Chapter 292

Chapter 293: Madam Wang Issues an Expulsion Order

Chun Yang returned with dishes and said: “Young madam, the greens are all blanched.” She set the plates before Xin An.

Judging color and fragrance, and tasting them one by one, they found that what Steward Yang had brought was indeed superior; even if it could not match vegetables in their proper season, it was already the finest warmhouse produce in the capital.

Xin An asked: “Do you have more baskets like these?” Steward Yang said the estate had prepared them long ago and had woven about a hundred.

Xin An said: “Tomorrow, send one hundred jin directly to Wanyuan Trading House on Ying Hui Street. Bring fifty baskets and send them along as well. Shortly, I’ll have someone take you to meet Steward Fang, the head steward at Wanyuan Trading House. In the future, deliver however much you have directly with Steward Fang.”

Nan Feng was assigned to take him there.

Once they had gone, Xin An told Chun Yang to go to the Xin residence and have Auntie Wang prepare New Year gifts for the household staff, saying: “Just as before. Don’t be stingy. Make them presentable and practical.”

Chun Yang said: “Rest assured, young madam. If it’s gifts for high officials, Auntie Wang may not match Auntie Cui Ping, but when it comes to gifts for those below, Auntie Wang has never made a mistake.”

Xin An said: “Go on, then.”

She rose and told Chun Lv to divide the vegetables Steward Yang had brought into three portions: one to take back with them, and the other two to be sent to the front compound and to Chun Rong Hall.

In the front compound, Madam Zhang, who had not gone out to a banquet today, was picking apart Tang Mo’s conduct before the Grand Matron and Madam Wang, saying he disrespected his elders and was merely quick with his tongue.

Already knowing the facts, Madam Wang did not mince words and said: “I already know the cause of this matter. Forgive me for speaking plainly, Elder Sister-in-law, but why are you meddling in the second daughter-in-law’s dowry?”

She continued: “The dowry is hers. She may spend it as she likes. It is not some grand affair. I, as her mother-in-law, have not interfered. Why should you? If people who do not know better hear of this, they will assume I put you up to it. Would that not create further misunderstanding?”

Madam Wang had made sure the Grand Matron understood as well; the Grand Matron had never liked Madam Zhang, and liked her even less now.

Thick-skinned, Madam Zhang still tried to argue on Tang Rong’s behalf and said: “Since we are speaking openly, I will no longer hold back. My nephew’s mother died early, and there hasn’t been anyone to see to such matters for him. There is one thing I, as his maternal aunt, must speak to.”

With those words, she offended both the Grand Matron and Madam Wang at once. So Tang Rong, who grew up under their very eyes, had suffered grievances?

Madam Zhang went on and said: “Back when the Old Marquis was alive, he betrothed the match with the Xin family, and the Xin family received the marquisate’s protection for many years. By custom, when a daughter marries, a portion of her dowry is set aside to be used on the husband. Even if the groom was changed, that portion cannot just vanish.”

She added: “The future of this marquisate depends on someone. The Xin family should have a clear idea of who that is.”

Madam Wang was genuinely stunned. She had met shameless people, but never one so brazen.

She asked: “Is this the eldest son’s idea?” Madam Zhang answered: “It is my idea.”

She even managed to keep Tang Rong out of it and said: “I am his maternal aunt. I cannot stand by while he is bullied and wronged.”

Madam Wang said: “So the eldest son knows nothing of this?” Madam Zhang said: “He does not.”

Madam Wang’s gaze turned cold and she said: “In that case, in what capacity are you interfering in the affairs of the marquis’s household? In this residence he still has his grandmother and father. Failing that, he has me, his stepmother. It is certainly not the turn of a maternal aunt to point fingers. Moreover, what you propose concerns the marquisate’s reputation.”

