CH 9

C9 – A Piece of Cake

Tang Yue arrived at Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion with a heavy heart, the journey being silent. Only upon seeing the two imposing stone Qilins at the entrance did he prepare himself mentally for the upcoming challenge.

As a doctor of medicine and director of surgery, Tang Yue had dealt with all sorts of patients, including difficult ones. Yet, he worried about handling the ancient people he was about to meet.

“Hurry up and inform everyone that the young master has returned!” Tang Yue’s arrival caused a stir in the entire Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion. As he followed Shan into the manor, the servants he encountered along the way all knelt and saluted him.

Although their attitude might not be genuine, their manners were impeccable. Tang Yue could almost guarantee that his life in the prefecture would be comfortable.

“Where is he? Bring him in to see the old hag!” A hoarse voice emanated from the main room. Upon entering, Tang Yue was met with a dozen different gazes.

The room fell silent for a few minutes until Tang Shoucheng, the Yueyang Marquis, stepped forward and took hold of Tang Yue’s arm. He looked him up and down and said, “Finally, I’m back.”

Tang Yue returned the gaze, and he was sure that this was his biological son. The resemblance in their eyebrows and nose was striking, and he was grateful for their strong family genetics. Without them, accepting Tang Shoucheng as his son would have been much more difficult.

Tang Shoucheng could tell from the expression on Tang Yue’s face that he too had recognized the blood relationship, and it made him even more excited. “My child, you’ve suffered all these years! I’m your father.”

Tang Yue felt a mixture of sadness and joy welling up inside him. He quickly lowered his head and called out somewhat awkwardly, “Father.”

“Excellent! Wonderful news! Haha… I have a son!” This statement caused a range of reactions from those present. Some were happy, some were angry, and some remained neutral.

“Come over here and let me have a closer look,” the Yueyang Marquis said eagerly.

He quickly brought Tang Yue over and introduced him to everyone. “This is my grandmother,” he said, before introducing him to his uncles, stepmother, and seven sisters, each of whom looked like a goddess.

Traditionally, it is expected to kowtow to parents and elders when meeting them, but Tang Shoucheng was so thrilled that he forgot. Tang Yue acted as if he didn’t know any better, having grown up in the countryside without formal education on etiquette.

Tang Yue didn’t mind kneeling down to his own parents, but it was difficult for him to do the same for a family he didn’t know and who had abandoned his wife and son. He wondered how the original owner would have faced this situation.

For now, he could only see them as his prospective parents and employer.

The elders all gave him gifts as a form of welcoming him to the family. Tang Yue called in favors from Shan and presented the gifts he had prepared beforehand, all of them humble offerings. Though they were not taken seriously, his gestures won him favor with the family’s elders.

The family had learned about the original owner’s troubled past, and had it not been for Tang Shoucheng’s inability to bear a son, they would have left him to fend for himself at the border.

In this awkward situation, Tang Yue’s generosity was commendable, and the old madam praised him profusely, holding his hand.

“This child is kind-hearted and has fine features. He will surely be a great young master in the future!”

“Mother is right. My son is generous and carries the prestige of our family. He will undoubtedly support the Tang family in the future.” These words caused a sudden change in the Marquis’s Wife’s expression.

The little girl sitting beside her was also unhappy and spoke up, “Father, he grew up in the countryside with no one to teach him. He’s not skilled in civil or military affairs. If he goes out, he will tarnish the reputation of the Marquis’s Mansion. How can he support a family?”

“Hey!” Yueyang Marquis scolded her and said, “He is your elder brother. Don’t be so disrespectful.”

Tang Ya stamped her feet and threw the candy Tang Yue had given her on the ground a few times. “Father is biased. Who wants these cheap sweets? I don’t even know where he came from. How could Father even consider handing the family business over to him?”

“What do you mean? He is the only son in the family. If not him, then who else should inherit?” Yueyang Marquis loved his eldest daughter dearly. After speaking, he lovingly stroked her long hair. “You’re getting married next year. Without the support of your mother’s family, how will you be able to live in your husband’s household?”

Tang Ya understood this logic, but her mother had said that if the family business was handed over to an unknown boy, where would they fit in the future?

“Humph!” As Tang Ya dwelled on her thoughts, her heart grew heavier. She clutched her sister’s hand and rushed out of the hall.

The Marquis’s Wife dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and offered an explanation to Master Hou, “Please don’t blame Ya. She acted impulsively. She’ll come around.”

Tang Yue kept his head bowed and observed the situation. It all seemed rather childish to him. Those who were truly dangerous didn’t bother with such petty acts. However, he did worry about the Marquis’s Wife. She was the only one he was cautious of.

Shan had told him that the Marquis’s Wife, whose surname was Zhao, did not have a son and did not hold a high position in the family. However, Tang Yue suspected that wasn’t the whole truth. Both the old madam and the Marquis of Yueyang treated her with respect and kindness. It seemed like there was no barrier between them.

Regardless of her position, Tang Yue had no intention of challenging the Marquis’s Wife’s authority. It was best to coexist peacefully. If that wasn’t possible, he would find another opportunity to move out in the future.