Chapter 230

Chapter 230: One Must Not Hide Illness or Shun the Doctor

At the thought of Tang Rong personally sending his son to his death, a chill curved Tang Mo’s lips. [He was no saint; he repaid every slight in full, and several vicious schemes were already taking shape in his mind.]

Seeing his expression, Xin An knew exactly what he was thinking and said: “Do your duty well and look for a chance to make a splash. Next door, proceed exactly as we planned at the start and do nothing else for now. Going forward, we should avoid acting with our own hands as much as possible. It is best if we can guide others to act.”

After speaking, she closed her eyes to sleep. Tang Mo drew the quilt up over her and, pleased, inched closer to her side, saying: “I know.”

Habits are a frightening thing. At first, the two of them even fought over the blanket, but now, under the covers, their legs lay pressed together. Xin An would even rest her foot on Tang Mo’s calf for warmth, and though they had not yet consummated the marriage, there was already the feeling of an old married couple.

After a night of sound sleep, Tang Mo woke at dawn clear-headed and refreshed. The trace of poison he had taken the previous evening had thoroughly dissipated. He took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, then slowly exhaled the stale breath from his abdomen, and felt even more invigorated.

With a mysterious air, Lai Lai sidled up to Tang Mo and said: “Young master, you must be familiar with Divine Physician Hua, yes?”

Tang Mo flicked the handkerchief in his hand onto him and said: “Speak properly.”

Lai Lai hesitated, then gritted his teeth and took two steps closer, saying: “Young master, if anything feels off, why not ask Divine Physician Hua to take a look?” He added: “Doctors keep strict confidences, and a divine physician keeps them even stricter. He absolutely will not talk.”

The night before, Chun Yang had furtively described their young master’s situation to him, which convinced him the young master surely had a problem. At the young master’s age he ought already to be versed in the ways of men and women. Previously, the lady had sent Nan Feng to attend him. Nan Feng was very beautiful, yet the young master had not spared her a proper glance and later had even scolded her away. Now he slept nightly with the young madam and it was still like this; if that was not an ailment, then what was it?

He lowered his voice and said: “Young master, you must not hide an illness and shun the doctor.”

Tang Mo had not even reacted and said: “What nonsense are you spouting at the crack of dawn?” [Why should I see a divine physician, just because I am feeble?] He said: “I am sturdy and strong. What divine physician would I need to see?”

Lai Lai’s eyes said plainly that he had expected such denial. He could only lower his voice and say: “Young master, some matters have nothing to do with being sturdy and strong. If they need treatment, they need treatment.”

Following Lai Lai’s gaze down to his own crotch, Tang Mo understood at once. Shamed and angry, he kicked Lai Lai in the shin and said: “I am perfectly fine.”

Laughing as he dodged back, Lai Lai still would not stop talking and said: “This is not just me talking. You lie with the young madam every night and have no thoughts at all? The young madam is so lovely. If you say you feel no desire whatsoever, who would believe it? And you can still hold yourself steady. Apart from having an ailment, there is no second explanation.”

Tang Mo snapped: “Shut your mouth.”

He glanced furtively around like a guilty thief, his expression betraying a flicker of guilt, as if he truly did have a problem, mostly because it was so hard to explain.

Keeping well out of reach, Lai Lai grinned and said: “Let us go see Divine Physician Hua tonight.”

Tang Mo threatened in a low voice: “Say one more word and I will seal your mouth.”

After this commotion, Tang Mo felt flustered even at breakfast. He kept thinking that everyone in the courtyard was looking at him oddly. He truly felt like crying without tears and had no idea what sin he had committed to deserve this.

Xin An was still asleep. Before going out, he deliberately lifted the bed curtain and shook her awake, saying: “I am leaving.”

She answered: “Mm.”

Xin An rolled over to continue sleeping. Irritated, Tang Mo kicked the bedframe. Xin An opened her eyes and said crossly: “Are you sexually frustrated this early in the morning?”

