Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Something Good Is Going to Happen Today

Time left to Auntie Cai was running out. In her anxiety, a sudden inspiration struck; she turned on her heel and went straight to Tang Rong’s study.

She announced briskly, as though bringing a helpful reminder: “The weather has been fair these days. Winter brings heavy damp, so we should take items out of the storage rooms to sun them while we can, especially cloth and silk. If they grow damp, what a pity it would be.”

Tang Rong, interrupted yet again, felt a spark of irritation and said coolly: “Such a small matter is for Aunt to see to.”

Delight flashed in Auntie Cai’s eyes. She immediately called for Auntie Liu to hand over the keys, but Auntie Liu said evenly: “Half a month ago the young madam already had everything that needed sunning taken out and sunned. Only the late Marchioness’s dowry chests were left untouched. The young madam said to wait for the Heir Apparent to decide, and later other matters delayed it.”

“Then the late madam’s dowry should also be taken out to sun,” Auntie Cai pressed, only for Tang Rong to refuse at once as he said: “There is no cloth in those chests, only ornaments and objects for amusement. There is no need to sun them.”

Unwilling to give up, Auntie Cai persisted: “Since those chests arrived from Madam, the Heir Apparent has not opened them. If anything is missing, we should inventory and compare with the old dowry list. That way…”

“Auntie Cai,” Tang Rong cut her off. “Do not say such things again. Mother has treated me exceedingly well these years. If I truly went to cross-check, would that not wound her heart?”

He added, looking up: “Besides, I have already opened a chest in recent days and used a few items. How are we to compare anything now?”

Turning to Auntie Liu, he said with quiet authority: “Since the young madam is not in the residence, bring me the keys to the chests.”

Tang Rong had made it plain that he did not intend to let Auntie Cai touch those chests. However unwilling she was, Auntie Cai could only hold her tongue and wait. [Once the keys were in the Heir Apparent’s hands, they would be far easier to get hold of than in Auntie Liu’s.]

With his thoughts repeatedly interrupted, Tang Rong could not settle; he rose and returned to his bedchamber.

In Qiu Shi Courtyard, Tang Mo returned at midnight yet again. When he entered, Xin An was already asleep. The room now had two pots of blossoms in full bloom, and under the eaves outside hung a birdcage swathed in a pitch-black cloth. He was just reaching out to lift the cover for a look when a sudden burst of cries came from within, “Thief, thief,” which made him snatch back his hand at once.

Chun Yang stepped forward and explained in a hushed voice: “Young Madam spent a handsome sum at the Flower and Bird Market today to buy a myna; it can talk.”

Tang Mo exhaled in relief, though he could not help thinking that a blackened cage suddenly speaking in the night was rather terrifying.

After washing next door, he slipped quietly into bed. The person beside him rolled over; seeing that she was indeed sound asleep, Tang Mo sighed. He was a young man with hot blood; with a beauty lying beside him every night, who would believe he had no thoughts at all?

But he had the heart of a bear and none of the courage; he was timid to a fault. More than once he had hoped that Xin An would sleep restlessly and roll into his arms of her own accord; yet once asleep, she was unfailingly proper. When she woke with messy hair in the morning, it was only because she could not rouse herself and rolled about hugging the quilt.

“Sigh,” he breathed again.

He inched closer toward the person beside him, thinking with rueful humor: [If the mountain will not come to me, then I must go to the mountain.]

After a night of sound sleep, Xin An woke and, with a slight flutter of her lashes, knew Tang Mo had already gone out to work like a beast of burden. She rose unhurriedly, and as Chun Yang and the others came in one after another to attend to her, she remarked while being coiffed that Physician Zhao was coming today to re-dye her nails and nourish her hair, then joked with a smile: “It seems I am quite busy today.”

Chun Lv said as she adjusted a hairpin: “I hear that when noble ladies are idle, they even invite opera singers into the residence to perform privately. Speaking of which, our young madam still lacks a few people who can entertain. Once the son-in-law is doing even better, those entertainers ought to come.”

