Chapter 101: Radiant Glow

It was now the twenty-fifth of the third month, the day of the Zhou family's Taoist purification rites.

The weather that day was not good. A rain had fallen the night before, leaving the sky overcast and low; it seemed the rain had not yet fully spent, and the air was more stifling than in previous days.

The members of the Duke of Chen's manor rose early and set off for Chongyang Temple.

As they departed, it began to rain again—a fine rain, like a thin mist through the forest.

Cheng Zhao wore a sky-blue embroidered jacket and a white silk pleated skirt. Her thick, dark hair was pinned in the most inconspicuous of low buns, adorned with a few pieces of tourmaline jewelry—simple yet elegant.

Zhou Yuanshen was dressed in a pale blue robe, his hair fastened with a jade hairpin. His expression was cool and distant, as if lost in thought or deep contemplation.

The husband and wife rode together in a small oiled-cloth carriage.

When they reached the main gate, carriages were lined up one after another. The matrons accompanying the carriages were dressed in straw rain capes and conical hats, while the maids held umbrellas, having waited respectfully for some time.

"They haven't arrived yet," Cheng Zhao said to Zhou Yuanshen.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "You get in the carriage first, so the rain doesn't dampen your skirt."

"It's fine. The rain is not heavy. Grandmother hasn't come yet—how could I board first?" Cheng Zhao said.

"Waiting here is the same," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao still refused.

She had no idea what tricks the Dowager Madame might play on her. If Cheng Zhao dared to think boldly, perhaps this purification ceremony was aimed at her.

Though she was quick-witted, she had little experience. Who knew if she could avoid whatever trap was laid?

She wanted to wait for the Dowager Madame herself.

"I'll wait a little longer," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen did not press further.

The next to emerge were still not the grandmother and the eldest branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but rather Cheng Zhao's mother-in-law, Second Madam, and her younger brother-in-law, Zhou Yuanqi.

Only the Second Master did not go; he had left early for the morning court session. Zhou Yuanshen had specifically requested leave to stay home.

Second Madam wore a lake-blue robe with a round collar and a front-opening jacket embroidered with a floral pattern, paired with a magnolia-colored skirt. She adorned herself with a few pieces of sapphire jewelry, combining dignity with a touch of brisk efficiency. Zhou Yuanqi, meanwhile, wore a sapphire-blue robe of fresh, bright fabric that made his fair and refined features appear even more lovely.

"Mother," Cheng Zhao greeted, then addressed Zhou Yuanqi, "Fifth Brother."

Zhou Yuanqi said to Cheng Zhao, "Why are you dressed so lavishly? You'll only catch someone's eye again and cause trouble for yourself."

Second Madam said, "Zhaozhao does look lovely in that outfit today."

Looking more closely, the clothes—from the color and embroidery to the silk fabric—were all quite ordinary.

It was simply that the person herself was beautiful.

Cheng Zhao had been blessed with natural good looks. Her face was not large, but her cheeks were full. She had almond-shaped eyes that were slightly elongated and alluring, yet not coquettish.

Fine features, beautiful skin—she was beautiful everywhere, radiating an air of nobility.

Looking at Cheng Zhao, one always felt that only a household of immense wealth, with every item of food, clothing, and daily use exquisitely fine and costly, could produce such a beauty.

"...I deliberately dressed modestly," Cheng Zhao said to Zhou Yuanqi with a smile. "Fifth Brother, you've misjudged this time."

Zhou Yuanqi ignored her, muttering, "Show-off."

Even a brute loved to show off. Whenever something fell into the brute's hands, it was easily solved, and he would act as if his tail were brushing the sky. Zhou Yuanqi couldn't stand it.

"Zhaozhao, you've been looking well lately—full and radiant. Is it because you've been eating more bird's nest porridge?" Second Madam asked.

It wasn't that she had gained weight; rather, she glowed with vitality and energy. Her whole person seemed fresh and lush, from her complexion to her spirit—full to the brim.

"I have been eating quite a bit," Cheng Zhao said.

And then she remembered. Lately, Zhou Yuanshen had been staying overnight in Nonghua Courtyard, and the two of them would always be lively until late into the night.

Every morning when she woke, Mama Li would have bird's nest porridge ready, telling her to drink a bowl first, saying it nourished the qi.

