Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Tang Rong falls ill as he wished

Xin An stepped forward to pay her respects, then said: “Father, Mother. I heard Grandmother is ill; is it serious?”

Madam Wang said: “Your Grandmother is still asleep. The household physician treated her in time, so there is no great harm, but she must rest quietly from now on.”

Xin An nodded, glanced sideways at Gan Lu, then said: “Aunt Gan Lu acted out of concern and lost her head; she must be feeling regret too. Father and Mother, please do not blame her. If Grandmother wakes and learns of it, she will only be saddened.”

Madam Wang had no intention of dealing harshly with Gan Lu; after all, she was someone at the Grand Matron’s side, and in the past they still had to be polite when they met. It was only because the Grand Matron’s condition had been perilous today that she had rebuked her. At Xin An’s words she let out a breath, then said to Gan Lu: “Rise. Tidy things up properly this afternoon. When the Grand Matron wakes, you will still have the hard work of attending her.”

Xin An reached out to steady her, then said: “Aunt, wash your face and put yourself in order, otherwise Grandmother will worry when she sees you upon waking.”

Gan Lu replied: “Thank you, Second Young Madam.”

Gan Lu withdrew; in that moment she seemed to have aged several years.

Madam Wang said to Tang Gang: “I will keep watch here. Marquis, go and take a look at Chun Hua Courtyard.”

After a night of raging wind and rain, Tang Rong got his wish and fell ill. By morning, when Qing Mo went to bring him water, even his lips had turned purple from the fever, which showed how ruthless he was to himself.

Tang Gang drew a long breath. Now he was truly in a bind: the rumors outside remained unaddressed, and the household had fallen into such a state. [Beset within and without, even breathing felt difficult.]

Watching his departing back, Xin An quickly reordered her plans: [The excursion on the rest day was no longer possible; better to set the opening of the Herbal Cuisine Pavilion for that day. With Tang Rong bedridden and Tang Gang unable to manage both inside and out, this was a chance for her and Tang Mo.] [After doing so much behind the scenes, it was time to show something openly.]

She said to Madam Wang: “Mother, the entire household should be warned again. Although Eldest Brother’s indulgence came first, if the Tao Family’s servants had not been loose-tongued, it would not have spread.”

She added: “As for Father and Grandmother fainting one after the other, such things should not be known outside.”

Madam Wang nodded, then said: “You are right. Although the marquisal household is still in decent shape, we cannot be careless.”

Xin An went on: “Affairs within are easy to handle; the rumors outside must be calmed. With Eldest Brother and Grandmother both ill, and Father looking unwell, I imagine he cannot attend to everything. We will likely need my husband to take pains.”

She concluded: “This is not a matter to delay. I will at once send someone to the Northern Garrison Army to ask my husband to return briefly.”

Madam Wang understood her thinking at once; after a moment’s consideration, she nodded.

Before Tang Mo returned to the residence, the Grand Matron awoke. She stared fixedly at the mosquito net above her. Gan Lu brought water and urged her to drink, but she remained unmoved.

Madam Wang stepped forward, and the moment she halted, Gan Lu retreated to one side. Madam Wang sat slowly on the edge of the bed and spoke gently in persuasion, yet the Grand Matron still did not respond. [She sighed inwardly. She knew Tang Gang and the Grand Matron too well: they could not accept that this was simply Tang Rong’s nature; they would certainly push the matter onto Tao Yi Ran.]

At this moment Tang Gang entered. Madam Wang rose and stepped aside, and Tang Gang sat down, then said: “Mother, do not worry. You know the eldest’s character and propriety. This must have been a trap set by the Tao Family. He also said that once he entered the room he felt woozy. He is, after all, young and inexperienced.”

As expected, the Grand Matron reacted at once. She gripped Tang Gang’s hand tightly and said: “The Tao family girl cannot remain. At her mother’s home she could already ignore her shame and drag the eldest into muddled deeds. If she returns, how could there be any good?”

