Chapter 12: The Ostracized Tang Mo

Chapter 12: The Ostracized Tang Mo

"I’ve had the room next door tidied up for you, and your things have been moved over. From today on, you’ll be moving there."

Tang Mo had just returned when Xin An assumed the air of a mistress of the house, banishing him—the very person who could call the shots in Qiushi Courtyard—to the room next door.

Tang Mo let out a scoff, looking utterly disdainful. "As if anyone is dying to share a room with you."

Xin An didn't bother to respond. After a chaotic day, she was both physically and mentally exhausted. Although her body was young, her mindset remained that of an elderly person; she felt listless and bitter, and she knew she needed to rest well and recharge to ensure her soul could regain its youth as soon as possible.

As night fell, Tang Mo slept in the side chamber. No sooner had he entered than a maid named Nanfeng brought in water to serve him. A moment later, following a shout of "Get out!", Nanfeng retreated from the room in a disheveled state, running away in tears.

Chunyang had gone out to gather news, and upon returning, she spat in disgust. "They say she’s been serving the Second Young Master since she was a child, just waiting for him to take a wife so she could be promoted to a concubine. She probably thought her chance had come, but instead of currying favor, she got kicked out by the Second Young Master."

"Serves her right!"

The maid named Chunlü was helping Xin An remove her hairpins. "I heard the Madam keeps a tight rein on the Second Young Master. He’s only ever had Nanfeng as a maid to attend to his clothes and socks. In that regard, he’s different from the Heir; the Heir has two bed-warming maids."

Xin An’s eyes were full of mockery. The two maids in Tang Rong’s courtyard, Xueyu and Yingyue, were outstanding in appearance and literate. They were bed-warming maids gifted to Tang Rong by Lady Wang. How could a dashing gentleman be without beauties by his side? Tang Rong was very satisfied with them.

Tang Rong was extremely gentle in front of others and always wore a pleasant face for his two attentive maids, who consequently thought very highly of themselves. In her past life, those two maids had tried to intimidate her the very day after she married Tang Rong. She wondered if they had become any more submissive in this lifetime.

Chunlü combed her hair straight, still smiling as she spoke. "Actually, the Second Young Master isn't bad; he seems more genuine than the Heir."

"What do you know? Don't talk nonsense."

Chunyang was displeased. "Today, the Second Young Master even said he wanted to strangle the Young Mistress. I saw the way he gritted his teeth; it didn't look like a joke. We must be extra careful when serving him from now on, so we don't give him any opportunities."

Xin An chuckled. "Don't worry, he’s just thinking about it; he wouldn't dare actually do it."

"You two, keep an eye on the situation in the manor, especially the Chunhua Courtyard across the way. If you hear any news, come tell me immediately so I can have a good laugh."

Chunlü nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Young Mistress. Now that our Qiushi Courtyard and the Chunhua Courtyard next door are sworn enemies, we certainly won't miss any chance to see them make fools of themselves."

After a messy day, Xin An slept quite soundly that night. Tang Mo, however, kept his ears pricked for half the night, hoping Xin An would talk in her sleep so he could sneak in and ask a few questions.

At the first light of dawn, Xin An rose. Today, she had to complete the new bride’s tea ceremony from the day before and officially begin her life in the Marquis’s manor; there was no time to delay.

Tang Mo was without Nanfeng’s service, so he had to dress himself, only letting a young servant named Lailai comb his hair. Xin An looked in the mirror and adjusted her makeup, trying to make her eyes look clear and bright. Before she could finish, Tang Mo spoke in his usual sarcastic tone: "You should smile more. You look like an old woman with that long face; it’s awkward."

"There’s not a shred of the vitality of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in you; you look like someone who’s lived enough."

Before Xin An could say anything, she frowned slightly at her reflection. Chunyang and Chunlü’s faces turned green. Chunyang retorted without hesitation, "Young Master, the Young Mistress has suffered such great grievances that she couldn't even sleep last night. How is she supposed to smile?"

Chunlü nodded in agreement. "If she were all smiles right now, anyone who didn't know better would think our Young Mistress was happy to have changed husbands."

Ever since she learned the Young Master wanted to strangle her mistress, she hadn't had a single good impression of him.

Tang Mo sneered, "Your two maids have quite the temper."

Xin An carefully hung her new ruby earrings on her ears before turning her head. "Your maid was gentle and considerate, yet you still kicked her out of the room. My maids are new here and don't know your preferences; they probably thought you liked the fierce and menacing type."

The two maids proudly lifted their chins and hurried to help Xin An put on her outer robe. Once everything was in order, they brought her sweet soup and peach blossom pastries to line her stomach. Tang Mo, left standing to the side, suddenly felt that the days ahead might be difficult. He was being ostracized.

Did no one see that he hadn't eaten either? Did he not deserve a bite?

How long had it been, and he was already being pushed out by this mistress and her two maids?

As the two of them stepped out of the courtyard gate, they saw Tang Rong leading Tao Yiran standing at the entrance. With a proper smile on his face, he bowed to Tang Mo and Xin An. "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, let’s go over together."

Tang Mo almost rolled his eyes to the heavens. Was he going to put on another act to show how much he cherished his brother and valued family unity?

He had only been released from the ancestral hall after kneeling for an hour yesterday. It was clear favoritism; if it had been him, wouldn't he have been forced to kneel until he died?

Xin An looked at the pair with curiosity. She was once again reminded of how thick-skinned Tang Rong was. After the conflict between the two sides yesterday, he was acting as if nothing had happened, smiling and talking to them—it was truly stifling.

Tao Yiran was naturally beautiful and dressed festively. Her almond eyes were filled with tenderness, and there were faint red marks on her neck. Although covered by powder, a closer look revealed that the two had spent another night of passion.

The two of them were truly deeply in love, making her feel like she was the villain who had broken up a pair of lovebirds in her past life.

Meeting Xin An’s gaze, Tao Yiran’s eyes darted away. After all, she was a newlywed girl who hadn't yet cultivated the schemes of her past life. Feeling guilty under Xin An’s stare, she lowered her eyes and fluttered her long lashes. This made Tang Rong feel a surge of heartache, and without waiting for Tang Mo’s response, he took Tao Yiran’s hand and walked ahead.

Tang Mo and Xin An, walking behind, exchanged a look. Both saw the mockery in the other’s eyes, knowing that the other was thinking: *See? The person you treated with sincerity in your past life doesn't care about you at all.*

Xin An’s love for Tang Rong had been worn away years after their marriage, leaving only hatred. For her, this scene was mostly ironic.

But Tang Mo had died young. At that time, his feelings for Tao Yiran were at most disappointment. She was, after all, the wife he had once cherished with all his heart. At this moment, his feelings were extremely complex. While he tried to convince himself that the past was over, he also felt that his sincerity had been fed to the dogs, and he wanted to go back in time and slap himself awake.

The group passed through the garden and across the corridor bridge to Chunrong Hall, where the Old Madam lived. Tang Gang and his wife were already waiting there, along with Tang Gang’s younger half-brother, Tang Yong, who had long since separated from the family. The old servant waiting at the door said with a beaming smile, "The Heir and the Heir’s wife, the Second Young Master and the Second Young Mistress have arrived."

Tang Rong led Tao Yiran into the courtyard of Chunrong Hall first, followed by Tang Mo, who considerately helped Xin An over the threshold. He still remembered Xin An saying his father liked people who brought honor to the family. He wanted to try, starting with becoming more steady after marriage.

Besides, he was a man with a post now, even if he hadn't reported for duty yet.