RMBLCUCS – Chapter 43: Wang Shi Finally Explodes
After careful deliberation, Tang Gang made his choice—he blamed the Northern Garrison for Tang Rong’s beating, accusing them of failing in their duty to patrol the capital properly.
The very next day, under his orchestration, a memorial of impeachment against the Commander of the Northern Garrison, Liao Zhi, was placed before the emperor. To avoid drawing too much attention to Tang Rong himself, the petition framed the incident as a case of brazen bandits attacking citizens in broad daylight, showing utter disregard for the law.
It further stated that Tang Rong had bravely resisted but was ultimately overwhelmed due to the sheer number of attackers, suffering minor injuries—unfortunately, including facial wounds that required him to recover at home.
With this, public focus shifted entirely to the safety of the capital, placing immense pressure on the Northern Garrison. Liao Zhi was forced to enter the palace that very day to plead for forgiveness, and from that moment on, hostility between the Residence of the Marquis of Wei Yuan and the Northern Garrison was set in stone.
At that moment, whatever remained of Tang Mo’s longing for his father’s approval finally died.
Though he had anticipated Tang Gang’s decision, when the outcome was confirmed, it still struck him like a heavy blow. This was the final, fatal wound dealt by the person closest to him—his own father. Tang Gang had clearly known that Tang Mo was about to report to the Northern Garrison, yet he completely disregarded how this would affect his son’s future—all for the sake of protecting the son he truly valued.
“If the Marquis truly believes that Tang Mo is so insignificant that his life and future don’t matter, then just say the word. My son and I will leave the Marquis’s residence immediately, sparing you the trouble of treating us like thieves in our own home.”
Wang Shi finally exploded.
Gone was the dignified, virtuous Marchioness—all pretense of propriety discarded. “I may be a second wife, but I was still married through proper rites, carried into this household through the front gates in a grand wedding procession. I am not some lowly concubine or chambermaid! And Tang Mo is my son. He may be the son of a second wife, but he is still your son—no less legitimate than anyone else!”
“Ask yourself, Tang Gang—since the day I entered this household, how have I ever treated the Heir unfairly? Have I ever been unkind to him?”
“I pitied him for losing his mother at a young age, and from the moment Tang Mo was old enough to understand, I taught him to yield to his elder brother. Every time there was a dispute between them, who was the one restraining Tang Mo, forcing him to step back? I have treated him as if he were my own flesh and blood—but what about you?”
“For all these years, have you ever fulfilled your duty as his father?”
“You knew he was about to join the Northern Garrison, yet you still did this to him. Tang Gang, you’ve gone too far!”
Tang Gang’s face darkened, his expression shifting between rage and guilt. First, he was shocked—Wang Shi had always been gentle and understanding, never speaking to him this way. Second, deep down, he knew she was right. Everything she said was the truth.
But even so, he would never admit he was wrong.
“He doesn’t have to go to the Northern Garrison,” Tang Gang said coldly. “This household is more than capable of supporting him. I’ll find him another position elsewhere.”
“Get out!” Wang Shi roared, her voice shaking with fury. “Do you have the guts to say those words outside? Do you even deserve to call yourself a father? Have you ever truly cared about him? Even the Northern Garrison post—wasn’t that a position you originally arranged for your beloved son? If not for his shameless act of forcing himself on his younger brother’s fiancée, would you have ever considered giving that post to Tang Mo?”
“I have kept silent only to spare you the humiliation. But my kindness is not an excuse for you to walk all over me! You and your son have gone too far! I don’t want to see you—leave!”
Her voice echoed throughout the courtyard, silencing every servant. No one dared to make a sound.
Tang Gang’s face contorted with rage. “Enough with your nonsense, Wang Shi, you—”
“Get out!”
Wang Shi swept the tea set off the table, sending the cups and teapot crashing onto the floor at Tang Gang’s feet. He clenched his fists, veins bulging with anger. But before he could act, Wang Shi stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
“Go on. Hit me. If you have the guts, beat me to death today.”
Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with a terrifying fierceness. For a moment, Tang Gang faltered. Their gazes clashed in silent battle, but he was the first to back down. With a violent flick of his sleeve, he stormed out.
It didn’t take long for the entire Marquis’s residence to hear the news—the Marchioness had thrown the Marquis out of her courtyard with a roar.
