Between the current mother-in-law and her son-in-law stood Xin An—the very woman who had once exchanged wedding vows with Tang Rong. The scene was, at the very least, somewhat awkward.
Yet Xin An smiled as if nothing were amiss and offered a respectful greeting to Madame Tao. Then, tilting her head toward Tang Rong, she said gently, “Mother had something to attend to and stepped out. She won’t be back until the afternoon. If Elder Brother needs to see her, perhaps it would be better to come by later.”
Wang Shi and You Shi had arranged to attend an opera together. With even the faintest awareness of household matters, Tang Rong should have known this trip would be fruitless.
His expression turned visibly awkward, while Xin An’s smile only grew more radiant. “I won’t disturb you and Madame Tao.”
With a graceful curtsey, she turned and departed with her attendants, her steps measured and elegant. Madame Tao watched her retreating figure thoughtfully before turning back to Tang Rong with a smile. “Your injury has improved quite a bit, I see. You’ll be starting your post at the Ministry of Rites soon, won’t you?”
Tang Rong nodded. “These past few days, I’ve been familiarizing myself with their regulations. I’ll assume my post in three days.”
“Good.”
Madame Tao entered Spring Blossom Courtyard. She had come today with a specific purpose: to teach Tao Yiran how to assert herself and vie for the right to manage the household. After exchanging a few words with Tang Rong, she proceeded directly to Tao Yiran’s rooms.
Tao Yiran, already irritated by her mother’s constant nagging, found her insistence on fighting for control even more distasteful. “Why must Mother concern herself with such things? What if it ends in disgrace?”
“A woman in the inner residence need not manage the household to lead a good life. Isn’t it better to focus on one’s own peace? Why trouble oneself over every little thing?”
“To desire nothing is to gain tranquility. A still heart knows no disturbance. One should live like calm waters—serene and at ease.”
“Mother should learn to let go.”
Madame Tao’s temples throbbed. How could the inner residence of a noble household possibly remain calm and undisturbed?
Yes, Tang Rong was the heir apparent—but until the title was officially conferred, anything could happen.
“You may not wish to compete, but others are already watching hungrily. Your husband is striving outside the home—naturally, he hopes for a virtuous wife to support him. And what is a virtuous wife?”
“Is it sitting beneath the moon reciting poetry? Or painting flowers by candlelight?”
“Please, Mother. That’s enough.”
The impatience on Tao Yiran’s face was plain to see. “Everything you speak of can be handled by Nanny Liu and Nanny Cai. Why should I involve myself?”
Madame Tao stared at her in stunned silence before replying helplessly, “Two senior maids managing a single courtyard is already a problem. Even mountains cannot hold two tigers. If you intend to delegate everything, then you must choose—only one of them can stay.”
“Why must you always scheme and calculate, Mother?”
“Each of them has their strengths. One manages affairs within, the other without. What harm is there in that?”
Madame Tao felt utterly exhausted. Tao Yiran’s health had been frail since childhood—always prone to illness. She had never forced her, allowing her to do as she pleased. After Tao Yiran fainted while learning to manage the household, she had never again dared to press her, always hoping that marriage might bring improvement.
But what troubled her most was that Tao Yiran had spent most of her time in the residence under the care of that old maid—someone born of base status. How could such a woman possibly raise her daughter properly?
It was part of the reason she had once favored Tang Mo as a son-in-law. As the second son who would never inherit the family estate, he wouldn’t require her daughter to exhaust herself. But things hadn’t gone as planned.
What noble household ever had a mistress who was constantly unwell and incapable of managing affairs?
Tao Yiran no longer wanted to hear any more talk that would trouble her. “Mother, please stop worrying about me. I know what I’m doing.”
Madame Tao softened her tone. She was just about to say that if Yiran truly wanted to manage the household, she should focus on improving her health and aim for pregnancy soon—but she didn’t get the chance to finish.
“Mother, I already said—please don’t concern yourself with this.”
The constant nagging only made her feel more irritated.
Madame Tao’s temper finally flared. “You may find me annoying now, but you’ll regret it one day.”
Fortunately, reason prevailed and she didn’t lose her temper inside Spring Blossom Courtyard. Once outside, she found Tang Rong, hoping he would help rein in Tao Yiran.
