Chapter 293

Chapter 294: Heir Apparent, Botched It

After venting, Madam Wang felt a rush of relief; she had long wanted to expel the Wei clan from the marquisal residence but lacked a proper pretext. Now it seemed perfectly natural; she assumed Madam Zhang would finally have to leave.

She had underestimated Madam Zhang’s thick skin; having moved into the marquis’s residence, how could she possibly move out? What did it matter if Madam Wang had openly fallen out with her? As long as her nephew was the Heir Apparent of this household, she had the right to live here. Besides, if she moved out, how could she continue to borrow the marquisate’s prestige?

Back in her temporary quarters, she not only refused to pack but also ordered the marquisate’s servants about for this and that, declaring that Madam Wang had no right to expel the Wei family and that the household was not subject to her say?so.

Madam Wang was ruthless in return: she forbade any further deliveries to that courtyard and withdrew the attendants previously assigned there. The household servants did not dare disobey; when she lost her temper, even the Grand Matron could do nothing about it.

Within half a day, the marquisate was already bristling with hostility. Completely unaware, Tang Gang was drinking with Wei Liang Cai at the Herbal Cuisine House, while at the same time Tang Mo was hosting the young gentlemen of the cuju team in the largest private room of the same establishment; the two parties even exchanged greetings.

The company at Tang Gang’s table praised Tang Mo: “Second Young Master keeps wide company; his prospects are limitless.”

Wei Liang Cai, clear?eyed about boundaries, added with deference: “Over these days I have heard some of his deeds; he truly has the bearing of the Old Marquis in his youth.”

The other gentlemen at the table chimed in, for after all Tang Mo had earned merit again. Earlier, the kidnappers who had abducted Duke Xiang’s young son had been eluding capture in the capital. A few days after taking up his post, Tang Mo led men to coordinate with Zhuang Shi and feel out the kidnappers’ hideout, then promptly notified the Jingzhao Prefecture. Surrounded from both sides, the kidnappers were seized and Duke Xiang’s young son rescued. Though Tang Mo did not take first credit, his performance was commendable, especially when, in the end, he hit the leader’s leg with a hidden weapon, preventing his escape.

Someone remarked: “Even Commander Liao said that it was Second Young Master together with Deputy Commander Zhuang who first located the gang’s hideout, which made the subsequent joint encirclement possible. Truly, heroes can be young.”

Another offered: “Second Young Master truly stayed quiet until he astonished the world. In the matter of cultivating the sons of one’s house, we should all learn from the Marquis.”

Tang Gang, all smiles, raised his cup and said: “The boy’s advantage lies in youth and hot blood; he still has many shortcomings. If there is a chance in the future, I ask you gentlemen to offer him guidance.”

He was truly delighted. He had been at odds with Duke Xiang these past days; with the bandits still at large, Duke Xiang had kept blaming the marquisal household, faulting him for dumping the black?clad men at the ducal manor and thus inviting retaliation. But the man had not been killed by him; what did it have to do with him? [He fumed at the injustice.] Fortunately, Tang Mo had helped capture them and rescued the abducted young master; next would come interrogation to get to the bottom of it. He took a satisfied swallow of wine. With Tang Rong convalescing these days, all the household’s public luster outside had been provided by Tang Mo; even if that rascal could be infuriating, there were still aspects worth approving.

At that moment, Tang Mo was busy trading toasts with the others and discussing the essentials of cuju, saying with a laugh: “Before, I only watched for fun; once we truly started training, I discovered how many intricacies there are.”

Someone complained with good humor: “Exactly. How can such a little shabby ball be so hard to control?”

Another asked in eagerness: “Tell me, when will we be able to take the field like this?”

Though they feigned worry, their eyes were full of eagerness, itching to run out at once and compete with the cuju teams outside.

Between rounds of wine, they congratulated Tang Mo again, saying he was agile and fearless and had almost become the emblem of their circle, bringing them great credit.

Tang Mo laughed heartily and said: “It was all luck. I must rely on you brothers for support in the future. Come, a toast to all of you.”

When the banquet dispersed, Tang Mo invited Tang Gang and Wei Liang Cai to return to the residence together. All three were tipsy. Wei Liang Cai clutched Tang Mo and kept calling him a youthful hero with limitless prospects, then lavishly flattered Tang Gang, nearly praising him to the heavens.

The three shared a carriage along the night road. After a stretch, Tang Mo squeezed his legs together and instructed the driver: “Take a shortcut and hurry,” then, glancing at the two inside with embarrassment, added: “I drank too much and need to relieve myself.”

Tang Gang shot him a glare but said nothing; he felt a bit pressed too.

The carriage sped up and soon entered an alley; past it, a half?stick of incense further would bring them to the marquisate. Just as Tang Mo was nodding off, the carriage suddenly halted; Tang Gang bumped his head and snapped: “What is it?”

No sooner had he spoken than several black?clad men rushed with knives. The driver reacted instantly; he was in fact Tang Gang’s bodyguard and drew his blade to meet them. The three in the carriage sobered at once. As Tang Mo lifted the curtain, a blade flashed toward him; Tang Gang grabbed him quickly, and while Tang Mo narrowly avoided it, another long knife slashed Tang Gang’s arm.

For a split second Tang Mo felt moved and said, his voice tight: “Father.”

Tang Gang snarled: “Shut up. Get out, take the reins, and get us out of here.”

He wished he could kick the boy out, telling him there was a dagger under the seat. Another cold blade swept in. Wei Liang Cai was terrified, clinging to Tang Gang’s wrist and refusing to let go. Tang Gang shook him off and ordered: “Sit tight.”

Tang Mo drew the dagger and slipped outside, holding the carriage door like a lone defender. Soon hoofbeats sounded; Deng Fang and Cao Gui arrived. Seeing the odds turn, the black?clad men vaulted away to retreat. Tang Gang stepped down and asked curtly: “Were they coming for you?”

Tang Mo silently sheathed the dagger and said: “Impossible. All those who should have been arrested have been; no one slipped the net. Perhaps they were after Father.”

Tang Gang snapped: “Nonsense.”

The wound on his arm was not deep. Without fuss, Tang Gang turned back into the carriage and ordered that men be sent at once to investigate the night’s ambush, while those in the know were to keep their mouths shut. His injury must not become public; otherwise, with mishaps striking the marquisate one after another, the unlucky one would not be only Tang Rong but himself as well.

When the estate physician saw Tang Gang’s wound, he nearly rolled his eyes. [Had the marquisate’s father and sons offended Tai Sui?] Now all three were injured. The cut was shallow and quick to treat, and with Tang Gang’s robust constitution he would not need bed rest; ten days to half a month would see him largely healed.

Cao Gui and the others were speechless as well: the Heir Apparent had been beaten and that was still unresolved, and now the Marquis had been attacked. An outsider might think the marquisate had done something unspeakable.

Under cover of night, Cai Quan reached Chun Hua Courtyard and dropped to his knees before Tang Rong, reporting in a panic: “Heir Apparent, we botched it.”

Tang Rong, already lying down, jerked upright, tugging at his internal injuries, and ground out: “How did you fail?”

Cai Quan, trembling, recounted everything: “No one expected Second Young Master to be with the Marquis tonight. We were about to succeed when, at the critical moment, the Marquis intervened and saved him,” then added in a whisper: “And… the Marquis was wounded.”

Tang Rong hissed: “Useless,” then, lowering his voice through clenched teeth, demanded: “What kind of people did you hire? How could this happen?”