Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Spending money on you is only right

When it came to Tao Yi Ran, Lin Yao looked openly scornful. Without prompting, she laid out Tao Yi Ran’s history, from princes to the sons of dukes and marquises, down to sons of officials: “There isn’t a man she hasn’t set her heart on. Do you know how those young masters describe her?”

Xin An shook her head, and Lin Yao said: “Beautiful and kind, a maiden made of water.”

She added, fair-minded despite her disdain: “To be fair, Tao Yi Ran really does have ability. She leaves a trace of feeling everywhere, and she feeds those young masters’ fantasies. Even though they know she is married, they still cannot forget her.”

[Xin An was speechless.]

[Once again she felt that in her previous life it had been no injustice to lose to Tao Yi Ran.]

[With means like that, where could she not live well? It even felt as if Tang Rong had gotten a bargain.]

“That isn’t any real ability,” Madam Liao joined in, clearly interested now. “My brother has a concubine just like that. Whenever she faces a man, she acts coy, looks at him from the corner of her eye, and every so often claims she’s dizzy and her heart is fluttering, fainting every few days.”

“She’s always saying, ‘This lowly concubine’s fate is thin,’ ‘This lowly concubine is insignificant,’ ‘As long as you do this or that, I’ll have no regrets.’ It makes you sick to hear it, but men fall for it.”

Xin An smiled and asked: “Your elder brother must feel quite proud to have taken her as a concubine, right?”

“You guessed it,” Madam Liao said, her expression complicated.

A woman pursued by so many ultimately chose him. Of course he would feel proud.

Lin Yao’s eyes sparkled. She had always found Madam Liao rather dull, a young woman with a perpetually taut face. Who would have thought she would be such fun on this subject. Today was not wasted at all.

The three of them sat in Qian Ya Garden and talked without going anywhere else, trading gossip until they were hoarse. Toward evening, Madam Liao hosted a dinner. She did not invite the men of their three households, and the gossip continued through the banquet. Xin An watched Madam Liao seem to grow younger; she spoke the most.

“That Zhang family lady is the funniest,” Madam Liao said, chuckling. “She claims she never visits jewelry shops, because the moment she steps inside she feels the same powerless frustration as a palace eunuch visiting a brothel. She likes too many things and can’t settle on one.”

“Hahaha, that’s truly hilarious.”

When Tang Mo and Liao Zhi arrived to collect them, the three women were still talking, their laughter audible outside the private room. The men had to knock and come in to lead them away. Because of this, Lin Yao teased them for quite a while, and only when Yan Shi Mao appeared did she rein herself in, which in turn gave Xin An a chance to tease her.

Back home, Xin An reported the day’s news to Tang Mo: “Besides Zhu You, there are the third young master of the Count of Wenchang Manor, the second son from Censor Zhang’s household, Young General Wu from General Wu’s residence, and several sons of officials serving outside the capital. There is also a Compiler at the Hanlin Academy named Cao Ke.”

Tang Mo’s expression was wonderfully complicated: “All of them admire Tao Yi Ran?”

Xin An nodded: “These are the ones Sister Lin named. I don’t know whether there are more.”

“Remarkable,” he said.

Even though the other woman was her enemy, Xin An admitted she was impressed: “Why don’t I have that skill, to make countless men pine for me and yearn for me?”

“As a fellow woman, I’m envious.”

[Tang Mo’s lips twitched. Even though it was all in a past life, he still felt a bright green shame sprout over his head, as vast as a prairie.]

He decided that when the opportunity came he would let Tang Rong know the truth, so that the field of green on his forehead could host a gallop of horses.

After her round of sighs, Xin An shared her assessment: “For now the most suitable one is Zhu You of the Duke of Xiang’s manor. First, his status is sufficient. Second, he is the most devoted to Tao Yi Ran. They say he calls her name in his sleep. Third, Huang Wei has the skills and is fierce.”

Husband and wife divided the work neatly: one would deal with Tang Rong, the other with Tao Yi Ran.

“I’ll find a way to get close to Huang Wei,” Xin An said. “At the critical time, I’ll lend her a hand.”

“I’ll arrange for people to spread the news about Tao Yi Ran to Zhu You,” Tang Mo said, taking a seat beside her.

Xin An cautioned him to control the degree: “Don’t go so far as to stage a scene of catching them in the act. If it comes to that, Tao Yi Ran really won’t be able to return.”

“No need to be overly cautious,” Tang Mo replied. “Even if she is divorced, I estimate Tang Rong won’t marry again within half a year. He values his reputation most. That means we will have at least half a year to work with.”

“Half a year is enough to do a lot,” Xin An said. She had forgotten that point. “Even if he wants to marry, we can trip him up so it won’t be easy. In that case, let’s proceed boldly.”

Tang Mo then spoke about the Tao family’s situation. Tao Yi Ran living at her parents’ home had not aroused discontent: “Old Madam Tao shelters her. No one dares do anything to her.”

“I heard people from the Tao family came to demand an explanation and scolded you?” he asked.

“They said a few things,” Xin An admitted. “That I lacked upbringing, used poison, and was cruel.”

Tang Mo took out a stack of a dozen or so banknotes from his breast and handed them to her: “Here. Buy some rouge and jewelry.”

Xin An counted them and found there were more than five thousand taels: “Where did this come from?”

“The Tao family’s Second Master has already taken the bait,” Tang Mo said. “In another month we can draw in the net. Luo Qi Wen is quite capable.”

By now, the Tao family’s Second Master was slipping in and out of gambling houses every day, mired deep, just as planned. These banknotes were all from the Tao family.

Delighted, Xin An counted them again. Across two lifetimes, this was the first time a man had given her money to spend. It felt wonderful. However…

She smiled: “I’ll take the money, but I’m not buying cosmetics. The days are getting colder. I’ll have people purchase cloth and charcoal. The poor old soldiers under your care need a warm winter.”

“Also, I plan to discuss something with Madam Wang and see whether we can find a place to open a workshop, making furniture and weaving household goods. We can hire an old shopkeeper to teach them a trade. We should think of ways to help them support themselves.”

Tang Mo asked with a laugh: “Does it bother you that this silver came from the Tao family?”

Xin An laughed: “What crime has silver committed?”

“You gave it to me. How I spend it is naturally up to me.”

Tang Mo pulled out a few more banknotes and passed them over: “These I set aside for buying charcoal and winter supplies for them. The ones for you, just spend as you please. No need to overthink it.”

This time Xin An did not hold back: “In that case, many thanks, Second Young Master.”

Tang Mo looked a little smug: “Spending money on you is only right.”

Putting away the silver, Xin An asked about Luo Qi Wen: “Did you give him a share as well?”

“Of course,” Tang Mo said. He could not yet give Luo Qi Wen greater backing, but he could at least see that he was provided for. “He’s filial. He paid off his debts first, then bought fabric and a set of hair ornaments for his mother, hired two little maids to attend her, and engaged a couple to handle cleaning, cooking, and errands. Life is already looking up.”

As Tang Mo handled affairs with more finesse, Xin An felt more relaxed. After they washed up, Tang Mo told her that Tang Yong had sent word that the person he was looking for had been found: “I’ll go see tomorrow afternoon. I won’t be home for dinner. No need to wait for me.”

Xin An said she would go out as well to accompany the Grand Matron to buy flowers and plants: “But I should return early. No need to come fetch me.”

Now she could go out freely, and if she happened to dine late, Tang Mo would come pick her up. Life was growing more and more carefree.