Chapter 329

Chapter 330: Tang Rong is about to make another move

At Xin An’s side, she brought Tang Mo up to speed on the last few days in the household: “The clan members have arrived: five young men and three young women, all quite promising. When you’re back on your feet, take the five lads out to make the rounds.”

Still speaking with an easy smile, she added: “Grandmother’s nephew from her maiden family has come too. Once you’ve washed up I’ll tell you everything slowly. I’m going to get a few things ready; your younger male cousins have been longing for your return. If they see you later looking this bedraggled, they’ll be so disappointed.”

She chided him as she looked over his windburned face: “Why didn’t you cover your face when you rode? Wouldn’t it have been fine to leave only your eyes showing?”

Tang Mo protested, half aggrieved, half playful, as he touched his cracked lips: “If I hadn’t covered up you wouldn’t even have let me in the gate. I got like this out with the army; my lips went dry, the drier they got the more I wanted to lick them, and the more I licked the drier they became. Sigh, I really was too pampered before.”

Xin An stepped out of the bath chamber, planning to steam his face with herbs; they would not leave the courtyard today, and would rescue his poor face indoors.

She began issuing orders with practiced calm: “He looks hungry too, so prepare more dishes.”

Chun Yang laughed as she bustled off to arrange things; though her young mistress teased the second young master for being rough around the edges, she clearly ached for him in her heart. Xin An continued her instructions, voice warm but firm: “Take the clothes and socks he’ll change into and toast them over the brazier so they’re warm; don’t let him catch a chill.” Then she added: “Boil a bowl of ginger soup to drive out the cold.”

When Tang Mo stepped out of the bath, the room was toasty, his clothes were warm, and both ginger soup and hot tea were waiting, along with his favorite dishes on the table. He stretched like a cat and grinned: “My blessed little nest really is comfortable. Life here is better than that of the immortals.” He tacked on with a chuckle: “What can I say, I have a good wife.”

Xin An’s eyes shone with laughter as she teased back: “If you’re so good with words, say more. I love hearing it.”

He lifted his bowl and spoke between swift mouthfuls: “No matter how much you love it, let me fill my belly first, don’t rush me.”

He ate like the wind, clearly famished. The ever-concerned Madam Wang came by; seeing Tang Mo so carefully looked after, she could not have been more satisfied with Xin An. She spoke only a few words before turning to leave so as not to disturb the young couple. A brief parting makes for a sweeter reunion; she had been through it and understood.

They did not spend the whole time flirting, and certainly did not do anything unseemly in broad daylight. After he ate, Tang Mo lay down on Xin An’s beauty couch to listen as she recounted the latest affairs of the residence.

She began with the clan: “Since Grandfather passed, our clan hasn’t kept close contact. They’re proud people; how could they not see the old man’s attitude? If not for those younger male cousins, they likely wouldn’t have come to curry favor.”

Tang Mo snorted, amused: “The old man must be thrilled, right?”

He truly envied the old man’s wide heart and easy girth; such a man could not feel an ounce of shame, and would instead think heaven treated him with special favor.

Xin An smiled and told him how splendid the banquet two days ago had been: “He really is a man of fortune. But he deserves his moment. The clan must have spent enormous effort to cultivate these cousins, and now they’re running out of steam. There are things that don’t take money to accomplish; leveraging the Marquis’s household is a necessity.”

She continued in a factual tone: “Father will certainly put in effort for such promising younger cousins. These last two days he already visited the dean of Qian Men Academy; with his support, the cousins will avoid many detours. That’s not something the clan can manage.”

Tang Mo clicked his tongue, a touch of jealousy in his voice: “The old man’s luck is too good.”

Xin An agreed: “There’s no kind of blessing he doesn’t get to enjoy.” Born just as the family began to prosper, with a father who secured a title for him, the only blemish was the death of his first wife. Yet he married Mother, never worried over household chores, and at every stage had someone to polish his reputation. A life smooth as silk.

