Chapter 124: Toxic

Huan Qingtang walked away without noticing Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao was silent for a moment, then, instead of entering Zhou Yuanqi’s courtyard, she turned and headed toward the gatekeeper’s lodge, pretending that had been her destination all along.

There were many matters to attend to at the gatekeeper’s lodge. Cheng Zhao made up an excuse to linger briefly before turning back toward the inner courtyard.

“...Go back home and give this to Fourth Brother. Tell him to make inquiries for me,” Cheng Zhao said to her maid Qiubai.

Qiubai acknowledged the order, nodded obediently, and left the courtyard.

Unlike Suyue, Qiubai could blend into the shadows wherever she went, rarely drawing anyone’s attention.

Cheng Zhao repeated her thoughts to Nanny Li and Suyue.

The two of them came up with many suggestions for her.

Before Qiubai returned, the young servant Nanfeng entered Qinghua Courtyard.

“Young Madam, the Lord Duke has gone to the Beijing Garrison Camp. The vice-commander came home to inform the family—he said it’s a temporary matter, and His Lordship should return in three to five days,” Nanfeng said. “Perhaps he might even return tonight.”

Cheng Zhao did some mental calculations.

He had mentioned before that he might spend half the month at the garrison camp. Quite some time had passed since his last return, the time he had been angry with Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao remained silent.

Nanfeng, quick-witted as always, added, “If there is a need, I can ride to the garrison camp and inform His Lordship. He might be able to free himself. Young Madam, would you like me to make the trip for you?”

Cheng Zhao came back to her senses and smiled, shaking her head. “No need for that.”

She then asked, “What happened at the garrison camp?”

“It seems someone died,” Nanfeng said. “The garrison camp is very important, and various factions have their hands in it. When His Lordship suddenly took command, some people naturally weren’t happy. They don’t want to let go, and they’re trying to cause trouble.”

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

Zhou Yuanshen’s situation was truly difficult.

What Cheng Zhao had to face were the scheming members of the household. But Zhou Yuanshen had to deal not only with family affairs but also with the knives and swords of the court.

His position as Grand Tutor and his command of the garrison camp—both were extremely advantageous for gaining real power. Many people coveted these roles.

The struggles of the court were truly matters of life and death.

Despite all this, Zhou Yuanshen rarely lost his temper or appeared flustered.

He handled everything with ease.

“Nanfeng, you really do know a little bit about everything,” Cheng Zhao remarked.

She instructed Qiubai to give him some sweets and also rewarded him with a handful of copper coins.

Nanfeng replied, “His Lordship and Mingyu both teach me.”

Cheng Zhao smiled. “Go play now.”

Nanfeng’s mention of Mingyu reminded Cheng Zhao of the senior maid who was in charge of the outer study. Last time, Cheng Zhao had heard her refer to herself as “an agent.”

Mingyu occasionally came to Qinghua Courtyard. She was respectful, efficient in her work, and both Qiubai and Nanny Li thought highly of her.

However, Zhou Yuanshen had never revealed his people or his network to Cheng Zhao.

Even someone as clever as Nanfeng, Zhou Yuanshen had hardly ever mentioned to her.

Cheng Zhao had always felt that Zhou Yuanshen was a general.

Everything around a general was classified. Matters that needed to remain secret were known only to him alone.

Advisors and subordinates could discuss the battle situation and offer opinions, but in the end, the one who made decisions and gave orders had to be the general alone.

Lonely and powerful.

No one could walk alongside him.

Cheng Zhao didn’t mind. Her own family was good. Her parents-in-law and her younger brother-in-law were also quite decent. She had a crowd of people around her.

As long as Zhou Yuanshen didn’t help Mu Jiang and Huan Qingtang or act as the Old Madam’s puppet, his being a lone wolf wouldn’t hinder Cheng Zhao’s future in the slightest.

After all, in the bedroom, he did what he was supposed to do as a husband.

That evening, when they went to Crimson Cloud Courtyard for dinner, Cheng Zhao told Second Madam that Zhou Yuanshen had gone to the Beijing Garrison Camp.

Second Madam and Second Master took it in stride.

“Fifth Brother, what did Eldest Sister-in-law want with you today?” Cheng Zhao asked.

