Chapter 354

Chapter 355: Strenuously Defending Herself

On the twenty-eighth of the first month, Tang Rong officially departed the capital for an outlying post.

At the Marquis Manor’s main gate, the heavily pregnant Tao Yi Ran and Concubine Yue wept as they saw him off, while Concubine Yu stood to one side holding a child. The scene was absurd enough to make one laugh. Tang Mo leaned close to murmur in Xin An’s ear, voice dry: “How entertaining. Clearly he hasn’t been idle these past few months.”

Xin An replied with mild mockery: “That’s called thriving descendants. Opening branches and spreading leaves is an achievement too.”

Tang Mo snorted: “That achievement is rather large.”

He lifted his chin slightly. He had prepared a surprise for Tang Rong and hoped the man could bear it. Best if Tang Rong didn’t thank him.

Tang Rong turned and climbed into his carriage, brimming with unwillingness. Just before boarding, he glanced back at Xin An; his gaze was complicated. He had intended to move her with feeling and reason both, to sow doubt in her about Tang Mo and make her see his goodness. He hadn’t even finished speaking before her gagging ruined everything. Fortunately, it had only been physical discomfort; if she truly were pregnant…

The carriage rolled away. Tang Gang, overcome with true paternal feeling, stood red-eyed watching until it vanished from sight before turning back.

Tao Yi Ran, belly in hand, returned to Chun Hua Courtyard and felt the air clear simply because Tang Rong was gone. At once she ordered Auntie Liu to have the gardeners bring in more flowers and shrubs until the place burst with spring. She sent for a pair of white parrots, and even had a pure white long-haired cat brought in. By the look of it, there wasn’t a trace of sorrow or despondency at Tang Rong’s departure.

That very afternoon, zither music rang out again from Chun Hua Courtyard. If asked, the answer would be that Tang Rong’s departure grieved her so deeply she could not bear to speak, and for fear of harming the child in her belly she could only pour her feelings into the zither for comfort. In this wide world, nothing outranks a pregnant woman; no one could say a word against her and could only be forced to admire the music instead. Some even said, surprised: “Say what you will, her zither skill truly is fine. Why do I hear a note of sunny delight in it?”

Xin An sat under the eaves with her medicinal meal, eating fruit as she listened to the music; it was exceedingly pleasant.

Auntie Cui Ping sat beside her and said the music carried a hint of joy: “Perhaps her mood is good. After all, spring is coming, the earth warms, and dead trees put forth buds. It’s a time to be glad.”

Xin An smiled and nodded. [Since Tang Rong had thought to disgust me before he left, propriety demands I return the favor. As the younger sister-in-law, I do have a responsibility to take care of a pregnant Eldest Sister-in-law—especially one with no emotional anchor. She mustn’t be too lonely.]

[What was the name of that young master Lin Yao mentioned before?] [Time to put him to use. And we’ll see whether Zhu You has genuinely reformed; if he hasn’t, best not to ruin Miss Huang.]

After resting for two days, Xin An threw herself back into work. With spring returning to the land, the Marquis Manor should host a flower-viewing banquet so that the families of the capital would all learn the manor had welcomed five outstanding young men and three charming young ladies.

Madam Wang decided and said, unhurried and sure: “We’ll hold it after Prince Jin Manor’s Apricot Blossom Banquet, and we’ll put this flower-viewing banquet entirely in your hands. Our Marquis Manor hasn’t been lively in some time.”

Madam Wang’s trust in Xin An had only deepened. These days she oversaw internal affairs, while her daughter-in-law spared her from caring about much else—because her daughter-in-law was capable. Xin An had not hosted a banquet in a while, but she still knew how to run one. She said respectfully: “I’ll draft a plan first. When it’s ready, Mother can review it; if anything seems off, we’ll revise it.”

Madam Wang answered with warmth: “Good. Mother is at ease when you handle things.”

She asked then: “Has your Father written? When will he reach the capital?”

Smiling, Xin An said they should already be on the road: “This time they’re traveling with the Yao Family to deliver tribute. They shouldn’t be delayed on the way. Auntie Wang is managing the Xin residence; everything there is in order.” She added with quiet pride: “We renovated the Xin residence last year, and the flowers and shrubs we planted have all taken. They look very fine. When the blossoms come in a little while, I’ll invite Mother to visit.”

