

She said, “I think that son of yours may not be your blood.”

Tang Mo’s gaze sank. He in fact had the same suspicion. He then heard Xin An continue, “However foolish Tao Yi Ran might be, she would not teach her own son to hate his father while telling him to curry favor with his uncle and treat the uncle as his father.” She said, “No matter how much Tang Rong likes Tao Yi Ran, it is impossible that he would value your bloodline more than his own son and grandson. If the boy was Tang Rong’s from the start, everything makes sense.”