Chapter 219

Chapter 219: A grand spectacle at the Tao family gates

As the sun slanted west, Tang Mo and Yan Shi Mao and the others woke one after another. Qin Bai arrived with an apprentice and a medicine chest to take their pulses. When he learned he was to prepare medicinal diets for them, they were all most obedient. At the end, Qin Bai rolled his eyes and said: “One by one you rely on your youth and do not treat your bodies as anything at all. Sooner or later you will suffer for it.”

“Hmph.” Tang Mo stepped forward with a laugh and asked: “Physician Qin, am I all right?”

“Deficient,” Qin Bai said bluntly. “So deficient that this is not the physiognomy of longevity.”

Tang Mo could not bear to hear that and said: “That should not be. I have been diligent in martial training to strengthen my body. How can I still be deficient? Would you take another look?”

Qin Bai shot him a glare and asked: “After martial training, have you been bathing in cold water?”

Tang Mo laughed awkwardly and glanced at Liao Zhi. Qin Bai snorted again and said: “Do not look at him. He will not live longer than you.”

At that, Tang Mo was at a loss for words, and Liao Zhi’s face darkened. To be told, right after waking, that he would not live long, and not to strike someone, was already an act of restraint.

Forcing a smile, Tang Mo said: “Then please trouble yourself to regulate my health.”

“You can eat the best medicinal foods, but you must still cherish your own body,” Qin Bai said without fear of Liao Zhi’s rank. Compared with power, he could not stand seeing young men rely on their youth to ruin their bodies, then argue back stubbornly. “After martial training, your qi and blood surge and your yang energy is outward. If you then douse yourself with cold water, how could that be good? Damp cold lodges in the body year after year. Right now you suppress it by virtue of youth, but when it finally bursts out, will it not cost you your life? Do you think asking you to drink hot water and bathe in hot water is to harm you? I will write you prescriptions today. I will re-examine you in a month. If you are not improved by then, do not come to me again.”

No physician likes a patient who refuses to listen.

Next came the turn of Yan Shi Mao and the others. When Qin Bai left, Yan Shi Mao edged closer and asked: “Second Brother, is this physician well known?”

“My father-in-law retains him,” Tang Mo said: “In Huaijiang he has the reputation of a divine physician. He is quite capable.” He cupped his hands to Liao Zhi and said: “Commander, Physician Qin’s temper is large, but his skill is excellent. Please forgive him.”

“It is fine. Compared with those truly eccentric so-called divine doctors, Physician Qin is approachable,” Liao Zhi said. He knew right from wrong. A skilled physician is hard to secure. Since he had come of his own accord today to take their pulses, it must have been arranged by the Tang family’s Second Young Madam, or perhaps at a wife’s request. He would not be ungrateful.

The sun dipped lower. Those waiting for the meal were a bit bored when a serving lad ran in in a rush. He blurted out: “Second Young Master, there is a grand spectacle at the Tao family gates. The Duke of Xiang’s third young master and the Heir Apparent of Marquis Wei Yuan’s household have clashed, and you…”

“Ahem.” Yan Shi Mao cut him off. [I am dying of curiosity.] Still he forced a proper air and said: “Do not carry on so noisily. Have you no sense of decorum? What is so serious? Speak slowly.”

The serving lad quickly bowed to everyone present to apologize, then vividly described what had just happened.

Since Tang Rong was to return to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow, he deliberately chose the hour when the sun was beginning to set to fetch Tao Yi Ran. He had to keep a low profile in all things now and did not want to make a show of it and invite yet more gossip.

The road was smooth until they reached the Tao family. As he stepped down from the carriage, he saw Zhu You entangled with the Tao family’s servants, insisting on “just one meeting.” The Tao servants refused him entry no matter what he said.

Tang Rong felt a bad premonition and coldly asked what Zhu You was doing there. Already on edge, Zhu You threw a punch the instant he saw him.

The two were only two steps apart, one standing on the steps and the other below, which gave Zhu You a convenient angle. Tang Rong’s bodyguards were a beat slow, and the result was that Tang Rong took a heavy blow to his right eye socket. He staggered back two steps and clutched his eye in pain.

“Heir Apparent,” the bodyguards gasped. [This is bad. We are finished.] Who could have guessed that Third Young Master Zhu would suddenly strike? A man of such standing, how could he personally throw a punch? What sin had they committed to be saddled with such a luckless Heir Apparent?

They stepped in front of Tang Rong, but he, burning with fury, pushed them aside and shouted: “Zhu Third, are you insane?”

“Yes, I am insane, driven insane by you,” Zhu You snarled, his eyes bloodshot. No one knew what he had suffered these past two days. Huang Wei, that fierce woman, demanded separation regardless of anything. At home they did not ask the reason; they simply beat him, scolded him, and blamed him until he wanted to die. He had not wanted to marry Huang Wei in the first place. He only wanted to be with the woman he loved. What was wrong with that? Now that he was to separate and Tao girl had been forced by her in-laws to return to her maiden home, would this not be their chance to be together?

Clutching his eye, Tang Rong was both furious and anxious and thought: [If this punch leaves a mark, how am I to present myself at the Ministry of Rites tomorrow?] He snapped: “Zhu Third, you lunatic, what nonsense are you raving?”

“I am a lunatic, driven mad by you,” Zhu You roared: “You married Tao girl, so why will you not treat her well? If you will not treat her well, why do you insist on possessing her, making her endure so much grievance? If you cannot give her a good life, then let her go. Why do you torment her?”

The moment he thought how Tao girl had been driven back to her family and would be chased into her own home by Tang Rong to be dominated and humiliated, Zhu You’s heart bled. “Tang Rong, how hateful you are,” he choked.

Tang Rong’s mind buzzed as if struck by a heavy cudgel, and for a moment he could not think. Then he erupted in rage and said: “Zhu Third, what lunacy is this? She is my wife. What right do you have to speak so wildly?”

“You, a man with a wife, lusting after another man’s wife, are shameless,” he shot back.

“Am I more shameless than you? You despicable petty man. May you be beaten walking by night and bitten by dogs when you step out the door. You have become a laughingstock. What do you have to be proud of…” Zhu You taunted.

Tang Rong’s blood surged. His eyes went red. “Silence. Beat him,” he ordered.

The two bodyguards moved at once. In such a situation, what man could endure it? Zhu You had run out alone, without even a helper. He could only crouch, covering his head, while still shouting: “Tang Rong, you have no shame. On your wedding day you forced your younger sister-in-law, taking her by force. Others may fear your marquisate. I do not. You hypocrite in a gentleman’s robe. You covet Tao girl’s beauty. You seized her yet will not treat her well. You let a woman bear slander for you. You dare to do but do not dare to admit it, you insidious little man. If you have any guts, let us go inside and confront her face-to-face. Let us see whether she chooses me or you.”

The onlookers stared round-eyed. “He forced his sister-in-law?” one whispered. “On the very wedding day? Are great households really this chaotic?” another murmured.

Ears pricked, they all gossiped. Tang Rong’s face turned iron green. He wanted to tear Zhu You to pieces. At that moment Zhao Wen and Ma Qi arrived. Seeing the situation, they charged forward and shouted: “Stop, all of you, stop.” They continued to cry: “Tang Rong, Zhu You is of the Duke of Xiang’s household. Do you intend to beat him to death? Your blows are far too heavy.”