RMBLCUCS – Chapter 46: I Have Nothing to Do with Her Anymore
“Sister-in-law, wait a moment.”
Tao Yiran looked somewhat haggard as she called out to Xin An, who was about to leave. Xin An stopped and turned around. “Sister-in-law, is there something you need?”
Tao Yiran bit her lip lightly and took a few steps forward. “What happened before is in the past now. The household has already handled everything properly. I hope you and Tang Mo can let go of it and not dwell on the past.”
This was a veiled discontent over Tang Mo having beaten Tang Rong. Xin An nodded. “Sister-in-law is right. Do you have anything else to say?”
Tao Yiran shook her head. Xin An turned and left. She had barely taken a few steps before arriving at Autumn Harvest Courtyard, where Tang Mo was applying medicine to his knuckles. He had hit Tang Rong with such force that he had scraped the skin on his fist.
“How is it? Did he look as wretched as a beaten dog?”
Without looking up, Tang Mo blew on his wounded hand. “I suppose you could say I won the battle but suffered losses myself. It was quite the ordeal.”
Xin An sat down beside him. “It’s just a superficial wound, but layering injury upon injury isn’t ideal. Your punches are weak; you really should train more. You’ll be joining the Northern Garrison soon—how do you plan to manage like this?”
“A true master can break two ribs with a single punch and leave their opponent in critical condition. But you? You threw how many punches and only scraped your knuckles?”
Tang Mo was unwilling to accept the criticism. He prided himself on his strength.
Xin An chuckled. “Yet a man who gets enraged so easily he nearly chokes himself to death dares tell me he’s strong?”
“You have such a narrow mind.”
Seeing that she was teasing him again, Tang Mo glared at her, gritting his teeth. “That was because I fell into the lotus pond and swallowed too much filthy water! I didn’t die from anger.”
Xin An nodded solemnly. “Filthy water is full of nutrients. Seems like your body just couldn’t handle the excess nourishment.”
She was the first to laugh at her own joke. Tang Mo rolled his eyes so hard it seemed like they might disappear into the back of his skull. He quickly decided to turn the tables. “You put all your anger into dealing with Tang Rong, but why didn’t you do anything to Tao Yiran? Did you go easy on her just because she’s a woman?”
“I was giving you face. I didn’t want to make things hard for you.”
“Spare me.”
Tang Mo prided himself on being a man of integrity. He wouldn’t stoop to revenge against a woman, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t enjoy watching a good show. “I have nothing to do with her anymore.”
Xin An sighed, deciding not to bicker with him further. “To be honest, I did consider teaching her a lesson. With my skills, taking care of her would be as easy as flipping my hand.”
Tang Mo scoffed. “Then why hold back? Are you waiting for the right moment? Or are you not confident?”
“Neither.”
Xin An continued, “She is indeed detestable, and I used to hate her. But then I thought—flies don’t buzz around unblemished eggs. The real culprit is still Tang Rong. If he had been a man of integrity, how could he have been so easily manipulated?”
“I just want to see if, in this lifetime, with the two of them completely unopposed by obstacles like you and me, they will truly be a match made in heaven—or if they’ll grow to despise each other.”
In her past life, Tao Yiran had been the perfect woman in Tang Rong’s eyes—beautiful, talented, and always understanding. They had no entanglements of personal gain, no struggles over the mundane aspects of daily life. He only ever saw the best side of her. But in this lifetime, without Xin An and Tang Mo as the ones shouldering all the household burdens, would they still have those idyllic moonlit strolls in the garden?
She wanted to see. Tang Mo wanted to see.
He glanced toward the room. “Grandmother’s attendants just came with a message. We’re heading to the estate again tomorrow. Mother is coming along. Have you packed your things?”
“I have.”
Xin An was always the most enthusiastic about leaving the household.
That evening, Tang Mo was summoned by Tang Gang’s attendants. Confronted with his father’s sudden kindness, Tang Mo found it completely unappealing. Once, he might have felt a flicker of hope. But now, he knew better. This warmth was nothing more than a calculated move after weighing pros and cons.
Feigning anger and sorrow, he even managed to redden his eyes but stubbornly refused to bow his head. In the end, he declared he would not hold past grievances against his father.
