Chapter 121: Cheng Zhao Accuses Face-to-Face

Within Crimson Cloud Courtyard, Second Madam had just heard the news.

At dinnertime, when all quarters were getting their meals from the main kitchen, news spread quickly.

And with plenty of embellishment.

Second Madam was speaking softly to her trusted steward, Nanny Fan: "She might not be able to keep this pregnancy."

She didn't want to curse Mu Jiang, but Mu Jiang was simply too tumultuous. Second Madam had a bad feeling.

And the Dowager Madame never punished Mu Jiang.

Last time, even when Mu Jiang killed the crane, the Dowager Madame let it off lightly with only a servant girl's punishment.

The crane had been the centerpiece of the birthday feast, and guests had been told in advance to expect a crane dance performance, but it never happened. It was terrible—both the ill omen for the Dowager Madame's birthday and the feast's reputation. Mu Jiang's crime was unforgivable, yet she received no punishment at all.

She would grow bolder, more greedy, because there were no constraints on her.

Second Madam felt it was only a matter of time before she lost this child. Even if Heaven blessed her and she gave birth, she would likely use the child constantly to stir up trouble. Whether the child would even survive to grow up was another question.

Just as they were talking, Cheng Zhao arrived, followed by Second Master and Zhou Yuanqi returning.

Second Madam ordered the maids to help Second Master change into his everyday clothes, had water brought for Zhou Yuanqi to wash his hands, and called for tea to be served to Cheng Zhao.

It was a flurry of activity.

Nanny Fan lowered her voice: "The Lord Duke is also in the residence."

Second Madam: "Is that so?"

Cheng Zhao hadn't mentioned it to her.

"The Secondary Wife making such a scene—she did it so the Lord Duke would see it," Nanny Fan said.

Second Madam: "Send someone to invite him here for dinner."

Nanny Fan acknowledged the order.

Second Madam entered the eastern side room and saw Cheng Zhao sitting on the large heated kang by the window, drinking tea. She asked, "Did you see Ah Shen earlier?"

"Yes, the Lord Duke has gone to the Morning Light Courtyard," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam said no more.

She refrained from asking Cheng Zhao about the matters of the Beautiful Scenery Courtyard, deciding to wait until Zhou Yuanqi would surely bring it up later, so Cheng Zhao wouldn't have to tell the story twice.

"...Did you have to endure any harsh words?" Second Madam only asked.

Cheng Zhao smiled: "No."

She briefly explained what happened.

Once Second Master and Zhou Yuanqi were properly dressed, they too came into the eastern side room to sit.

"Let's wait for Ah Shen," Second Madam said.

Zhou Yuanqi, seeing there was still time, quickly asked Cheng Zhao: "What happened at the Beautiful Scenery Courtyard?"

Cheng Zhao recounted everything that had happened that day, starting with the servant girl coming to report at the Glorious Hall.

It wasn't anything major, not complicated.

"...So it's just faking illness?" Zhou Yuanqi asked.

Cheng Zhao: "Doctor Wang seems to think so. Still, she fell—both knees hitting the ground at the same time. I heard a loud thud, her knees cracking sharply against the floor tiles."

Second Madam sucked in a breath through her teeth, like a toothache.

Second Master remained silent, sipping his tea without comment.

Zhou Yuanqi gave a scornful half-smile: "A boor, indeed a crude man. Our grandmother will seize this wrongdoing and force him to kneel in the ancestral hall."

Cheng Zhao laughed: "She wouldn't dare now. He's Grand Tutor Zhou."

She added, "The title 'Grand Tutor Zhou' does sound very impressive."

"She can't handle him, so she'll take it out on us instead, won't she?" Zhou Yuanqi said. "You, Mother, and I—we're all vulnerable."

"I'm not afraid. If you're scared, you can sever ties with him," Cheng Zhao said.

After all, she wouldn't despise Zhou Yuanshen.

Despising him would mean despising her own status as Lady of the first-rank noble title.

Zhou Yuanqi: "Whose side are you on, exactly?"

Second Madam: "What kind of question is that?"

As the three of them were trading these quips, Zhou Yuanshen arrived.

The meal from the main kitchen also arrived.

The maids and servant women set the table. Cheng Zhao went out to help arrange the chopsticks while Zhou Yuanshen entered the eastern side room to share a few words with his parents and younger brother.

