RMBLCUCS – Chapter 8: Xin An’s Magnanimity
Xin An’s seemingly innocent question instantly pleased Wang Shi. As a second wife, Wang Shi had endured endless grievances from this particular servant. Nanny Cai, who had served the late first wife and raised Tang Rong, wielded significant influence in the household, often behaving imperiously and accusing Wang Shi of mistreating her stepson.
Nanny Cai’s overbearing attitude was even more pronounced in Tang Rong’s courtyard, where she acted like the matriarch, with no one daring to oppose her. It had been years since she had faced such humiliation, and instinctively, she raised her voice in protest.
“Second Madam, I am a servant of the young lord, not a concubine of the Marquis. Please do not mistake my role.”
“Mother!” Xin An exclaimed, rushing into Madame Xin’s arms. “Tang Rong truly is a liar! How could he have such an overbearing concubine? She’s so fierce! I don’t want to stay here anymore—I want to go home!”
Madame Xin immediately recognized Nanny Cai’s true nature and suddenly felt relieved that her daughter hadn’t married Tang Rong. Patting Xin An’s back, she addressed Wang Shi, “Madame Tang, your household is far too unruly. The arrangement we discussed is off. We’ll be taking An’er home now.”
With that, mother and daughter turned to leave, but Wang Shi quickly stopped them, immediately scolding Nanny Cai.
“How dare you, a mere servant, speak out of turn? The young lord is at fault here, and the Marquis himself instructed him to come and apologize. An’er has suffered a great injustice, and you think she can’t express her grievances?”
“Or perhaps you’ve grown so bold that even the Marquis’s words mean nothing to you? Are you trying to rebel?”
Tang Mo, who had been leisurely sipping tea, was inwardly thrilled by the unfolding drama. He had quickly come to enjoy having someone like Xin An by his side, matching his wit and fighting alongside him—it was a refreshing change.
Now watching Xin An effortlessly deal with this old shrew, Tang Mo felt even more exhilarated. When he noticed Tang Rong’s darkened expression, he put down his tea with a satisfied smile, preparing to step in.
“Elder Brother, I’ve held my tongue since this incident began, not wanting to strain our brotherly bond. But you’re taking things too far!”
“Xin An is new to the household and doesn’t know everyone yet. Look at this wet nurse of yours—dressed in fine silks, adorned with gold and jewels. What’s so strange about her mistaking her for Father’s concubine? Even Father’s concubines don’t dress this ostentatiously!”
“This woman lords over the household, barking orders at everyone. You knew she was uncouth and still brought her along. Is this your way of challenging Father’s decision and undermining me through her?”
Nanny Cai opened her mouth to defend herself, but a sharp look from Wang Shi silenced her. Reluctantly, she knelt before Xin An and admitted her fault.
“It was my mistake to offend the Second Madam. I deserve to be punished,” Nanny Cai said, slapping herself loudly across the face.
“The young lord’s wedding is a joyous occasion. I only dressed festively to match the mood and did not forget my place.”
She then removed her jewelry, one piece at a time. Xin An feigned shock, stepping back as if frightened. “Mother, the rules of this household are terrifying. We should leave,” she whispered.
Madame Xin’s displeasure was evident. “This household is truly upside down, with servants behaving like masters. We cannot let An’er remain in such a place.”
Turning to Wang Shi, she continued, “Madame Tang, please don’t try to stop us. If this is how your servants act in my presence, I can’t imagine how they’ll treat An’er when I’m gone.”
She then instructed her servants, “Gather An’er’s belongings. We’re leaving.”
Xin Huan arrived just in time to witness the commotion. Taking in the scene, he loudly declared, “Interesting! A master comes to apologize, and yet there’s a veiled threat? And that servant looks like she wants to kill someone with her sharp eyes. This household is run by its servants, it seems!”
Mother and son exchanged knowing glances. It was clear they intended to deal with Nanny Cai thoroughly and embarrass Tang Rong in the process.
Wang Shi could not stop them, and Tang Mo had already spoken favorably on his mother-in-law’s behalf. Without much discussion, the few of them found themselves in seamless agreement. Sensing that the atmosphere was just right, Madame Xin promptly instructed Xin Huan to fetch Xin Kuan.
In the front hall, Xin Kuan, Tang Gang, and Lord Tao were just beginning to enjoy their meal when Xin Huan barged in, quickly recounting the events, embellishing them for dramatic effect.
“Father, they’re blocking us from leaving. They even sent that old servant to intimidate us. She’s so arrogant—it’s outrageous!”
Xin Kuan slammed his cup down in anger, while Tang Gang’s face turned red with fury. Governor Tao inwardly scorned the Marquis’s household for their incompetence—he was beginning to regret this marriage alliance, though that did nothing to stop him from following along to assess the situation.
Tang Rong had never expected the situation to escalate this far. He had foreseen resistance from the Xin family, but a woman’s reputation was sacred. Surely, Xin An, mindful of hers, would swallow her grievances in silence. After all, once she had stepped through the gates of the marquis’s residence, she had spent the night alone with his younger brother—whether he apologized or not, she had no choice but to endure it. He had believed a simple apology would suffice, that this was nothing more than a perfunctory gesture—offer a few words, go through the motions, and be done with it.
As for Nanny Cai, who had long wielded her authority unchecked, she remained on her knees, not daring to utter a word. Yet, deep down, she felt little fear. She had once served the late Marchioness and had personally nursed the heir. Even the Marquis himself would have to show her some measure of respect.
Seeing Nanny Cai kneeling with a defiant expression only fueled his rage. “Drag her out and give her thirty lashes for insubordination!”
The Tang family had risen through military exploits, and though they no longer commanded troops, household punishments still involved military-style discipline. Thirty lashes with a soldier’s cane would leave Nanny Cai bedridden for months, effectively sidelining her.
Terrified, Nanny Cai glanced at Tang Rong for help, but he didn’t dare plead on her behalf. Xin An, however, stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly.
“Marquis, this misunderstanding started because I failed to recognize her. Seeing her dressed so lavishly, I mistook her for one of your concubines. That was my fault. It’s understandable that she was upset.”
“She’s been a wet nurse to the Young Master and has served this household for many years. Punishing her too severely might harm her health. Besides, it’s my wedding day—perhaps we should let this matter rest.”
Tang Mo silently applauded Xin An’s tact. Punishing Nanny Cai might bring temporary satisfaction, but sparing her would make the Tang family appear magnanimous while further solidifying Xin An’s position.
Tang Gang’s expression softened. Though annoyed by Nanny Cai’s past insolence, he now saw Xin An’s actions as gracious. “You’re lucky the Second Madam is kind-hearted. If it were up to me, I’d have had you beaten to death for your insolence.”
He punctuated his words with a sharp kick to Nanny Cai’s chest, sending her sprawling and coughing blood. Crawling to Xin An, Nanny Cai kowtowed. “Thank you, Second Madam, for your mercy. Thank you for sparing my life.”
Xin An feigned nervousness and reluctance. Moving closer to her mother, she murmured, “You may rise. I was mistaken about your identity, so please don’t take it to heart.”