RMBLCUCS – Chapter 42: A Group Visit to Mock Tang Rong

Secrets never lasted long in the capital, especially when they concerned the Residence of the Marquis of Wei Yuan, which had been at the center of gossip for the past two days. News of Tang Rong’s brutal beating spread like wildfire, and those who had long harbored resentment toward him—young lords from influential families—finally had their moment of amusement. After all, they had spent years living in Tang Rong’s shadow, with their elders constantly holding him up as the model son whenever they made a mistake.

“So that sanctimonious bastard finally got what he deserved!”

A group of notorious playboys gathered at Huiyou Teahouse, sipping tea and reveling in the news. This teahouse was a joint venture between Tang Mo, Yan Shimao, and a few others—not exactly a thriving business, but a favorite haunt of their circle. One of them, too excited to contain himself, exclaimed, “I wonder which great hero did the deed! I heard he was wailing like a dying pig.”

“I heard he was beaten so badly he knelt on the ground, begging for mercy—crying for his father and mother! Two ribs broken, at least.”

“Nonsense! I heard he was blinded in one eye! Ah, shouldn’t we pay him a visit and offer our ‘condolences’?”

The suggestion was met with unanimous enthusiasm. Without delay, they purchased two jin of pastries, gathered their group, and marched toward the Marquis’s residence. As guests, and bearing gifts no less, they could hardly be turned away. Moreover, these weren’t just any idle young men—each was either the grandson of a prince or the son of a high-ranking official. The gatekeepers dared not offend them, and before anyone could report their arrival, they had already found a servant to lead them straight to Spring Blossom Courtyard to ‘visit’ Tang Rong.

Tang Rong did not want to see them. He knew perfectly well that they had come only to mock him, but he had no choice. Moments later, bursts of laughter erupted from his room—these men were laughing so hard that tears streamed down their faces.

Unlike Tang Mo, they had no reservations about showing their delight.

“Tang Rong, how could you be so careless? You’re known for your exceptional martial arts, yet you ended up beaten to a pulp?”

“Perhaps the bandits outnumbered him. Even the strongest fighter can’t take on too many at once—surely, there must have been a fierce struggle.”

“But I heard he had just left a restaurant—drunk, with no strength in his hands. A mistake, truly. He should have learned Drunken Fist instead.”

“Hahahaha!”

The room erupted in laughter, the men slapping their thighs as they laughed without restraint. Yet, despite their open mockery, they maintained the guise of brotherly camaraderie, as if these were just lighthearted jests among close friends. Of course, they had come prepared with an excuse.

“Tang Rong, this was truly unfortunate. You must take care and rest well.”

“Yes, injuries to the bones and tendons take a full hundred days to heal. Don’t take it lightly.”

“Ah, what a pity! There are so many upcoming banquets—you won’t be able to attend any of them.”

Tang Rong remained silent throughout, his fingernails digging into his palms so deeply that they left bloody crescents. Someone noticed Tang Gang approaching and quickly changed the subject.

“Tang Rong, we’re all worried about you. Don’t worry, we’ll do everything we can to track down those bandits for you.”

“Yes, vengeance must be had! We’ll make sure those scoundrels pay for what they did.”

“You just focus on recovering. We’ll visit again soon.”

With that, the group strolled out, offering polite bows to Tang Gang before swaggering away. The moment they stepped out of Spring Blossom Courtyard, the smile on Tang Gang’s face vanished. His expression darkened, and he strode inside with heavy steps.

Tang Rong immediately spoke, his voice bitter. “Father, they came to mock me.”

“I know.”

And that was precisely why he was furious. The rumors spreading outside painted the Heir of the Marquis of Wei Yuan as all show and no substance—a noble young master who had been utterly helpless against a few street thugs. Tang Rong’s reputation was tied to the Tang family’s honor; if the son was disgraced, the father could not escape ridicule either.

“Your grandfather built his legacy on military prowess, conquering battlefields and earning unparalleled merit. And yet, his grandson—faced with a few common thugs—was utterly powerless.”

“The only excuse we can offer is that you were too drunk to fight back.”

Tang Gang took a deep breath. First, he had gotten drunk and entered the wrong bridal chamber, consummating his marriage with his younger brother’s fiancée. Now, he had gotten drunk and been beaten senseless.

