Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Join Forces to Set a Trap

Madam Wang understood Xin An’s meaning almost at once [let Madam Zhang loose and let her ruin Tang Rong’s name thoroughly].

Madam Wang observed with an easy smile: “Your Wei family Uncle is a capable man. He once studied in the capital and naturally knows many dignitaries, some whom even I have never met.”

Madam Zhang’s eyes lit up at once. [Why didn’t I think of this? Who says I must rely on the marquisate?] Their Wei family also had acquaintances in the capital. She looked at Madam Wang with satisfaction and said, proud as could be: “Your elder brother went out early this morning to pay calls. As soon as his old friends heard he was here, they sent word one after another that they would come to visit and reminisce.”

Madam Wang smiled and proposed: “Elder Sister-in-law, why not seize the moment to send calling cards to the ladies of those friends’ households; you are the legitimate maternal aunt of the marquisate’s Heir Apparent, so of course they will give you face.”

She went on, her tone gentle and persuasive: “When the time comes, bring the two young ladies along; if possible have them play the qin and paint a little, and they will earn the reputation of being talented. You know this capital has no shortage of the high and powerful; some houses are a hundred times stronger than the marquisate. When trouble arises, all the scheming of the marquisate may not equal a single word from such families.”

She finished with a light laugh: “Word will spread from one to ten and ten to a hundred. Are you really afraid you won’t find satisfactory matches then?”

She had merely spoken; whether to do it or not depended entirely on Madam Zhang. If Madam Zhang truly did it, there would be a fine joke to watch.

Smugness spread across Madam Zhang’s face as she thought to herself that Madam Wang was ill intentioned, as if her two daughters knew nothing at all and would only embarrass themselves. [We will not lose face.] She deliberately wanted to let Madam Wang see how excellent her two girls were, not the least bit inferior to the noble girls of the capital.

At this moment Xin An looked the picture of envy and said with just the right shade of admiration: “Maternal Aunt is the fortunate one indeed; Uncle has broad connections. Unlike my father, who, upon arriving in the capital, knows hardly anyone and can only stay at home.”

Madam Zhang straightened her back and answered with disdain: “Proper officials cannot possibly be compared to merchants.”

She rose with her chin high and said crisply: “Enough, I will go back first.”

Watching her stride off like a proud rooster, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both broke into smiles. Madam Wang chuckled and said: “Excellent, she is finally going out to make a fuss. I was truly tired of her.”

Xin An added with playful scorn: “I think her brain is not working too well either.”

Madam Wang beckoned Xin An to tea and said with a pleasant tone: “Your Father just brought this back. I do not know who sent it to him, but it tastes quite good.”

Xin An lifted the cup with interest and said, amused: “Then I will try it.”

After they had tasted the tea, Madam Wang asked about the Xu family: “I heard you call her Aunt Xu today?”

Xin An did not hide anything. She waved the servants away, then said plainly: “Tang Gang is unwilling to help my father. When I first came to the capital to attend a banquet, Madam Xu came to find me, saying she wanted to buy candy. Business is business, so there was no reason to refuse, and I took it upon myself to make the introduction. A few days ago, people from the Xu family handled this matter for my father in Huaijiang. My father is torn about it.”

She continued, her voice steady: “He certainly hopes Father can help in this matter. With the Xu family stepping in, it means we owe them a favor, and now the Xu family has not yet named their terms. That is exactly what makes one uneasy. When they do not speak, one cannot know how deep the hole is.”

She concluded with calm clarity: “You saw it yourself; even Consort Jin shows that sort of attitude. Fortunately, even if they are calculating against my father, it is still money they are after. Anything else, my father could not help with.”

In her heart, Madam Wang felt an added measure of contempt for Tang Gang [he wants benefits but refuses to contribute, selfish to the extreme].

Xin An bowed her head slightly and entreated softly: “Please keep this from Father for me. I am afraid he will be angry if he knows.”

Madam Wang reassured her with a nod: “Rest easy. I should not have asked you in the first place, lest I make things hard for you. Does Second know?”

Xin An answered at once: “He does. I have not hidden my affairs from him. He wishes to use this matter to form ties with the Xu family and to befriend the Second Prince.”

