RMBLCUCS – Chapter 41: Joy is Best When Shared
Tang Rong did not want to see anyone. He did not want others to witness his disgrace. But since the visitor was Old Madame Tang, he had no choice but to pull himself together as best as he could. Still, after taking two severe beatings, what dignity did he have left?
The moment Tang Mo and Xin An saw him, they nearly burst out laughing. A night of rest had somewhat reduced the swelling, but the bruises had darkened, turning his face into a canvas of deep blues and purples. The swelling remained, and his eyes, ringed in black, gave him an utterly ridiculous appearance. Both clenched their fists, struggling to contain their laughter. Xin An managed to stay silent, but Tang Mo was not as composed. The moment he opened his mouth, a snicker nearly escaped, forcing him to turn away and clear his throat in a feeble attempt to disguise it.
Old Madame Tang was momentarily taken aback when she saw Tang Rong’s face. “Don’t move. Just focus on resting,” she said, her voice tinged with pity. “At least your bones are intact, and your face hasn’t been permanently damaged. In a few days, you’ll be back to normal.” What a shame. He had always been a handsome young man—how could they have beaten him so mercilessly? Could those bandits have done this on purpose?
“That’s right, Eldest Brother, you need to take care of yourself,” Tang Mo added solemnly, feigning concern. “Luckily, our ancestors must have been watching over you—it’s only superficial. Don’t worry about anything else for now. Nothing is more important than your health.” Holding back his laughter was so difficult that his eyes welled up with tears.
Old Madame Tang, oblivious to his amusement, was even more pleased. “Your younger brother has truly matured. Look at how much he cares for you.”
Tang Rong, however, was simmering with frustration. He strongly suspected Tang Mo had something to do with this beating, but he had no proof. Worse still, he had to maintain an expression of gratitude. “Second Brother is very thoughtful,” he forced out.
“As your younger brother, how could I not worry?” Tang Mo replied with flawless sincerity. Then, as if deep in thought, he added, “I’ve been wondering… Who could have targeted Eldest Brother so viciously? It seems too much of a coincidence to be an accident.” He sighed, as if troubled by the thought. “Could this be related to your new post at the Ministry of Rites?”
“That position is highly sought after. And with injuries like these, it’ll be at least ten days before you’re fit to report for duty. If the ministry needs someone urgently, they might replace you.” He paused before adding, “Eldest Brother, is there anyone else vying for that role?”
This was what Xin An had taught him—shifting the blame elsewhere. Tang Rong, though still suspicious of Tang Mo, could not deny the logic in his words. His appointment at the Ministry of Rites required poise and composure, and last night’s attackers had aimed exclusively for his face. A thought flickered across his mind, but with his swollen face, his expression was unreadable. “Father will investigate this matter,” he muttered.
Tang Mo hummed in agreement. Investigate all you want—those men were long gone by dawn. Having thoroughly enjoyed the sight of Tang Rong’s misery, he escorted Old Madame Tang away.
Once they returned to Autumn Harvest Courtyard, Xin An finally collapsed onto a chaise, stretching out with a smug smile. “Tomorrow, we should find another excuse to go take a look,” she suggested.
Tang Mo chuckled. “I barely held back earlier. He looked absolutely ridiculous. I almost handed him a mirror—after all, joy is best when shared.”1
“I also heard that Tao Yiran didn’t stay with him last night. She went to sleep in the adjacent room, leaving an opening for that maid, Yingyue.”
Xin An’s lips curled in amusement. “Oh? Looks like we’ll have some entertainment soon.”
Tang Mo nodded, feeling utterly pleased. As long as Tang Rong was suffering, he was at peace. Call it petty, but that was just the way he was.
Xin An changed the topic. “I want to open a medicinal cuisine shop. But I’ll have to wait until my parents return to Huai Jiang so they can send people over to assist me. In the meantime, help me pick a good location—something grand and respectable.”
“Medicinal cuisine?” Tang Mo’s interest was piqued. The concept was not new—wealthy families often incorporated it into their diets—but there were no specialized shops for it yet. “Would you need a physician on-site?”
“Of course. My father has a doctor under his employ who specializes in this.”
Tang Mo quickly grasped the potential. “Could we establish the shop under your father’s name? That way, it won’t be linked to our household, and I can manage it independently. This would also allow me to expand my own network.”
Xin An had been thinking the same thing. Though she and Tang Mo were technically husband and wife, their arrangement was more of a strategic alliance. They shared common enemies, and the stronger Tang Mo became, the easier it would be for her to execute her own plans. Her lips curved into a smile. “Second Young Master, you’ve been making good decisions lately. Naturally, I’ll give you this opportunity.”
Tang Mo beamed and stepped back, bowing theatrically. “Many thanks, Boss Xin.”
“Now hurry up and arrange our trip to the estate.”
“This humble one will handle it flawlessly.”
Xin An chuckled at his playful tone. “We can’t just fixate on Tang Rong—we must focus on our own plans. As for him, let’s let him rest for now. Later, we’ll slip him some laxatives. Every time he gets too full of himself, we’ll arrange a little ‘accident.’”
Tang Mo nodded eagerly. “Understood! We’ll send him out when we need him, and when he’s in the way, we’ll make sure he’s bedridden.”
“Leave it to me—I’ll make sure everything is arranged perfectly.”
While they laughed in satisfaction, Tang Gang was outside, forced to put on a pleasant smile as he spoke with Vice Minister Wang from the Ministry of Rites. Wang Shilang, however, was anything but pleased. “Has the culprit been caught?”
Tang Gang assured him, “The matter is under urgent investigation.”
Wang Shilang sighed. “Marquis, we cannot let this happen again. If the Heir has made enemies, he must resolve them quickly. Imagine if something like this happened just before an important diplomatic event—who would take responsibility?”
The concern was valid. With Da Qian’s growing power and its recent lifting of maritime bans, more foreign envoys were arriving than ever before. The Ministry of Rites, responsible for hosting these dignitaries, needed representatives who could uphold the nation’s image. Tang Rong had been chosen precisely because of his upright posture and refined appearance.
“Has his face been permanently damaged?” Wang Shilang asked.
“Only some bruising. No disfigurement.”
That, at least, was a relief. Tang Gang reassured him, “We are making every effort to track down those responsible. The attackers claimed it was a mistake—perhaps it truly was.”
Wang Shilang internally scoffed. What kind of mistake turns a man into a pig-headed mess? “I heard the Heir is skilled in martial arts. Did he encounter an expert?”
At the spring flower banquet earlier this year, Tang Rong had performed a sword dance in front of the crowd—his movements graceful and unparalleled, earning thunderous applause. Many noble families had even used him as an example to discipline their own sons, praising him as a man of both literary and martial excellence.
Tang Gang didn’t even know how to respond. Skilled in martial arts, yet beaten up by a few common thugs?
Qing Mo had made it clear—those thugs fought without any technique, nothing more than unruly street ruffians.
Vice Minister Wang did not press the matter further. So, it was just for show—flashy but useless. “Regardless, I hope the Heir recovers well. The Ministry of Rites is still expecting him. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave.”
Tang Gang’s face turned pale, then darkened. He could not shake the overwhelming sense of humiliation.
- A Chinese proverb meaning “It is better to enjoy together than alone.” Similar to the English expression “The more, the merrier.” ↩︎