RMBLCUCS – Chapter 47: A Great Opportunity at the Estate

The matter concerned a demoted prince, the emperor’s own brother. The Old Madam chose to remain silent. Xin An discarded the jasmine flower in her hand and helped the elderly woman into the estate. Inside, hot water and a meal had already been prepared. The attendants busied themselves with various tasks, ensuring everything was in order. By the time everyone had settled, the last streaks of sunset had faded into the clouds, leaving them with no choice but to rest for the night.

Wang Shi was not in particularly high spirits, nor was she in the best condition, so she retired to her room early.

The estate servants only knew that Tang Mo had recently married; they were unaware that he and Xin An slept in separate rooms. Thus, only one chamber had been prepared for them, and there were no additional rooms available. The two saw no reason to be overly particular and tacitly accepted the arrangement.

Once they lay down, Xin An spoke. “Tomorrow, ask if the estate has any gardeners. Keep them here and have them continue cultivating the jasmine.”

Tang Mo assumed she liked the flowers. “Would you like to take some back and plant them in our courtyard?”

Xin An shook her head. “I prefer keeping fish over tending flowers. When we return, find a few beautiful ones to keep in the large water basin in the courtyard.”

Tang Mo was puzzled. She wasn’t fond of flowers, yet she wanted the gardeners to continue cultivating them? He narrowed his eyes at her, exaggeratedly waggling his brows. Xin An curled her finger, beckoning him closer. The moment he leaned in, she lowered her voice. “If I recall correctly, Prince Jin will return within six months, even more favored than before.”

“Prince Jin deeply respects his consort. When the time comes, if we bring these flowers as a tribute, we’ll certainly win their favor.”

Tang Mo smacked his thigh, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Back then, he had been too weak—no, too unfortunate—to seize such an opportunity. He clicked his tongue. “Tsk!”

“What’s wrong with you?”

The sudden sound startled Xin An, and the spit Tang Mo had accidentally sprayed landed on her face. Without hesitation, she kicked him. “Go wet a cloth and wipe my face.”

Tang Mo hurriedly complied. When he returned, he wore a fawning smile. “I got a bit carried away. I was just thinking—back then, I was still alive. Why didn’t I come up with this idea? And how did you remember it?”

“This is a huge opportunity for us.”

A thought dawned on him, and he suddenly looked enlightened. “I get it now. They say the older a person gets, the better they remember distant events. You—”

“Hey! What was that for?!”

Tang Mo had been hit. Xin An had struck him, now glaring fiercely. “Say I’m old again, and I’ll show you exactly how I deal with you.”

“Dear lady, could you at least give a warning before hitting me?”

The sting on his neck burned. He feared his face would be too bruised to show in public tomorrow. After wiping his face, he tossed the cloth at her, flopped onto the bed, and huffed, “A warning? So you can strike first?”

Tang Mo winced and tossed the cloth far away. Lying down, he scooted toward the edge of the bed, leaving a wide gap between them—wide enough to fit another person. He had no choice. Though the fierce woman beside him was undoubtedly beautiful, she was far too dangerous for him to entertain any inappropriate thoughts. He feared she might beat him to death.

After a while, he inched closer, grinning mischievously. “Since you have such a good memory, think carefully—have we overlooked anything? Have we forgotten something important?”

“For instance, does this estate have any hidden mines? Any buried treasures? Is there a chance for us to strike it rich?”

Xin An turned to face him. “Are you obsessed with wealth? Do you really think an imperial estate would have hidden treasures just waiting for you to claim? Consider yourself lucky if you get a few pots of flowers.”

Tang Mo sighed dramatically. “So many people live off easy money—why can’t I be one of them?”

Two lifetimes, and he had always struggled. If he wanted something, he had to fight for it. Why couldn’t fortune ever fall into his lap?

Xin An scoffed. “If you truly want to live off others, it’s simple. You have a handsome face, and the wealthy ladies of the capital are as numerous as cattle in the fields. As long as you’re willing, they’d plaster silver notes all over your body.”

Tang Mo rolled his eyes. “This young master is worth more than gold. Do you think just anyone is qualified to win my favor?”

“Forget it. I’ll rely on myself. At least this life is better than the last—at least I have you.”

Better than struggling alone while others held him back.

“Let’s sleep.”

Xin An chuckled, turning over and hugging the blanket.

The estate was different from the marquis’s residence. The night was quiet, the moon bright, with only the chirping of frogs and the occasional call of crickets lulling them to sleep. Before long, both drifted into slumber.

By the time morning sunlight seeped through the window, they slowly woke. It was the most restful sleep Xin An had had since her rebirth. Feeling languid, neither of them felt inclined to rise. When they realized they had already missed the morning greeting, they simply gave up and made themselves comfortable again.

Outside in the courtyard, the Old Madam and Wang Shi were already enjoying the fresh morning air. The Old Madam smiled. “Last night’s dishes were truly delightful—fresh and perfectly to my taste. What did you think?”

Wang Shi nodded with a gentle smile. “Indeed, they were excellent.”

The Old Madam glanced at her. “Since we’re already here, don’t let your mind dwell on troubles. You’ve hardly had a moment of peace over the years. It’s rare for the second son to be so filial, bringing us out to relax. Don’t let his goodwill go to waste. You should let yourself unwind as well.”

Wang Shi’s lips curved slightly. “I am happy, of course. I was only wondering how the young couple’s relationship is progressing.”

She glanced toward their room. The Old Madam chuckled. “Tang Mo is handsome and good-natured, and Xin An is both beautiful and clever. Living together day and night, feelings will naturally develop in time. We elders should not rush or interfere. Just watch and wait.”

Wang Shi linked arms with her. “Why don’t I accompany Mother for a stroll outside? Later, we can let the young ones explore on their own.”

The Old Madam laughed. “Let’s go, then. We’ll return in time for breakfast.”

The estate in the early morning presented a unique beauty. The roadside flowers and grasses appeared especially vibrant, their freshness carrying the scent of dew. Ganlu instructed a young maid to pick some flowers to arrange in vases, but the Old Madam stopped her.

“There’s no reason to stay cooped up indoors all day when visiting the estate. Flowers are much more enjoyable when admired in their natural setting than when stuffed into a vase.”

From a distance, Steward Yang approached, announcing that there was a lotus pond on the estate, now in its most beautiful season. “Beside the pond, we’ve fenced off an area to raise chickens and ducks. Strangely enough, they laid a large number of eggs last night. Perhaps it’s thanks to the Old Madam’s good fortune.”

Everyone enjoys hearing auspicious words. The Old Madam was pleased and, with her interest piqued, decided to go see the eggs. Wang Shi, having never seen such a thing before, was also eager to have a look. By the time Tang Mo and Xin An finished dressing and stepped out, the two women had already disappeared.

A woman came out, smiling, to inform them that breakfast was ready and asked if they wished to eat now.

Tang Mo nodded. “Let’s eat. Afterward, we’ll take a stroll and meet some of the estate’s people.”

The meal was simple yet satisfying—vegetable porridge, scallion pancakes, and golden-fried eggs. Both ate heartily, feeling content as they stepped outside afterward. However, instead of heading to the lotus pond, they wandered aimlessly along the field ridges, feeling particularly at ease.

With a blade of foxtail grass dangling from his lips, Tang Mo mused about setting up a private garden on the estate. When he had time, he could invite friends to stay for a few days, strengthening their relationships in a leisurely setting.