The two of them sat without pretense, feasting in the room with utter abandon. Between bites, they chatted and clinked their cups—utterly at ease. Only after they were mostly full did Tang Mo finally recount what the Old Madam had said that day. Then he handed Xin An a neatly cut piece of fruit.
“Taste this—and tell me, what do you think Grandmother meant?”
Xin An chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “Most likely, she’s buying peace. You and I both have our eyes on that treasure-filled room of hers—and so does your father, no doubt. He’s the Marquis, after all. He believes everything good in this household rightfully belongs to him.”
“And Tang Rong has to send gifts now that he’s headed to the Ministry of Rites. I remember clearly—it was I who went to Grandmother to ask for that famille rose vase.”
She turned to look at the very vase displayed in the cabinet. “That one.”
Tang Mo remembered too. Memories long buried had begun to stir and take shape.
“Father’s coveting those things, and Tang Rong surely is as well. He just won’t say it aloud. I bet he was the one who suggested Father go drop hints to Grandmother.”
Xin An nodded. “And having those two chests sent to Wang Shi—that too was a way to buy peace. Peace with your father.”
“If I’m not mistaken, those chests will be delivered to your mother in your father’s name. It’s meant to make her feel grateful to him.”
“The Old Madam, in the end, still hopes her children and grandchildren will live in harmony.”
Tang Mo raised a brow and blurted, “Did Grandmother never notice how much my mother has endured in silence?”
“You just said it yourself—‘in silence.’”
Xin An sighed. “If you never speak up for yourself, how can you expect others to feel for you?”
“Now they’re showing consideration because you’ve become irreplaceable. And because you’ve stopped swallowing grievances—your backlash would come with real consequences. So now they soothe and placate you.”
She let out another sigh. “It took me a whole extra lifetime to understand this.”
Hadn’t she, too, endured silently for an entire lifetime?
“My mother is stronger than I am. She’s clearer-sighted. And she has far more resolve.”
Seeing she was drifting into memories of her previous life, Tang Mo didn’t press the subject. Instead, he sincerely tried to comfort her.
“Since you’ve been given such a rare second chance, stop clinging to the past. You took the hit, you learned the lesson—let that be enough. Let it go.”
“Just remember—you’re seventeen now. Tender as a green onion shoot in spring. Beautiful, graceful, light of step. Healthy, with a hearty appetite and restful sleep. You’ve got more silver than you can spend—and a man as handsome as I am. Isn’t that enough to keep you smiling every day?”
Xin An’s eyes widened, then she burst out laughing. Whatever lingering sadness she’d held a moment before vanished like mist.
She raised her wine cup. “You’re right. I should enjoy life as it is. There was too much I never allowed myself to enjoy before. So many regrets… This lifetime, I’ll make up for them all.”
Tang Mo touched her cup with his, his smile bright. “And I had my share of regrets too. So let’s take our time with this life—live it well. This time, let’s aim to leave none behind.”
Xin An smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
Seeing her brow finally relax, her laughter unrestrained, Tang Mo said, “Tomorrow evening I’ve booked a private room at Yueke Pavilion in the city. The Water and Blossoms Banquet at the Duke of En’s Residence is always packed with distinguished guests—anyone who receives an invitation will go. I’ll be on duty in the morning and can’t accompany you in the afternoon. Mother may not be able to watch over you the whole time either. The capital is full of people who flatter the powerful and trample the weak. I’ve asked Shimao and the others to bring their wives to dinner tomorrow, so you can meet a few people ahead of time. That way, when the banquet comes, you won’t be left standing alone. That’d be too pitiful.”
Xin An blinked, surprised. Then she smiled. “I knew you were thoughtful, but I didn’t expect you to be this attentive.”
And truly—she was moved.
Tang Mo stared at her for a long moment.
Xin An dabbed at the corner of her mouth. “Do I have something on my face?”
Tang Mo feigned disappointment. “After all I’ve done for you, you’re not even moved enough to cry a little?”
Xin An blinked. “Want me to cry for you?”
“No, no.”
Tang Mo waved his hands in mock alarm, putting on a look of theatrical dread. “A fierce tiger shedding tears—I’d be too shaken to survive it.”
“You’re calling me a fierce tiger?”
Xin An cupped her face with a sweet smile and leaned in closer. “Have you ever seen a tiger this pretty?”
Tang Mo leaned back exaggeratedly. “Mercy, Auntie—I surrender!”
Xin An laughed and sat back down, lifting the wine pot to refill his cup.
“Actually,” she said softly, “I am moved. You know… I’ve never been treated like this before. Maybe it seems ordinary to others, but it means a lot to me.”
Tang Mo smiled. “Same here. You’ve been looking out for me, even made me clothes… No one’s ever done that for me either. It makes me truly happy.”
He rubbed his thumb slowly along the rim of his cup.
“If you think about it, there was never really any deep enmity between us. We were on opposite sides, that’s all. We never used underhanded tricks on each other—just bickering and the occasional petty scheme. So…”
He looked up at her. “Now that we’re one in body and name, isn’t it entirely possible for us to live in peace?”
He’d wanted to say these words for a long time. To him, the past life was over, like a dream best left behind. One couldn’t live forever in a dream—it only hurt everyone involved. And to waste the immense opportunity this new life offered would be a true shame.
He was a man who intended to vie for the marquisate, to support an entire household, to give his wife and children a peaceful world. And since Xin An was now his wife, it was time he bore the responsibilities of a husband. He hoped they would be united in heart, weather storms together, raise a daughter side by side, and grow old hand in hand.
Xin An smiled.
Women, by nature, are prone to being moved by emotion. Her heart, already full of wounds from her past life, wasn’t easily mended just by starting over. Some things couldn’t be forgotten—they needed time, slow healing.
She held no real hatred for Tang Mo. Her resentment was always toward the people of the marquisate, and by extension, he had been included. But that was at the beginning. A month had been enough to change her perspective.
He was petty at times, hot-tempered, and impulsive. But he was also generous, humorous, and surprisingly thoughtful. He paid attention. It was hard not to like him.
“You think I haven’t been living peacefully with you?”
Tang Mo lifted his cup. “Then here’s to an even more harmonious future together.”
Xin An raised hers with a smile. “I have no shortage of flaws. Please be patient with me.”
Having said these things aloud, both felt a weight lift from their hearts. Their words flowed more easily, their teasing lost all edge, and a sense of ease settled over them.
By the end of the evening, both treasure chests and all the silver had ended up in Xin An’s hands. Tang Mo also learned she had received three valuable items earlier from the Old Madam—including the yellow jade peony.
He gave her a dramatic thumbs-up. “In the end, you’re the truly capable one. I’ll be counting on your care in the future.”
“Of course,” she said lightly.
They had enjoyed themselves so much that both ended up eating far more than usual. Tang Mo suggested they take a walk, and Xin An happily agreed.
As they strolled, Tang Mo kept the conversation playful and light, making Xin An laugh again and again. Her heart felt light, her mood bright. The moon above seemed especially radiant, stars twinkled like fire, and the sound of crickets chirping in the grass reminded her of the frogs back at the country estate.
Their conversation grew more animated, laughter mingling with the evening breeze.
Can~ you feel~ the love~ tonight~~?