Chapter 12: Just let Zhou Yuanshen go

The news of Mu Jiang being beaten and punished by kneeling spread throughout the Chen Duke's estate; the fact that the Duke stayed the night at Nonghua Courtyard also got out.

The servants began to gossip again.

"The Third Young Madam has received her imperial mandate, she is now the 'Duchess'."

"She even dealt with the Secondary Wife, and even the Old Madam couldn't do anything about her."

"The Duke is clearly showing his support for her. It's hard to say who will be the true master of the inner chambers from now on."

The managing older female servants delivered high-quality silver charcoal for the winter to Cheng Zhao, their attitudes respectful.

The quality of the silver charcoal was excellent, without a single defective piece.

Cheng Zhao accepted her goodwill and rewarded her with a silver ingot.

As soon as the managing servant left, she praised Cheng Zhao, "She acts with magnanimity, is gentle and knows etiquette; she is truly a well-bred lady from a prominent family."

The tone of the conversations changed with the situation, as everyone knew how to steer according to the wind.

Cheng Zhao decided to forget the humiliation behind the bed curtains that night and only remember the benefits she gained from it.

In the words of Nanny Li, after that night, Cheng Zhao had boarded the ship.

Her status as a titled lady, because of that night with Zhou Yuanshen, had become a reality, and she could now fight for her honor.

Two days later, it was heard that the Duke bought Mu Jiang a luxurious screen and stayed in her Lijing Courtyard for three consecutive nights.

With this ebb and flow, Mu Jiang actually rose up again.

The Second Madam was extremely furious.

She complained to the Second Master, "At Madam Cheng's banquet that day, Mu Jiang went in dressed radiantly and luxuriously. After saying only two sentences, she used hidden weapons to hurt someone.

Mother dislikes women practicing martial arts the most, yet she hired someone specifically to teach Mu Jiang how to use hidden weapons for self-defense. Her openly hurting people is also indulged by Mother.

I really can't stand it, but your son is useless and has indulged in her gentle embrace again. Our daughter-in-law is clearly much prettier than her!"

The Second Master listened, nodding in agreement.

The Second Madam was puzzled again, "Where did our daughter-in-law lose? She looks like a heavenly fairy."

The Second Master didn't reply; he couldn't very well discuss with his wife whether their daughter-in-law was beautiful.

After the Second Madam scolded for a long time, the Second Master finally said, "Perhaps your son just doesn't like girls from scholarly families. He takes after his roots in this regard."

The Second Madam: "..."

She sent people to inquire about where exactly Zhou Yuanshen usually rested.

The managing servant said, "The Duke doesn't need people to serve him; sometimes he rests in the outer study, sometimes in Chenhui Courtyard. It's uncertain."

Chenhui Courtyard was the old Duke's inner study, located between the main courtyard, Chengming Hall, and Lijing Courtyard, separated by a few other courtyards.

It was closer to the First Branch because that was the center of power in the Duke's estate, making it convenient to meet with the managers; it was very far from the Second Branch.

Hearing this, the Second Madam felt particularly uncomfortable.

"My son is about to become the First Branch's son," the Second Madam said.

The Second Master: "..."

Cheng Zhao had heard about the "dual-inheritance" matter, and so had the Second Master, but they kept it from the Second Madam.

The Old Madam wasn't afraid of the Second Madam making a fuss. Not telling her was purely because she felt these matters had nothing to do with "irrelevant personnel" like her.

The marriages of the clan's descendants were decided by the lady of the house; the Second Madam couldn't interfere.

If he often lived in Chenhui Courtyard, Zhou Yuanshen's true wives and concubines might be Huan Qingtang and Mu Jiang; Cheng Zhao, like the Second Madam, was "marginalized" by the Old Madam, having the title but no real power.

"The children are all grown up, do you want to move out?" the Second Master asked his wife again.

They had married in the northern borderlands. At that time, the court situation was a mess, and the Zhou family was hiding from disaster, as was the Second Madam's maiden family, Madam Fan.

