Chapter 339

Chapter 340: New Year’s Eve Has Arrived

Tang Mo quickly found Liao Zhi and did not hide that Tang Rong might be behind this; the matter between the two brothers had already dragged in innocent commoners, and Tang Rong’s cold-blooded cruelty exceeded his imagination, such that there could be no winner.

He knew he had to lay his cards on the table with Liao Zhi first, then follow the clues to seize Tang Rong and settle it behind closed doors.

Liao Zhi told him to finish it in one stroke, not to bring personal grudges into the Northern Garrison Army, and absolutely not to implicate the people; if the matter blew up, it would be hard to contain.

Tang Mo understood the stakes. Earlier he had sat back waiting for Tang Rong to move only to lure Liao Zhi into intervening, so that in the end he could put pressure on the old man. As for Tang Rong, he was already weary of him; there were far more meaningful things to do than to keep suppressing and humiliating Tang Rong.

From that day on, the men under Tang Mo moved as one. The moment they found anyone suspicious, they took him down. At the same time, those he had raised in the dark, such as Luo Qi Wen, began gathering evidence, the blade aimed straight at Tang Rong.

Tang Mo also sent people to watch the gates of the marquisate. Anyone acting suspiciously was seized and interrogated, and Xin An was informed so that Tang Rong’s eyes and ears were cut off completely.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, Tang Mo laid the evidence before Tang Gang without saying a word.

Tang Gang’s expression shifted from shock, to fury, to a chill of fear. Tang Mo, for once not careless, sat squarely before Tang Gang and said in a cold voice: “The evidence is conclusive. He cannot deny it.”

He continued, steady and unhurried: “The moment I discovered this, I went to Commander Liao and asked him to cover it up. If those with ulterior motives get wind of it, a little manipulation will turn it into ‘the marquisate’s brothers are at odds and innocent commoners are dragged in,’ and it will spread like wildfire. By then Father will be reprimanded and demoted, Eldest Brother punished and despised with his life ruined, and even I will not be able to remain in the Northern Garrison Army.”

He added, gaze unblinking: “Father may become the last Marquis Wei Yuan. The title our Grandfather won with illustrious military merit would end in two generations. I do not know how he would feel in the afterlife.”

His eyes never left Tang Gang as he asked: “Father, this has been investigated clearly, but is there anything still undiscovered?”

He pressed, his tone iron: “For example, the two attempts on my life?”

He asked one more question, each word heavier than the last: “Father always says it is for the marquisate. Will you still shield him now?”

Having said all he meant to say, Tang Mo leaned back against the chair and did not press further. The study fell utterly silent. Tang Gang clutched the written statements so hard his hands trembled; the faint quiver of the paper betrayed his unsteady heart. He had known the brothers were not on good terms, but he had not imagined it had reached this point.

Tang Mo lifted his eyes and said quietly: “Father, it is one thing to fool yourself now and then; do not keep deceiving yourself.”

Waves of dizziness washed over Tang Gang. He clenched his jaw and endured. Only after the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense did he speak slowly: “I understand. I will give you an answer, but not now.”

He explained with an effort: “There are many people in the residence this year, and your Grandmother is old; we will wait until after the New Year…”

Even now he meant to preserve the marquisate’s honor as much as possible. He added, resolving himself: “As for what follows, rest assured. I will not let him have another chance to strike. I will also give you ten men whom you may deploy as you wish. Only one condition.”

Meeting Tang Mo’s gaze, he spoke with difficulty: “You may send them to do anything except… retaliation.”

His disappointment stayed locked in his heart, and he understood the gravity of the matter, but there was much he had to weigh.

Such a result did not surprise Tang Mo. Expecting the old man to discard Tang Rong outright was still a little premature. What remained was to stand tall by his own merit, to perform brilliantly in his duties, and best of all to have His Majesty the Emperor speak and name him the heir to the marquisate.

