Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Madam Wang vs the Wei Family’s Maternal Aunt

At the main gate of the marquisate, Tang Rong’s uncle, Wei Liang Cai, and his wife, Aunt Zhang, stepped down from their carriage with one son and two daughters. Three more carriages followed behind, along with seven or eight attendants. Judging by that formation, they clearly intended to stay for a while.

“It’s been three years since our last visit,” Wei Liang Cai said. With Tang Gang’s support he had attained a sub-fourth-rank post. He had come to the capital to report on his administration and was awaiting a new appointment from the Imperial Court.

The Wei family had no residence in the capital; in the past they had simply stayed directly in the marquisate, and this time was no exception.

Their son, Wei Chuan Zong, could not hide the joy in his eyes and said: “Cousin should know we’re coming, right?”

A self-satisfied look spread across Madam Zhang’s face as she said: “Your cousin is in the Ministry of Rites and surely can get the news. Besides, he wrote to invite us here. He knows what to expect.”

The whole family entered in high spirits. Madam Wang lifted a welcoming smile and led Tao Yi Ran out to receive them, saying: “Elder brother and elder sister-in-law have come—what rare guests.”

Madam Zhang did not like Madam Wang. Back then, only two months after Tang Rong’s birth mother had passed away, the Wei family tried to send a Wei girl to be Tang Rong’s stepmother on the pretext that he was still young and needed care. At the time, the old marquis was still alive and refused. He had Grand Matron take charge and settle the matter by choosing Madam Wang.

The reasoning was that Madam Wang had a renowned reputation for virtue, and the Wang family’s standing was not too lofty. She would be more likely to treat Tang Rong kindly.

The Wei family had resented this for a long time and thus felt dissatisfied with Madam Wang, whom they saw as having benefited from the situation. Unfortunately for them, when Madam Wang married in, she truly cared for Tang Rong and left the Wei family no grounds for complaint.

“My lord husband has come to the capital to report on his post, and we wish to trouble the marquisate for a few days’ stay. Is that acceptable?” Madam Zhang said.

Madam Wang wanted to say it was not acceptable—coming without so much as a prior message, what did they take the marquisate for? Did the mistress of the marquisate bear the surname Wei? Yet she said with courtesy: “If elder brother and elder sister-in-law are willing to stay a few days, we naturally welcome you. Please, come inside.”

Somewhat satisfied, Madam Zhang asked: “Are the marquis and my nephew in the residence?”

“It’s not a rest day today, I—” Madam Wang began, but Madam Zhang cut her off before she could finish: “In that case, we will freshen up first. It wouldn’t do to go see the old madam in our travel state.”

“Oh dear, how unfortunate,” Madam Wang said. “I must ask elder brother and elder sister-in-law to wait a bit. I received no word earlier, so nothing was prepared in advance. We haven’t even arranged anyone to sweep yet.”

Madam Wang had no wish to grant the Wei family too much face; seeing that Madam Zhang was as annoying as ever, she felt only more impatient. Still smiling on the surface, she invited them first to pay respects to Grand Matron.

Madam Zhang believed they had been invited by her nephew and that their lodgings must have been arranged in advance; she assumed Madam Wang was playing tricks, making things difficult, and did not welcome the Wei family. With this in mind, she assumed the airs of the Heir Apparent’s own maternal aunt and said: “Naturally we should first see Grand Matron. We’re not particular about lodgings; the same as before, Ning Cui Courtyard and Ning Xiang Courtyard will do.”

Very apologetically, Madam Wang said: “Elder sister-in-law may not know—Grand Matron has invited members of the Tang family clan to come spend the New Year, and they should arrive within the next few days. This time the clan’s young men and maidens will be staying long-term once they arrive, so Grand Matron has already assigned Ning Cui Courtyard and Ning Xiang Courtyard to them.”

They were all relatives; how could the Wei family claim to be more distinguished than the Tang clan?

“There’s such a matter?” Madam Zhang grew all the more displeased. “Doesn’t the residence seldom have dealings with the Tang clan?”

“Elder sister-in-law jests; we are one family, so how could we seldom have dealings? In the past, the clan’s sons were all studying and could not get away. Now that it’s a crucial time, naturally they should come to the capital,” Madam Wang said.

