Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Tang Rong Almost Loses His Composure

As soon as Tang Rong said this, Grand Matron and Tang Gang both looked toward Tang Mo, and the atmosphere at the table changed in an instant. Not serving in the army was a rule set by the Old Marquis, which no one was allowed to alter.

Tang Mo appeared not to notice. Unhurriedly swallowing a bite of crab meat bun, he smiled and said: “I have not thought of that. I must listen to Father’s arrangements for my future. Right now I am practicing martial training because I am serving with the Northern Garrison Army, and Commander Liao is strict. Everyone knows I come from the Marquis Wei Yuan Residence. If I cannot even manage more than ornamental forms, would that not invite ridicule?”

He sighed with a self-deprecating ease and added: “It is a pity I did not listen to Father and train hard when I was young. Starting now is late. It is mostly for health.”

Tang Gang was very satisfied with his attitude. His expression eased, and the tension at the table dissipated. He said with pride and a hint of nostalgia: “Your grandfather could swing an eighty-jin broadsword with great dash. Although the Marquis’s household no longer goes to war, we cannot let others look down on us.”

He added with fatherly indulgence: “Martial training is hard, so you will naturally have a bigger appetite. Eating more is a good thing.”

His gaze lingered briefly on Tang Mo. He had to admit that after slimming down, Tang Mo looked quite good. His features were regular, there was a heroic air between his brows, and his clothes were well chosen. He looked like a clean, bright, handsome youth. The more he looked, the more proud such a son made him feel. Just the other day he had seen the grandson of Minister of Revenue Qiu, whose features were all over the place and not presentable at all, a squat little figure with a slick, thuggish air that hurt the eyes, yet that minister treasured him like a gem. And as for Prince Cheng’s Heir Apparent, he was a man with a drinker’s red nose, a short chin, a thick neck, and bowlegs. His looks were poor, and when he put on brocade it seemed as if he had stolen it, with not a shred of refinement, very much like his mother. [If mother and son had not been born into a princely household, they would likely have faced lonely lives.] [He wondered how the handsome Prince Cheng could even bring himself to kiss such a woman.]

Unaware that his father was a sharp-eyed, acerbic judge of appearances, Tang Mo, thoughtful as ever, used the serving chopsticks to place a crab meat bun into his father’s bowl and said with filial warmth: “Father worries over his son and has grown thinner than before. You should also eat more.”

Tang Gang nodded happily and said: “It is rare and welcome that you have become sensible.”

Madam Wang said with a gentle smile: “You father and son should not just talk. Once these crab meat buns grow cold, they are no longer so delicious,” then she placed one for Xin An.

Xin An accepted it and said: “Thank you, Mother.”

Madam Wang then ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Tang Rong and said evenly: “Crab meat is not good for wound recovery. Once you are healed, we will make these again. For now, drink more chicken soup. I put angelica in it; it is good for your body.”

The family enjoyed a warm harmony. Grand Matron watched and was delighted. Only Tang Rong sat uncomfortably with his bowl of soup. When his stepmother served it to him, he could not refuse to drink, but if he did drink it, all the days he had spent on light porridge and bland greens would be wasted.

Sadly, no one noticed his difficulty; everyone else ate with smiling faces.

After the meal, the family sat together drinking a hawthorn infusion, and Grand Matron, who rarely lingered, stayed and beamed as she said to Tang Rong: “Your complexion is good, and your body looks sturdier. It shows that those in your courtyard are serving you well.”

Elderly folk disliked seeing skin-and-bone; round and plump looked blessed in their eyes. She glanced fondly across the room and said: “As for the second one, he has slimmed down a little, but he looks much more spirited. Do not let the martial training be too hard.”

In Grand Matron’s eyes, it was naturally best for the younger generation to be white and plump. She meant nothing else, only simple concern for her two grandsons. Yet the overthinking Tang Rong instinctively took it as Grand Matron hinting that he was fat while praising Tang Mo’s vigor. Fortunately his breath-nurturing practice had always been good, so he smiled and said smoothly: “I have indeed put on a little while recuperating. Once I return to the Ministry of Rites and get busy, I will likely slim down quickly.”

