Chapter 213

Chapter 213: The Result of the Sisters-in-law’s Duel of Wits

The Grand Matron spoke with heartfelt weight: “Grandmother’s health worsens by the day. I do not know how many years I have left. You must not let Grandmother go to meet your grandfather with regrets.”

She continued with measured seriousness: “A man must set up a family and establish a career. Now that you have found your footing in the Northern Garrison Army, you must pay more attention to the matter of heirs.”

“Grandmother, what are you saying,” Tang Mo replied with gentle humor: “Your grandson has his priorities clear and is already working at it. You need only take good care of yourself. When great-grandchildren are running about before you, there will be times when you must endure their mischief.”

Picturing the scene, the Grand Matron finally laughed freely. Tang Mo then teased and joked until her spirits were light and much of her gloom had dispersed. In the end, she declined his offer to dine with her and good-naturedly sent him away.

When Tang Mo returned to Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An was instructing the servants to bring the dishes to the table. Tang Mo teased with a smile: “What a coincidence. You knew I was about to arrive?”

Chun Yang laughed and reported dutifully: “From the moment you passed through the residence gate, young mistress knew you had returned, and she also knew you were coming straight from Chun Rong Hall.”

“Oh my, I had no idea our young mistress’s information network within the residence is already so well informed,” Tang Mo joked, sidling up with a grin to Xin An: “Your money was not spent in vain.”

Xin An shot him a look and said crisply: “Mind your manners.”

She turned to go inside, and Tang Mo followed, smiling. Xin An asked as they entered: “Didn’t you go out to invite guests? Were you inviting all this time?”

“That was before I was nabbed for another task,” he said, explaining: “Every year around this month, two vassal states come to present tribute. This year, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue are joining hands to hold a large market to make it easier for common folk to buy New Year goods. Everywhere, the Northern Garrison Army is needed to keep order. We will be busy for a while.”

“Busy is a good thing,” Xin An said with an approving nod: “You are an ambitious, up-and-coming young man, not someone who muddles through.”

“That I am,” Tang Mo replied with cheerful pride: “After these two months, I have firmly planted my feet in the Northern Garrison Army and earned the Commander’s trust.”

He added with playful sincerity: “Of course, this owes much to the great help of the beautiful Lady Xin.” Savoring how pleasant it felt to have aid at one’s back, he declared with relish: “I will not waste this. I believe I will be promoted before long, and then we will set two tables to celebrate.”

He scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed, and asked: “On opening day, could you save three more tables for me?”

“Your colleagues from the Northern Garrison Army want to come?” Xin An asked.

Tang Mo said that when he invited people today, Zhuang Shi heard about it and helped tout the venue: “Quite a few said they have never eaten proper medicinal cuisine and want to try it. A few also said they would like to bring their families. They are all people I am close to, and I could not refuse.”

“What does it matter,” Xin An said with easy generosity: “We already had a few tables unassigned. Decide it yourself.”

Tang Mo went on: “On the way back I asked Mother, and she said she wants to invite several ladies she knows, so that is two more tables. I want to see Father next and leave one table for him. That will fill everything.”

Xin An nodded and said with poise: “We should leave one for Father, or we would be remiss in propriety.”

After they had eaten together, Tang Mo dismissed the attendants, leaned close, and told Xin An the news he had just gotten from Madam Wang. He ended with a small sigh of regret: “There will likely be no more news from the Tao Family for a while.”

Xin An counseled a timely retreat: “We should stop while we are ahead. The inner residence has changed hands, and a new broom sweeps clean. Besides, she is about to return. Keeping our eyes fixed on the Tao Family is no longer worthwhile. Moreover…” She paused to think, then said, “A sudden change of the household manager at the Tao Family means something serious must have happened, and it involves Madam Tao.”

Tang Mo blurted without thinking: “Was what happened over at the Tao Family discovered?”

“It must have been,” Xin An replied. “At the Autumn Banquet I met Madam Li. She is no pushover. Given how the matter of those two next door spread, I think it was not only your people who made a move; that Young Madam Tao must have had a hand in it.”

She added with cool clarity: “At the banquet I deliberately mentioned it to her. She showed not the least surprise, which shows she already knew.”

“Previously your reports said Tao Yi Ran was making trouble at her natal home. Now it seems this is the outcome of a duel of wits between sisters-in-law.”

Tang Mo’s expression turned complicated as he murmured, “I am finding that the way you women fight is really…”

“Impossible to guard against,” Xin An finished with a sidelong glance. Without her analysis, who would have thought of that additional player?

She added with light scorn: “Look at you, as if you had never seen the world. Since ancient times, men have fought to conquer the realm, and women have conquered men. When men deal with enemies, they wish to kill them outright. When women deal with enemies, they must see them disgraced, with a hundred and eight ways to torment them to death.”

She concluded with a shrug: “Of course, that is not absolute. Some twisted men also like to torment others.”

The corner of Tang Mo’s mouth twitched as he asked, “Where did you learn that?”

“In books,” Xin An replied. She explained that in these idle days she had read quite a few books: “All those you hauled back. I read a bit of official histories, unofficial histories, and military strategy.”

Some days earlier, Tang Mo had said he wanted to study strategy to improve himself and had eagerly fetched many related volumes from the residence library. But since he went out early and came back late every day, he hardly had any chance to read them, and in the end they had become Xin An’s pastime.

“Truly you grow smarter by the day. If I do not run, I cannot keep up with you,” he lamented theatrically.

Seeing his mock-despair, Xin An comforted him with a smile: “It is fine. I will tell you what I learn. If I know it, that means you know it.”

Their talk circled back. Xin An concluded: “We need not concern ourselves with the Tao Family anymore. We have earned enough these days. Stop at the right time.”

She laid out the practical advantages: “Next door’s pregnancy means she will not go out for a long time, and Mother will not permit it either. That is equivalent to buying us another year or more.”

“As for Mother’s pretext, it only sounds pleasant. It is self-deception. Tang Rong’s reputation will inevitably take a heavy blow. In the residence, because Father is partial to him, it does not show.”

She added coolly: “Toss another log on the fire where Zhu You is concerned. We must not let it end at this.”

Tang Mo nodded agreement. The night wind rose. The two, who had thought of going out for a walk, changed their minds and stayed in to talk. Once in bed, they began to fight over the quilt.

“I think you did it on purpose,” he teased with sham severity: “Is it so hard to add another quilt? Are you perhaps coveting this young master’s warm body?”

Xin An wanted to kick him off the bed and snapped: “Stop flattering yourself. The quilt is torn and being mended.”

“What an unfortunate coincidence,” he said, entirely unconvinced by the flimsy excuse. He lay down contentedly and added with mock gallantry: “Since that is the case, I will have to suffer a little. Do not set your hands on me in the middle of the night.”

Xin An lay down with an exasperated huff, then suddenly remembered something and asked: “Do the words you spoke before still count?”

“Which words?” he asked.

“Tao Yi Ran is pregnant. The Grand Matron will certainly set her sights on me,” she said plainly: “You said you would block it.”

“Grand Matron already brought it up today,” Tang Mo answered. “Do not worry. I keep my word.”

He shifted a little closer and lowered his voice with a smile: “However… as for the two of us, do you have any thoughts?”