The Tang family could never let Xin An leave. The late elder Marquis of Weiyuan, once a general, had voluntarily relinquished his military power after securing peace for the nation. Transitioning from military to civilian life was no easy task—the family required well-educated descendants, maintained connections in court, and cared for the veterans who had followed them. Who could say whether the Tang family might need to don armor again one day?
Each of these responsibilities entailed massive expenses. The Xin family had been the Tang family’s treasury, a fact well-known to many. The Tao family’s willingness to marry into the Tang family wasn’t just about the title—it was also about the Xin family’s wealth.
Seeing Xin Kuan on the verge of severing ties over Xin An, Governor Tao stepped forward to mediate. “Master Xin, please don’t be too hasty. I’m equally outraged by what’s happened, but the situation is what it is, and we must consider the long-term. The prosperity of our families and the future of our descendants are paramount.”
“Indeed, the young lord erred. However, on a joyous occasion, it’s easy to drink too much and for things to go awry. Both of our daughters have suffered enough. Taking this matter public would only bring greater loss to all parties involved.”
Tang Gang, the Marquis, quickly added, “Brother-in-law, our families have been close for many years, supporting each other like lips and teeth. Surely, we can sit down and resolve this matter calmly.”
“Believe me, I wanted nothing more than to beat that boy to death after this happened. But we can’t go so far, can we?”
Xin Kuan snorted. “You’ve said your piece, but in the end, it’s just a way to force me to agree, isn’t it?”
Turning to Governor Tao, he asked coldly, “Tang Rong is the legitimate eldest son, already recognized as the heir to the Marquisate. Once he inherits, the Tao family will reap endless benefits. And what does the Xin family gain?”
Tang Mo, silent until now, looked particularly pitiful. Yet he said nothing, holding his ground stubbornly while secretly feeling satisfied. His father-in-law was fighting for his interests—a rare luxury.
In the past, it had always been him and his mother striving for scraps, while Tao Yiran reaped the rewards and dismissed him as petty. Now, it was the Tao family who was outmatched by Xin Kuan’s sharp words.
Xin Kuan’s position was clear, leaving Governor Tao speechless. Tang Gang furrowed his brows, and Wang Shi, catching on, swiftly stepped in. “This is partly my fault for poor arrangements, and partly the young lord’s for letting his excitement get the better of him.”
“How about this: let the young lord apologize in front of both families, return the betrothal gifts to the Xin family, and transfer the household management rights to Xin An. Would this satisfy you, Master Xin?”
Ideally, both Tang Rong and Tao Yiran would apologize, but such a move would confirm that Tao Yiran had stolen another woman’s groom, something the Tao family would never allow.
Though unwilling to agree outright, Xin Kuan saw his goals nearly achieved. He knew how significant the household management rights were to a woman’s standing. Madam Xin, dabbing at her teary eyes, added, “It’s all for the children. What’s done is done, and no amount of punishment can change that. We’ll follow Wang Shi’s proposal.”
Reluctantly, Madam Tao unclenched her fists. Even if Tang Rong inherited the Marquisate, a marquis’s wife without control of the household held little real power and brought no tangible benefits to her family.
Tang Gang breathed a sigh of relief. But just as he was about to speak, Xin Kuan interjected, “From the beginning, has anyone bothered to ask the second son what he thinks?”
“His bride was stolen by his elder brother. Is an apology enough to resolve this?”
The room turned its attention to Tang Mo, who maintained his stoic yet aggrieved demeanor. “I will follow Father’s decision,” he said quietly.
Tang Gang, feeling some guilt, struggled to find a suitable compensation. Wang Shi, however, quickly suggested, “Last year, the Emperor gifted a 60-acre estate outside the capital for the Marquis’s birthday. It’s excellent land. Why not give it to the second son?”
Under normal circumstances, Tang Gang would have refused outright—an imperial gift was far too valuable to give away. However, faced with the current situation, he had little choice. After praising the estate, he nodded and instructed Wang Shi to hand over the deed immediately.
Tang Mo’s heart swelled with complex emotions. In his previous life, he had schemed tirelessly for this estate, only to lose his life in the process. Now, it had fallen into his lap with ease. Having someone fight for him was a truly novel feeling.
With the matter temporarily settled, lunch was served. Tang Gang invited Xin Kuan and Governor Tao to stay and dine, using the opportunity to mend ties over a few cups of wine. Now united by marriage, the three families needed to plan for the future.
Tang Rong exhaled deeply, relieved that everything had turned out as he hoped, despite the difficulties. He personally selected a few precious items and brought them to Xin An’s room as an apology.
When Xin An saw him, her fury flared anew, and she barely contained the urge to stab him on the spot.
“Though it was an unfortunate accident, I owe you an apology,” Tang Rong said. “Please rest assured, my second brother is a man of great character and virtue, no less than I. If you live harmoniously with him, your future will surely be smooth.”
“Is that a threat, young lord?” Xin An sneered. “If I don’t live harmoniously with him, and instead seek to cause you trouble, what will you do?”
Tang Rong bowed slightly. “A noble wife brings honor to her husband. I trust my sister-in-law will understand this.”
Xin An’s gaze swept over him, head to toe, as a bitter smile played on her lips. “A noble man is open and upright, while a petty man frets and schemes. You stole your brother’s wife and conspired with Tao Yiran to commit disgraceful acts. Do you think calling it an ‘accident’ can cover your filthy deeds?”
“I have every reason to believe this was your plan all along. You didn’t want to marry me but still wanted the reputation of being filial to your elders. You wanted the best of both worlds. So you bribed your servants to swap the brides and consummated the marriage as quickly as possible.”
“You know perfectly well that no one believes your drunken excuse. You’re just relying on others to save face for you while you shamelessly trample on theirs.”
“That’s absurd!” Tang Rong protested, though his voice lacked conviction. Tao Yiran was clearly a better match in terms of status and character, while Xin An, a merchant’s daughter, had always been the subject of mockery. Now, with his compensation in place, Xin An’s aggressive words only reinforced his belief that she was an unsuitable match.
“Please, Second Madam, mind your words. The young lord is upright and would never commit such acts. There must be some misunderstanding,” interjected a woman in her forties, dressed in a rich blue satin gown with gold ornaments.
It was Madam Cai, Tang Rong’s wet nurse and his most loyal servant. A former maid to Tang Rong’s late mother, she held significant sway in the household, often acting as though she were the matriarch herself.
Seeing her again, Xin An felt a surge of murderous intent.
“Is this the Marquis’s concubine?” Xin An asked with feigned innocence.
Madam Cai’s face turned red with rage, but Xin An continued with a mocking smile. “I thought I heard the Marquis’s concubines were all delicate beauties. No one mentioned there was one with such… stature.”
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