By chance, Chun Yang had come in to check on the noise and heard this. Tang Mo turned and glared at her. Chun Yang was innocent. After he left, she slipped over to Auntie Wang and asked: “What is wrong with the young master? What about being sexually frustrated?”

For a moment, Auntie Wang was confused. Could it be that the young master truly had something wrong, willing in mind but powerless in body?

She said: “Chun Yang, go find Physician Qin today and ask him to prepare a medicinal food prescription.”

Feeling awkward, Chun Yang said: “If I go, I might not be able to explain it well.”

Auntie Wang nodded and said: “I will go. I can make it clearer.”

Anxious at heart, she did not delay. She put down her work and left the manor at once. The sooner it was treated, the sooner it would be cured.

After breakfast, Xin An asked where Aunt had gone. Chun Yang said: “She said she has an errand outside and will be back later.”

Xin An assumed she was going to the Xin family residence and did not say more.

Ping Qiu delivered several invitation cards, some inviting Xin An to banquets and some requiring the whole family to attend. Xin An asked Chun Yang to invite Auntie Cui Ping to help her analyze them.

Auntie Cui Ping arrived quickly. Her days in the marquis’s manor could be called exceedingly carefree. She had little to do most days, had her own small courtyard and two maids to attend her, and no one supervised her. It was far freer than the palace. Her complexion was rosy now; the rigidity etched over long years had softened somewhat, and even her smile had grown easier.

Precisely because of such treatment, she took Xin An’s affairs very much to heart. After all, such well-paid, low-effort and free work was hard to find. Taking up the cards, she began to analyze them in detail for Xin An, saying: “Old Madam Zhang’s youngest daughter entered the palace eight years ago. She is now of consort rank and has borne no children. Three months ago the Zhang family sent another daughter into the palace. The men of the Zhang family hold only idle posts in the Imperial Court. When this invitation arrives, it will suffice to send a congratulatory gift; there is no need to go in person.”

She continued: “The young general of the Wu family is marrying; this one we must attend. General Wu is stationed at the border and is highly valued by His Majesty the Emperor. Not only must we go in person, but the gift should be a grade richer…”

Cui Ping had not been idle recently. Through her own channels she had once again sorted the circumstances of the various households in the capital and spoke with reason and evidence. Before she finished, Chun Lv ran in and said: “Young madam, the master has sent us crabs.”

She added breathlessly: “Just now Wang Fu came to say the master had people send crabs from the Huai River, five hundred jin. Early this morning Uncle Wang went to the dock to pick up the goods. They are big and fat and have already been sent to the house.”

The house she referred to was the Xin family residence. Thrilled, Xin An said: “Auntie Cui Ping, come with me to have a look.”

She had guessed that her father would send them, but only when they arrived did she realize how much she had been looking forward to them.

She sent someone to notify Madam Wang, then left, and soon reached the main gate of the Xin residence. Wang Jin and Wang Fu, father and son, greeted them at the door with broad smiles and said: “It was five hundred jin at the time of shipping. The master instructed the boatmen to lower the crabs into the water in nets every other day and feed them minced fish. After the journey, about three hundred jin remain, packed in five big tubs. Those that made it here alive are all vigorous.”

She asked: “Not tied?”

They answered: “No. Tying them would make them die easily on the road. But the master also prepared tying cords and sent them along.”

For this daughter, Xin Kuan could be said to have spared no effort.

They entered and went to where the crabs were stored. Before they got close, they heard the rustling sound of crabs blowing bubbles, and a scent unique to crabs rushed to greet them. Xin An did not fear being pinched; she grasped a crab by the back and lifted it to examine carefully, saying: “They truly are big and fat. Just looking at them you can see the golden roe.”

These were not comparable to what they had eaten earlier. This time, that scoundrel Tang Rong should not even dream of taking advantage of a single one of her crabs.