Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Honey-lipped Tang Mo

When Tang Mo praised Xin An he was never stingy; he said whatever sounded sweetest. Chun Yang and Chun Lv were smiling as they carried the basins out the door, and Auntie Cui Ping also left with a laugh to arrange breakfast. Xin An was floating from Tang Mo’s praise, then she asked: “Am I really that pretty?”

Tang Mo said with conviction: “How could that be anything but true?”

He leaned in, cupped her face, and brushed her lips in a quick peck, then said: “You’re not only beautiful, you even smell wonderful; you’re truly precious. You have no idea how the fellows outside envy me for having such a good wife.”

As he spoke he moved to kiss her again, but Xin An leaned back and said: “I just applied lip rouge; don’t smudge it.”

Tang Mo laughed and kissed her forehead, saying: “Your skin is lovely, more so by the day—dewy and luminous, white with a healthy flush. Who needs powder? A simple touch of lip color is all it takes to enchant. The money you’ve spent on skin care has been worth it.”

She asked: “Don’t you think I’ve gotten chubbier lately?”

He slid an arm around her waist and said: “What’s attractive about skin and bones? And you’re not fat at all; even if you’ve filled out a little, it only means life is good. Only a broad heart gives a soft figure.”

He continued: “The young lady from the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s household is so thin a breeze could knock her over. People might think their family can’t even put food on the table. She fell at a banquet and nearly snapped a bone. So being too thin is no good. You’re just right—could even be a touch fuller—and beautiful either way.”

Xin An was almost dizzy from the praise, thinking: [Those sweet words alone are worth my making him two more handsome outfits.]

Tang Mo said: “In a while I’ll escort you and Mother to the palace gate, and I’ll come back early tonight.”

She asked: “No drinking?”

He answered, his hand still around her waist: “Not going. A man can’t be drinking heavily every day; I intend to live to a hundred. I’ll come back early and take you out for a stroll. The night market’s lively these days.”

At the mention of the night market, Xin An said she had seen Er Shan on the platform doing martial sparring, and Tang Mo said he knew about it, adding: “Leave him be. Let him get some real practice.”

He continued: “Over dinner last night they were talking about putting together a small gathering one of these days and bringing their wives along—mainly to meet you. They all said my clothes looked especially fine and want to mooch your tea.”

Xin An pinched his cheek with a smile and said: “Just let me know when. At times like that I’ll be sure to win you face.”

He replied: “Then your husband thanks you in advance.”

They lingered in their tenderness for a good while, and only when breakfast was ready did they part. Xin An took just a small sip of water and half a pastry, which pained Tang Mo; going into the palace looked grand, but it meant a day of privation.

On their way out they ran into the Wei sisters, who had been roused early to pay respects at Chun Rong Hall. Tang Mo and Xin An said little, lest Madam Zhang accuse them of working mischief in secret; the real pity was the Grand Matron, of such an age and still forced to endure predawn rituals.

Madam Wang was already waiting for Xin An; after the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked over each other’s attire, they set out together, and Tang Mo personally escorted them to the palace gate before turning back.

After entering the palace, the two first waited outside the Empress Dowager’s Palace. Only when the sun was high did they see the Empress Dowager, who was very pleased with the White Jade Longevity Immortal that Xin An presented and said: “It is truly lifelike, and auspicious besides. You are thoughtful.”

She asked: “Is the old madam well?”

Madam Wang replied: “Mother is quite well; it is only the cold that makes her reluctant to move. On ordinary days she looks at the flowers in the courtyard and teases the cats.”

The Empress Dowager said: “That is how it is with age. The old madam is blessed, with filial children and grandchildren in the household. I heard the second young master of your house was injured—has he recovered?”

Xin An made a curtsy and said: “My husband’s injuries are no longer serious, and by His Majesty the Emperor’s grace he has been promoted to deputy commander of the Northern Garrison Army. Grateful for the boundless imperial favor, he hurried off early to take up his post and is in fine spirits.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and said: “Then you too are blessed. Fate’s arrangements are truly marvelous.”

Before Xin An could continue with a few more courtesies, a palace attendant came to report that Consort Jin had come to pay her respects. The Empress Dowager, knowing full well her purpose, smiled and said: “Invite her in.”