She went on to the Wei family business: “Mother can’t be trifled with these days. She shut the neighbor up without a word to spare, and in the end the Wei uncle sent a gift worth more than a thousand taels. The Wei maternal aunt lay abed for a day and still hasn’t left her rooms.”

Tang Mo gave a clipped judgment: “Serves them right.”

He did not intend to tell Xin An that Tang Rong had secretly hired killers again. Instead, he squeezed her hand, offered a comment or two, and then his eyelids grew too heavy to hold open. Xin An rose and said gently: “Go sleep in the bed. There will be plenty to do before New Year’s Eve.”

She took a kerchief and wrung the damp from his hair; by the time she set the cloth down he was asleep. She picked up the colorless lip balm prepared earlier and smoothed it over his lips. Perhaps because he had soaked in hot water and now lay in a warm room, his cheeks were faintly flushed. She dabbed on some moisturizer before finally rising.

Madam Zhao came with several of the lads; upon learning he was asleep, they did not enter. She asked at the door with quiet concern: “Has he suffered much?”

Xin An answered with a reassuring smile: “Not really. He galloped home and the winter wind scraped his face; two days’ care and he’ll be fine.”

Madam Zhao nodded: “Traveling in the dead of winter is hardship. Let him rest; we can meet tomorrow.”

Grand Matron also sent Gan Lu to inquire. Once she heard all was well, she returned to report and set minds at ease. Xin An went to the front courtyard to consult with Madam Wang about distributing congee. Every household did it this time of year, mostly as a formality. Madam Wang proposed spending a little more this year and doing it in earnest, as a way to accumulate merit for Tang Mo.

Thinking it, she said it differently: “The past half year hasn’t gone smoothly for our household. This year we should spend more silver and buy more rice and flour. We’ll distribute congee for three days as an act of goodness.”

Grand Matron and Tang Gang had no objections, so Madam Wang entrusted the matter to Xin An.

Xin An immediately gave Liu Chang one thousand taels to buy extra grain and charcoal for delivery to the city’s orphanage and old-age home. She gave Auntie Wang five hundred taels to buy flour and make steamed buns, sending people to deliver them daily to several fixed spots where beggars gather, without any fanfare.

This followed the Xin family’s old Huai River tradition.

Night fell and the wind cut like knives. No one from any courtyard went to the front hall for supper; better to avoid freezing on the way.

After half a day of restraint, Tang Rong finally smashed a teacup. Tang Mo’s safe return meant his silver had been wasted yet again. If they couldn’t do it outside the city, how could they get it done now that he was back in the capital, where he went out each day with a bodyguard and, while on duty, even had men from the Northern Garrison Army at his side? Finding a chance to act was nearly impossible.

He gave a curt order: “Qing Mo, bring Cai Quan.”

Qing Mo groaned inwardly; lately the Heir Apparent had become more and more mercurial, and who knew what mischief he would try next.

At that hour, Cai Quan was at his sweetheart’s. After his windfall, he had bought her a small residence and even purchased maidservants to wait on them, living like a petty lord. His sweetheart doted on him more than ever, and he had long forgotten that Auntie Cai even existed.

Qing Mo came up empty and earned a scolding when he returned. At first light the next day, he waited by the rear side gate, caught Cai Quan, and dragged him to Chun Hua Courtyard.

Cai Quan blanched when he heard Tang Rong’s order and pleaded in a lowered voice: “Heir Apparent, the risk is too great.” Tang Rong wanted him to find a band of thugs to cause trouble on the streets under the second young master’s jurisdiction. Ever since the last gang was caught, patrols had increased and even pickpockets were scarce. What bandits would come here to die? If they got caught and tortured, they would certainly trace the line back. To stir up trouble in the capital was a grave crime.

He knelt and begged: “Please think twice, Heir Apparent. The men hired before took the silver; they will certainly look for a suitable moment to strike. Do not lose your nerve.”

He had no intention of being dragged down with anyone.