Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Tang Mo distinguishes himself

Tang Mo had only made a casual remark, but he had not expected his mother to grow anxious. He hurried to say: “Mother, please do not overthink it. I was only talking. I know what I should do. I am better now; how could I act foolishly? Please do not be impulsive; we will proceed slowly.” [He was terrified that his mother might, like Xin An, think of sending Tang Rong on his way with a single packet of medicine. Truth be told, Tang Rong ought to thank him; if not for his constant persuasion to hold back, weeds would already be growing on Tang Rong’s grave. His passing would not be a pity, but making a move would inevitably leave traces; being found out and punished would not be worth it. To pay for Tang Rong with a life? He did not deserve it.]

Seeing how flustered he was made Madam Wang laugh. Tang Mo asked anxiously: “Mother, did you hear what I said?” She answered perfunctorily: “I heard, I heard.” Tang Mo was helpless, [secretly deciding that he must never again shoot his mouth off in front of his mother, lest he set her worrying and fuming].

After lunch, Xin An went back to sleep. Lately she could sleep exceptionally well, as if reclaiming all the hours she had missed in a previous life; the moment she touched the pillow, she slept. Tang Mo envied her intensely and [longed to cast everything aside and nap comfortably with her], but mindful of the burdens on his shoulders, he gritted his teeth and went out.

These days he chose to ride when he went out on duty and did not even bring Lai Lai. His two bodyguards had become entirely idle and now ran errands for Xin An. On horseback he cut a rather dashing figure; with his striking looks and fine bearing, he caught the eyes of many young women and beautiful matrons every time he went out. Of course, [he was unaware of this and did not believe he had any charm that would win the favor of young ladies].

As he rode along Lin Quan Street, he ran into Zhuang Shi just coming out of a restaurant. Zhuang Shi called out: “Second Younger Brother Tang,” then asked with concern: “What brings you here? Is everything all right at home?” Tang Mo did not dismount as he answered with a smile: “My wife felt a bit unwell, but she is fine now. I will go back to check in for roll call first, then come right over.” He wheeled his horse and departed in a flourish. Zhuang Shi fetched his own mount and swung up; the two of them had gone only a short distance when Tang Mo suddenly reined in and called: “Wu San’er, what did you buy?”

A scrawny man was hugging a large oilpaper-wrapped bundle to his chest; his eyes darted everywhere. At the sight of Tang Mo he nearly tripped and stammered: “Second Master, I… I have relatives visiting at home, so I bought some food.” Then he tried to slip away: “I would not dare disturb Second Master on patrol.”

Zhuang Shi caught up. This Wu San’er was a street scoundrel from that very neighborhood; he had no family left but himself and spent his days loitering, either taking advantage of young women or casing houses to steal. He was one of the men the two of them kept under close watch. Zhuang Shi asked coolly: “Did you not already buy a basket of vegetables this morning?” Wu San’er was visibly nervous. Tang Mo swung down from his horse, lifted a corner of the oilpaper, and revealed coarse steamed buns within. He asked: “How many relatives came?” Wu San’er muttered: “Th… three.” Tang Mo said lazily: “Three people can eat that much?”

Zhuang Shi dismounted as well. Bigger-boned than Tang Mo, with a square face and thick brows, he looked imposing when he set his features. He barked: “Tell the truth. Did you abduct a good family girl? Two little ones have gone missing in the city lately. Are you hiding them?” Wu San’er’s legs shook like chaff: “Sirs, I would not dare; I did not.” Tang Mo slanted him a look and said: “If not, why are you so nervous? Lead the way. We will go meet your ‘relatives.’”

Guilty at heart, Wu San’er was terrified. Zhuang Shi stepped forward to cow him with a few more threats and even dangled a reward for informing. Wu San’er liked petty theft and trespassing but had not yet sunk to truly heinous crimes; quaking, he dropped to his knees and confessed: “I will tell. Please forgive me, sirs. I was blinded by money…” [The two of them had only meant to bluff and test him, but to their surprise they had stumbled upon something real, and a major case at that.] Tang Mo was a little excited, [thinking that at last a chance to earn merit had come]. He told Zhuang Shi to race back for reinforcements while he took Wu San’er to pin the suspects down.

As soon as Zhuang Shi left, Tang Mo dragged Wu San’er toward his house, alternating threats and promises: “Do your part. If you manage to keep them in place until my men arrive, I will give you twenty taels of silver. That is enough to take a wife, and I can even take you on as an informant. If you cannot hold them, you will spend the rest of your life eating rancid food in a cell.” Wu San’er automatically ignored the latter, [thinking that twenty taels was a fortune]. He agreed on the spot and even took Tang Mo to find another lowlife to procure some knockout drug. He sprinkled it over the buns, hurried back at a trot, and told Tang Mo to wait outside for his signal.

Half an hour later, a commotion on the street drew a crowd of onlookers. More than twenty men from the Northern Garrison Army marched out of Wu San’er’s house, escorting seven or eight bandits in shackles. These men had been trafficking in human beings and had no fixed den in the city. Each time, they found someone like Wu San’er who had a sizable house and lived alone; with some money and a bit of intimidation they turned it into a temporary hideout. Claiming to be distant relatives made it hard to arouse suspicion. No one expected Wu San’er to knock out a whole houseful of them for the sake of twenty taels.

People in the crowd whispered in fear and anger: “I hear they took several young women and even children. Heartless.” “Good thing they were caught, and living right here among us besides. The thought alone makes me shudder.” “Thank heaven for the soldiers’ sharp eyes. What would have happened otherwise?” Soon the sound of weeping rose; families who had lost daughters and children had been alerted and came looking. Liao Zhi had already handed the case over to the Capital Governor’s office. Once the handover was complete, their duty was done; the Capital Governor’s men would take charge of those who came seeking their kin. Among the missing was also the grand-nephew of Chief Grand Secretary Ou Yang.

Someone clasped fists and said gratefully: “Many thanks to the brothers of the Northern Garrison Army. When this matter is concluded, we will surely set out a feast; we ask you all to grace us then.” One of the soldiers answered modestly: “You are too polite. We merely happened upon it. You have your work to do.”

Tang Mo kept his expression steady, but [a surge of exhilaration welled in his chest]. He had been with the Northern Garrison Army for some time, patrolling the streets every day and keeping order; there were few opportunities to accomplish anything grand. Who could have predicted that he would encounter such a case today? [He had earned merit at last; when luck arrives, nothing can stop it.]

Liao Zhi clapped him on the arm and said with a smile: “I ought to send you back to the residence to rest and have your wound dressed, but there is more to do. Bear with it.” Two of the captives, not fully drugged, had struggled violently and struck Tang Mo’s hand with a chair, breaking the skin. In Liao Zhi’s view, it scarcely counted as an injury. Tang Mo was not squeamish. There was a physician in the Northern Garrison Army; he could have it bandaged when he returned. [He was brimming with energy now.]

Back at the marquis’s residence, no one yet knew what had happened outside. The craftsmen had already begun renovating the courtyard where the two concubines would live. After whispering together, Auntie Cai and Auntie Liu had Concubine Yue complain of a faint ache in her belly; the household physician was practically ready to move into Chun Hua Courtyard. Later in the afternoon, Concubine Yu sprained her ankle while out for a walk, and the physician had to rush over again. He had not yet left when Tao Yi Ran began retching so badly the sky seemed to spin. Auntie Cai declared she could not sit still and hurried out the door.