Chapter 340

Chapter 341: Wei Liang Cai Must Refuse

Xin An, leading a flock of young ladies into the room to observe the battle, exclaimed with amusement: “Maternal Aunt, your luck is too good.”

Madam Zhang basked in it and replied with satisfaction: “My fortunes have turned, have they not? Today my luck is blazing hot.”

In such high spirits, Madam Zhang even found Xin An more pleasing to the eye. She flapped a hand cheerfully and shooed them toward the door, joking: “Go on out and play; do not watch us. Make way, make way. Do not stand behind me and block my luck. Hahaha.”

Grand Matron, smiling, also urged them to go play outside, but reminded them not to go to the front courtyard. This year’s New Year rites would be more solemn than in past years, personally prepared by Tang Yu and Madam Zhao, even the hour carefully chosen. After they played a little, the ladies would need to go accompany the rites. Although Xin An and the others did not have to enter the Ancestral Hall, they still needed to wait outside.

Xin An did not go far. She led the young ladies to admire the flowers and set water to boil for tea in the grounds of Chun Rong Hall.

The Tang family’s clan Ancestor was not in the capital, and in past years the New Year rite had honored only the late Old Marquis, using a simplified ritual.

This year, with members of the clan in residence and Tang Yu presiding, the ceremony was far more solemn: presenting dishes, setting wine, making prostrations, then offering incense and bowing again. After the three-fold offering, the young men bowed to the Ancestor, and only after another sequence of elaborate rites was it concluded.

At lunch, Madam Zhang’s cheeks were still rosy with triumph, and she declared she would return to the card table in the afternoon. Madam Wang was vexed; she had lost all morning, roundly suppressed by Madam Zhang. After the meal, she said she would return to her rooms to change clothes. As she stepped out, Xin An saw that a string of beads had appeared on her wrist and a Buddha pendant now hung at her neck. She clearly meant to borrow divine strength to reverse her fortunes.

In the afternoon, Xin An hosted a simple tea-boiling gathering in the courtyard. In addition to the young ladies of the residence, Tang Mo also brought several boys to join them. Everyone ate and drank together, chatted, guessed riddles, and played pitch pot; it was lively and merry. Tang Gang brought Tang Yu and Wei Liang Cai over to share the mood. They did not draw near to the youngsters, but sat in a pavilion, drinking tea and talking.

Tang Gang looked around and commented with a faint smile: “It has been many years since the marquisate was this lively.”

He added, thinking of the household’s future: “With these lads in the residence, Grand Matron will be much happier.”

Tang Yu smiled and said that once spring opened he would have to return: “There are matters in the clan. These boys will need to trouble you for some time. In the second half of next year I will have the boys’ fathers come in turns to visit. Children who have always grown up by our side are hard for their parents to part from.”

Tang Gang answered readily: “As it should be. Let them come. We are family; there is no need to be too polite. If the boys know their parents are safe and well at home, they can set their minds to their studies.”

Wei Liang Cai listened on the side. When he came this time, he had planned to leave his son behind in the capital; the tutors in the capital were excellent, and the people one met were different, which would benefit Wei Chuan Zong greatly. But now he no longer felt at ease. Who could say whether Tang Rong would try to use his son?

He made his choice, and his heart felt much lighter. At that moment Tang Gang spoke, sounding out his intent: “Chuan Zong is not young. Have you considered letting him stay in the capital to study, perhaps at Qian Men Academy?”

If it were for himself, he would not have needed to say this much, but disappointment was disappointment; he could not truly ignore his eldest son.

Wei Liang Cai shook his head and refused, speaking plainly: “I did think so at first, but on second thought, no. The boy lacks self-discipline. If we do not watch him, he will not listen to anyone. I fear that without his mother and me here, he would heed no one and get himself into trouble. Better to keep him by our side where we can restrain him.”

Tang Gang was a little surprised by the refusal, but he did not press: “Will you also take your daughters?”

Wei Liang Cai nodded and answered matter-of-factly: “Those two girls are of an age to begin discussing marriage. In the next two years we will need to see to that. Keeping them by my side will make it easier to arrange.”

