Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Qing Mo: Double Agent?

At the imperial court the two factions were quarreling so furiously that nothing could proceed, and the Emperor’s expression was far from pleasant. When court was dismissed, someone at once sidled up to Tang Gang to fish for inside news. Tang Gang shook his head and sighed: “For the Marquisate, this truly is an ill-starred year, calamities falling from the sky.”

He deliberately walked very slowly, and before he even reached the palace gates the Emperor’s men arrived. Tang Gang was no longer calm and detached; when he came before the Emperor, his eyes reddened before he could speak. When the Emperor asked, he dropped to his knees and said that the Marquisate had offended Tai Sui this year, that one mishap after another had left him in dread.

Tang Gang said, choked with feeling: “Your Majesty, my eldest daughter-in-law is not a clever one. Raised delicately by Lord Tao and his wife, she is naive and ignorant. She is foolish and has no mind of her own, and her courage is limited. After what happened on the wedding day she has scarcely left her own quarters. I cannot believe she had the nerve to go before the Crown Princess to ask to attend the Second Prince’s Moon Inviting Banquet.”

He added, aggrieved: “To what end? Merely to perform the zither for everyone at the Moon Inviting Banquet?”

By now he understood perfectly. Tao Yi Ran had gone to the Moon Inviting Banquet at Tang Rong’s behest, meant to keep Tang Mo from stealing his limelight. But he was foolish, suffering losses without learning the lesson. A woman like Tao Yi Ran could be kept in the back courtyard as a concubine for amusement, but how could she shoulder real responsibility?

Tang Gang spoke only of his indignation and helplessness, glossing over everything else. The Emperor’s gaze grew complex. He knew full well what sort of character Tao Yi Ran had; the rumors outside had long been circulating loudly, and raised under such a grandmother, how much good could she have learned? [Tang Rong matched with such a woman; what a pity.]

As for Tang Gang, the Emperor withdrew his gaze. The marquisate’s foundation was not deep, and Tang Gang was mediocre; he was likely kept in the dark about many things. Tao Yi Ran was not as timid and innocent as he said. Thinking of the past half year of troubles in the marquisate, the Emperor even felt a tinge of pity for Tang Gang.

The Emperor said: “Rise.”

Tang Gang hastily wiped his eyes and stood. The Emperor said: “Tell Tang Rong to nurse his injuries and not hurry back to duty. The inner courtyard ought to quiet down.”

He added: “You may go.”

Tang Gang withdrew respectfully from the Imperial Study. After leaving the palace and boarding the carriage home, his expression was complicated. [He knew the matter no longer concerned the marquisate; the storm had blown over, which was cause for relief.] His mind could not help replaying how Tang Mo had come to seek him in the rain the night before.

Boots and hem soaked, Tang Mo had said he had again heard news of Tao Yi Ran outside that involved the marquisate and had rushed back.

Upon reaching the study he began to analyze the situation methodically, making Tang Gang for a moment feel as if the one standing before him were his eldest son, Tang Rong.

The situation was unfavorable to the marquisate, yet they had no workable countermeasure. The two strategists’ plans would either offend the Crown Prince or offend the Second Prince; whichever they offended, the consequences were more than the marquisate could bear.

Tang Mo’s proposal enlightened him: as long as they showed weakness and pretended to know nothing, they would not need to fall out with the Crown Prince or offend the Second Prince, and could quickly calm the storm. At the time, he could not believe such a plan had come from Tang Mo.

He doubted and questioned him. Tang Mo said he was a confused party in the thick of it; when an irreconcilable major affair erupts at home, one must ask Grandmother to come forward. With one knock of Grandmother’s stick, everyone would behave.

Most important, Tao Yi Ran’s frivolity could not be nailed down as fact; for the marquisate’s face it had to be forcibly covered up.

Back at the marquisate, he let out a long breath and asked: “Old Zhang, do you think the younger one is clever?”

Steward Zhang smiled and nodded: “The second young master is naturally clever, with quite the bearing you had in your youth, Marquis. If cultivated with care, his future achievements will surely be remarkable.”

[We grew up together, yet I have never understood the Marquis’s thinking. There are only two sons. Must the elder inherit while the younger is forbidden his own accomplishments? Must the younger be pressed down, kept from developing ability, condemned to mediocrity all his life? If so, why blame the second young master for lacking promise?] But these words he would never say aloud.

[Tang Mo truly is different now, more driven than before and gradually showing promise. As the son I took pride in runs into hardship, the other son rises unexpectedly. This is the good fortune of the marquisate.] Tang Gang said: “That child came seeking me in the rain last night. I wonder if he caught a chill. When he returns, send the household physician to examine him.”

It was the first time he had proactively shown concern for Tang Mo; whether Tang Mo would feel happy or want to weep, who could say?

The Grand Matron was certainly pleased. Upon receiving Tang Gang’s good news, she at once ordered the storeroom opened and sent two fine items to Qiu Shi Courtyard. She praised Tang Mo again and again. Madam Wang felt honored and stood much straighter; she also opened the storeroom and sent two paintings to Qiu Shi Courtyard.

She considerately told Tang Gang to visit Chun Hua Courtyard to see Tang Rong, saying: “Two of his wounds have reopened. The household physician has examined him; fortunately it is not serious. Concubine Yue has been serving him carefully.”

She added: “He is likely still brooding over this matter. It would be best if you explained it to him, Marquis, so he need not worry.”

Tang Gang went to Chun Hua Courtyard as Madam Wang suggested. Tang Rong controlled his expression as quickly as he could, but when he heard from Tang Gang that the matter had been settled, and that the plan had come from Tang Mo, his calm almost cracked.

He said, serenely as he could: “I did not expect my second brother to be so magnanimous; I had thought he remained angry with me and would wait to mock me.”

Tang Gang seemed not to perceive Tang Rong’s stifled resentment, and did not offer comfort. Instead, he smiled: “That boy truly is surprising. He has grown more and more in these days. In the future, with both of you brothers supporting the marquisate, I as your father can finally relax a bit.” He asked, mild: “I heard your wound reopened?”

Tang Rong replied gently: “Yesterday I thought I was nearly recovered; this morning I moved a bit too much on rising and split two of the cuts. It is no great matter. Father need not worry.”

Even Tang Gang admired his forbearance and composure, and said: “Since that is the case, there is no need to rush external affairs. Wait until the Crown Prince and the Second Prince decide the outcome of this matter, then return to the Ministry of Rites.” He added: “There is no need to pay attention to the Tao Family for the time being.”

In the morning, Steward Zhang had personally run over to inform them of Tang Gang’s plan. This move by the marquisate also amounted to protecting Tao Yi Ran’s reputation; as long as the Tao Family was not foolish, they would know what to do.

As for Tao Yi Ran’s return, Madam Wang again had Steward Zhang deliver a message: she was raised by the Tao Family’s Grand Matron; now that the Grand Matron was gravely ill, she would allow Tao Yi Ran to remain at the Tao Family to tend the illness, fulfilling her filial piety.

This decision was strongly approved by both Tang Gang and the Grand Matron. For the marquisate’s face they had shaped Tao Yi Ran into a woman who had suffered grievance, but the Tao Family knew the truth best. Tao Yi Ran would not easily step through the marquisate’s gates again.

After the decision was conveyed to Tang Rong, he voiced no objection. He only thought he would still need to find time to visit the Tao Family: first, to put on a show for outsiders; second, to see the Tao Family’s attitude. The Tao Family was still of use. [At bottom, he still could not let go of Tao Yi Ran’s beauty and gentle, attentive ways.]