He nodded once and gave in on this point, saying with restraint: “For the sake of being brothers, I can do as you say, but this is the last time. There will not be a next.”

Then Tang Mo rose and warned, his tone flat: “Father knows this well: the dogs that bite never bark. Be careful, lest you be hurt.”

After Tang Mo left, Tang Gang sat in the study for half a day. When he finally stood, darkness swept his vision and he fainted. Hearing the commotion, Madam Wang entered, sighed, and did not make a fuss. She simply summoned the household physician. Afterward, Tang Gang’s spirits were not as robust as before.

As the sound of firecrackers in the city grew more frequent and laughter more jubilant, New Year’s Eve at last arrived.

The marquisate was hung with lanterns and festooned with color, festive through and through. Qiu Shi Courtyard was similarly decorated: great red lanterns lined the eaves, assorted flower lanterns hung beneath the galleries, and cheerful paper window grilles had been pasted up early. Even Meatball wore a festive red vest and scampered through the courtyard.

A small lantern dangled from the myna’s cage as well, making cheer beckon from every corner.

Xin An rose early and dressed with care, sumptuous and celebratory. The maids in the courtyard wore new clothes, with jewelry Xin An had gifted, and Chun Yang, Chun Lv, and Nan Feng had all put on their best; any one of them stepping out alone would be mistaken for a young lady of a great house.

Nan Feng whispered, still unused to such finery, “Are we dressed too grand?”

Chun Yang reassured her with a laugh, lowering her voice as they walked: “There are only today and tomorrow in a whole year. Young Madam likes seeing us looking lovely; be at ease. If you think we have gone too far, that only proves you do not know how wealthy our Young Madam is. What the three of us are wearing together is not as valuable as a single hairpin on her head. Do not worry.”

The two of them managed Xin An’s dowry; the fine things within were beyond counting. Accustomed to such treasures, they would not feel their own dress outshone their mistress.

Sure enough, when Nan Feng saw Xin An emerge from her rooms, her worries vanished. Every piece on Xin An looked beautiful and expensive, wealth practically radiating from her.

Then she looked down at herself and felt she was only ordinary.

The three Tang family sisters arrived in their new attire, and, seeing Xin An, crowded around her with smiles. They admired the Fortune and Prosperity Necklace at her throat, looked at the bracelets on her wrist, and even rose on tiptoe to see her headpiece. Today she wore the set Grand Matron had given her; it indeed suited her perfectly.

Xin An laughed, indulgent and warm, and said: “All right, all right. When you marry in the future, I will gift each of you a set. How about that?”

One of the girls chimed in at once, grinning: “I knew Second Sister-in-law was the best.”

Xin An outlined the day’s plans with a smile: “There is nothing pressing today. We will first go to Chun Rong Hall to chat with Grandmother, then admire the flowers and brew tea in the courtyard. In the afternoon we will set off firecrackers. In the evening we will eat the reunion dinner, and after the meal there will be lanterns and signal fireworks.”

Just hearing it sounded delightful. After they went out, the Wei sisters came to join them, saying they wanted to talk together. Xin An did not mind, and led them all to Chun Rong Hall.

Tang Mo, meanwhile, was talking with his five paternal cousins and teaching them to compete at archery, quite at ease. Tang Rong also appeared. The two brothers wore smiles that did not reach their eyes and seemed to be competing at who could pretend better.

When they arrived at Chun Rong Hall, Grand Matron was already playing cards with Madam Wang, Madam Zhang, and Madam Zhao. In recent days Madam Zhang had not made trouble and had suddenly become easy to talk to, which left Madam Wang somewhat unaccustomed to the change. As they entered, they heard Madam Zhang’s peal of laughter as she announced, expansive and pleased: “I am so sorry. My luck is excellent today, a sweep of all three.”

Perhaps the extreme of bad luck had rebounded into fortune. Once seated at the card table, Madam Zhang’s luck surged; she had already won three hands in a row and felt her whole body and mind relax, her smile unusually brilliant.