By this she meant the wives of lower-ranked officials, who, for the sake of their husbands’ prospects, would try every means to please the ladies of higher-ranked officials.

Xin An answered with a helpless little laugh: “At the moment I am the one amusing others.”

A lady’s standing was determined by her husband’s rank. Tang Mo was still in the stage of striving and had yet to achieve notable merit; naturally, in front of those madams, Xin An had to bow her head. She did not mind in the least; from salt merchants to the ranks of the powerful, by any reckoning she had already gained an advantage.

Chun Yang went on praising earnestly: “Sons of other households go to the Northern Garrison Army merely to go through the motions, but our Second Young Master goes come wind or rain. He has the regard of his superiors, is steady and reliable, and will certainly rise step by step.”

She added with bright enthusiasm: “Perhaps he will even win a patent of nobility for Young Madam in the future.”

Xin An looked at her reflection with crinkled eyes and said with amusement: “Chun Yang is getting better and better at speaking.”

Chun Lv followed up quickly: “Our Second Young Master is handsome and treats Young Madam well. Everyone sees it and says the two of you are a perfect pair, a match made in heaven.”

Xin An laughed, delighted: “Well said. Your lips are honeyed this morning.”

Once her toilette was complete, Chun Yang brought up the banquet to be attended next: “Tomorrow we are to attend Young Madam Ouyang’s crab feast. It is said Young Madam Ouyang has foreign blood; I wonder if she will be easy to get along with?”

Xin An told them with an appreciative smile: “Young Madam Ouyang is very beautiful. She has large eyes, exceptionally long eyelashes, a high nose bridge, and curly hair, quite exotic. Her temperament is frank, a bit like the Siamese we saw before.”

Chun Yang and Chun Lv, who had seen Siamese people before in Huaijiang, agreed readily: “That is indeed very beautiful.”

They added with loyal affection: “But our young madam is beautiful too. These days of rest have done you good, and with Physician Zhao often coming to tend your skin, your complexion is rosy and your color excellent; you look even lovelier than before.”

Xin An rose with a grin and said playfully: “Your mouths are one sweeter than the other today; it seems something good is going to happen.”

Ping Qiu had just stepped through the gate of Qiu Shi Courtyard when she heard laughter from within, and a smile rose to her own face. Once announced, she entered and said formally: “Second Young Madam, Madam has just received word that Auntie Cui Ping, newly released from the palace, will come to the residence shortly. She says she would like to meet Young Madam first.”

“That is as it should be,” Xin An replied with composed ease. Palace-trained people naturally had a higher eye and real skills; they had the right to choose their masters.

“Tell Mother that after I pay my respects to Grandmother, I will come over,” she said.

“Madam also asked that Young Madam not be overly concerned,” Ping Qiu added with a reassuring smile. “This time the number of people released from the palace is several dozen more than was said before. If this one does not suit, we can simply choose the next.”

“First convey my thanks to Mother,” Xin An said.

Auntie Wang saw Ping Qiu out and, returning, said with open cheer that if this Cui Ping truly had ability, it would be excellent: “I have already had rooms put in order. If she is suitable, let her move in today. We will assign two little maids to attend her.”

“Since autumn, there have been more and more banquets in the capital. With someone who understands such matters at Young Madam’s side, all our hearts will be at ease,” she added, her delight quite genuine.

Seeing her so pleased, Xin An teased with a laugh: “Look how happy you are. Aren’t you afraid that once she arrives she will bully you?”

“She will not,” Auntie Wang said with unshakeable confidence and a grin. “Anyone coming out of the palace must be clever. She will know that I am not someone an outsider can bully. If she truly dares to try, I will make her life difficult and send her packing.”

Xin An laughed aloud and said approvingly: “Aunt is becoming more and more formidable; that is how it should be.” [What a good aunt. In my previous life, following me, she could hardly have been more stifled.]