Chapter 29: Dealing with Nan Feng

Chapter 29: Dealing with Nan Feng

"Second Young Mistress, please watch your step."

"Second Young Mistress, the path ahead has just been watered. If you are in no hurry, you can take the detour behind the garden; this servant can lead the way for you."

"Thank you for your hard work."

On the way from Chunrong Court to Qiushi Court, every servant who encountered Xin An offered respectful salutations. Some even greeted her warmly or offered cautious reminders. A faint smile remained on Xin An's lips, making her appear extremely easy to get along with.

When Tang Rong emerged from behind the rockery, he had originally avoided her out of concern that she might speak impudently again, hoping to avoid an awkward encounter. Instead, he witnessed the attitude the household servants held toward her.

The young attendant by his side, Qing Mo, had also observed the entire scene and sighed in Tang Rong's ear, "The Second Young Mistress is truly capable. It's only been a few days, and the people in this manor are already looking for excuses to wander by her courtyard."

Tang Rong turned his head. "Why?"

They had entered the household on the same day, yet Tao Yiran had hardly left her courtyard, while Xin An had already won over the servants?

Qing Mo mentioned that Xin An was very generous, bringing up the matter of the servants helping her carry her dowry. "That was originally their duty, but the Second Young Mistress was so polite that she gave each person one tael of silver, saying everyone had worked hard and inviting them all for tea."

"As long as one performs even a small task for her, regardless of size, there is a reward. The people in Qiushi Court are truly living in luxury..."

The more he spoke, the more excited he became. He was so caught up in his joy that he overlooked Tang Rong's gaze, regretting that he wasn't serving in Qiushi Court himself.

"Did the Young Mistress give rewards on the day the dowry was moved?"

"No."

What Qing Mo did not dare to say was that because of that incident, the Eldest Young Mistress's reputation for being stingy was already known to everyone in the manor. There was no helping it; Qiushi Court and Chunhua Court were separated by only a single wall, and the contrast between the two sides was simply too great.

Tang Rong said nothing and simply walked forward. Qing Mo did not dare to speak further, following behind with lowered eyes and a submissive manner.

***

Xin An returned to Qiushi Court. Upon entering, she saw Nan Feng kneeling in the courtyard, her face covered in tears. "Did you anger the Second Young Master?"

Nan Feng stubbornly remained silent. Chun Yang snapped, "The Second Young Mistress is asking you a question. Have you gone mute?"

Nan Feng still said nothing. Instead, Tang Mo stood under the eaves, his face dark with frustration. "Ignore her. I will send her away once I have spoken with Mother."

"Second Young Master, I beg you, please do not drive me away!"

Nan Feng crawled forward a few steps on her knees. "Second Young Master, I will never dare again. Please, do not cast me out."

People from Chunhua Court were watching the spectacle at the entrance. As Chun Yang prepared to step forward and scold her again, Xin An spoke first. "Take Nan Feng to wash her face."

As she spoke, Xin An whispered a few words into Chun Yang's ear. Nan Feng tried to plead for mercy again, but Xin An stepped forward and lowered her voice. "If you dare to make a scene and let the neighbors see a joke, I will have you bound and sold to a brothel."

Terrified, Nan Feng shut her mouth immediately. Chun Yang grabbed her arm and dragged her away.

Once they were inside the room, Tang Mo followed them in, looking irritated. "That girl is not honest. Early this morning, she entered my room without permission to touch me, intending to make improper advances. This isn't the first time. This courtyard cannot tolerate her."

"Regardless of whether she can be tolerated, why did you have her kneeling in the courtyard?"

Xin An sat down and poured herself some tea. "How badly do you want the neighbors to watch your drama?"

Tang Mo sat down irritably beside her. He picked up the tea Xin An had just poured and began to drink. His head was already aching from a hangover, and waking up to find Nan Feng touching his face had startled him terribly; his anger was rising uncontrollably.

Out of consideration for the fact that he had given her sufficient face yesterday, Xin An had Chun Lü bring him a light breakfast. Once he had finished eating, his mood settled significantly. Only then did Xin An speak.

"I do not know when Nan Feng arrived, but I suspect her purpose in serving you included trying to get into your bed. Perhaps even Mother permitted it; she has already considered herself your person."

"If you dismiss her, she will have no way to survive."

Tang Mo rolled his eyes. "I haven't even touched her. How can she cling to me?"

"Why don't you take charge and marry her off to someone else? As long as she is no longer serving in this courtyard, it's fine."

He was the master; why should he care about the life or death of a maid attempting to climb into his bed?

Next door, Chun Yang was escorting Nan Feng, and the girl heard Tang Mo's words clearly. Nan Feng's tears fell like broken strings of pearls. She had never imagined that Tang Mo would loathe her so much; she felt her future had vanished.

As Chun Yang dragged her away, Xin An smiled upon hearing the door close. "Considering your decent performance over the last two days, I will handle Nan Feng's matter."

Tang Mo gave a scoffing laugh; he knew this woman was extremely pragmatic.

Xin An picked up a pastry and brought up the incident at Chunhua Court from yesterday. Upon hearing it, Tang Mo slapped his thigh. "You are so foolish!"

"Why didn't you take this opportunity to teach Tang Rong a lesson? You should have let the news spread so that people outside would know what kind of character he truly has!"

"Don't tell me you're still lingering on old feelings and can't bear to let go?"

What a perfect opportunity, wasted just like that.

Xin An's lip twitched slightly. "With a brain like yours, even if there were no me in your past life, you wouldn't have lived long. Dying in confusion would be a blessing for you; if you had lived longer, wouldn't you have ended up disgraced?"

The anger that had just subsided surged up again. Everything had gone smoothly for the past two days, and after being flattered so much by Minister Xu yesterday, Tang Mo had thought he was invincible and would surely sweep through life without obstacle. Xin An's words made him very unhappy—wasn't this boosting the enemy's morale while dampening his own?

"You're dissatisfied?"

Xin An knew he had an impulsive temperament. He appeared somewhat unreliable on the surface, but in reality, he was a relatively simple person with little guile. "Do you think a single pregnant maid could topple a Marquis's heir?"

"Do you think something like 'a maid providing fragrance' would ruin his reputation?"

Tang Mo was not a fool; he understood once Xin An gave him a slight hint. He offered a weak defense, "I've been suppressed by him for too long. I got a bit impatient."

"Endure it."

Xin An said, "I'll tell you: at most, people will mock him by saying, 'So, you are one of us too.' It will only make him appear more 'real' in the eyes of those outside. He will be fine, but your father will not. The charge of failing to manage the household will certainly be pinned on him. Furthermore, regarding the matter of the marriage exchange—if he has any more scandalous secrets, this will escalate into a major crisis with endless consequences."

"If you want to fight for the title, the prerequisite is that the Marquis's title is worth fighting for. If the Marquis's household becomes a place of ill repute that everyone avoids, what will you have gained by winning it?"

Her gaze fell upon Tang Mo. "Remember this: in public, you are a humble and polite younger brother. Put on a show of brotherly harmony with him. First, earn yourself a good reputation for reform. Other matters can be plotted slowly behind closed doors."

Tang Mo listened intently. Suddenly, hearing the phrase "reform" once more, he let out a powerless sigh. "Can't you say something else instead of 'reform'?"

Xin An asked with a smile, "Turning over a new leaf?"

"Repenting for past sins?"

"A prodigal son returning?"

"You choose one."

Tang Mo felt a tightness in his chest. He wished he could immediately go to Chunhua Court and stab Tang Rong through the heart. It was all her fault!!!

(End of Chapter)