She pressed on and said: “What is it you want, to have outsiders say that Tang Rong, having already tried to take his sister-in-law on his wedding night, now also wants to seize his younger sister-in-law’s dowry? Is his reputation not foul enough for you? Are you dissatisfied that our marquisate’s name is still too good?”

Rising in anger, she said: “I, as stepmother, must ask him personally. If he truly knows nothing, then I must ask that your Wei clan immediately move out of the marquis’s residence and cease coming here.”

Madam Zhang had never seen Madam Wang so unyielding. She instantly turned her eyes to the Grand Matron.

The Grand Matron lifted her hand to call Madam Wang back, but before she could get a word out she felt dizzy and could not stand. Gan Lu rushed forward, sent for water, and ordered someone to fetch the house physician.

In a moment the Grand Matron was helped into her inner room. Sitting, her face full of disgust, she said: “Send her away. Do not let her come here again.” The troublemaking women of the Wei family had barged into the marquis’s household and still would not settle down. It was beyond the pale.

Madam Wang had not been making empty threats about confronting Tang Rong. She went straight to Chun Hua Courtyard.

At that time, the two Wei sisters, on their mother’s orders, were there keeping Tao Yi Ran company.

Hearing that Madam Wang had arrived, they stood up, and soon enough they heard Madam Wang’s voice questioning Tang Rong.

Madam Wang said: “Your mother’s people came, and I busied myself tirelessly receiving them. Have I treated your mother’s family poorly in any way? Tell me, was the idea of asking for Xin An’s dowry yours?”

Tang Rong had been in good spirits, reading and considering how to make use of his uncle. Who would have anticipated Madam Wang charging in like this? He was caught off guard.

Madam Wang slammed her palm on the table, and he flinched. She demanded: “Speak. Yes, or no?”

Tang Rong sat up straight and said: “Mother, what are you talking about? I don’t know what you mean.”

Madam Wang said: “You don’t?” She had long wanted to scold him soundly, to flay him with words. Now that the chance had come, how could she miss it?

She said: “If it wasn’t your idea, would your maternal aunt openly demand Xin An’s dowry? Tang Rong, you were taught by renowned masters from childhood. Where are your propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame? What happened in the past we let pass, and we have catered to you in all things. Now you still set your sights on Xin An’s dowry. Is that yours to covet? You don’t want the person, but the money must not be less. Is that your thinking?”

Face flushed, Tang Rong’s heart tightened as he realized what had happened. He said: “Whether Mother believes me or not, I have never had such a thought. Maternal Aunt did ask me once, and I made it clear I would never think that way. If I truly entertained such an idea, would I have my maternal aunt demand it for me? What sort of man would I be? Would I discard my reputation entirely? Even if I were a shameless man, do I not have a wife? Does my wife not have a dowry? Why would I covet my sister-in-law’s dowry?”

He was not lying. Madam Zhang had told him to ask for the dowry, but how could he do such a thing? Without Tang Mo, all of Xin An’s dowry would be his; why would he go out of his way to claim a portion? He had not expected his maternal aunt to be so counterproductive.

Madam Wang snorted and said: “Your maternal aunt not only scolded Xin An to her face and hinted she hand over her dowry, she just now raised it openly before me and your grandmother. Who could believe you knew nothing? From the time I entered this house until you came of age, tell me, have I treated you unjustly? Has your second brother done anything to harm you? Why can’t you let him be, why must you turn him into a laughingstock?”

At this moment, even with a hundred mouths, Tang Rong could not explain himself. He said: “Mother, I truly had no such thought. I don’t know why Maternal Aunt would do this. I will make it clear to her.”

Madam Wang said: “Do not bother. The marquis’s residence is a small temple that cannot contain your maternal aunt. Before the New Year, take a fast horse back so she can return to the Wei family and go throw her weight around there.”

With that, she turned and left. At the doorway she glimpsed the two Wei sisters, startled into retreat, then walked off without a backward glance.

Alarm rose in the sisters’ hearts. [Are we about to be driven out of the marquis’s household?]