RMBLCUCS – Chapter 40: Tao Yiran’s Hidden Disdain

Lailai moved swiftly, arriving at the guards’ quarters in no time. The punishment had already been carried out—twenty strikes each. The guards lay sprawled on the shared wooden platform, groaning in pain. Though resentment simmered in their hearts, none dared voice it. Servitude meant enduring the master’s whims; a single word could determine their fate.

“Do you think the Heir will come after us later?”

That was the real concern. All four sighed in unison. Securing a position as a guard in the Marquis’s residence had not been easy; some had even been recommended by patrons. If trouble arose, those patrons would suffer consequences as well.

Lailai entered with an air of warmth and concern. “Gentlemen, how are you holding up?”

Recognizing him, the guards struggled to rise, but Lailai hastily gestured for them to stay put. “The Second Young Master feels guilty about today’s events and has been thinking of you all. He specifically sent me to bring you some medicine.”

He set down a bundle. “And knowing your wages were docked, he’s also made up for it. He asked me to pass along his apologies—he regrets that you were implicated because of him.”

The guards were taken aback by such generosity. “It’s our duty,” one of them said quickly. “Second Young Master was only acting for the safety of the household. We failed to recognize him—this isn’t his fault.”

Not to mention, the Heir’s sneaky behavior had been suspicious in the first place.

“Second Young Master is too kind,” another murmured. “We can’t possibly accept this money.”

Lailai placed a pouch of silver on the table. “I’ll leave it here. The medicine is also here, though it may not be enough—you’ll have to buy more yourselves. Don’t let these injuries turn into lasting ailments.”

Glancing toward the door, he lowered his voice. “There are too many eyes and ears around. I’ll take my leave. Rest well.”

With a respectful bow, he departed. Once he was gone, all eyes turned to the pouch of silver.

“That looks like a decent sum,” someone whispered.

When they opened it, they found far more than expected—equivalent to over three months’ wages. Even after dividing it, they’d still have extra to buy medicine.

“Since Second Young Master is so considerate, we should accept it. From now on, let’s keep an extra eye out for him,” one of them suggested.

Without hesitation, they tucked the silver away, their earlier grievances easing considerably. As they lay back down, murmured praises spread—Second Young Master wasn’t bad at all. This incident wasn’t his fault in the slightest.

At Spring Blossom Courtyard, the physician examined Tang Rong carefully. “Fortunately, they’re only superficial wounds—no damage to the bones. Still, they’re severe enough that you’ll need at least half a month to recover.”

Tang Rong scowled. A useless diagnosis. His entire body ached as if his bones had been shattered, yet the physician insisted otherwise. There was no point in arguing. After applying medicine all over his bruised and swollen body, he lay down stiffly. The pain stretched across his chest and back, his arms also injured—lying on his side was impossible. The physician had no solution for that.

“Who could have struck you so viciously?” Tao Yiran sat at his bedside, weeping softly. “You must be in terrible pain.”

As soon as the attendants withdrew, she dabbed her tears and suggested, “Why not have Father petition the palace for an imperial physician? I won’t be at ease otherwise.”

Tang Rong barely opened his swollen eyelids. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

He closed his eyes, hoping that when he woke up, this would all be just a bad dream—or that at least his pain would have faded.

Tao Yiran wiped away another tear and stood up. “Rest well. I’ll have someone stand guard outside. Just call if you need anything.”

Then, she left—to sleep in the adjacent chamber.

Tang Rong’s weary eyes flickered open, watching her silhouette disappear. He had assumed she would stay and watch over him.

He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, yet exhaustion overtook him. By the time he awoke, the sky was faintly lit. For a brief moment, he felt nothing amiss. But as his senses cleared, the pain returned, sharp and unforgiving.

As he struggled to rise, Yingyue rushed in. “Heir, you must have suffered terribly.”

“You were outside all night?”

Yingyue hesitated. “I couldn’t sleep, knowing you were injured. Keeping watch gave me some peace of mind.”