Wei Liang Cai felt there was no need to fuss over quarters at all. So long as they stayed in the marquisate and people outside knew their connection to it, where they slept made no difference. There was no need to insist and be blocked by words. He said: “To stay in the marquisate is already imposing; we can live anywhere.”

Though displeased, Madam Zhang did not dare contradict him and instead said: “I remember there’s a courtyard where orchids are grown?”

[To show up without notice and still start choosing, the nerve,] Madam Wang thought inwardly. Aloud she said: “What an unlucky coincidence. Grand Matron’s nephew from her maiden family is coming at year’s end to pay New Year’s respects and is already on the road. Qin Lan Garden has been set aside for that guest.”

“Elder sister-in-law, don’t worry. There is a courtyard in the northeast corner of the residence. Though it’s a bit far from the main quarters and Grand Matron’s Chun Rong Hall, it is spacious and was refurbished two years ago. It will certainly not wrong elder brother and elder sister-in-law’s family.”

Wei Liang Cai nodded: “In that case, I must trouble you to make the arrangements, madam.”

Madam Zhang did not care about such things. As the wife of an official posted outside, she had been treated with great respect wherever she went. She was used to having the very best of everything, all the more so when dealing with Madam Wang, a mere second wife.

“I had thought the marquisate was not small, but by this reckoning it’s not so roomy after all. If the new brides’ families were to arrive, wouldn’t there be no place to put them?” she said.

Madam Wang laughed and said: “The elder daughter-in-law’s family lives right here in the capital, and the second daughter-in-law’s family also has a residence in the capital. They won’t all be coming to live in the marquisate.”

At this point, Madam Wang assumed an air of having nearly forgotten something and said: “Seeing elder brother and elder sister-in-law so delighted, let me introduce everyone properly.”

“This is the eldest son’s wife; her maiden surname is Tao. Her father was a fourth-rank prefect and is currently also awaiting an Imperial Court appointment. Come, greet your uncle and aunt.”

Having kept silent till now, Tao Yi Ran very much wanted to turn around and leave. At this moment, she had no good impression of the Wei family at all, especially Madam Zhang, who looked difficult at a glance. She despised people who came fishing for favors in the name of kin.

[Short, ugly, and mean,] she thought. [Relatives like this do nothing for one’s face when taken outside.]

She said: “Uncle, Aunt.”

Madam Zhang examined her as if inspecting merchandise, which made Tao Yi Ran even more displeased. Even her proper mother-in-law, Madam Wang, had not scrutinized her so critically. What right did this opportunistic visitor have?

At first glance, Madam Zhang disliked Tao Yi Ran, thinking her overly alluring and enticing at a look. But her son, Wei Chuan Zong, had his eyes light up the instant he saw Tao Yi Ran, finding her as beautiful as a celestial maiden.

Feeling ashamed by this, Wei Liang Cai forced a smile and said: “Let us first go pay our respects to the old madam. Madam, please lead the way.”

They had taken only a few steps when Tao Yi Ran clutched her belly with a soft “oh.” Madam Wang paused and asked: “What is it? Does your stomach feel unwell?”

With an apologetic face, Tao Yi Ran said: “It suddenly cramped for a moment. It’s nothing.”

Seeing through her little ploy at a glance, Madam Wang said: “If you’re unwell, go back and rest at once, and have the household physician take a look. We must not be careless.”

Once Madam Wang said this, Tao Yi Ran obediently asked to be excused and, supported by her maids, returned.

Madam Wang said to Madam Zhang: “Please don’t take offense, elder sister-in-law. She carries our marquisate’s legitimate grandson in her belly and must be raised with extra care.”

“She’s pregnant?” With heavy winter clothes, one could not tell at first glance.

“She is—almost three months now,” Madam Wang said with a smile. “Elder brother and elder sister-in-law have come at just the right time. Not only is the eldest son’s wife pregnant, his two concubines are also with child, and one of them is about to give birth. You will be able to see your great-nephew.”

“What’s this? A concubine must give birth before the principal wife?”

Madam Wang only smiled and said: “Matters of children are the will of Heaven.”