“I sincerely hope there won’t be a third ‘drunken incident.’”

Tang Rong shut his eyes, seething in silence. Knowing there was still a mess waiting to be dealt with, Tang Gang did not linger. He left, his fury barely contained.

As he stepped out, he ran into Tang Mo and Xin An, who had just returned from an outing with Old Madame Tang. The two were in high spirits, their faces glowing with cheer, which only made Tang Gang’s temper flare further. His anger immediately turned toward Tang Mo.

“You have nothing better to do all day? Why haven’t you reported to the Northern Garrison yet?”

Tang Mo bowed. “I will be accompanying Grandmother to the estate for a short stay. Only after we return will I report for duty. We just finished discussing it—our departure is in two days.”

“Your elder brother is in trouble, and you still have the leisure to go on a trip?”

Tang Gang was livid. Useless, absolutely useless. He had no hope for this son—Tang Mo was entirely unreliable. Not even worth counting on.

Tang Mo said, “Eldest Brother’s injuries only look severe. If we, as his family, treat them lightly, then outsiders will naturally assume it’s nothing serious. If Grandmother can still find the mood to go on an outing at a time like this, people will believe that his injuries are not a cause for concern.”

“Rumors are the most dangerous thing. If we lock ourselves away in distress, the gossip outside will only worsen, making my brother’s situation even more unfavorable.”

Tang Gang let out a cold “Hmph”, but he had to admit there was some logic in Tang Mo’s reasoning. “Then tell me, how do you think this matter should be handled?”

Tang Mo gave it a moment’s thought before cupping his hands respectfully. “The capital has been peaceful for too long—it’s only natural that Eldest Brother was caught off guard. He sustained a minor injury near his eye in the scuffle, but with ten days to half a month of rest, he’ll be fine.”

“But just now, the Prince of Changping’s son and several noble young masters already saw his condition.”

Tang Mo regretted it deeply. On the way back, he and Xin An had taken a detour to admire some fish. Had he known earlier, he would have hurried home to witness the spectacle himself.

“They’re all good-for-nothing playboys. No one will take their words seriously. I’ll find some people to steer the conversation in another direction.”

Only now did Tang Gang recall that the person standing before him was also a notorious playboy, well-connected in those circles. “Then handle it quickly.”

Once inside his courtyard, Tang Mo downed a full cup of tea with a scowl. “Do you think the old man’s heart is naturally crooked?”

He wanted him to do his dirty work, yet still had that attitude.

Xin An, sipping her tea at a leisurely pace, replied, “Bias is never rational. Just like how my parents favor me—no matter what I do, I’m always forgiven. Why trouble yourself over it?”

“You have your mother on your side, and that’s enough.”

She set down her teacup. “What I’m curious about is whether he’ll actually use your excuse.”

“If he blames the city for being unsafe, then he’s indirectly offending the Northern Garrison, since they’re the ones in charge of patrolling the capital. If that happens, you’ll have to put in extra effort to establish yourself when you join them.”

“A challenge, yes, but also an opportunity, isn’t it?”

Tang Mo showed no concern whatsoever. For years, Tang Rong had built his reputation by stepping on him, painting himself as a refined and dignified gentleman. Why shouldn’t he now use Tang Rong’s misfortune to establish himself in the Northern Garrison?

“What a shame I missed the excitement earlier.”

Saying this, he walked to Xin An’s dressing table, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a stack of silver notes. “I’m heading out. First, I’ll visit my Second Uncle, then I have a dinner gathering later. Don’t wait up.”

“You handle the preparations for our trip to the estate.”

“Go on, then.”

Xin An was looking forward to their stay at the estate, but she had one complaint—Tang Mo had been keeping his private stash of money in her drawer. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll spend all your secret savings?”

Tang Mo laughed. “If you want to spend it, go ahead. What little I have is nothing compared to your enormous dowry. Once I’m broke, I’ll just wait for you to support me.”

“Shameless.”

Tang Mo nodded seriously, “Who doesn’t want an easy life? I’ll go earn some money now, so you won’t feel like you’re getting a bad deal supporting me in the future.”

Xin An laughed. “Truly shameless.”