Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Never Thought There Would Be Such Good Fortune

Tang Gang was choked half to death by Madam Wang’s jibes and could not utter a word, yet she did not let him off.

“The Marquis’ heart is biased,” she said. “You have decided that the second couple are not good people, so you naturally believe everything they do is vicious. Take the charcoal poisoning: even if you know the placing of the charcoal was not his idea, and that closing doors and windows was not his order, the Marquis will still think he harbored ill intent, will you not?”

Pressed by her questions, Tang Gang felt guilty, though he would not admit it: “Even if it was not him, he must have discovered it early, gone back ahead of time, and then come to pretend to be the good man.”

Madam Wang suddenly found speaking with him exhausting: “If the Marquis insists on believing this, no one can interfere. Since you deem them guilty, will you drive them out of the marquisate or deliver them to the authorities?”

Tongue-tied and riding a tiger, Tang Gang said nothing. Madam Wang stood: “Presumably the Marquis has not yet decided. No rush. Settle it before dawn.”

“When a father wishes a son dead, he does not need a reason.”

Ping Qiu came at a quick pace. “The questioning is finished,” she reported. “In Chun Hua Courtyard, a maid saw Auntie Cai sewing a voodoo doll, and a rough-service old woman saw Auntie Cai hand the doll to Cai Quan.”

“Auntie Cai is at the gate asking for punishment. She says she was overly anxious about the Heir Apparent’s three children and guessed that the second young master and Second Young Madam were obstructing the Heir Apparent’s offspring, so she took it upon herself to do this in order to make the second young master move out of Qiushi Courtyard.”

“Would you see her?”

Madam Wang turned her head toward Tang Gang, her eyes full of mockery: “The Marquis surely does not believe this. Would you like to interrogate her yourself once more?”

“Treacherous lackey,” Tang Gang snapped, face burning; “deal with it yourself.”

Unable to save face, he flung his sleeves and left. A cold smile touched Madam Wang’s lips: “Bind Old Cai and lock her in the woodshed. Bring her at first light.”

After issuing the order she turned back into the room and shut the door. She went quickly to the bedhead, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a vial of powder. She stared at it for a long while before, unwillingly, putting it back.

The next day, Xin An slept until the sun was high. Now that she had been wounded to the core outside and had suffered such injustice, rising early did not suit.

Nan Feng kept watch at the door; once Xin An was dressed and tidy, she entered to recount the morning’s events.

“The Heir Apparent has woken,” she said. “Madam spoke with him behind closed doors for the length of a stick of incense. When she came out, she released Auntie Cai back to her post, only fining her a year’s monthly money. The managing aunt in Chun Hua Courtyard has been replaced by Auntie Liu. All those serving in Chun Hua Courtyard have been fined three months of their monthly money for allowing outside men into the courtyard.

“The two concubines knelt before Madam and said their abdominal pain last night was because they drank too much soup together; it was not to frame the second young master and Second Young Madam. Madam ordered them to move out of Chun Hua Courtyard in three days, and decreed that if they cannot keep the children in their bellies, they will be sold out of the residence.

“Madam also replaced several people in Chun Hua Courtyard; the new ones have already begun work. In addition, several people in the front court have been punished, and even Steward Zhang took a hit.”

One had to admit that when Madam Wang showed her sharpness, she truly had a few blades. In her previous life, Xin An’s easy victory owed much to Tang Mo’s early death, which drained Madam Wang of the will to fight; otherwise, it would not have been so simple.

Xin An lifted a brow and ate her breakfast unhurriedly: “Has the Marquis gone to court?”

Nan Feng nodded; she had not inquired further.

“Make preparations,” Xin An said as she rose. “I am going out.”

“Is Young Madam moving out of the marquisate?” Last night she had spoken harshly; those in the know were waiting to see how she would end matters, especially since, up to now, Marquis Tang Gang had made no statement.

“Wan Yuan Trading House opens today. I am going to have a look.”

Chun Yang and Chun Lv did not know whether to be relieved or regretful. They hurried off to make arrangements.

Before Xin An could leave, Ping Qiu arrived with a party carrying a large chest. Entering, she smiled and said: “Last night Second Young Madam was frightened. With the Marquis’ consent, Madam has specially chosen some items from the vault to send over, to press down the fright.”

This was meant to tell everyone in the residence that Xin An was blameless. Xin An smiled: “Mother is too courteous. It is enough to clear up the misunderstanding; why stir up such a commotion?”

“Madam says that so long as Second Young Madam is pleased, even sending more would be worth it,” said Ping Qiu.

Hardly had she finished when Gan Lu also arrived with people carrying another chest: “Grand Matron says that although the truth of yesterday has been found out, Second Young Madam was still wronged. She has specially selected a few objects for your amusement to press down the fright.”

Xin An arched a brow, never having imagined there would be such a good thing. If the consequence of being wronged was this, she would not mind being wronged a few more times; she could both strike at the other side’s momentum and receive benefits besides. She said, “Grandmother is magnanimous and kind, the fairest of people. With Grandmother here, I will not fear being wronged. Please convey my thanks for her care.”

Then she turned and instructed Auntie Wang: “Serve tea to the two aunties.”

Auntie Wang took the hint and brought out two embroidered sachets of different colors, the stitched ones for Ping Qiu and for Gan Lu, and the remaining ones for the men who had carried the chests. A light pinch was enough to tell there was ample reward within. Smiles spread all around, thanks came one after another, and Ping Qiu and Gan Lu accepted with due modesty.

When they had gone, Auntie Wang led several maids to examine the gifts, to inventory them one by one and send them into storage. “Grand Matron’s are top-grade jade and gold pieces,” she reported. “Madam has sent famille rose vases and fabrics, all of the finest quality.”

Xin An cast a casual glance over the two chests and told Nan Feng to spread the word to the next courtyard, especially to Tang Rong.

“Auntie,” she added, “I probably will not return for lunch. Take money to buy pork ribs and stew them. At noon, everyone in the courtyard will eat together. Make it especially fragrant so the neighbors will smell at once that we are stewing ribs. If they ask, describe how rich it smells, and when you say the word ribs, say it loudly.”

Tang Rong’s ribs were cracked; ribs were ribs. Let it infuriate him.

Auntie Wang had not yet caught her meaning, but Nan Feng had and smiled: “I will have Liu Chang buy them for us.”

Just thinking of how they would enjoy fragrant ribs here while gloom pressed next door made her unaccountably happy.

“I am off,” Xin An said. “Keep house well.”

At the gate of the marquisate, Tang Gang frowned at the just-departed carriage. Though he talked big, in his heart he still feared Xin An would ignore everything and move out. He was already at his wits’ end. Moments ago, he had gone to the Ministry of Rites to submit Tang Rong’s resignation on grounds of ill health. Vice Minister Wang’s look of relief had been crystal clear; swallowing his shame, Tang Gang left the ministry’s gate.

If Xin An were to move out as well, he did not dare imagine how savage the Imperial Censors’ tongues would be at court tomorrow.

“Marquis,” said Steward Zhang, who knew how to choose his words, “Madam has already counseled Second Young Madam. She is young and spirited and has never suffered such injustice. It is understandable that, in a moment of agitation, she said foolish things. Second Young Madam is sensible by nature; she should not do anything that would put the Marquis in a bind. This morning both Madam and Old Madam sent generous gifts to calm her.”

Tang Gang had not even had time to sigh in relief before he felt stifled again. So, after she had glared at him, her father-in-law, and thrown down hard words, he still had to send fine things to placate her? What sort of world was this!