She said: “The eldest used to be such a fine child. In the capital, who did not say our marquisal Heir Apparent was outstanding? How many families envied us…”

The Grand Matron spoke of Tang Rong’s former brilliance, of the marquisal household’s glory in those days, and of Tao Yi Ran’s hateful conduct. Tang Gang agreed with it all. In those years when Tang Rong was at his best, every time he went out he felt proud; but in the last few months…

He said: “The eldest is soft-hearted and kind. I had long told him to resolve matters with that Tao girl, but he could not bear to do it. Now that such a disgrace has happened, I punished him in a surge of anger.”

At the thought of the sight just now—Tang Rong lying on the bed, unconscious—his heart filled with guilt and regret, and he was all the more furious at the attendants of Chun Hua Courtyard for failing to serve their master attentively.

The Grand Matron asked: “How is the eldest?”

Tang Gang did not dare conceal matters, but he also did not dare say that the fever was severe; he only said he had caught a chill. Tears ran down the Grand Matron’s face as she reproached Tang Gang, then said: “The child is still injured. How could you punish him?”

She said: “Has he not suffered enough these days?”

She said: “Outsiders scheme against him, and you, his father, treat him like this too. How miserable he must feel.”

As she spoke, she tried to rise and go see Tang Rong. Tang Gang urged her repeatedly until she lay down again. Truly pained for Tang Rong, the Grand Matron said: “The Tao family girl cannot be kept. You must find a way to deal with this quickly.”

Tang Gang nodded. Seeing that mother and son were about to discuss what to do next, Madam Wang glanced at Xin An and signaled with her eyes. Xin An gave a slight nod, withdrew without a sound, and stood before the sea of chrysanthemums, [her mood heavy].

Tang Mo strode in and said: “What has happened, to call me back in such haste?”

He took in Xin An’s expression, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, then asked: “Were you wronged?”

Xin An said: “No.” She took a long breath and told Tang Mo the general situation, then said: “Go inside and take a look.”

Tang Mo went straight to the Grand Matron’s room and said: “Grandmother, are you any better?”

He knelt by the bed and took the Grand Matron’s hand, then said: “I was frightened to hear that you fainted. Did the physician say where you feel unwell? Have you taken your medicine?”

The Grand Matron managed a smile, then said: “It is nothing serious. Why have you come back? Will it not delay your post?”

Tang Mo said: “Grandmother is far more important than duty. If I did not come back to see how you are, I would be worrying even on duty.”

The Grand Matron was gratified and said: “Grandmother is all right.”

Just then the decoction was brought in. Tang Mo took it and carefully fed the Grand Matron. When she had once more fallen asleep, he rose and said to Tang Gang: “Father’s health has never been robust, and he should not overtax himself. I hear Eldest Brother is also ill, and it may be three or more days before he recovers. Letting the rumors outside go unchecked is not an option.”

He said: “Though I harbor some resentment toward Eldest Brother, this concerns the marquisal household’s name. If Father trusts me, I will quickly find a way to calm the talk outside.”

Tang Gang lifted his eyes and motioned for Tang Mo to speak outside.

He asked: “What are you thinking?”

Tang Mo said: “Do not admit it.”

He explained: “The rumors outside are groundless talk; no one saw it with their own eyes. Even if someone did, as long as Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law do not admit it, there is room to argue. Given Eldest Brother’s reputation outside, many will readily believe he is the target of malicious slander.”

He continued: “As long as Father releases word that we will pursue the matter to the end, those wagging their tongues will settle down. Then have a few people go sit in the teahouses; if they hear anyone discussing it, they should argue the point vigorously. It should not be hard to win.”

He concluded: “It may be impossible to make everyone believe, but whatever can be salvaged must be salvaged.”

Tang Gang had thought he might have a way to quell it completely and was somewhat disappointed. Yet he reflected that it was impossible to cleanse Tang Rong entirely of this matter; the only course was to reduce the damage to the minimum. He said: “We must identify the rumor mongers and punish them severely.”

Tang Mo sneered inwardly: [If Eldest Brother had not done it, then by all means pursue it.] He said: “Father, we only need to cow the rumor outside and let people know the marquisal household’s stance. We should not dig too deeply.”

He added: “If we pursue it too far, the affair will only grow bigger, and the result will likely be the opposite of what we want.”