He continued with measured care for their futures: “As you have seen, those two girls have little guile. Families with too lofty a gate will not suit them. I will look among my former students and old acquaintances for two steady, reliable matches. I do not expect them to soar to great heights with their husbands; it will be enough for them to live peaceful, worry-free lives.”

His refusal was so clear and decided that Tang Gang understood the reason. Tang Rong’s use of his maternal aunt had indeed gone too far. No matter how unpleasant Madam Zhang might be, she was Wei Liang Cai’s wife; in the years when he was unsuccessful, it was this wife who had supported him. There was real feeling there. Madam Wang, Tang Mo, and Xin An could confront Madam Zhang because she caused trouble first, but Tang Rong could not, and certainly should not have thought to use her, which touched Wei Liang Cai’s bottom line. This relationship would not be easily mended. Thinking so, Tang Gang felt a bleak certainty: [The eldest son truly will not do.]

He still extended goodwill and said steadily: “Once you are at your post, if anything arises, send me word. We are one family; we should support each other.”

Wei Liang Cai inclined his head and replied with propriety: “Then I must thank the Marquis.”

He would still borrow the marquisate’s influence; he would not act in a fit of pique. But to be drawn deeply into the marquisate’s inner affairs, or to spare no effort on Tang Rong’s behalf, was impossible.

Tang Rong, not yet knowing his deeds had come to light, and even less that his mother’s family had abandoned him, continued zealously offering pointers on Wei Chuan Zong’s studies. He had, after all, read a few more years than the boy and could speak with seeming reason.

Yet to the sound of laughter all around him, watching everyone either throwing arrows in pitch pot or guessing riddles, Wei Chuan Zong grew ever more irritable. Why should he have to sit here listening to Cousin’s nagging?

Tang Rong asked, soft and instructive: “Did you remember what I said?”

Wei Chuan Zong answered perfunctorily: “I remembered, I remembered,” then pleaded with a boy’s impatience: “Cousin, let us go guess riddles.”

Tang Rong spread his hands in helplessness and said with a tolerant smile: “You, do not always think only of play. Go then.”

Wei Chuan Zong ran off at once. In truth he liked this Cousin less and less now. In the past, had he ever seen his Father raise his voice at his Mother? His Mother had always been used to swaggering at home, and now, coaxed by Cousin into foolishness, she had caused such a great mess and lost so much money, and was scolded by Father until she cried. He fumed inwardly as he sprinted across the courtyard: [Cousin really is a jinx.]

Of course, Tang Rong did not truly want to tutor that dull-witted cousin. He was performing for Wei Liang Cai to see. He had not expected his maternal aunt to weigh so heavily in his uncle’s heart, nor that his maternal aunt would be so foolish. But his supports were few to begin with; he could not afford to lose this marriage tie.

Wei Liang Cai, seasoned by years of officialdom, could not possibly fail to see Tang Rong’s intent; if he had cared, he would not have waited until now. Seeing Tang Rong walking toward them, he put on a smile as well. His face betrayed no dissatisfaction, and he even spoke up first, easing the moment: “That boy is a habitual shirker. If he does not wish to study, no one can make him. Your good intentions will only be wasted on him.”

Tang Rong answered with polished modesty: “I should have helped Cousin with his studies earlier. My health was poor before. Only recently have I felt better and had the energy.”

He sat down to the side, every inch the courteous gentleman. Tang Gang could not help looking at him twice and, even knowing what he did, found it hard to imagine that beneath this mild and unambitious exterior was someone ruthless enough to set his own brother’s life at hazard.

Tang Rong turned his head, looking toward the distance where Tang Mo was chatting and laughing with several boys, and he smiled faintly as he said: “Second Brother’s work is becoming more and more outstanding, and he himself is much more forthright than before.” He had not looked closely at Tang Mo for a long time and realized with a start that he was almost remade. When had the formerly slightly plump, round-shouldered, shadowy, cunning Tang Mo disappeared?