When he returned, his expression was dark as thunder, as if someone owed him money and refused to pay. Without a word, he went straight to his room, kicked off his shoes, collapsed onto his bed, and pulled the blanket over his head.
Curious, Chunyang peeked in and then shook her head. “I wonder what’s wrong with Young Master.”
How could someone be so utterly unbothered about hygiene, just lying down on the bed like that? She was relieved he hadn’t chosen to sleep here. But then she remembered that, sooner or later, he would— and that thought made her uncomfortable. She was about to grumble when Nanny Wang flicked her forehead.
“Watch your tongue! That is the young master, the rightful head of Autumn Harvest Courtyard. He’s simply good-tempered and doesn’t fuss over you, but in any other household, you’d have been dragged out and beaten with a rod for speaking so carelessly.”
“Be mindful of your words in the future. Don’t put the young mistress in a difficult position.”
Xin An lifted her gaze. “Nanny Wang, from today onward, everyone who follows me to the marquis’s residence must learn to guard their tongues. They should know what can and cannot be said.”
Nanny Wang acknowledged the instruction and shot a glare at Chunyang, who immediately shrank back, not daring to speak. Only after Nanny Wang left did Xin An turn to her. “From now on, don’t speak about him so carelessly. Nanny Wang is right—he’s simply good-natured and chooses not to argue with you. Today, he acted this way only because he was in a bad mood. You must show him more respect in the future.”
Chunyang nodded. “Understood. It’s just that we’ve always known that Young Master has an easygoing temperament, so we grew careless. We won’t do it again.”
With that settled, the night passed with relative ease.
The next morning, Tang Mo set out from the residence, escorting three generations of women from the household as they departed for the estate.
The imperial estate granted by the emperor was located a hundred li from the capital. The land was flat, the scenery pleasant. Though summer had begun, the heat had yet to become unbearable. The crops in the fields were thriving, and farmers could be seen working diligently among the furrows.
Setting out early from the marquis’s residence, they only arrived in the evening. The women, who had started the journey full of excitement, gradually succumbed to drowsiness as the hours passed. By the time they disembarked from the carriage, their heads were still spinning from the long ride. Fortunately, the crisp evening air, carrying the faint scent of fresh grass, quickly cleared their minds.
The setting sun painted the sky in brilliant hues of red and gold. Birds flew low over the fields, and a few dogs ran along the narrow farm paths toward them. The estate steward and his attendants were already waiting at the entrance, bowing deeply as they welcomed their guests.
“We began preparing as soon as we learned that Second Young Master would be visiting. However, the estate is simple and cannot compare to the comforts of the city. We ask for your understanding.”
The steward, Yang, had served at the estate for many years. Though he was originally appointed by the imperial household, he now received his stipend from the marquis’s residence.
Tang Mo surveyed the surroundings with interest. The estate was neither too far nor too close to the capital, offering a tranquil and refined atmosphere. The buildings were well-maintained, and flowers had been planted everywhere, blooming in vibrant clusters.
“The flowers here are truly exquisite,” he remarked.
Xin An, recalling something, paused near a jasmine bush while supporting the Old Madam. “These blossoms are white as snow and carry a sweet fragrance. Though we have jasmine at the residence, it’s not nearly as fragrant as these.”
The Old Madam plucked a bloom and held it to her nose, inhaling deeply. “Jasmine is also known as Yuxiang—its scent is most delightful. It refreshes the spirit, relieves summer fatigue, and aids in sleep.”
She glanced around. “Why are there so many of them?”
The entire pathway leading to the estate’s entrance was lined with jasmine. Steward Yang stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. “Old Madam, in the past, this estate belonged to Prince Jin. The princess consort was particularly fond of Yuxiang, so the prince ordered the estate to cultivate the finest jasmine to send to their residence. Over time, the flowers spread and flourished.”
Prince Jin was the emperor’s younger brother. Two years ago, he had fallen from favor and was exiled from the capital, his imperial residence and properties confiscated. Had it not been for that, this estate would never have come under the marquis’s household.
Xin An toyed with the delicate jasmine flower in her hand, her mind turning over the possibilities. There was merit in traveling more frequently—this estate offered her another path to explore.