Everyone in the household weighed the situation in their minds, coming to a simple conclusion: the biased Marquis of Wei Yuan had finally faced retribution.
Tang Mo and Xin An immediately went to see Wang Shi. She waved off the servants and, to their relief, did not appear as exhausted or heartbroken as they had feared.
Tang Mo, his heart aching for his mother, sighed. “You already knew how biased he was—why let yourself get so angry?”
“Calm down, it’s not that serious. I already have a plan.”
Wang Shi set down her teacup and let out a long breath. “I was waiting for this opportunity. Today just felt like the right time.”
She didn’t elaborate, wary of Xin An’s presence. But Tang Mo immediately reassured her, “Mother, there’s no need to be cautious around her. Some things can’t be explained in a few words, but all you need to know is that she stands with me. We share the same goals.”
Xin An sat down, her expression thoughtful. “Mother has probably been waiting for this moment for a long time, hasn’t she?”
Wang Shi was slightly surprised, but Xin An continued, “Father favors the eldest son. In the past, when Tang Mo was still unmarried, the timing wasn’t right. But now that he is, Father’s favoritism has only grown stronger. By making such a scene today, Mother has created the perfect excuse to openly favor Tang Mo in return. Even if word spreads, people will only sympathize with you.”
Wang Shi reached across the table and patted Xin An’s hand. “Such a clever girl—you’re exactly the kind of daughter-in-law I wanted.”
Tang Mo was still processing everything, but Wang Shi let out another sigh, her voice turning wistful. “When I first married into this household, I had hopes too. I imagined a harmonious marriage, and since Tang Rong had lost his mother at a young age, I wanted to treat him well. Even if he could never see me as a real mother, I thought at least he would respect me. What young woman marries into a family already plotting and scheming?”
“But your father never trusted me. He feared I would ‘corrupt’ his precious eldest son and guarded against me at every turn. He would rather entrust Tang Rong’s care to someone like Nanny Cai, a woman with no real insight beyond throwing her weight around, than let me raise him myself. At first, I thought—fine. If I’m not allowed to raise him, then at least I can’t be blamed if anything goes wrong. But I underestimated his shamelessness—because every time something happened to his son, I was always the one to blame for not caring enough.”
“Outwardly, I am the Madam of the Marquis’s household. People say I hold his favor, but in truth, as long as it concerns his eldest son, I am never allowed a say.”
“After all these years, I have finally reached this day.”
She slowly closed her eyes. Xin An was right—this explosion of emotions today would not be forgotten. When word got out, everyone would believe that she, in her grief and disappointment, had finally given up and would now fully side with her son. And who could blame her? She had been forced into it.
Tang Mo felt a deeper sorrow settle in his chest. On the surface, he and his mother had lived comfortably in this household, but in truth, they had been enduring indignities for years. A realization struck him—he finally understood the path he needed to take next.
Just as Xin An was about to speak, a servant rushed in to report that Old Madame Tang had arrived.
Xin An immediately stood up and moved to support Wang Shi. “Mother! What’s wrong? Mother!”
Her urgent voice startled Wang Shi for only a second before she instantly understood her meaning. With swift movements, she dipped her fingers into her teacup, wetting her eyes with tea to make it look as though she had been crying.
At the same moment, Tang Mo rushed forward. “Mother!”
Without hesitation, he lifted Wang Shi into his arms, carrying her swiftly toward the bedroom. As he moved, he didn’t forget to call out, “Summon the physician! Quickly!”
As soon as Old Madame Tang stepped inside, she heard the commotion and quickly made her way to Wang Shi’s bedroom.
Inside, Xin An was supporting Wang Shi as she lay down, whispering urgently, “Cry now—think of all the grievances you’ve endured over the years. The more miserable you look, the better.”
Wang Shi immediately began wiping at her tears. She was already feeling suffocated with emotion. Though she had orchestrated this confrontation with Tang Gang, would she have ever resorted to scheming against her own husband if she hadn’t been forced to?
As the memories of her years of humiliation and suppression flooded back, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Just as Old Madame Tang entered the room, Xin An was still holding the hairpin she had just removed from Wang Shi’s head.
“Grandmother… Mother, she—” she whispered, her voice laced with urgency.