Wang Shi had made up her mind—she would no longer concern herself with Tao Yiran. In fact, she hoped the woman would never show her face again. A woman once betrothed to her son had, on the night of the wedding, chosen betrayal. Though the match itself had been Wang Shi’s own scheme, the ease with which that woman had turned coat left her deeply repulsed.
In the past, Tang Gang might have scolded Wang Shi for such coldness. But now, even he dared not speak. The burden fell to Tang Rong—after all, it was his wife, and his problem to manage.
“What’s going on with that fellow next door?”
No sooner had they returned to Autumn Harvest Courtyard than Tang Mo asked the question that had been gnawing at him. “At dinner today, he kept staring at you. What was that look supposed to mean?”
Xin An didn’t answer. She simply had the servants prepare water for washing up. Seeing this, Tang Mo went to the adjacent room to freshen up as well. When they met again, Xin An had already dismissed Chunyang and the others. She closed the door, stretched with a satisfied sigh, and said leisurely, “The fellow next door tried to flirt with me today. What do you make of that?”
Tang Mo raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Xin An sat cross-legged on the bed. “He said he owed me an apology. Then, in not-so-subtle terms, implied you’re unreliable and told me to seek him out if I ever ran into trouble—he’d help me.”
Tang Mo nearly exploded. “Does he have a thing for other men’s wives or what?”
Xin An nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a possibility.”
“Shameless,” Tang Mo growled, getting out of bed. “Clearly I didn’t beat him hard enough. Should’ve knocked all his teeth out.”
“That filthy man… is he deliberately trying to provoke me?” he spat.
Xin An sneered and lay down sideways. “He’s definitely trying to disgust you. But he’s also eyeing my father’s fortune, don’t doubt it.”
“Disgraceful,” Tang Mo huffed, throwing himself beside her in a huff. Xin An turned her head. “Go sleep in your own room.”
“I’m not going.”
Tang Mo scooted in closer. “And listen to me—you’d better get your head on straight. Don’t go getting soft just because he said a few sweet nothings. Next time you see him, use your brain.”
Xin An rolled her eyes. “My brain works just fine.”
“Works fine, my foot,” Tang Mo said, full of contempt. “If it really worked, you wouldn’t have been duped to death last time. When he started spewing all that nonsense, why didn’t you slap him twice? You only know how to throw a fit at me.”
“Are you a rat or something?”
“Only know how to rage at your own kin.”
His temper rose the more he spoke. He flipped over and sat upright on the bed. “You, in your past life—you were brutal to me. Took whatever you wanted, no hesitation. But with him? You acted all gentle and virtuous, the picture of wifely virtue. Those fools outside even praised you, said you were devoted. Said he never took a concubine after you entered the household.”
“I had no interest in your useless self. Was I guarding my chastity for you? You think I don’t know who I was really loyal to?”
“In this life, you’re still mean as ever. All fists and insults when it comes to me. But with him? Oh, you’re polite. What are you, a masochist?”
The torrent of words left Xin An feeling like his spit had practically hit her in the face. Even her momentum faltered.
“When have I ever hit or scolded you?” she protested weakly.
“Mocking me counts!” he barked.
“Fine, I won’t mock you anymore, alright?” Xin An sat up beside him. “You think I was smiling at him because I wanted to? I was just giving him a taste of his own medicine and let Tao Yiran feel the suffocation I once endured. You have no idea…”
The tricks Tao Yiran used in the past had nearly driven her to madness. “I said Tang Rong was the real culprit. I never claimed I’d be gracious and forgiving toward Tao Yiran. Besides, outsiders don’t know what I went through. And what he said today—on the surface, it didn’t sound wrong to anyone else. If I’d slapped him, people would’ve said I’d lost my mind. If I could act as I pleased, I’d have long since ended his life with a cup of poisoned wine.”
Tang Mo clenched his jaw in fury. “In short, don’t let your guard down again.”
“And another thing—you drew that hideous picture of me. Hand it over, I’m tearing it up.”
So that was what he’d been holding back for. Xin An burst into laughter. “In your dreams. If you dare tear up my drawing, I’ll really hit you.”
Seeing him heading for her small cabinet, Xin An leapt up and grabbed him. “If you tear it up, I’ll draw ten more, each one uglier than the last, and plaster them on the main hall pillars for all to see.”
Tang Mo realized he couldn’t win this one and, seething, flopped back into bed with no intention of leaving.
“Go back to your own room.”
“I won’t. I’m not going anywhere. I have every right to sleep here—openly and righteously. I’m not sneaking around like a thief. Why shouldn’t I sleep here?!”
Xin An took a deep breath. So men could throw tantrums too—who could’ve known she’d be powerless against one?
“Fine. Sleep. Go ahead and sleep.”
Her eyes were already too heavy to keep open.
Once he was certain she’d truly fallen asleep, Tang Mo—still fuming—tossed and turned, unable to rest. In the end, he sat up and shook Xin An awake.
“Are you sure your head’s on straight?” he asked, prompting her to kick him in frustration. “No, I’m not. I’m foolish. I fall for sweet words. Tomorrow I’ll move into the room next door. Will that satisfy you?”
“It’s the middle of the night—are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Tang Mo let out a heavy sigh. “I just can’t settle down. What if you get deceived again—what am I supposed to do?”
“Two lifetimes and the same misery. Just thinking about it keeps me awake.”
In the past life, Tao Yiran hadn’t just refused to support him—she’d despised him, pouring all her affections into Tang Rong. In this life, though Xin An also looked down on him, at least she stood by him. Now that damned Tang Rong had returned like a ghost, haunting them still. If Xin An lost her wits and he lost her again—how could he go on?
Xin An yawned. “What kind of fool do you take me for—to fall for the same trick twice?”
Tang Mo turned to face her, reassuring himself that this woman—betrayed so cruelly in her past life—had surely learned her lesson. There was no way she’d fall for Tang Rong again.
He kept repeating this to himself, comparing every facet of himself to Tang Rong, until he was finally convinced he was the more dependable man. Only then did he find peace enough to sleep.
When Xin An woke the next morning, she found him still lying beside her. Her heart gave a jolt, and any trace of drowsiness vanished.
She shook him forcefully. “Get up, you’re going to be late!”
Tang Mo snapped awake, immediately flipping upright and calling the servants to help him dress. He stormed out without even eating breakfast, scolding Lailai along the way.
Xin An ordered, “Have Ershan attend him at Autumn Harvest Courtyard from today onward.”
Tang Mo had only Lailai as a servant—no wonder the boy was run ragged.
Even Chunyang said she would arrange for someone to watch the time each morning so that today’s chaos wouldn’t happen again.
Today, Wang Shi was taking Xin An to formally meet the household stewards. She would publicly affirm that Xin An held full authority over the estate’s inner affairs. Coincidentally, it was also the day monthly stipends were distributed, so the stewards had already gathered early in the side hall where Wang Shi managed the household accounts.
When Xin An arrived, the stewards all rose and saluted. They were well-informed, of course, and knew that this Second Young Madam now held true command over the inner court of the Marquis’s household. Their demeanor was respectful, even deferential.
Tang Rong and Tao Yiran had arrived slightly earlier.
Tang Rong greeted her with a bow. “Good morning, Sister-in-law.”
“Good morning, Eldest Brother. Good morning, Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Xin An had no wish to exchange pleasantries with them. Still, after a moment of thought, she decided preserving Tang Mo’s dignity came first. There were better ways to disgust Tao Yiran.
She did her best to rein in her anger and interact civilly. But if they insisted on provoking her, she could not promise she’d hold back.