“Does Madam require sugar?”
Her father had once spent a long time away from home securing a stable supply of sugar—largely thanks to something the late Marquis Tang had once said: on the battlefield, sugar could be as precious as life itself. Especially for elite troops, when the exhaustion after battle reached its peak, it was nearly impossible to recover quickly. If an ambush followed soon after, they were almost certain to be slaughtered. He had discovered, quite by chance, that a single bowl of strong sugar water after a battle could swiftly restore a soldier’s spirit, and with a brief rest, grant them the strength to fight again.
At the time, he had quietly instructed her father to purchase sugar in bulk.
Could the Xu family’s purpose be the same?
Madam Xu nodded, not bothering to conceal it. “Yes, we require a batch of sugar—quite a large amount. I wonder if Second Young Madam could put us in contact with Master Xin.”
Xin An asked, “Since Madam says your family keeps people stationed in Huai Jiang, why not ask my father directly?”
“Or… is it that my father’s sugar is not enough?”
Her father was a cautious man. Whether buying salt or sugar, if the quantity was excessive, he would always investigate carefully, avoiding trouble. “My father sometimes sells sugar, but the amount is never great, and there are only a few times each year when he sells it at all. The largest supply comes just after the spring.”
For Madam Xu to raise the matter today meant she had reliable information, though she clearly did not expect Xin An to agree on the spot. “Indeed, it is not enough. I thought that, as the capital is far from Huai Jiang, sending someone to negotiate would be troublesome. And since Second Young Madam happens to be here before me, I thought to use your good offices to make an introduction. If it works, so much the better; if it is truly inconvenient, then never mind—we will look elsewhere.”
Xin An neither agreed nor refused. “Were it anyone else, I might decline outright. But since Madam Xu asks in person, I will write to Huai Jiang and inquire of my father. How much does Madam require?”
Madam Xu smiled and said, the more the better. That was enough for Xin An to gauge the scale. “Messages take time to travel. I must trouble Madam Xu to wait a while.”
“No matter.”
The Xu family’s intent to buy sugar was genuine—but so was their wish to use it as a pretext to draw the Xin family closer to the Second Prince’s faction. Though the Xin family was tied to the Marquisate, the marquisate held no military command—their authority over troops had long since been surrendered. Thus, there was no reason for them to keep the Xin family bound so tightly.
Whether the Xin family was worth courting, however, remained to be seen.
When the discussion seemed to have run its course, the Second Prince’s Consort shifted the topic back. “And how are Tang Rong and that Tao family girl together?”
“As close as paint to glue.”
Had Xin An not known that Tao Yiran had once tried to seduce the Second Prince, she would not have understood what the Consort wished to learn. But since she did—well, the enemy of her enemy was a friend.
“Eldest Brother is a gentleman. On his wedding day, he accidentally walked into the wrong bridal chamber and thus made a marriage with Eldest Sister-in-law. Once he learned the matter could not be undone, he took responsibility. In truth, the two had met many times at banquets before—though not well acquainted, they were familiar. Their looks are well-matched, their talents equally so, and Eldest Sister-in-law’s family far outranks mine. They suit one another very well.”
From that single statement, one could piece together the truth. At that moment, the Second Prince’s Consort was looking at her as though she were a fool. “You really do have a broad heart.”
Seeing she wished to probe further, Madam Xu interrupted, knowing this was their first meeting and it was not fitting to press too deeply into private matters. Smiling, she said to Xin An, “We’ve delayed your tour of the gardens long enough. And I must ask that what was said today not be repeated.”
Xin An rose. “Madam is too polite. Since the deal has not yet been made, it would not be proper for others to know. Madam may rest assured.”
“If Madam and the Second Prince’s Consort have no further need of me, I will take my leave.”
Madam Xu stood to see her out. Once Xin An was gone, she turned to glare at the Second Prince’s Consort. “When will you change that impatient nature of yours?”
“Didn’t Mother want to hear it too?”