“Good,” Madam Wang said, and then gave Xin An broad authority: Xin An might come and go freely from the manor, draw what she needed from the accounts, and act at her discretion. “Your parents came and went in a rush last year and didn’t spend many days in the capital. This time, keep them company properly. If you need anything, come tell Mother. Mother will help you.”

Xin An thanked her, and the two went together to pay respects to the Grand Matron.

Since the three young ladies of the clan had arrived, the Grand Matron’s Chun Rong Hall had grown livelier by the day. With Madam Wang having cut off the Grand Matron’s channels for hearing gossip, and no vexations to plague her, the old lady’s spirits had only risen. Her color was good, and she spent her days smiling.

On the third day of the second month, a rest day for officials, Tang Mo took Xin An to a banquet at Marquis Yong Shuang Manor, where she met many of his colleagues from the Northern Garrison Army and made the acquaintance of their wives.

On the fourth, at Lin Yao’s invitation, she attended a Plum Blossom Banquet. Everyone present knew that Tang Rong had been posted out of the capital and that Tao Yi Ran was in confinement with child; by now, Xin An’s position in the Marquis Manor could not be compared with what it had been. Few knew that the manor had granted her housekeeping authority the very day after the marriage switch; most assumed she simply had good luck—first with Tang Rong’s string of misfortunes, then with Tao Yi Ran’s pregnancy.

Xin An protested mildly, hands open: “It really isn’t like that. Mother handles the household’s affairs. I only help when things are too busy; otherwise, I keep out of it.” She added with helpless humor: “The mouths of these idle people are terrifying. With a few casual words they make me sound like someone who rules the manor with a single voice.”

“My mother-in-law is kind and doesn’t restrain me overly. Eldest Sister-in-law has a cool temperament and dislikes going out; now that she’s carrying, she’s even less inclined to stir. If I also shut my doors and never go out, that won’t do either.”

She did her best to defend herself. Even so, after the rumors Madam Zhang had loosed before the New Year, many still believed a portion of what they’d heard. They felt that someone of Tang Rong’s rank shouldn’t have been sent out of the capital. With Tang Gang’s power, surely he could have arranged a fine post for his son. People suspected there was more to the story.

Xin An smiled and answered with composure: “The Heir Apparent of Prince Rongchang Manor went out to serve and gained much from the experience. Father thought to set Big Brother on the same path—steady and sure. Sending him out to start at the grassroots helps him understand the people’s livelihood and share the ruler’s burdens. This was my father-in-law’s carefully considered plan.” She lifted her chin a little and added: “Father-in-law has high hopes for Big Brother.”

“As for the rumors outside, how can they be believed? I’ve even heard people say my father-in-law harmed Big Brother. That’s laughable. It’s not only Big Brother; Eldest Sister-in-law is in the manor on maternity rest. So long as she opens her mouth to ask, my mother-in-law grants it. Who doesn’t know my mother-in-law? She is not a harsh person.”

Having spoken to that extent, people could believe or not as they pleased. She said no more. Lin Yao tugged her to a seat beneath the plum trees and murmured: “Some people are just waiting to see you make a fool of yourself. You could talk till the sky breaks and they won’t listen.”

“Let it go,” Xin An said, weary and amused both. [Who knew they were all this curious? Truly, being cooped up over the New Year has made them restless.]

Lin Yao studied her with a smile. After so long together, she did not take Xin An for someone who knew nothing. On the contrary, Xin An must have firm plans in her heart. Otherwise, how could a woman who married into the capital from afar have opened the situation so thoroughly in half a year? Even Madam Liao of the Liao Family, sharp as she was, had not gone so far. She had been married into the capital no short time and still only circled among a few familiar houses.

Lin Yao said, lowering her voice: “I heard something and wanted to ask you.”

She meant the matter of the Xu and Xin families drawing closer: “This hasn’t spread. It’s only that news travels swiftly at home. No need to worry.”

Setting down her pastry, Xin An answered evenly: “The Xu Family helped my father in Huaijiang and purchased a large quantity of sugar from him. So far it’s only business. Nothing else is involved, and my father hasn’t the nerve for anything beyond that.”