Consort Jin was refined and beautiful; her attire was not overly sumptuous, and she carried herself with proper dignity. She looked scarcely over thirty; it was hard to imagine she was soon to be a grandmother. Madam Wang led Xin An to pay respects. Consort Jin smiled politely and bid them rise, then said: “It has been some time, Marchioness Tang, and you look even better than before. Is the young lady beside you your daughter-in-law?”

Madam Wang quickly introduced Xin An to Consort Jin. The consort looked Xin An over with restrained curiosity and said with a smile: “Truly a fine countenance.”

She then turned to the Empress Dowager and said with a laugh: “When the Xiao family’s daughter-in-law came to the palace last time, she could not stop praising the Tang Family’s Second Young Madam she had just met—saying her looks were outstanding, her temperament good, and her manner of speech pleasing. I wondered who could deserve such lavish praise. So when I heard she was coming to the palace today, I hurried over to see for myself.”

The Empress Dowager graciously added with a smile that the old madam of the Marquis of Wei Yuan’s household had also brought Xin An into the palace last time, saying: “Between the lines it was all fondness; she could not be more satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law. It seems this girl truly wins hearts.”

Consort Jin echoed her with a smile, then looked to Madam Wang and said: “To have such a daughter-in-law is your good fortune.”

On this point Madam Wang was not modest and said: “It is indeed a blessing to have such a daughter-in-law, and a blessing for my son as well.”

In such a setting, Xin An could only respond when addressed and otherwise stand dutifully at Madam Wang’s side, listening as they spoke.

Meanwhile, in the marquisate, Madam Zhang, who had made a round of the estate without finding Madam Wang, stopped a passing servant to ask. The servant said: “My lady went into the palace early with the Second Young Madam.”

Madam Zhang exclaimed: “Into the palace?”

Her voice rose; no wonder she was shocked. She herself had never entered the palace, so how could Madam Wang, a second wife, have the right?

She immediately went to tell Zhang Liang Cai. He was dressed to go call on friends and, upon hearing it, found it perfectly normal, saying: “She is the Marchioness. She is entitled to enter the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.”

Madam Zhang’s resentment was written all over her face as she said: “And she even took her own daughter-in-law along.”

He replied: “You said it yourself, she is her daughter-in-law. Should she have brought you instead?”

Zhang Liang Cai was fed up with Madam Zhang’s manner. When he was in office, her airs were sky-high, her voice loud, and she loved to talk without substance. Back then his rank was high and no one dared say anything. In the capital, he no longer measured up, yet Madam Zhang did not learn restraint and even despised others as second wives—was she herself not a concubine-born daughter?

He admonished her: “I’ve told you more than once: in the capital the great and powerful are everywhere. Mind your tongue and tread carefully. Mind your own business and stop meddling in others’ affairs.”

He added: “You are a guest in the marquisate; comport yourself as a guest. Stop rushing about making yourself a nuisance.”

With that he lifted his foot and left. Had he not spoken it might have been better; having said it, how could Madam Zhang possibly accept it?

She thought to herself: [What right does that concubine-born woman have to throw her weight around?]

Seeing Wei Xiang and Wei Qing intending to stroll together in the marquisate’s gardens, her anger flared and she said: “If you have idle time, go keep the Grand Matron company. She is the most venerable person in this household, and your future prospects will depend on her.”

At her outburst, a nearby busy servant of the marquisate pursed his lips; the Wei sisters felt deeply mortified, stamped their feet, and went back to their rooms.

Madam Zhang turned and went straight to Chun Hua Courtyard. She wanted to ask Tao Yi Ran what was going on: as the Heir Apparent’s wife of the marquisate, how could she have allowed the second branch to step ahead of her?

Hearing she was coming, Tao Yi Ran immediately feigned a fainting spell, leaving the injured Tang Rong, who ought to have been lying down to recuperate, to get up and face her.

When the Grand Matron learned that Madam Zhang was charging about the estate, she set down her teacup and sighed, thinking: [We cannot ask her to leave now that she has come. Judging by the look of it, she plans to spend the New Year here and then go straight to her new post afterward. There are still many days to endure.]

She went on thinking: [And when the members of the Tang clan arrive, who knows how much more chaotic the household will become? The very thought makes my head ache.]

She said: “If they come calling, say my health is poor and I must rest.”

She concluded in silence: [It is the end of the year; it would not do to go out and stay elsewhere. What a vexation.]