Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Fighting the Elderly Is Truly Deadly

The wind sent the few remaining dead leaves on the branches swirling to the ground. Facing the gusts, Xin An felt her cheeks dry; the winters in the capital were truly bleak. She said lazily to Auntie Wang: “Aunt, I will have a bowl of bird’s nest to moisten my throat.” Auntie Wang replied crisply: “Very well; it is being kept warm in the pot.” After finishing the bird’s nest, Xin An went to Chun Rong Hall and then returned to Qiu Shi Courtyard. She ordered someone to invite Physician Qin, then nestled under the eaves on a rocking chair teasing the myna to speak, watched Meatball romp about the courtyard, and had Chun Yang and the others prepare tea and cakes close at hand. The high walls blocked the biting wind, and she felt pleasantly at ease.

At Duke Xiang Manor, Tang Gang, who had originally come to demand justice, felt a tremor of unease. The nearly seventy-year-old Duke Xiang wore a face like iron, and a mournful air hung over the entire residence. After Zhu You had been carried back yesterday, he had been unwell. In the middle of the night his whole body burned, he babbled deliriously for a long time, and several times he hovered on the brink. His mother, Madam Zhu, knelt before the Buddha and burned incense for half the night. It was only at daybreak that his condition stabilized, and before the household could breathe a sigh of relief, an hour later the fever flared up again. Old Duke Xiang despised this grandson’s uselessness, but useless or not, he was still his own flesh and blood. Seeing his grandson hover again and again at death’s door, how could his heart not ache? Before he could go to Tang Gang for an accounting, the other man actually dared to come to his door to seek justice.

Tang Gang rose and cupped his hands stiffly as he said with difficulty: “Duke, since now is not the time to talk, I will call again another day.” In such a situation he naturally wanted to leave, but they would not give him the chance. Old Duke Xiang’s face remained frosty as he said, “Marquis, do sit and have a cup of tea. Though this Duke’s Manor lacks the noble in-laws of a marquisate, we still have several teas. Marquis, sample a few.” Tang Gang looked awkward and answered, “The tea at the Duke’s Manor is certainly excellent, but I have official business and should not tarry. I will come another day to keep the Duke company over tea.” The old duke lifted his lids and gave a cold snort as he said, “I have not yet given the Marquis justice, so why the hurry? What, guilty conscience?”

Tang Gang allowed himself a faint smile and sat down again as he said, “So it seems the Duke now wishes to demand an explanation from me.” He was already seething. The rumors outside had been gradually subsiding, and he had made arrangements at the Ministry of Rites. As long as Tang Rong kept a low profile after returning, the shadow would naturally disperse in time. Everything had been planned, but that scoundrel Zhu You had staged this scene and pushed Tang Rong back onto the cusp of the storm. At court that morning, the imperial censor had impeached him again. If not for Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites speaking up, Tang Rong might already have been sent home. If he could no longer appear at the Ministry of Rites, who knew how he would be mocked then. And the old thing before his eyes persisted in sly sarcasm, as if Tang Gang were a soft persimmon to be squeezed at will.

He lifted the teacup and sipped lightly, then spoke with a sheen of irony: “No matter what Third Young Master Zhu did, no matter how absurd, excessive, and unruly, he fell ill, and once ill he is in the right. The marquisate should bring lavish gifts to visit him, and best of all, I should take my son to call and apologize. He ought to stand there and endure Third Young Master’s humiliation; why should he have fainted with anger and then raised his hand against the third young master?” He pushed the sarcasm further: “The young masters of the Duke’s Manor are all exceedingly precious; so what if he humiliated my son with a few words, so what if he coveted his wife? Ranks and stations are a chasm ordained by heaven; it is my son who failed to recognize his place.” Then he set the cup down and praised coolly, “This Marquis has tasted the tea of the Duke’s Manor, and it is indeed fine. This Marquis will now return and submit a memorial of guilt. This Marquis does not shirk responsibility for failing to teach his son properly, and I will certainly give the Duke a satisfactory reply.” Finishing, he rose without heed for the old duke’s furious glare, cupped his hands, and said, “I take my leave.”

