Chapter 299

Chapter 300: Women Really Have It Hard

With matters between the Xu family and the Xin family having reached this point, the Second Prince’s Consort no longer intended to intervene; what she meant to do was establish regular contact with Xin An. Leaning against a soft bolster with a smile, she listened as Xin An talked about the local specialties of the Huai River region; not to mention Xin An, even she felt her mouth watering.

The Second Prince’s Consort said with a laugh: “Since becoming pregnant my tastes have turned strange, and I often crave things. When you mention those sour-and-spicy boiled fish slices, I can almost smell the aroma.”

Xin An was craving too. The Second Prince’s Consort could not eat indiscriminately, but Xin An could, and she planned to arrange it for dinner that very night.

The Second Prince’s Consort marveled at how Xin An had changed. The first time she saw her, the girl had been tense all over; even when she deliberately made her words light and smiled brightly, that air of early world-weariness that clung to her could not be hidden.

Now she still looked bright, yet she seemed far more relaxed and at ease; that world-weary air had vanished without a trace.

The Second Prince’s Consort asked with interest: “I hear you even went into business with Madam Liao?”

Xin An, lamenting that there were simply no secrets in the capital, replied with a smile: “Sister Xu and I are kindred in temperament. I happen to have a shop and she has supply lines, so we opened a sundries shop together to earn a little pin money; when we are bored, it gives us something to do.”

The Second Prince’s Consort said with genuine feeling: “You both know how to do business. I confess I rather envy you; you seem much freer than I am.”

She looked every inch the noble lady, but in truth she was not as free as Xin An. Pregnant women are especially sentimental: one moment her mood was fine, the next she was sighing again. Xin An, eyes crinkled with a smile, said: “Everyone knows the Second Prince cherishes his consort deeply; you are someone many ladies envy. Besides, ease lives in the heart; when the heart is at ease, everything is at ease. Sister Xu and I opened a shop because it makes us feel free; you, resting at home to nourish your pregnancy and watching the clouds roll and the flowers bloom and fall, that is also a kind of ease.”

She added softly: “You must know that such quiet and peaceful days are blessings that only a very fortunate person can have.”

The Second Prince’s Consort laughed: “No wonder Lin Yao likes to come find you to talk. Next time I will look for a chance to invite her along; how about we play a couple of rounds of leaf cards, that would be another kind of ease.”

Xin An agreed readily: “You fix a time and send for me. I have not played for a long while, my hands are rusty.”

The Second Prince’s Consort teased in high spirits: “Rusty is fine. I am two people now, so my luck is strong.”

Her mood lifted again. Before Xin An could continue, a palace-dressed matron stepped forward to remind her: “Second Prince’s Consort, it is time to walk in the courtyard.”

The helplessness in the Second Prince’s Consort’s eyes was plain to Xin An. Xin An rose with a smiling farewell, and the Second Prince’s Consort said, a little reluctant to part: “Remember to come sit with me again when you have time.”

Xin An answered with a nod: “I will.”

Back at her residence, Xin An let out a long, slow breath and flopped onto the beauty couch: “Life is too hard.”

Her meeting with the Second Prince’s Consort had lasted no more than the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense, yet she felt drained. She said to Aunt Cui with lingering tension: “Aunt, why did her expression change so quickly? My heart was tight the whole time. I did not feel like this the last two times I saw her.”

Cui Ping said calmly: “It is still that the child in her belly is too important.”

She went on in a measured tone: “Marrying into the imperial clan looks glorious, but in truth each day must be lived with utmost care. From the moment the news of her pregnancy spread, countless eyes have been on her. Consort Jin in the palace asks after her every day, the Second Prince is even more attentive, and Madam Xu comes calling every day or two. They all place great hopes on her belly; how could she not be nervous, especially with a first child.” She added of the matron who came today: “That matron serves by Consort Jin’s side. The imperial physicians also visit daily, which shows their caution.” Lowering her voice, she finished: “His Majesty the Emperor still has no great-grandchildren.”

Xin An lifted her brows, thoughts flickering: [In the imperial clan, children are not called children; they are bargaining chips. She remembered that in her previous life, the Second Prince’s Consort bore a girl with this pregnancy.]

