Chapter 259

Chapter 259: Past-Life Debts Repaid in This Life

The beating of Tang Rong had been investigated for two days running, yet yielded little progress. Duke Xiang’s residence, however, turned up a lead; following the thread, they were on the verge of a result when the trail abruptly went cold midway.

Worse still, people from both the marquisate and Duke Xiang’s household had begun suffering attacks since the day before. Even Steward Zhang had been ambushed: a sack was thrown over him and he was soundly thrashed. The Duchess of Xiang encountered brigands who rammed her carriage while she was out offering incense; if not for a capable bodyguard, those thugs might have dragged her out.

With matters having escalated this far, Tang Gang had no choice but to meet Duke Xiang. One insisted: he had not sent anyone to beat the other’s son. The other retorted: he had already found a lead and it was the first man’s doing. Fortunately, both were men of some experience and in the end each swallowed his anger. They began to exchange information and concluded that the attacks were acts of revenge by bandits.

Tang Gang nevertheless pressed the point with cutting emphasis: “Before I sent the man over, he was alive and well, suffering only superficial injuries. How is it that he died once he was in the Duke’s hands? The Duke should bear the greater responsibility for that.”

Duke Xiang’s face turned iron blue. It was true that he had ordered the man killed, intending to strike at Tang Gang, and he now felt a twinge of regret. But regret was one thing, and his mouth was harder than stone. He clamped down on the denial that Tang Rong’s case had anything to do with him, then added with a sardonic edge: “Marquis, I do not mean to prattle like a gossiping woman, but your daughter-in-law nearly cost my son half his life with a single bout of distress. Who is to say there isn’t another witless fool, just as blind with infatuation, who could not forget her? If such a man took offense and hired thugs to ‘teach your son a lesson,’ it would hardly be far-fetched.”

He finished with a solemn vow: “I swear by the honor of the Duke’s Manor that this has nothing to do with us. If the Marquis wants the real culprit, it would be better to start with your daughter-in-law.”

Tang Gang’s face turned visibly uglier by the moment. Those words landed on his cheek like slaps. He could not muster a single reply and could only leave in fury.

Unable to seize the hidden hand behind the attacks, both households were left in a state of anxiety. Even Xin An stopped going out for fear of being caught up in the trouble. Instead, she summoned Physician Zhao to tend her hair and complexion and passed her days with a carefree ease.

The Grand Matron, more fortunate, went to South Crossing Temple and successfully obtained a safety talisman for Tang Rong, praying that he would pass this calamity safely. When she reentered Chun Hua Courtyard, she found the atmosphere unbearably oppressive. Tang Rong had grown even thinner and lay on the bed devoid of any will to live. The sight moved the Grand Matron to tears on the spot.

She sat by the bed and soothed him gently: “Good child, let us not be disheartened. This year is unlucky, but once the new year opens, all will be well.”

Tang Rong forced out an awkward smile. The Grand Matron’s heart ached, and she continued to comfort him: “The great master at South Crossing Temple said your fortunes are poor this year, but that next year you will find adversity turn to prosperity.”

At the temple, the great monk had said that debts from a past life must be repaid in this one. This had given the Grand Matron quite a fright, and she had pressed him to say when those debts would be cleared. The master replied that they could not be fully repaid in this life, and might have to carry into the next; it depended on whether the debtor was willing to let go. He spoke at great and abstruse length, until the Grand Matron, dazed and confused, had donated a generous amount of incense money. Only then did the master conclude that in this life one must keep a kind heart, understand what to take and what to relinquish, and treat others with goodwill. Only thus could the karmic debts be repaid sooner.

In short, the fruit Tang Rong tasted today had been seeded by his own past causes. Heaven’s cycles were unerring; if he wished for wholeness, he must do more good and commit less evil in this life. Otherwise, the debts would carry into the next. [Would he have to suffer an entire lifetime more?] The Grand Matron believed such things, but she could not present them bluntly to Tang Rong. What grandmother would sit her grandson down and say, You are suffering because you sinned in a past life? It would sound absurd.

