Chapter 245

Chapter 245: I Have Plenty of Strength and Means

That evening Tang Gang and Tang Rong returned together. Over such good news, Tang Gang laughed aloud and was thoroughly satisfied with Tang Rong: “This is an excellent event. In this generation there are only you two brothers; our line is thin. Now that your courtyard is announcing good tidings one after another, a flourishing posterity is within sight. Good, very good.”

Tang Rong, however, could not quite feel happy. Everyone knew he had been in the household recuperating from injuries for the past two months, leaving the duties at the Ministry of Rites unattended; and now, with wife and concubines pregnant in succession—though not at exactly the same time—it would be easy for people to speculate. Seeing Tang Gang so pleased, he could only pull out a smile.

Just then Tang Mo returned. Curious, he came up to ask and, upon hearing, cupped his hands toward Tang Rong with a cheerful grin: “Eldest Brother, congratulations, congratulations.”

“The younger brother had said he would learn from Eldest Brother and win honor for the marquisate; now it seems I can only trail behind you,” he added, still smiling.

Rarely in such a good mood, Tang Gang found him more pleasing than usual: “You should indeed learn more from your elder brother, managing both the household and affairs outside.”

“Father speaks truly,” Tang Mo replied smoothly. “But your son fears he cannot match Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother labors for the marquisate day and night; his wounds have not even healed, yet he toils without rest, exerting himself and exhausting his mind. It is truly admirable. Your son is far inferior.”

In his happiness, Tang Gang did not hear what was off in Tang Mo’s tone and nodded in agreement: “I do not ask you to equal your elder brother; just keep to your present course.”

“Your son will not disappoint Father.”

“With such a great joy, shall we not have a few cups tonight?”

Tang Gang thought it fitting. Tang Rong, catching the meaning beneath Tang Mo’s words, was deeply vexed, but this was not the time to speak; he could only cup his hands: “Your son will go have a look first.”

“Go, then,” Tang Gang said with a smile.

Tang Mo followed Tang Rong, still smiling as he walked alongside: “Eldest Brother, it is still you who have real ability. This must already be the first of its kind in the capital, must it not? Your younger brother is truly envious.”

“I heard a certain lower official wants to offer you his daughter. When will you bring her back?” he added lightly.

Tang Rong had no desire to speak to him in the slightest. Tang Mo did not mind; he chattered all the way to the gate of Qiu Shi Courtyard and then laughed: “Eldest Brother, take your time. Shall we brothers have a drink together tonight?”

Tang Rong drew a deep breath, [finding Tang Mo so provoking as to be infuriating]. Already in a poor mood, he felt it sour further.

In Chun Hua Courtyard, Tao Yi Ran all but crushed a silver tooth between her jaws. Having to drink Concubine Tea was bad enough; Xue Yu had been with Tang Rong a long time, and her belly was so large already, yet right under her eyelids Concubine Yue had also conceived; that made the child in Tao Yi Ran’s belly feel less valuable by comparison.

Auntie Liu soothed her for a long while before her mood calmed. Encountering such a situation showed that the marquisate did not stand on proper rules. A household that truly prized propriety would never allow a base?born child to be born before the legitimate son; how could a concubine be allowed to conceive before the legitimate wife?

Given Tao Yi Ran’s straits, after all that had happened, she had no standing now to complain. What could she do but swallow it?

The two concubines gathered together and talked for quite some time, with the air of joining forces. They had thought that, with one of them just returned that very day and the other just finding out she was pregnant, Tang Rong would at least visit them first after he came back. Who knew that, upon returning, Tang Rong went straight to his study, and none of the three pregnant women saw him; at that, Tao Yi Ran’s heart settled somewhat.

Concubine Yue accompanied Concubine Yu to call on Tang Rong, but all they received was a single sentence—“Rest well and nourish the pregnancy”—and they could not help feeling disappointed.

“Of course he cannot be happy about it,” said the woman in the courtyard next door, lounging in a rocking chair with a cup of tea. She spoke of the matter with not a trace of envy: “To manage to get two children while recovering from injuries, he does have ability.”

“Behind closed doors it is a happy event, but outside the gates it is another matter. I shall add fuel to the fire,” she said lightly.

Xin An nibbled the little pastries he had brought back and told him about the Grand Matron’s visit that day. She also reported: “Auntie Cai said right in front of the Grand Matron and Mother that Chun Hua Courtyard is too cramped; even if they want to add attendants to serve, they cannot fit them in. She has already put in a bad word before Grandmother.”

“It seems the next step will come soon.”

Tang Mo set down his teacup. [He did not truly believe his father would make him move out of Qiu Shi Courtyard; if Father really opened his mouth to order him to relocate, what would that make of him? Such a thing has never happened in the capital.]

Xin An grew thoughtful. She had many ways to strike at the courtyard next door; the reason she had done nothing was that she wanted to see Tang Gang’s attitude, because Tang Mo was still unwilling to give up.

Speaking very solemnly, Xin An said: “In truth, I should not have made such a proposal. He is your father; if we move out, it will wound him, and you and your father will have torn your faces completely. I cannot make this decision for you. You agreed today, but perhaps one day you will remember the little bit of kindness he showed you in childhood, and then you will resent me for it, even take revenge on me.”

“But I have my own hatred to avenge. Even knowing it is not fitting, I must do it. If one day you regret it, then let us part ways and each seek our own happiness.”

Tang Mo started, then seized her hand: “What are you saying?”

Dropping to one knee before her so their eyes were level, he said: “If a father’s love or a brother’s affection had truly been mine before, I would never have agreed to your proposal. You and I could never be as cold and heartless as the people next door.”

“But I have never felt such things; even if there was ever a trace of it, it was false, something I schemed to obtain. It was like flowers in a mirror and the moon in water; at the first breeze it scattered. There is no way to lay any blame at your feet.”

“If I blamed you, my living this life would have been for nothing.”

Xin An had her hatreds, and he had his grievances. Xin An had parents who loved her and a younger brother who respected her; before Xin An, he had only his mother to worry for him, and even Mother had her scruples and could not openly favor him. That stifling hurt of being quietly belittled by those closest to you is something you cannot understand without living it yourself.

Xin An’s lips quirked up; she drew a steady breath and said: “You know that you and I are inseparable. Husband and wife are one. I have already been betrayed once; there will not be a second time.”

“If you should gain an advantage and then want to turn your face and deny me, unless you finish me with a single stroke, I will not let you go.”

Tang Mo could only laugh and cry: “Can you not think better of me?”

“I am a practical person,” she answered. “The greatest leverage of my life is in your hands. If I finished you, with whom could I ever speak these words afterward? I would spend the rest of my days in constant fear that someone might glimpse my secret.”

Xin An turned to face him squarely and cupped his face with both hands: “You said it yourself; later on, taking it back will not be allowed. You must know that this madam has plenty of strength and means.”

At this, not only did Tang Mo burst out laughing; even she herself laughed. Tang Mo leaned in and murmured: “I wonder how much of my lady’s means and strength she intends to use on her husband.”

“Do you want to know?” she teased.

He leaned still closer: “I do.”

“Want to try?”

All at once Tang Mo stood up: “Are you serious?”

“You gave me a fright,” she said, startled and amused.