He went straight back to his own residence. Barely had the memorial of guilt been sent out when news arrived that the old duke had collapsed in a faint, and faint rumors sprang up that Tang Gang had been swaggering and overbearing.

Tang Mo learned of it first, immediately requested leave, and returned to the marquisate, heading straight for Qiu Shi Courtyard. At that moment Xin An was feeding fish in the courtyard, and she greeted him with a smile: “You are back rather early today?” He lowered his voice and said, “Come inside; I have something to tell you.” Xin An did not delay and went in with him. Tang Mo quickly explained all he had heard: that Zhu You was gravely ill, that Tang Gang had been high-handed, and that the old duke had fainted. He concluded, faintly puzzled: “I do not yet know the specifics, but did the old man have a direct clash with the old duke?” Xin An poured him a cup of warm water and analyzed calmly: “Father certainly went to demand justice for the family. After the ruckus Zhu You made, even though the Tao family’s young madam blocked his words, there are still those who believe him. At such a time, it is indeed the Duke’s Manor that should step out, apologize, and restore Tao Yi Ran’s name so Tang Rong is not mocked.” She weighed the balance and went on: “But Zhu You is seriously ill, and it happened after Tang Rong struck him. Even when you have reason, it is weakened. However wretched Zhu You may be, he is still of the Duke’s Manor; how could the old duke not ache for him?” She concluded with a sober assessment: “Father is adept at avoiding harm and courting fortune, but he is no soft persimmon. In this matter he cannot retreat.”

The warm water soothed the agitation in his chest. Tang Mo arched a brow and asked, “Did Father anger the old duke into fainting?” Xin An replied evenly: “Only those present can know whether the faint was genuine, but faint he did, and at that age. Even if Father had reason, it now appears unreasonable.” She sighed and added a wry lesson: “So do not provoke the elderly. The moment he lies down on the ground, you have lost the momentum.” She pictured the talk that would follow and said, “Later people will say that while his grandson’s life hung in the balance, Marquis Wei Yuan strode in to throw his weight around and forced an old man to faint; tsk, tsk, then Father will truly be beyond all defense.” She reflected inwardly: [Crossing wits with the elderly can be fatal.]

Drawing a deep breath, Tang Mo felt he could not stand idly by. Everyone understood the principle that the honor of one was the honor of all; only if the marquisate stood well would he stand well. He said decisively, “We must make sure the old man is prepared.” He grimaced a little and admitted, “Only, thinking that we must also help Tang Rong along the way sits ill with me.” Xin An smiled and answered, pointing to the gains and losses: “Helping him is helping yourself; one rises as another falls.” She added with calm foresight: “The serpent’s trail runs grey and hidden for a thousand li; there is no need to rush this moment.” Husband and wife exchanged a smile. Tang Mo was about to speak again when Nan Feng interrupted at the door and announced, “My lady, Physician Qin has arrived.” Xin An rose and said with a chuckle: “We have been waiting half the day; at last.”

They went together to the front courtyard. Physician Qin was drinking tea, and there was a faint scent of wine about him. Xin An could only be helplessly amused; ever since Physician Qin had gone to help at the Herbal Cuisine House, tasting dishes all day, he had fallen completely in love with eating. In so short a time he had rounded out by two sizes. It seemed his passion for food now exceeded his passion for refining medicines. She gave him a teasing look and said, “You have grown plumper?” He retorted at once, “Nonsense.” Qin Bai refused to admit it and said loftily: “I was like this before I came. I slimmed down on the road and have merely returned to my normal state.” Xin An spread her hands and said, “Whatever you say.” Then she turned serious: “Uncle Qin, I have something to tell you.”

She told him about Second Madam Zhao. Before she could offer her own view, Qin Bai spoke first and said bluntly: “She has seen countless physicians, even the imperial doctors, and they could not find the cause?” He shook his head and concluded: “Then I will not be able to cure her either.” Xin An protested, “You have not even examined her.” But Qin Bai explained that he knew the skill of the imperial physicians: “Either it is not some rare, baffling illness, or it is a disorder that cannot be named openly. Cases like this are often troublesome; I will not go.” The waters of the capital ran deep; he did not wish to embroil Xin An in trouble.