Chapter 258

Chapter 258: Tang Rong’s Plotting

After a good bout of laughter and teasing, the box of sea cucumbers still ended up in front of Lin Yao. Lin Yao did not stand on ceremony, then mentioned that she had received two boxes of red bird’s nest a few days ago and said with an easy smile: “The Empress rewarded me with them. I will have some sent to you later.”

Xin An replied with frank delight: “I have never tasted red bird’s nest. It is so scarce that it never appears on the market. I am benefiting from Sister Lin yet again.”

In the give-and-take of favors, reciprocity is everything. Because both women understood this, they got along all the more harmoniously.

After their laughing chatter, the gloom in Xin An’s heart cleared away, and she felt much lighter.

Putting down her teacup, Lin Yao brought up the matter of Prince Jin’s family returning to the capital and asked: “Have you heard?”

Xin An answered with a nod: “I know.” She added that an estate registered under her and her husband’s names had once belonged to Prince Jin’s household, then asked with a hint of worry: “Now that they are back, must I return it?”

Lin Yao reassured her at once: “There is no need.” She explained that the Imperial Court would make new arrangements and that what had already been bestowed would never be reclaimed, then concluded with calm certainty: “A promise once given is weightier than nine tripods. Set your mind at ease.”

Xin An laughed and said she had acquired two pots of pink chrysanthemums, then promised cheerfully: “I will have one sent to Sister Lin later.”

Lin Yao asked in surprise: “Pink ones?” Ordinary chrysanthemums fade to a pale violet with a pinkish cast when they are past their prime, but pure pink blooms were unheard of.

Xin An described them with pride: “They open in a true pink, each bloom a ball the size of a rice bowl, brilliantly showy. Sister Xu gave me the seedlings. They are a rarity, and the gardeners spent considerable effort to raise them.”

Lin Yao’s interest was instantly piqued. She had always loved chrysanthemums, and Xin An’s description made her restless to see them. She took Xin An by the hand, rose, and said with a laugh: “I want to see them now,” then headed straight for the Xin residence with her.

In sharp contrast to Xin An’s buoyant mood, Chun Hua Courtyard was shrouded in dismal gloom. Tang Rong would be bedridden for three months; without him, the three pregnant women seemed suddenly to have lost their anchor. Everyone calculated that even if he could walk freely again, it would be after the New Year. By then it would already be too late.

Tang Rong’s mood was foul to begin with; to hear three damned pregnant women buzzing and weeping in his ears like flies only made him more irritable. He snarled with cold impatience, voice cracking the air: “Get out!”

Xue Yu had been with Tang Rong the earliest and was the first to conceive. The day of her confinement approached, and she had cherished the hope of bearing Tang Rong’s eldest son to rise in favor. She had returned from the country estate with immense expectations, only to find reality far from what she had envisioned. She wept for Tang Rong’s injuries and for her own misfortune.

She was sobbing in earnest when a pillow came flying at her. She cried out and stumbled back a step, then lifted her eyes and met Tang Rong’s furious gaze. He spat the words with naked disgust: “Get out. You are an ill-omened wretch.”

Xue Yu stared as if she could not believe her ears. [I am still pregnant; how can he treat me like this?]

Seeing her motionless, Tang Rong’s eyes blazed with anger. He called in a cutting tone: “Auntie Cai.”

Auntie Cai hurried in from the doorway and asked with concern: “Heir Apparent, are you unwell?”

Tang Rong pointed toward Xue Yu and ordered, each syllable edged with contempt: “Throw this wretch out of Chun Hua Courtyard. The sight of her disgusts me.”

Xue Yu and Ying Yue had both been given to him by Madam Wang. In earlier days he had felt nothing amiss about using them, but now the sight of them enraged him; he was convinced the two were Madam Wang’s eyes and ears.

Auntie Cai dragged Xue Yu toward the door while murmuring in a lowered voice: “The courtyard prepared for you will not be ready for three more days. Until then, remain in your room and do not show yourself. Do not offend the Heir Apparent.”

“Aunt,” Xue Yu pleaded softly. From the day Madam Wang had picked her, Xue Yu had believed herself to be Madam Wang’s person. Yet Madam Wang had never once sent anyone to speak to her or to Ying Yue in private, as if content to let them fend for themselves. Even after she conceived, Madam Wang did not show her extra care; instead, she sent her off to the country estate.

Through these months, it had been Auntie Cai who tended her, and Xue Yu had believed the woman truly cared for her. She begged in a choked whisper: “Aunt, I do not know how I offended the Heir Apparent. Please help me explain.”