She added with a rueful smile: “Mother knows, Father is unwilling to lend him his support, so he can only think of his own ways.”

True heartache touched Madam Wang’s eyes as she said: “I know. I cannot help you much. You two must consult each other in all things. If a great matter arises, write to your father and discuss it. If that truly does not work, you can also seek your Father; though his private feelings weigh heavy, he remains clear-headed in great matters.”

Xin An nodded with calm composure: “I understand. Mother need not worry too much. We know where the boundaries lie and will not do anything out of line.”

“I believe you,” Madam Wang said sincerely.

Having spent so long with Xin An, Madam Wang had come to see her steadiness. In her relief, she could not help but want to open the storerooms and give Xin An fine things. She thought with practical clarity that if Tang Rong inherited the title, Tang Mo would gain nothing from the marquisate, and she herself would lose the authority to dispose of those items at will. [Act while I still can.] She rose with decision and said: “Come choose with me; whatever you take a liking to, take it.”

Xin An laughed and gently stayed her: “Mother had better hold steady. The year’s end is here and visits must be made on all sides. This is exactly when Father needs fine items to pass around. There is no hurry.”

Madam Wang could not help but laugh at herself. She truly had been a bit anxious, all but wishing to move the entire storeroom at once.

When they returned to Qiu Shi Courtyard, Xin An spent the whole afternoon nestled in the yard, either nibbling pastries or playing with the dog, or else watching the fish she kept and chatting with the bird. It was a very comfortable day indeed.

Tang Mo came back early. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he heard a chorus of “You’re stupid, you’re stupid.” Seeing Xin An bickering with that ugly bird, he found it amusing. He went to stand behind her and lobbed a barrage of “You’re stupid” at the bird. The poor creature grew so flustered its tongue tied itself in knots, and at last it blurted out, “I am dead.” Xin An laughed until she doubled over and said between peals: “You have angered the bird to death, hahahaha.”

Tang Mo laughed with her, spreading his hands in mock helplessness: “I did not know the bird was so delicate.”

Xin An teased through her laughter: “Next time there is a quarrel to be had, I will send you. Just thinking of your opponent, unable to come up with a retort and blurting ‘I am dead,’ makes me laugh, hahahaha.”

She laughed until she could not stop and her cheeks ached.

Tang Mo steadied her with a hand and guided her inside, murmuring with a grin: “Easy now; mind you do not laugh your jaw out of joint.”

He added, reaching for the cup: “Quick, drink a sip of water to settle it.”

Xin An shook her head, eyes still brimming with mirth: “I will not. I am afraid I will spray it everywhere.”

Rubbing her face, she finally calmed down. Even when she lifted the cup, she did so with great care. Then she smiled at Tang Mo and asked: “Why have you come back so early?”

Tang Mo answered at once, pleasant and breezy: “Did I not say I would take you out for a stroll?”

He added with mock solemnity: “If I go back on my word, you will complain about me for half a year.”

“You know me well,” she said with a sidelong grin. “Then let me change my clothes. Are we dining out tonight?”

“We are eating at Second Uncle’s house,” he replied.

Tang Mo explained that Tang Yong had, a few days ago, invited him to dinner. “On the way back I detoured to Second Uncle’s house. We will walk there at an easy pace, eat, then stroll back. I have already informed Mother.”

“That will do nicely,” Xin An agreed. She added with frankness that she had no desire to dine with the Wei family.

Tang Mo, even less willing to see that Madam Zhang, snorted with blunt candor: “Every time I see her I want to hit someone.”

They traded complaints about Madam Zhang’s awfulness, Xin An agreeing that every time she arrived she frantically belittled Tang Mo as if determined to trample him into the mud. After they had vented to their hearts’ content, they both laughed again. Xin An lifted her chin with pride and said: “Today Mother and I joined forces to send her out.”

Tang Mo’s eyes brightened with curiosity, and Xin An, laughing, told him what they had done: “She will certainly go out under the banner of the household next door to spread rumors, thinking that the neighbors are so influential outside. I hear the calling cards have already been sent.”

Tang Mo summed it up with amused cruelty: “Having her is Tang Rong’s good fortune. I almost pity him, hahahaha.”