She muttered with genuine sympathy: “Women really have it hard. I am the lucky one.”

Next door there were three expectant women; somehow they were all bound to bear sons. As secondary wives, they did not shoulder such heavy responsibility, and their days were lighter.

At last, Cui Ping advised, gentle but firm: “In future it would be best for you to go less often.” Xin An nodded: “I know where the line is.” Thoughts stirred again: [If things follow the path of her previous life, that lady will become empress. Between ruler and minister, excessive intimacy is improper; maintaining the right distance matters.]

Cui Ping said as she fluffed the pillow: “Rest a while. A moment ago Nan Feng came to say Madam Wei looked for you. Now that she has learned you have returned, I fear she will come again.”

Xin An frowned slightly and asked with a hint of impatience: “What does she want with me? We already tore our faces.”

Cui Ping guessed: “Perhaps it is for the two Miss Wei. I hear they have made some spectacles outside.”

Xin An’s interest was piqued and she asked briskly: “What kind of spectacles?”

Knowing Xin An liked to hear such things, Cui Ping waved Nan Feng in. Having gathered the news, Nan Feng was already bursting to speak; she rattled off what Madam Wei had been up to these few days.

Nan Feng reported with relish: “She tells everyone she meets that she is a relative of the marquis’s household and that her nephew is the marquis’s Heir Apparent. Her voice is loud, and it is said that when she spoke with Madam Liu, her spittle even sprayed onto Madam Liu’s face and disgusted her badly. After only a few days she is no longer welcome.”

She continued, amused: “The two Miss Wei even played the zither at Madam Liu’s banquet. People said it was very ordinary, yet Madam Zhang praised it to the skies.”

She concluded, satisfied: “Now people are laughing at her. Some are saying that our lady is dignified and steady, and that the Wang family knows propriety, that the Marquis is blessed.”

Taking the bowl of stewed bird’s nest that Chun Yang brought in, Xin An said lightly: “If she comes looking for me later, tell her I am tired and resting; if she has matters, let her go next door.”

Nan Feng answered at once: “Understood.” She had no intention of letting that annoying Madam Zhang step over the threshold of Qiu Shi Courtyard.

Xin An yawned and said lazily: “I will doze for a while.”

The few attendants withdrew on quiet feet. Outside, the sky had darkened without anyone noticing. Tang Gang strode quickly along the road; it was bitterly cold, and he was in a hurry to return to the residence and warm himself.

A voice called from behind: “Please wait, Marquis.”

The Ministry of Revenue’s Vice Minister Fang hastened up and fell into step: “Marquis, are you on your way back to the residence?”

Tang Gang stamped his feet and said matter-of-factly: “The sky looks ready to snow. The cold is biting.” He glanced over. “Vice Minister Fang, do you need something?”

Walking side by side on the road out of the palace, Vice Minister Fang smiled: “I hear your in-laws, the Xin family of Huai River, have obtained the salt permits for the Northwest salt route. I also hear General Xu has bought a great quantity of sugar from Boss Xin. With those two large trades, sugar and salt, in hand, the Xin family holds a pivotal place among the salt merchants. If we have need in the future, I hope the Marquis will lend a hand.”

As soon as the Xin family’s five hundred thousand taels arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, word spread. Everyone thought it was Tang Gang’s handiwork and admired him; with such in-laws, many troubles could be avoided. The Imperial Court is wealthy, yet natural and man-made disasters are not few each year. It cannot be that the Imperial Treasury disburses silver every time. When great calamity strikes, those wealthy salt merchants must play a major role. Yet salt merchants have always been tightly knit, and getting them to part with money is not easy. Having one’s own people is another matter entirely.

Tang Gang did not know any of this, but his seasoned experience kept him steady. He replied evenly: “It is our duty to share the burdens of the Imperial Court. You are too polite, Vice Minister.”

Vice Minister Fang invited him to drink, but Tang Gang declined tactfully. The first thing he did on reaching the marquis’s residence was to seek out Tang Mo for a talk.

Tang Mo happened to return early today. Liao Zhi was preparing to go out of the capital to muster troops and intended to take Tang Mo along to see the world, giving him two days to arrange his affairs. Liao Zhi had said with brisk simplicity: “This trip will return in seven days.”