RMBLCUCS – Chapter 49: Madame Tao Begins to Regret

The matters of the estate were quickly settled. Tang Mo lounged leisurely, one leg crossed over the other, eating a freshly picked melon. “It’s sweet. Want one?”

Beside him, Xin An took a bite from the one he handed her. “Sweet.”

“What do you plan to do with the grain you kept?”

Tang Mo spat out a melon seed. “Naturally, it’s for the jasmine flowers.”

When Prince Jin returned to favor and returned to the capital, he would need provisions. A few potted flowers alone wouldn’t be enough to show his sincerity.

Xin An smiled in satisfaction, just about to speak when a cook approached. “Young Madam, Ershan and a few of the boys have brought a bucket of small fish. They said they wanted them fried—apparently, you promised?”

“Yes.”

Xin An folded her arms. “I found them amusing while they were fishing, and they’re rather likable children, so I invited them to share a meal.”

The cook, having received her answer, smiled and nodded. “Finger-sized fish are best when fried. I’ll have them clean the fish themselves—you should see them, Young Madam. They’re covered in mud, but they couldn’t be happier.”

One of the boys was her son, and she was glad he had the chance to enjoy a meal of fried fish.

Watching the cook leave, Xin An also felt pleased. She turned to Tang Mo. “You know, this is what I like to see—when you offer someone a small kindness, and they respond with genuine gratitude and joy, instead of feeling entitled or complaining that it wasn’t enough. That kind of attitude is so tiresome.”

Tang Mo understood that feeling well. “Exactly. It makes you feel like it was worth giving, maybe even makes you want to give a little more. That’s real satisfaction.”

He stood up. “Come on, the Old Madam and Mother went to the lotus pond and haven’t returned yet. Let’s go see what’s so fun about it.”

For the rest of the day, they set aside all their worries and simply enjoyed themselves. They admired flowers and fished with the Old Madam and Wang Shi, shared fried fish with the village boys, wove flower crowns with the estate girls, and even joined the workers in foraging for mushrooms in the hills. There was never a dull moment, and their faces remained bright with laughter.

While they enjoyed their time at the estate, those left behind at the marquis’s residence also found themselves much more at ease.

For one, Tao Yiran had finally stepped out of Spring Blossom Courtyard, leading her maids on a leisurely stroll through the gardens. With those she found bothersome gone, even the flowers seemed to bloom more beautifully.

Tang Rong, too, felt at ease. In just a few days, he had come to appreciate the benefits of being the household’s heir and master. Even the air felt fresher.

Tang Gang, in a particularly good mood, went so far as to take advantage of a lively young maid in his service, disregarding her protests. He seemed quite pleased with himself.

Many servants secretly despised his actions, but none dared to speak up.

Madame Tao also took the opportunity to visit, her expression troubled. She had once believed that with Tang Rong as the heir to the marquisate and possessing such a good reputation, the Tao family would surely benefit. Instead, they had gained nothing but ridicule. She had been too ashamed to leave her residence for days.

“What exactly happened?”

She had come today to get to the bottom of things. Tao Yiran didn’t hide anything and recounted the recent events in full detail. The more she spoke, the deeper Madame Tao’s frown became. She had not expected the marquis’s household to be in such disarray. So much trouble in just a few days.

“Your mother-in-law is certainly cunning. With a move like this, how do you and your husband expect to have any standing in front of her in the future?”

Having lived in the inner courtyards all her life, Madame Tao immediately understood Wang Shi’s intentions. However, she shifted her focus. “Then again, your father-in-law brought this upon himself. If he hadn’t left himself vulnerable, he wouldn’t be in such a weak position now.”

As for Tang Rong being beaten, she wasn’t too concerned. As long as the Ministry of Rites position remained within reach, nothing else mattered.

Tao Yiran’s eyes reddened as she continued, mentioning Xueyu’s pregnancy and Yingyue’s opportunistic move. Madame Tao nearly choked on her anger but had no choice but to swallow it. Tang Rong had never been intended as the Tao family’s son-in-law to begin with, so they had no grounds to interfere. But to have a concubine exploit an opportunity so soon after marriage—Madame Tao simply could not accept it.

“Tell me exactly how this happened.”

Tao Yiran explained, and Madame Tao was furious. “He was beaten so badly—why didn’t you stay by his side? Why did you insist on moving to a separate room?”

Tao Yiran lowered her gaze, unwilling to admit that Tang Rong had looked so wretched it was unbearable. The man she had admired—elegant, refined, like the bright moon in the sky—had been reduced to a pitiful figure, beaten until unrecognizable. That moment had shattered her illusions.

What gentlemanly grace? What noble bearing?

In the end, he was just another man—pathetic and powerless when faced with real trouble.

She hadn’t been able to reconcile that sudden disparity in her mind, so she had fled.

Madame Tao, unaware of her thoughts, continued, “This was the perfect time to deepen your relationship, and yet you left, giving a concubine the perfect opportunity! That girl had already been serving him—there was already a degree of intimacy. Now, after all her careful words and gentle care, do you think he’ll forget? Once he recovers, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes her his concubine officially.”

The thought of both a legitimate eldest son and a concubine solidifying their places enraged Madame Tao. But she had nowhere to vent her frustration. The more she thought about it, the more regret gnawed at her.

“Not long ago, your father encountered Tang Mo at a restaurant, dining with his father-in-law. Apparently, throughout the meal, Tang Mo was respectful and eager to please, while Xin Kuan was full of praise for him. After making some inquiries, we learned that Tang Mo had been spending those days accompanying the Xin family—bringing gifts, procuring medical herbs, and ensuring that each visit was made with the utmost sincerity. Even during meals, he invited his friends along to make a good impression.”

“He made sure to be thoughtful at every turn, giving his father-in-law the respect and dignity he deserved.”

She didn’t say the rest, but Tao Yiran understood the implication.

Since their wedding, aside from the third-day return visit, Tang Rong had not visited the Tao family again, let alone invited her father for a meal.

Madame Tao pressed further. “And how does Tang Mo treat Xin An?”

Tao Yiran’s expression darkened. She resented it, but she had no choice but to answer honestly. “He accompanies her for morning and evening greetings every day. He takes her out for excursions. This time, he even brought her along for a stay at the estate.”

“It wasn’t just to take your mother-in-law out for a break?”

Tao Yiran shook her head. “The trip had already been planned beforehand. His mother was only included later.”

Madame Tao’s heart sank even further. But there was no turning back now. “Tang Rong is still the heir. His father favors him. You must be more thoughtful and make sure he listens to you. Everyone has highs and lows—once he recovers, he must have guards accompanying him when he goes out. If he is strong, you will be strong. This is just the beginning—there’s still a long road ahead, so don’t lose hope.”

This was meant to reassure both Tao Yiran and herself.

“There will be a banquet at the Duke of En’s residence next month, and the marquis’s household has been invited. You must attend. Present yourself with dignity and grace—do whatever it takes to outshine Xin An. Remember, you are the future Marquise of Wei Yuan.”

Tao Yiran nodded.

The conversation soon turned to quieter whispers—how to keep Tang Rong close, how to suppress Xin An, how to take control of the household. And, most importantly, how to secure a pregnancy.

“Even if that girl is pregnant, at best, she’ll bear a concubine’s son. A mere bastard—nothing more.”