Tang Rong said with remorse: “I have troubled Grandmother to worry and run about. Your grandson is unfilial.”

The Grand Matron dabbed at her eyes and replied with fervent affection: “So long as you are well, nothing else matters to Grandmother. Good child, listen to me: you must not lose heart. Think of this—soon you will be the father of three children. That is a great joy. Once this year passes, next year will certainly be smooth.”

Hearing mention of the three children made Tang Rong uncomfortable, especially the one in Xue Yu’s belly. Before she returned, his path had been smooth and everything had begun to go his way. In just a few days since her return, he had suffered this calamity. By that sign, this was not a child who would bring him luck.

He turned his head and called: “Auntie Cai, come in.”

Auntie Cai entered at once and knelt with respect.

Tang Rong then addressed the Grand Matron, his tone heavy with righteous guilt: “Grandmother, when I learned of Auntie Cai’s deeds, I felt I had wronged Second Brother. I never imagined Auntie Cai would be so bold and foolish. Though Second Brother and I are not born of the same mother, we are brothers by blood. I already wronged him in the matter of marriage, and I could never wrong him again.”

He added with a faint sigh: “The women in this courtyard are ignorant; the moment they feel unwell, they blame it on spirits and demons. This matter made Second Sister-in-law suffer grievance, and I am wracked with shame. I had intended to hand Auntie Cai over to Second Sister-in-law for punishment. But remembering that she is someone my birth mother left behind, that she has served diligently in this courtyard for many years, I could not bring myself to dispose of her. I can only keep her close under strict watch and see how she conducts herself henceforth. It is my womanish soft-heartedness. When I have recovered, I will personally go to Second Sister-in-law to apologize.”

The Grand Matron felt deeply comforted. Even if the words were full of holes, even if she harbored suspicions, she was unwilling to believe her grandson wore two faces. She preferred to heap all blame onto Auntie Cai. If the master erred, it must be because a servant had not served with enough heart and had failed to offer proper remonstrance.

She said with stern kindness: “This old woman has an outrageously large appetite for trouble. For slander and entanglement like this, she ought to be sold off or driven out. You are kind to give her a second chance. May she remember your mercy and serve you more devotedly.”

Auntie Cai kowtowed and cried out: “Thank you for the Heir Apparent’s mercy, and for the Grand Matron’s magnanimity. This maidservant lost her senses and acted foolishly only because she cares too much for the three little masters who are not yet born. I am ignorant. I will go before Second Young Madam to kowtow and beg forgiveness. However she chooses to punish me, I will not complain. I only beg that Second Young Master and Second Young Madam do not lay blame upon the Heir Apparent.”

She emphasized with urgency: “It was all done behind the Heir Apparent’s and the young madam’s backs; it has nothing to do with the Heir Apparent. He did not know.”

Tang Rong tried to rise despite his injuries. The Grand Matron urged him not to move, but he insisted: “Even if this matter has nothing to do with me, Auntie Cai is of my courtyard. For what has happened, your grandson cannot shirk responsibility.” He glanced at Auntie Cai and added with grave self-reproach: “Do not try to defend me. Though Mother has not said she will punish me, I must not take comfort in that. A mistake is a mistake.”

“All right, all right,” the Grand Matron interjected, distressed. “Lie down. You are still hurt; we will speak no more of this.”

Tang Rong sank back slowly. A fine sheen of sweat beaded his brow, and his face was chalk white, which pained the Grand Matron to see.

The display disgusted Xin An to no end. Days had passed, and only now did Auntie Cai kneel before her, calling herself ignorant and pleading for forgiveness, adopting a posture that said: if you do not forgive me, I will bang my head until I die. This was no sincere apology; it was a calculated attempt to force her to let the matter go. Xin An weighed her options and thought with wicked calm: [Should I faint right here and make this old woman pay?]

Just then, a commotion rose outside the courtyard. Nan Feng hurried in at a run and reported breathlessly: “Young Madam, Second Young Master has returned.”