Auntie Cai’s face showed naked impatience. Anyone with a little sense could read the Heir Apparent’s mood at this moment; even the Second Young Madam had not gone to present herself. She snapped with cold realism: “Do not think that just because you carry a child you are different. If the Heir Apparent loathes you, even if you bear a son, what good will it do?”

To Auntie Cai, Xue Yu had temporarily lost all usefulness, so she had no desire to waste further effort. She added with a brusque warning: “Be quiet and await your confinement; stir up no trouble. Do not forget what Madam told you.”

After escorting Xue Yu back and setting people to watch her, Auntie Cai returned to Tang Rong’s side and knelt to confess her faults.

In Tang Rong’s eyes she had handled matters poorly, but he had few employable hands at present and could only keep using her. He gave his instructions in a low voice: “Keep a close watch on the next courtyard. Report everything, no matter how small.”

He then added: “Send for Cai Quan.”

Whether or not his accident had anything to do with Tang Mo, he had to make sure Tang Mo paid for it. Tang Rong was the marquisate’s Heir Apparent; his only rival was Tang Mo. Once Tang Mo died, no one in the marquisate would contest him. When he inherited the marquisate, everything happening now would be of no account.

Without Tang Mo, Xin An would be merely a widow. What could a childless widow do? In the end, would it not be the eldest brother who held the household’s reins? By then, not to mention a few trinkets, even Xin An’s dowry and the entire Xin family’s resources would be at his disposal. [All of it will be mine.]

Auntie Cai did not dare delay. She went out at once to find her husband. Madam Wang soon heard what had happened in Chun Hua Courtyard. The corners of her lips curved faintly as she lowered her head to sip her tea. She, after all, was the most devoted of stepmothers. Xue Yu and Ying Yue had been chosen for Tang Rong with meticulous care: striking in looks, ambitious, but short on knowledge and not very clever. They would never accomplish anything great, but they could certainly keep the inner residence unsettled.

As for the Cai family, she considered briefly, then said with cool precision: “Keep them under close watch. No matter who goes in or out of Chun Hua Courtyard, report it.”

Ping Qiu accepted the order, then added news: the Grand Matron intended to go to South Crossing Temple to offer incense and, this time, was not permitting anyone to accompany her.

Madam Wang set down her cup and responded smoothly: “Everything must follow the Grand Matron’s wishes.” In such a streak of misfortune, it was indeed time to pray.

Xin An did not return to the marquisate until dusk. Lin Yao had been too impatient to wait and had already taken the pot of pink chrysanthemums back with her. As Xin An entered the gate, she encountered Tang Gang, who had returned slightly earlier than she.

She greeted him with proper courtesy and asked with a smile: “Father, you are back?”

Tang Gang’s expression was stern and somewhat ashen. He looked her over and asked in a hard tone: “You went out again?”

She answered easily and without guilt: “Yes. Sister Lin invited me for tea. I went out to sit with her and ease my mind a little.” Xin An’s complexion was radiant, and she added with gentle concern: “Father works tirelessly day and night. You ought to rest more.”

Tang Gang felt a stab in his chest. The matter was still unresolved; how could he rest? [Is this a jab at me?]

He said brusquely: “After supper, have Tang Mo come to the study.”

Xin An raised an eyebrow and countered with cool candor: “Does Father not know that my husband has not been at home these past two days?”

Tang Gang was taken aback. He had been out from early morning to late night and had not had time to ask after Tang Mo’s whereabouts. He demanded, frowning: “He is still not back? Where did he go?”

“I do not know,” Xin An replied bluntly. She felt no fear of Tang Gang now and even had to tamp down an ungovernable urge to challenge him. She added evenly: “Commander Liao only sent a message, saying he would be out of the capital for a few days.”

Then she looked up with a polite smile that did not reach her eyes and said: “I also wanted to ask Father. You are out among people every day, know many, and keep well informed. Do you know where he went? As his wife, I am truly quite worried.”

A son gone from home for two days, and as a father he had not asked a single question. Tang Gang did not care to face Xin An at this moment. He cut the matter off coldly: “If it is official business, do not pry. He will return when he is finished.” With that, he turned on his heel and left.

Not far away, Steward Zhang, having watched the exchange, shook his head silently. In his eyes, the Second Young Madam’s gaze took on a spark of eager challenge whenever she saw the Marquis. [Is she looking to cross swords with him?]