“This child is just too naïve and sincere—not a single scheming bone in her body. You’ll need to keep a closer eye on her in the future.”
Tang Rong had been counting on his mother-in-law to convince Tao Yiran to be more diligent in supporting him. But now the issue had been thrown right back into his lap. He didn’t feel good about it.
“I haven’t spent much time with Yi’er since our marriage. I don’t fully understand her temperament, nor do I know what ailment she supposedly suffers from that keeps her constantly unwell.”
“If Mother-in-law knows the cause, I would be grateful if you’d tell me. Then I can ask Father to invite an imperial physician to diagnose her.”
Madame Tao couldn’t respond. She had some idea that her daughter was feigning illness—but she didn’t want to accept it. All she could say was, “She’s a bit constitutionally weak. Perhaps it’s something she was born with.”
“Can it be treated?”
Tang Rong wasn’t about to let the matter drop. “Yi’er’s complexion looks quite good to me, yet every morning she complains of discomfort. One day it’s chest pain, the next it’s headaches. Or she claims she’s short of breath, unable to summon the energy to rise. The symptoms are so scattered, it’s worrying.”
He wasn’t a fool. He could nearly be certain Tao Yiran wasn’t sick at all. Since their marriage, their conjugal life had been frequent, and no matter how vigorous he was, she endured it well—and even seemed to enjoy it. She didn’t act like someone with a frail body. But those were thoughts he would never say aloud.
Madame Tao didn’t know how to answer. Tang Rong, however, wore a worried expression. “When Father returns, I’ll ask him personally. We should still invite an imperial physician to take a look.”
If she truly was ill, the physician would know it with a single pulse check.
Madame Tao forced an awkward smile. “No need to go to so much trouble. We’ve had plenty of physicians see her before—they all said it wasn’t a serious condition. She just needs good care.”
“She was tired even before the wedding, and after the wedding so many things have happened. My daughter’s not the kind to complain—she keeps everything bottled up. That’s likely why her body feels unwell. Give it a few days and she’ll be fine.”
But things were worse than she had anticipated. Tang Rong’s words were already laced with dissatisfaction at Tao Yiran’s laziness. He needed a wife who could share his burdens—not a gentle ornament whose only talents were arranging flowers and painting delicate scenes.
She had been ready to leave but now turned back and returned to Tao Yiran’s room. This time, her words were harsh and blunt.
“You don’t want to manage the household? Fine. You don’t want to bear children? Also fine. You want to do whatever pleases you? That’s your choice. But the condition is—you must be able to keep a man’s heart. A man must adore you, indulge you, and willingly protect you.”
Madame Tao remained in Spring Blossom Courtyard for quite some time. Since Wang Shi was away, Xin An made a quick round through the courtyard. With Wang Shi absent, she acted as the mistress of the residence.
Thinking that it was rare for Madame Tao to visit, she said to Tang Rong, “It’s not often that Madame Tao comes by. Surely she and Sister-in-law have many private things to discuss. I’ll have lunch brought here to Spring Blossom Courtyard. Would that be agreeable, Elder Brother?”
Tang Rong bowed. “Many thanks, Sister-in-law, for your thoughtful arrangement.”
“No need to be so formal,” Xin An replied with a gentle smile. “Mother is not at home, so it’s only right that I shoulder some of her responsibilities.”
With that, she left with her attendants. Tang Rong felt conflicted. Before noon, the kitchen staff delivered a generous meal. When he noticed there was fruit wine included, he hadn’t even asked when the stewardess explained:
“This fruit wine arrived from the winery this morning. The aroma is rich and the taste is excellent. Second Young Madam said that since Madame Tao is a distinguished guest, and First Young Madam prefers something elegant and refined, this fruit wine is just perfect.”
Tang Rong nodded. After the kitchen staff departed, Madame Tao and Tao Yiran came in. Upon learning that Xin An had taken it upon herself to oversee household matters without prior approval, Madame Tao initially intended to nitpick her faults—but after sitting down and observing for a while, she found not a single error.
The sense of threat in her heart deepened.
“Is the Marquis not back yet today?” she asked. “If that’s the case, aside from us, the only mistress left in the residence is Second Young Madam. Why don’t we invite her to join us for the meal?”
“What kind of guest sits to eat while the mistress of the house hides away elsewhere?”
“Quick—go invite her.”