Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Not Even a Sliver of Hope Left

Auntie Cai, well into her years, sobbed miserably as she wailed: “Madam~~~”

Her composure had been shattered completely by Tang Rong’s conduct, and the instant she saw Madam Wang she lurched forward. Xin An reacted first; pressing a kerchief to her mouth, she stepped up and snapped: “Stop right there. Do not come closer. Step back.”

She hurriedly plugged her nostrils with a pen cap, retreated two more paces, and scolded the courtyard maids: “What exactly are you people in Chun Hua Courtyard doing? Eldest Sister-in-law was away for only a moment, and you turned the place into this. Were your days too comfortable, so you decided to play with shit?”

Curling her lip, she added with a jab at the culprit kneeling on the ground: “Auntie Cai, did you fall into the latrine?”

[Good heavens, just what did Tang Mo do? This stench is overwhelming. No wonder he told me to prepare nose plugs.]

Auntie Cai gagged again; after retching for a long while she produced only a string of saliva. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded: “Madam, please summon the physician for the Heir Apparent at once. The Heir Apparent has had diarrhea to the point of collapse.”

Having blurted that, Auntie Cai promptly fainted. No one dared go near to lift her for fear of getting anything on themselves. Swallowing her revulsion, Madam Wang gave orders: “Go and call for Cai Quan.”

The servants, wishing they could sink into the ground, let out a harsh breath of relief. Seeing someone sprint for the gate, the rest were instantly consumed by regret; they wanted to flee as well.

Madam Wang turned to another: “Eldest daughter-in-law, go in and see what the situation is inside.”

Tao Yi Ran’s face blanched; she swayed as if her knees might give out. The sight of the filth covering Auntie Cai had truly shocked her, yet with Madam Wang’s order she could only steel herself and head in. Every step was extra cautious, for fear of trodding upon the flecks Auntie Cai had flung about.

The closer she drew to the room, the stronger the stench. The open door gaped in Tao Yi Ran’s eyes like a monster’s maw ready to swallow her whole. She finally reached the threshold, but before setting foot inside she clutched the doorframe and vomited. Auntie Liu darted forward to support her away, then went in to take her place.

Inside, it was a wreck. Tang Rong’s upper body hung over the bedside; he had fainted. Whether it was the stench or his rage that had felled him was unclear.

Choking down nausea, Auntie Liu approached to examine the scene. One look at the bed saturated in filth and Tang Rong’s trousers half pulled down, and she understood seven or eight parts of what had happened. Face pale, she left the room and reported to Madam Wang: “Madam, the Heir Apparent has severe diarrhea. The bed and floor are fouled throughout. Please take shelter for now in the neighboring Qiu Shi Courtyard. We will move the Heir Apparent at once and clean everything.”

Surprise flashed in Madam Wang’s eyes. She had no intention whatsoever of looking inside. She ordered immediately: “Send someone to fetch the house physician home at once. Attend to the Heir Apparent carefully.”

She added with a chill: “Warn everyone below: not one word of this is to be spoken outside.”

“Yes.”

Auntie Liu was tough; her expression steadied quickly as she began issuing methodical instructions to the staff.

Back in Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An silently cursed Tang Mo: [You couldn’t have warned me about a scene like this sooner? If the wind shifts and blows that smell over, it injures the enemy and harms us as well. Being this close to Chun Rong Courtyard is no blessing.]

Madam Wang fought the urge to laugh. [If only I could summon Tang Gang this instant and lock him in Tang Rong’s room, so father and son can bask in their mutual affection.] The thought delighted her.

Cai Quan arrived, bringing his son with him. The message they’d received had made them think the old Auntie Cai had been bullied or punished. They rushed in, only to stop short at the sight of Auntie Cai lying on the ground, filthy and reeking.

Do masters punish servants these days by dumping chamber pots on them?

Auntie Liu strode up briskly: “You’ve come at the perfect time. We must put Auntie Cai’s comfort aside for the moment. The Heir Apparent’s room needs your help; come with me.”

Cai Quan was still in a daze, pointing at Auntie Cai as he stammered: “She…”

“She fainted. Let her lie for a bit; she’ll be fine,” said Auntie Liu, ushering the two men toward the room. The yard was full of maids and old women; whether or not they could move the Heir Apparent was one issue, and whether they could endure the smell was another. The arrival of Cai Quan and his son could not have been better.

She talked as she walked, layering on the flattery: “The Heir Apparent’s condition isn’t good, and the girls lack the strength. You are the Heir Apparent’s closest people; you watched him grow up. For something like this, it would be ill-advised to let outsiders know. I must trouble you instead. Hot water is ready, and clean clothes have been laid out.”

At the door, a wave of stench hit them. Auntie Liu paused and warned softly: “The Heir Apparent is inside. Please move gently; he still has injuries.”

“Please.”

Father and son stepped into the room and were instantly engulfed by the reek. Thoughtful as ever, Auntie Liu shut the door behind them, saying it was to keep out the draft so the Heir Apparent wouldn’t catch a chill.

The overwhelming odor churned their stomachs. Cai Quan’s son, Cai Shun, clapped a hand over his nose and muttered: “Dad, did the Heir Apparent fall into a cesspit?”

Face dark, Cai Quan gritted out: “It’s diarrhea…”

Cai Shun gagged: “It’s too foul. And he threw up a whole puddle on top of it. It’s revolting.”

By now Cai Quan had his wits back. He realized Auntie Cai had set them up. Still, having come in, they couldn’t simply turn around and leave. He tied his sweat-reeking kerchief around his face; even that stench felt fresher than what lay on the bed.

Cai Shun, noticing a fine piece of jade dangling from the bed canopy, slipped it into his sleeve as a form of compensation for their suffering.

Cai Quan saw but said nothing, his eyes drifting about the room.

In the adjoining room, Tao Yi Ran had vomited until only bile came up. The two concubines had fled to Qiu Shi Courtyard with Madam Wang, leaving Tao Yi Ran to suffer alone. The thick incense within the room mingled with a faint, persistent stink, making the air even more unbearable. No one dared open the windows, afraid the worse smell would blow in.

One of the senior maids murmured to her: “Young Madam was right not to go in. The Heir Apparent is truly in a shameful state. Fortunately, Cai Quan and his son are here. That room will need to be left empty for a while. Everything on the bed should be thrown out. After several days of heavy incense, the smell will gradually fade.”

Even she, a mere servant, felt repulsed at heart; she thought to herself that a man like that was hardly worth wanting.

Sucking a preserved plum, Tao Yi Ran grew more irritable by the moment. She had married Tang Rong for the splendor of being the Heir Apparent’s wife and the future Marchioness’s honor, not to be cooped up, humiliated, and stifled like this. Tang Rong attracted disaster without end, misfortune clinging to him; his temper had grown more and more volatile. So the graceful gentleman of old had all been an act. [What a sanctimonious hypocrite.]

Another maid tried to soothe her: “Young Madam, be at ease. So long as the little son in your belly is born safely, no one in this household will outshine you.”

She continued tactically: “Even if it is a girl, there are still two concubines with child. One of them will surely bear a boy, and you can have him registered under your name all the same.”

“With the Heir Apparent inheriting the title, Young Madam will have nothing to fear.”

Tao Yi Ran nodded: “Go see how things are outside. Light incense in every room. And have them wash the Heir Apparent thoroughly.”

Bad luck was one thing; now he reeked as well. Truly, not even a sliver of hope was left. [So much for even a scrap of dignity.]