Chapter 355

Chapter 356: Encounter with Mountain Bandits

The matter between the Xu Family and the Xin Family was no secret to those with true power; no one knew how many informants such people kept. It was no surprise that Lin Yao knew what Xin An knew: “Doesn’t His Majesty the Emperor also know?”

Xin An explained, lowering her voice: “To put it plainly, it is just business. If there is anything to say, it is that the Xu Family orders in large quantities and my father gives up more profit, that is all.”

Lin Yao smiled and said: “I already told you not to be nervous; I was only asking.”

Xin An said softly: “You asked, so of course I will tell you, except… the Xin Family are merchants. Climbing up to a marquisate is already remarkable. Even with the marquisate, my father keeps a low profile in Huaijiang and rarely mentions the marquisate by name, afraid of provoking its displeasure.”

She went on, voice still low: “When the Xu Family approached us, we were naturally terrified. We later learned they had a prince behind them and grew even more anxious, afraid of being dragged into something. The Xin Family has no scholars. My father has no ambition for a meteoric rise; he only wants to earn more money and be a wealthy man, and he is very timid.”

She added with a wry breath: “It comes down to lack of exposure and small courage.”

What were even the richest merchants before those with real power? Her words were not wrong.

Lin Yao patted her hand with a smile, [so that was the situation], and thought it likely that the Xu Family meant to draw the Xin Family into their circle: “As mere merchants, the Xin Family could hardly refuse. Even if the marquisate came up against the Xu Family, it would have to yield.”

She reflected further, [if the Old Marquis had not withdrawn at the crucial moment or lacked firm backing… of course, His Majesty the Emperor might long ago have found a pretext to deal with him]. In any case, the fact remained that the Xin Family had been drawn in by the Xu Family, and the Second Prince’s purse now had reliable backing.

Xin An pulled a bitter face and said: “Sister Lin, I really have it hard.”

She murmured, half to herself: “Sometimes I think I dragged my father down. If I hadn’t married into the marquisate, my father…”

Lin Yao laughed and said: “Your father would already have been picked clean by others.”

She added with an easy smile: “Without the marquisate behind him, your father is a slab of fat meat, the kind dripping with oil. None of us have it easy; we are always weighing pros and cons, fighting for the greatest benefit for ourselves. To my eye, your father is the clever one.”

Xin An smiled helplessly and said: “Unfortunately, the boys at home dislike studying. If one or two could take to their books and someday enter court as officials, how good that would be. Relying on others forever is unsettling, and the expenses are heavy.”

She sighed and said: “Making money is a trickle, while spending surges like a great wave.”

Lin Yao laughed, finding the image apt: “You shouldn’t say that in front of me; in fact you shouldn’t say it in front of anyone. Your wealth already surpasses many.”

Just then Yan Wen Hui came over with a smile. Lin Yao hurried to help her sit, watching her carefully cradle her belly. Xin An blinked in realization and said: “Sister Yan, are you expecting?”

Yan Wen Hui’s smile was gentler than before as she said: “It’s almost four months.”

Xin An said with a grin: “I didn’t know at all. It isn’t too late to offer congratulations, is it?”

She peered cheerfully at the rounded belly, then noticed how many expectant women there were around them. Not to mention those at home, there were the Second Prince’s household, her cousin-in-law, and Yan Wen Hui as well; they truly were racing one another to give birth.

Yan Wen Hui said mildly: “Not late at all. We hadn’t announced it earlier, so few people knew.”

Xin An’s gaze fell to Lin Yao’s belly. Lin Yao said with a little shrug: “Don’t look at me; I don’t have one.”

[What a worry; married for so long and still no news.] Watching everyone else give birth, [she was truly anxious].

Lin Yao turned the question back and said: “As for you, why is there also no movement?”

Xin An laughed and said: “I’m not in a hurry. The residence will soon have three children; it doesn’t lack one from me. I’ll take my time.”

Lin Yao said with a smile: “Tang Rong has taken another favored concubine. By the time he returns from his post, there will likely be more than three children, a whole litter. Let’s see whether you and Second Younger Brother Tang feel envious.”

What she did not say was that Tang Rong’s flourishing offspring had already been brought up several times by some Grand Matrons. In their eyes, such prolific childbearing was true filial piety: marry and keep having children, marry one year and hold three babies the next. It made certain Grand Matrons green with envy, and they would say that an outstanding son must also be outstanding in the matter of progeny.

At the same time, the dutiful son Tang Rong had already been five days on the road to his post, well away from the capital, and still ten-odd days from his place of office. Two days of hard travel had left his face worn.

Concubine Cao waited carefully at his side with a devoted air, but Tang Rong did not much like her. It was nothing but her looks; Concubine Cao was a little ordinary, far inferior in appearance to Tao Yi Ran, and even not as good-looking as the other two concubines, which displeased Tang Rong greatly. Dissatisfaction aside, however, Concubine Cao at least had a passable natal family. Her father did not hold high office, but she had an elder brother with some ability; with a little patronage he too might have a bright future.

Tang Rong spoke mildly and said: “The jolting on the road is unpleasant; you should rest more.”

Concubine Cao sat properly to one side, not daring to talk; she had already sensed Tang Rong’s dislike.

A bodyguard rode up and said: “Heir Apparent, once we pass the grove ahead we will reach Yu Prefecture.”

He gave the order for heightened vigilance. The roads outside the capital were not entirely safe, especially in groves where the light was poor.

Tang Rong said calmly: “Once we’re through the grove, we enter the city and find an inn to rest for the night.”

The carriage rolled into the trees, startling the birds into a clatter of wings; they soon settled, and only hoofbeats echoed through the grove. The sound was eerie enough that the driver urged the horses faster, hoping to burst from the trees quickly.

Just as a glimmer of light showed ahead, a horse screamed and pitched forward. Before anyone understood what had happened, the carriage had already tipped onto its side. A band of mountain bandits burst from the woods to plunder them, and the bodyguards scrambled to engage. Fortunately, Tang Gang had worried for Tang Rong’s safety and had assigned him well-trained men. Bandits soon fell, and in less than the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense the rest melted into the depths of the forest.

The bodyguards did not give chase; they rushed to pull Tang Rong free. Thankfully, the carriage following behind had not overturned. The accompanying physician hurried down to examine the injured.

They dragged Tang Rong out. A gash had split his scalp, and his forearm was scraped. Concubine Cao, by contrast, was unharmed; when the carriage began to tip, she had grabbed Tang Rong and toppled onto him. She had only bumped her head, which was no great matter.

The party bustled to set Tang Rong upright. By this point everyone believed misfortune clung to him; it had been so back at the residence, and now it was so outside the capital as well. Of the whole entourage, only he and a single horse had been hurt.

A bodyguard urged quietly and said: “Heir Apparent, please board the carriage. We should leave this grove at once.”

Face ashen, Tang Rong glanced at a bandit corpse on the ground, ordered a man to report to the authorities, then turned and climbed into the rear carriage.

By evening, men from the yamen arrived, bringing gifts and thanks for his help in clearing out bandits. The head officer said: “Heir Apparent may not know it, but this gang relies on the mountain forest to do evil in this region. Whenever wealthy merchants pass, they fall prey and must leave money behind.”

He added with a bow: “They’ve suffered losses at the Heir Apparent’s hands today and won’t dare show themselves for a while. If the yamen also sends troops to suppress them, this road should be peaceful in the days ahead.”

After a round of flattery, Tang Rong could only say that he too was eliminating violence and upholding the good; he could say little else and could only admit his own misfortune.