Zhou Yuanshen was also born in the borderlands.

At that time, their family of three lived in the Fan family's courtyard, which was the Second Madam's maiden home. The conditions at the border were harsh, so they didn't care much about these formalities; having a place to live was good enough.

After returning to the capital, the Second Master often asked the Second Madam if she wanted to split the family and move out.

The Old Madam did not agree to split the family.

She said that as long as she was alive, splitting the family was impossible. If they insisted on doing so, they could, but they would have to buy their own house, receive no family property, and only collect a small monthly allowance.

Only after the Old Madam died could the property be divided. But if they left now, voluntarily giving up the property, they would have nothing in the future.

The Second Madam might not mind, but she had three sons.

Growing up in the Duke's estate gave the children more confidence, and the teachers at the Zhou clan school were more knowledgeable. She also needed to fight for the property, otherwise, her sons would have to "start from scratch" in the future.

Why should she give up what the Second Master deserved?

As for the Second Master, without a noble title, he had no noble estate, and a military officer's meager salary was not even enough to cover one banquet at the Duke's estate.

Compromising with reality, they had to endure it. The Second Madam also lacked the socializing skills of noble ladies and suffered a lot of grievances.

Now that Zhou Yuanshen had inherited the title, she didn't have to worry about the children. The Second Master asked her again if they should just move out and live a quiet life as a couple from then on.

They might as well leave Zhou Yuanshen to the Old Madam and the First Branch, as they couldn't win against them anyway.

As for the family property, the First Branch had no children or grandchildren, and Zhou Yuanshen would not mistreat his two biological younger brothers.

"...My son is now the Duke. I've endured all these years, and good days are right before my eyes. You want me to move out at a time like this?" the Second Madam refused.

The Second Master: "..."

What good days were there?

Days of suffering even more grievances were fast approaching.

The Second Master sighed. He could not disobey his mother, as that would be unfilial; yet he couldn't bear to see his wife suffer.

Being granted a title required not only ability but also luck. The Second Master was born many years too late, and there was no longer such an opportunity for him.

He said no more.

In October, the capital city saw its first snow, falling thick and fast.

Cheng Zhao and her maidservants gathered around the stove, roasting chestnuts to eat.

Zhou Yuanshen came to Nonghua Courtyard again.

He wore a black cloak with a fur collar. As he walked into the courtyard, he added a stroke of dark ink to the snow-white world.

It was only mid-afternoon.

Cheng Zhao was wearing a half-new, light-colored short jacket and a white-collared skirt, her hair casually tied into a low bun. She dressed simply and wore no makeup.

She rarely met outsiders looking so "careless," and felt quite uncomfortable.

Cheng Zhao greeted him, served him by taking off his outer cloak, and ordered the maids to bring hot water for him to wash his hands.

After bustling about, she invited him to drink tea in the eastern side room where she lived.

"The day after tomorrow is Grand Princess Fukang's birthday. You will accompany me to congratulate her," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao agreed.

She added, "I know Grand Princess Fukang. Her eldest son often comes to the Cheng family to ask for academic advice; when my grandmother was alive, Grand Princess Fukang also came to the New Year's spring banquet."

"That is very good," Zhou Yuanshen said.

He didn't speak much.

Cheng Zhao didn't know what to talk about with him, so she asked toward the door, "What time is it?"

The maid at the door replied, "It is exactly the hour of Shen."

It was time to prepare dinner.

As Cheng Zhao was thinking, Nanny Li came in. After bowing to Zhou Yuanshen, Nanny Li smiled and asked, "Duke, will you stay at Nonghua Courtyard for dinner?"

This question was actually asking: Will you rest here tonight?

If he was resting here, they would need to make the bed again and prepare hot water.

"That is fine," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Nanny Li went out.

Cheng Zhao turned her head to look at the snow scenery outside the window, suppressing the fleeting emotion of anger in her heart. Only when her expression was calm did she turn her face back.

Zhou Yuanshen was looking at her.