The Second Prince’s Consort picked up a piece of candied fruit. “It’s not as if it’s unheard of in the capital for two bridal sedans to enter the same household on the same day. But this is the only family that went wrong. For the groom to enter the bridal chamber and never come out again? Who would believe that?”
“What, were all the maids and matrons in the courtyard just for show?”
“A drunk bridegroom, that’s understandable. But the bride as well? So drunk she couldn’t even recognise her husband?”
She had yet to reach true high rank, nor gained the tempering of years and before her own kin, she made no effort to hide her thoughts. “It’s not as if they’d never met before. This was certainly done deliberately by Tao Yiran. After all, Tang Rong is far more valuable than Tang Mo. If she could attempt to lure the Second Prince, that already proves she’s not a woman content to stay within bounds. With Tang Rong delivered into her hands, why would she let him go?”
In her mind, it was clear—Tang Rong had indeed wandered into the wrong bridal chamber, and Tao Yiran had schemed to keep him there, cooking the rice until it was done and leaving no room for reversal. “It’s true that a dog can’t change its eating habits.”
“Mind your station,” Madam Xu snapped. “Do not speak in such coarse terms.”
“This is, after all, the Marquisate’s affair. Once married, she ought to have fewer fancies. Tang Rong is one of the finest young men in the capital.”
“As for that Xin family girl—your father’s people have inquired. In her natal home, she actually helped with the family business. She’s not lacking in wits.”
Madam Xu went over Xin An’s earlier words piece by piece, coming to her conclusion. “If she truly didn’t care, she wouldn’t have said all that. Her praise of their matched looks and talents was, in truth, telling us that this was Tao Yiran’s doing, and that she merely compromised.”
“There is no way relations between the Xin and Tang families will be as free of friction as before. This bride swap was an insult to the Xin family. And Tang Gang is neither smooth nor thorough in his dealings. Your father’s advisers have analysed it carefully—though the Xin family is still under the Tang family’s protection, they are likely more inclined toward Tang Mo.”
“Tang Mo’s poor reputation is largely because of Tang Rong—people say he likes to snatch what others have, but how many have actually seen him do it? Think carefully—it’s always from Tang Rong’s mouth.”
“They’re both legitimate sons. Tang Mo will never be content to live under him.”
The Second Prince’s Consort considered for a while. “Mother means that the Xin family is worth courting?”
Madam Xu sat back down. “Salt merchants, sugar merchants, and vice-chairman of the Huai Jiang Merchants’ Guild—they are indeed valuable.”
They had once considered Liao Zhi’s wife from the Northern Garrison—first among Xuzhou’s wealthy—but Liao Zhi was loyal to the Emperor, and most of the Xu family’s wealth had already gone into his pockets. Without that vast fortune behind him, would he have been able to outmatch his uncles and hold the position of Liao family head?
“Your father’s people have searched the field. The Xin family is the most valuable, and the most likely to be won over. As for the Tang family…”
“They are of no concern.”
The old marquis’s timely retreat had preserved the Tang family’s honour, but without military power and without outstanding sons, their shallow roots meant their days at the top were numbered.
“This matter need not be rushed. Whether we secure the sugar will depend entirely on the Xin family’s attitude. Later, find an excuse to speak more with this Second Young Madam—help raise her standing. She’s a merchant; she’ll understand your meaning.”
The Second Prince’s Consort nodded. As long as the woman didn’t covet her man, everything else was negotiable.
Xin An, walking back, did not bother to dwell on it—she simply didn’t have the time. There were always curious glances cast her way; some even carried a trace of pity, which she found rather novel.
From the pavilion ahead, Yan Wenhui and the others spotted her return. They stepped forward to ask with concern, “Well? What did the Second Prince’s Consort want with you?”
Xin An gave a helpless smile. “Just curiosity.”
“As long as the woman didn’t covet her man, everything else was negotiable.”
And if the woman wants to team up against a woman who did covet her man, things are extremely negotiable.