Grand Matron reminded him with kindly concern: “Even when busy, remember to eat. Do not mistreat yourself.”

She felt a little sorry that he had no woman at his side who truly knew his needs. She had heard that Concubine Yue was decent, but in the end she was a concubine with limited experience, able only to prepare soups and tonics. Then she saw Tang Mo and Xin An speaking together in low voices, smiling sweetly as a harmonious couple, and while that pleased her, it made her feel even more regret for Tang Rong. Once the bright and gallant eldest grandson had lost his former luster; it pained the eye.

Madam Wang kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, betraying not a ripple of emotion as she observed Grand Matron’s growing tenderness toward Tang Rong. Once, she too had given Tang Rong her whole heart and treated him as her own son. And the result? No one truly cared whether her Mo’er lived well or ill. Even Grand Matron, who prided herself on her broad kindness, had often overlooked her Mo’er. If not for Mo’er’s careful thought these past months and the daughter-in-law’s painstaking efforts, Grand Matron would likely still not see the goodness of her son and daughter-in-law. [And now she feels sorry for Tang Rong.]

Tang Mo then asked with bright enthusiasm: “Mother, what do you think?” He was speaking of taking the family out to relax on his next rest day. He said with a smile: “The osmanthus is fragrant and the lotus leaves still spread over the ponds, both at their tail end. If we miss them, we must wait until next year.”

Madam Wang laughed and answered lightly: “You young people should go. Why should I go along?”

If she went out, she would have to stay close by Grand Matron’s side and arrange everything up and down; the thought alone was tiring.

Xin An said gently that the place they had in mind was good, with a pavilion where one could sit and enjoy the view and a broad prospect, then asked: “If everyone thinks it is good, may I make the arrangements?”

She added with a smile: “Grandmother, Father, and Mother only need to relax and enjoy themselves.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Tang Rong and invited him: “Big Brother, come with us too.”

Tang Rong refused without thinking and said coolly: “I have matters to attend to that day. You and Second Brother take Grandmother and Father and Mother out to enjoy yourselves. When I am past this busy period, I will arrange an outing in turn.”

Tang Gang felt that going out together was a good chance to prove to the outside world that the Marquis’s household was harmonious. People outside were saying that the bride swap had planted a grudge between the two brothers. An outing together, pleasant and relaxed, would show everyone that with him, Tang Gang, present, the Marquis’s household could not fall to disorder. He said firmly: “It is a rare good opportunity, and the weather is fine. You should come along.”

Tang Rong nearly lost his composure, feeling it was an act of humiliation. Everyone knew Tao Yi Ran had been sent back to her parents’ home; who knew what people outside were saying now. And yet they were asking him to pretend nothing had happened and go out to amuse himself with them. [This is to ignore my thoughts completely, to force me into embarrassment, with no consideration for my situation.]

Xin An glanced at Tang Mo, and he understood at once. He said at the right moment: “Father is right. Big Brother, come with us. The next two or three months will be busy, and it will be hard to find another chance. You have been shut in your courtyard nursing your injuries; it will do you good to go out and clear your mind.”

Grand Matron looked pleased and said, supporting the point: “Since your Father and Second Brother both say so, then go together.”

Thus Tang Rong had no grounds left to refuse. He could only nod and say politely: “In that case, I will trouble my sister-in-law to make the arrangements.”

Xin An answered with a gentle smile: “It is nothing but proper.”

She smiled at Tang Mo, and Tang Mo, cheerful as ever, began recounting amusing anecdotes. The room soon grew lively again, and there truly was a touch of family harmony.

The full moon hung high. In Chun Hua Courtyard, Auntie Cai, avoiding notice, slipped into Tang Rong’s study. Given her standing in the courtyard, even if she had been seen, it would not have seemed strange.

She was tense. Upon entering, she opened Tang Rong’s drawers and found a small box tucked into a corner of one of them. Inside lay the ring of keys that Auntie Liu had returned. She quickly hid the keys up her sleeve, put the box back where it had been, and then left the room as if nothing at all had happened.