Chapter 37 – An Unaccountable Sense of Shame

Tang Chaoyang handed the hairpin back to Ling Guyong, only accepting the toy suitable for a child.

Ling Guyong looked at the hairpin she returned, his eyes darkening with a hint of disappointment, though he didn’t insist.

“Sister, why are you so confident in the new emperor?” He lowered his voice deliberately as he asked.

Because they were speaking of the new emperor, the two of them were standing quite close.

Tang Chaoyang sat naturally and at ease, while Ling Guyong stood, leaning slightly toward her.

She had washed her hair not long before, and it hadn’t fully dried. She’d used a single hairpin to fasten it simply, and her hair still carried a faint, clean fragrance.

Even though her disguised face was quite plain, Ling Guyong always felt her true appearance must be strikingly beautiful.

His gaze swept inadvertently over the hairpin in her hair before he looked away.

Tang Chaoyang tapped her fingertip lightly against the table as she thought for a moment, then slowly began to speak. “You asked why I trust the new emperor? Just take the matter of the recent food shortage—he didn’t increase taxes on the people. Instead, he chose to confiscate the wealth of corrupt households.”

Ling Guyong fell silent. For some reason, he felt a little ashamed.

Tang Chaoyang didn’t notice his expression of embarrassment and went on, “If nothing unexpected happens, the next step should be to force the great clans to surrender grain and supplies. Though I don’t know what method the new emperor will use, there is a solution beneficial to both sides: taking the daughters of those families into the palace.”

This was essentially a mutually beneficial approach.

Ling Guyong nodded. “Sister, your analysis makes sense, but the new emperor may not necessarily take those women as consorts. He could also use another method.”

Tang Chaoyang raised her eyebrows and looked up at him. “What method?”

At present, the new emperor’s power was still unstable, so whatever he did, he had to weigh it carefully.

Ling Guyong smiled faintly. “Sister, have you read the Records of the Grand Historian? Sima Qian wrote, ‘When Qin lost its deer, the world pursued it together.’”

Tang Chaoyang pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up in sudden understanding. “When the realm falls into chaos, all the warlords rise to seize territory. This principle can also be applied to the great clans—once a clan collapses, there will naturally be others eager to divide its power. The new emperor can use others to help him tear them apart.”

Ling Guyong smiled softly. “Exactly.”

Tang Chaoyang sighed lightly, her gaze carrying a hint of admiration. “I was too softhearted. In the struggle for power, there’s no avoiding ruthless, bloody methods.”

Ling Guyong laughed, then paused and asked, “Sister, don’t you feel…this sort of tactic is a little underhanded?”

Tang Chaoyang shook her head and smiled. “No. In fact, I quite admire His Majesty.”

When Ling Guyong heard this, he felt gratified. He lowered his gaze to look at her, his tone firm. “Sister, the art of governing lies in winning the people’s hearts. Whoever wins the people, wins the realm. The heart must be settled first. I, too, believe the new emperor can lead the people to peaceful lives.”

Praising himself, Ling Guyong’s face remained calm, his breath steady.

Tang Chaoyang saw how earnestly he spoke and couldn’t help but laugh. She stood up. “Mm, come on, I’ll check your pulse and do your acupuncture.”

Ling Guyong followed her out of the study in good spirits. He deliberately didn’t take the hairpin with him.

Yes—just like that.

**

When Tang Chaoyang performed acupuncture treatment for Ling Guyong, she saw that when he took off his clothes, his build was well-muscled. She thought of the frail Young Master Qin.

In her past life, after Princess Consort Cheng’s son died, she soon entered a convent. In this life, mother and son should both be able to live well.

Once she finished the acupuncture, her gaze fell on Ling Guyong’s wrist, where there were marks from a rope.

He must have had an attack of craving last night and tied himself up.

She stepped out of the room to prepare a medicine to treat the wounds, then returned.

Ling Guyong had already put his clothes back on.

“Hold out your hand. I’ll apply the medicine.”

“All right.”

Ling Guyong rolled up his sleeve and extended his arm. Tang Chaoyang held his hand in her palm and applied the medicine, then bandaged it.

Her hand was soft and much smaller than his, completely different from his large, rough palm.

Ling Guyong froze. What was he thinking about? Why was he even comparing hands with her?

…

Tang Chaoyang tied a final butterfly knot neatly. When both of his hands were bandaged, she reminded him, “There’s medicinal food and decoctions in the kitchen. I have other matters, so I’ll be leaving.”

Tang Chaoyang left Vermilion Bird Lane. She went to the medical hall to buy some herbs before finally returning to the General’s estate.

As soon as she arrived, Nanny Wu told her that her maternal grandmother had sent someone to call her to Rong’en Hall. She quickly tidied herself and made her way there.

She didn’t expect to run into Su Ling on the way—who was also heading to Rong’en Hall.

“Prime Minister Fei’s wife really is such a virtuous woman. Cousin, have you heard? His Majesty personally issued an imperial decree for Dong Xinrui, praising her as a model of virtue and goodness,” Su Ling said admiringly.

Tang Chaoyang only responded blandly with one word. “Mm.”

Suddenly, she stopped walking and turned to Su Ling. “If you plan to attend the Flower Viewing Banquet on the fifteenth, remember not to wander off with anyone and don’t speak too freely.”

Su Ling’s temperament made her easily used by others. Just like Tang Chaoyang in the past—she’d stumbled many times before realizing that being too showy only brought envy.

“You don’t need to worry about me. Isn’t it all because of you that we were dragged into this in the first place?” Su Ling rolled her eyes.

She despised Tang Chaoyang’s self-righteousness.

Tang Chaoyang nodded slightly and didn’t say any more.

When Su Ling saw that she didn’t get angry, it felt as though she’d punched cotton—utterly unsatisfying—so she didn’t speak further either.

The two of them entered Rong’en Hall together.

Today, there was a guest in Rong’en Hall, and Madam Li was also present.

“Why are you two coming in together?” Old Madam Su said with a smiling face.

Tang Chaoyang and Su Ling both bowed respectfully.

Su Ling smiled as she moved closer to the old madam and said sweetly, “Grandmother, I made a garment for you. I brought it specially to let you try it on.”

Old Madam Su’s smile deepened at these words. She introduced the guest to them.

The guest turned out to be a relative from her maternal family—Madam Wang—though they were somewhat distantly related.

Tang Chaoyang and Su Ling both bowed to Madam Wang in unison.

Madam Wang’s gaze swept over the two young women, studying them.

Both had pleasant looks.

The one with bright, striking features wore plain, elegant clothing. The other, whose features were charming and delicate, wore a lively pink dress.

Madam Wang nodded. She looked at Old Madam Su and smiled. “Elder Sister, you are truly blessed. All your granddaughters are so lovely—it’s enough to make one envious.”

Old Madam Su was pleased to hear this. She smiled and motioned for Tang Chaoyang and Su Ling to sit.

“This is my granddaughter Tang Chaoyang, and the other is my eldest son’s daughter, Su Ling.”

Madam Wang’s gaze lingered briefly on Tang Chaoyang before shifting away so subtly it was almost imperceptible.

This visit was not only to see Old Madam Su but also to discuss her youngest son’s marriage.

Her youngest son had already married twice, and each wife had died early. In Xiangping, rumors had spread that he brought misfortune to his spouses.

The Wang family’s ancestral home wasn’t in the capital but in Xiangping, the city adjacent to it.

By chance, Madam Wang had heard that after her divorce, Tang Chaoyang was now living with her maternal Su family.