A familiar warmth stirred in Tang Rong’s heart. She had been his maid for years, always tending to him with utmost devotion. He had neglected her recently, too preoccupied with Tao Yiran. But now, as half of his weight leaned against her, a realization settled in—Yingyue had always been there for him.

“It hurts,” he murmured.

Tears welled in Yingyue’s eyes. She carefully helped him relieve himself before guiding him back to bed. Seeing his battered face up close, she wiped her tears swiftly before he could notice. “You must be hungry. I made pig’s blood congee—it’s good for recovery. I’ll fetch some for you.”

Tang Rong reached out, stopping her. “No rush. You must be tired.”

“Serving you isn’t tiring,” she whispered.

Her voice was steady, yet her gaze held a quiet determination. Tang Rong, still in pain, felt a tinge of warmth seep through his discomfort.

Yingyue wiped away her tears and smiled. “As long as I can serve the Heir, I’m not tired.”

She turned briskly toward the door. “Heir, wait here. I’ll fetch the congee.”

Tao Yiran had chosen not to stay by the bedside all night, leaving an opening for Yingyue. By the time she returned with the pig’s blood congee and fed Tang Rong half a bowl, Tao Yiran finally appeared.

The moment she stepped through the door, she saw the two of them sitting close together in what seemed like an intimate moment. Her eyes reddened at once.

Yingyue quickly got up and bowed respectfully. “Young Madam, please don’t misunderstand the Heir. It was my own concern for him that brought me here—he did not summon me.”

She hastily offered the remaining congee to Tao Yiran. “Now that Young Madam is here, this servant will take her leave.”

Her demeanor was one of fear and deference, making Tao Yiran frown slightly. She had the sudden urge to hurl the bowl in her hands—just looking at it disgusted her.

Tang Rong, still brooding over the fact that she had not stayed to watch over him, felt uneasy at her reaction.

“Yingyue has served me for a long time. She knows her place and her duties. You don’t need to concern yourself with her.”

Tao Yiran’s eyes filled with tears. Without another word, she sat at the bedside, holding the bowl of congee. “Eat.”

Meanwhile, in Spring Glory Hall, Tang Mo and Xin An were accompanying Old Madame Tang for breakfast.

The two had woken especially early today—eager for a chance to witness Tang Rong’s “pig-headed” state up close. Their delight made them particularly attentive in serving Old Madame Tang, their flattery growing increasingly adept.

“Grandmother, if not for you stepping in last night, I fear Father would have beaten me to death,” Tang Mo sighed dramatically.

Old Madame Tang gave him a look of pity. “Your father was acting out of concern. Who told you to be so reckless all the time?”

“I’ve changed! Haven’t I changed, Grandmother?”

Old Madame Tang chuckled. “If you have, that’s good. If your father doesn’t dote on you, Grandmother will.”

Xin An, sitting to the side with a smile, marveled at Tang Mo’s shamelessness. In just a few days, he had completely mastered the art of charming Old Madame Tang.

And honestly, a grown man acting spoiled was truly something to behold. Especially when that man was also rather handsome.

If, one day, he ever turned that charm on her… would she be able to withstand it?

She wasn’t completely unfeeling—just a little old at heart. And wasn’t it true that the older one got, the more they enjoyed the company of youth?

I’m doomed.

Seeing that the timing was right, Tang Mo spoke up again. “Grandmother, shall we visit Eldest Brother? The physician said his injuries aren’t serious, but they’re severe enough that even imagining the pain makes me wince.”

Old Madame Tang nodded, thinking Tang Mo was finally showing some maturity. Raising a hand, she gestured for him to help her up.

As they prepared to leave, Tang Mo casually added, “I also spoke to Father—after we return from the estate, I’ll go to the Northern Garrison.”

Old Madame Tang, pleased with the arrangement, instructed Ganlu to bring along some medicinal supplements.

Thus, a small entourage began making their way leisurely toward Spring Blossom Courtyard.