The meal itself was eaten quietly.

After eating, everyone rinsed their mouths and gathered in the side room for conversation.

"...How is the Secondary Wife? Has she started making trouble again?" Second Madam asked him.

Zhou Yuanshen: "Mother, these matters are for Grandmother to handle. She handles things properly. If Concubine Mu has some issue, it's only because Grandmother thought something ought to happen. It has nothing to do with us."

"How is it none of our concern? She carries your child. That's our child too," Second Madam said.

She added, "I can't help but think about it—our first grandson. How could your father and I not love him?"

Then she glanced at Cheng Zhao: "Zhaozhao, when you have children, they will certainly be the most beloved."

Cheng Zhao saw that her mother-in-law always considered her feelings even in casual remarks, and couldn't help laughing: "Naturally, they will be."

Her smile was quite lovely.

Zhou Yuanshen's gaze didn't linger on her, but his peripheral vision caught it, and he deliberately turned his head even further away, completely avoiding looking at her.

Second Madam immediately asked: "Have you two been quarreling?"

Cheng Zhao declared: "The Lord Duke is in a snit with me."

Second Master: "..."

His daughter-in-law never revealed anything in private conversations, yet she was bold enough to tell on him to his face. She was indeed straightforward and brave.

With her around, it was as if a ray of sunshine had poured in, brightening even their gloomiest days in the second branch of the household.

Zhou Yuanqi, his eyes lighting up, asked: "A snit? About what?"

"The scented powder you gave me got all over my face and got into my eyes. My vision was blurry for a good while, so I didn't see the Lord Duke clearly when he was standing near the training ground, and he got upset," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi scoffed and shot his brother a dirty look: "You're pretty petty."

Zhou Yuanshen's expression was blank. He showed neither annoyance nor did he argue.

He might as well have not even heard.

Second Madam couldn't help chuckling: "Since when did you become so particular about little things? Especially with your own wife."

Zhou Yuanshen remained silent.

He was completely unresponsive.

That, too, was one of his talents.

Seeing him sit there wordless and expressionless, everyone knew Cheng Zhao wasn't lying.

Second Master said, "You need to make allowances for Zhaozhao. She's a new bride. If you don't treat her well, others will take it as permission to bully her."

"Yes," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Finally, he spoke, though his voice was cold as ice.

Second Madam laughed heartily: "The two of you, usually acting so mature and serious, quarreling over such a trivial matter. You're really just a couple of children!"

Zhou Yuanshen had always played the grown-up since he was young, so it was rare to see this childish side of him.

It was indeed amusing.

Second Madam kept laughing to herself for a good while.

Zhou Yuanqi, for his part, only grew more contemptuous of his brother, feeling that the brute was, after all, not as impressive as he seemed.

Cheng Zhao, having made her complaint openly before her in-laws and brother-in-law, filled the side room with laughter and lively chatter. Second Madam felt the family had grown a bit closer.

"Yuanqi, where did you buy that scented powder?" Cheng Zhao asked.

Zhou Yuanqi: "The House of Wonders. They sell real curiosities from overseas and the Western Regions. Not fakes this time."

He then asked, "Do you like that powder?"

"I like it very much," Cheng Zhao said. "I was thinking of checking if they have more in stock, to buy some as gifts."

"Don't bother sending any to Third Miss. Perfume that's too strong is too common and unworthy of her," Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao: "What, so Mother and I are just worthy of common things? We're the common ones?"

"Exactly," Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao reached for him.

Even though it was quite improper—since her brother-in-law was already eight, old enough that there should be some distance between them—she couldn't help herself. She firmly kneaded and rubbed his face with both hands.

Zhou Yuanqi's eyes went wide.

He was so startled and furious that he wanted to snap at Cheng Zhao, but his voice got there before his better judgment: "Help! Save me!"

Realizing what he'd said, he immediately clamped his little mouth tightly shut.

Second Madam nearly laughed herself off her seat and onto the floor; Second Master, too, let out a laugh.

The trusted maidservants and old nannies attending by the side all burst into laughter.

Zhou Yuanshen’s gaze finally fell upon Cheng Zhao’s face.

Zhou Yuanqi, however, announced that he would never make peace with Cheng Zhao again and would be irreconcilable with her from now on!