Fearing that Cheng Zhao might overexert herself and damage her vitality, which would be bad for bearing children.

Cheng Zhao was well-nourished, her mood was good, and she felt that these past few days had been very pleasant indeed.

It was nothing, really, yet from Second Madam's mention of bird's nest porridge, Cheng Zhao's mind wandered to Zhou Yuanshen behind the bed curtains at night...

She glanced at him.

Zhou Yuanshen looked back at her.

At the very moment the young couple's eyes met, the Dowager Madame and the others emerged.

Behind the Dowager Madame, besides the eldest branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were Mu Jiang and another unfamiliar young girl.

Mu Jiang saw this scene and immediately darkened her face.

She was pregnant with a child, yet Cheng Zhao was exchanging flirtatious glances with her Third Brother at the front gate.

What merit did Cheng Zhao have? She was merely pretty.

Mu Jiang was also very beautiful, and her devotion to her Third Brother was more sincere. She had set her heart on him since she was old enough to understand. She had been confident that they would be the most loving couple in the world.

Later, things did not go as she had hoped, but Mu Jiang was not discouraged.

What infuriated her, though, was that she didn't know where her Third Brother had been spending his nights lately.

The main kitchen was a wellspring of information. Ever since Cheng Zhao had taken over the main kitchen, Mu Jiang's sources of news had dried up.

Even the Dowager Madame's trusted stewards didn't know where the Duke's evening meal was served; they only knew that the young page Nanfeng had personally taken it away.

It was all Cheng Zhao's doing!

Cheng Zhao was wealthy. She forwent the perks that the main kitchen could distribute to the stewards and instead subsidized other managers. She was also very calculating and quickly won over a group of people, splitting the main kitchen into two camps.

One camp was loyal to the Dowager Madame; the other was loyal to Cheng Zhao.

And neither side dared to cause trouble. They balanced each other out, managing the main kitchen properly with no mishaps in the meals.

The Dowager Madame had no opportunity to find an excuse to express her dissatisfaction.

So Mu Jiang heard the Dowager Madame say of Cheng Zhao, smiling, "Naughty girl."

"Third Brother," Mu Jiang stepped forward.

Beside her, Cheng Zhao's face changed slightly, as if she had thought of something.

Seeing Cheng Zhao's expression shift made Mu Jiang happy. She moved closer, trying to tug Zhou Yuanshen's sleeve: "Third Brother, did you also take leave today to accompany Grandmother?"

Zhou Yuanshen acknowledged her with a sound and, together with Cheng Zhao, bowed to their grandmother.

"It's only drizzling. Why are you standing out here?" the Dowager Madame said with a smile.

She then extended her hand toward Zhou Yuanshen, signaling for him to help her.

Her other hand was supported by Huan Qingtang.

If Zhou Yuanshen stepped forward, he and Huan Qingtang would look like a young couple, helping the Dowager Madame into the carriage.

Seeing this, Mu Jiang's dissatisfaction nearly overflowed, but she still feared the Dowager Madame and dared not show it. She only looked at Zhou Yuanshen with a pitiful expression.

"Eldest Aunt, I'll trouble you to look after Grandmother. Grandmother, my carriage will go ahead first to receive you at Chongyang Temple," Zhou Yuanshen said.

He bowed again.

He looked at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao also curtsied: "Grandmother, I'll go with the Duke. Though everything has been arranged in advance, we still need to check it over once more to ensure all goes smoothly. The Duke is being filial, and I'll go to lend a hand."

She was very good at elevating herself. Mu Jiang curled her lip.

Seeing Mu Jiang staring intently, Cheng Zhao even asked her, "Concubine Mu, would you like to come with us?"

Zhou Yuanshen turned back to her: "Our carriage goes too fast; it might jolt the pregnant woman. Concubine Mu's pregnancy is very important. Any mishap would be on our heads, wouldn't it, Grandmother?"

Mu Jiang's heart leaped with joy, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

Her child was far more important than Cheng Zhao, the Duchess.

The Dowager Madame remained kind and gentle: "You go on ahead."

She took Huan Qingtang's arm, then boarded the carriage.

Standing nearby all along was a young woman in a bright red dress, a stranger who had remained silent, not uttering a single word.