Zhou Yuanqi replied, “I heard the maid say she was just passing by. I was at the clan school at the time, so I don’t know what she wanted.”

Second Madam frowned. “Fetch Fifth Young Master’s maid over here.”

Soon, a maid with slightly plump cheeks and a gentle, docile expression appeared.

Second Madam asked her why Huan Qingtang had come.

“...Eldest Young Madame said she was just passing by and showed some concern. She asked Fifth Young Master what he had been busy with lately, whether he had been going out, and mentioned that her cousin had run into Fifth Young Master at Yizhen Pavilion. Eldest Young Madame said the owner of Yizhen Pavilion was very unscrupulous, always passing off imitations as genuine foreign goods to cheat people who didn’t know better. She said she was worried Fifth Young Master might be deceived,” the maid reported.

Second Madam frowned deeply.

Second Master pondered for a moment and asked Zhou Yuanqi, “What did you buy?”

“Just two boxes of face powder. I gave them to Mother and Third Sister-in-law,” Zhou Yuanqi said.

Second Madam remarked, “A hundred taels per box—we really should go and return them.”

Cheng Zhao quickly laughed and interjected, “Mother, we are the Chen Duke Manor. If we went to return something just because it might be fake, it would make us seem small-minded. Consider it Fifth Brother donating to the temple and performing a good deed.”

Second Master glanced at Cheng Zhao, then naturally shifted his gaze to Zhou Yuanqi and said with a casual chuckle, “Zhao Zhao is right. Forget it. Anyway, there are people willing to spend money on him.”

He instantly understood what Cheng Zhao meant.

The powder had already been bought. If they tried to deny it or cause a scene, they could perhaps raise a ruckus. But returning it would only confirm that a purchase had been made.

However, causing a scene would be useless. Huan Qingtang already knew that the Second Branch possessed face powder scented with Sweet Cherry spices.

And coincidentally, Mu Jiang also had this kind of spice.

If Mu Jiang’s pregnancy...

Second Master might not have known exactly what was wrong with that specific face powder, but he quickly grasped the implication of Cheng Zhao’s words. Moreover, he was adept at smoothing things over without drawing attention.

Someone less observant would never notice Second Master’s subtle mediation, thinking he was just being a peacemaker again.

Second Madam, for instance, completely missed what Cheng Zhao and Second Master were really saying. Displeased, she scolded Second Master, “You always indulge him too much.”

Zhou Yuanqi’s eyes darted around.

He tried to speak, but Cheng Zhao shot him a pointed look. He fell silent.

The three of them had exchanged subtle glances and silently understood the situation. Only Second Madam, who couldn’t read their undertones, instructed them to eat.

After the meal, Cheng Zhao returned to Qinghua Courtyard.

She had barely sat down when the maid Qiubai returned.

“...Third Sister was at home today,” Qiubai told Cheng Zhao.

“Why did Third Sister go back? Did something happen?” Cheng Zhao had always been worried about her third sister. Any slight disturbance regarding her made Cheng Zhao anxious.

The Prince Jingnan’s mansion was a place with high walls and deep inner workings; Zhang Yunqi was unreliable, too.

“Third Sister is fine. The Second Young Madam invited her home for some fun. I happened to be in Fourth Young Master’s quarters. He called me in to talk, dismissed the servants, and asked after Third Sister. Then Third Sister told me a secret. The Prince Jingnan’s wife knows about it, but probably not many others do,” Qiubai said.

Cheng Zhao called for Suyue and Nanny Li, instructing them to keep watch in front and back, ensuring no one came near.

Once they were certain there were no eavesdroppers, she asked Qiubai to slowly recount the secret she had uncovered from the Cheng family.

Qiubai explained everything in detail.

After hearing it, Cheng Zhao gave a faint smile.

Things were becoming quite interesting. Much of the worry in Cheng Zhao’s heart faded.

Three days passed.

Zhou Yuanshen had gone to the garrison camp and hadn’t returned in three days. It seemed the matter couldn’t be resolved quickly.

Five days had passed since Mu Jiang’s scene.

During the day, Mu Jiang saw blood and was terrified, crying and screaming incessantly.

By evening, news came that she had miscarried.