Chapter 130: She is not as good as Cheng Zhao
The Dowager Madame had not been this furious in a long time.
Her hand gripped the edge of the heated brick bed so hard that her knuckles stood out white.
Nanny Sun hurried in and said, “Lord Duke, do you wish for the Dowager Madame to accuse you of unfilial conduct before the court? That would truly ruin your reputation!”
A man lacking filial piety was deemed disloyal and was deeply scorned in the court.
Filial piety was written into the law.
Zhou Yuanshen spoke: “Grandmother, calm your anger and rest well.”
He did not bow, but turned and left.
Nanny Sun patted the Dowager Madame’s back, gently persuading her for a long time, almost weeping with worry.
“I misjudged him. He is so cruel and ruthless,” the Dowager Madame finally managed to say after a long pause.
“Dowager Madame, please calm your anger. The heavy mountains of ‘loyalty’ and ‘filial piety’ press down on him—he cannot stir up much trouble,” said Nanny Sun.
The Dowager Madame’s status embodied filial piety; before the emperor, loyalty was paramount, and the emperor himself could be influenced by the Dowager Madame.
As a man, he might disregard everything, but as one who aspired to be a powerful minister, he could slaughter the innocent yet dare not be unfilial or disloyal.
Her very identity was enough to suppress him.
The Dowager Madame had no need to be so enraged.
“...If he refuses to continue the Hedong Huan lineage through plural marriage, find an excuse to divorce Cheng Shi, or even divorce Lady Fan, and drive out his mother and wife. Within the inner quarters, you, honored elder, are the heavens. Who can defy heaven’s will?” Nanny Sun continued.
There were plenty of ways to deal with Zhou Yuanshen.
The Second Branch had so many people—if the Dowager Madame casually seized upon a mistake, they would be unable to bear the consequences.
Zhou Yuanshen dared to provoke her—it was as if he did not know his place.
“I was truly muddled by his anger. Fortunately, you are by my side,” the Dowager Madame said, her spirits much relieved.
Once her strength gave way, her shoulders and back hunched slightly—Nanny Sun noticed she had aged.
At only sixty, to show such signs of age was startling.
“Dowager Madame, you are angered. Lord Duke deliberately provokes you to make you act rashly, so he can seize upon your missteps,” Nanny Sun added.
The Dowager Madame nodded. “Do you think I don’t know his intent?”
Knowing it was one thing, but every time Zhou Yuanshen struck at her weaknesses, she could hardly keep from being overcome by rage.
“He says nothing, appearing like a dull, unresponsive block of wood, yet the emperor trusts him greatly,” the Dowager Madame said.
Last night in the Hall of Grand Brightness, the Dowager Madame had seen the emperor’s partiality toward Zhou Yuanshen.
The emperor had not rebuked Zhou Yuanshen a single time.
In the Dowager Madame’s view, Zhou Yuanshen had many faults; with a few words of instigation, the emperor would have turned on him.
Unexpectedly, the emperor instinctively protected him.
Zhou Yuanshen killed on behalf of the emperor, truly striking at what the emperor cherished.
The Dowager Madame suddenly realized that Zhou Yuanshen seemed to have won the imperial favor through a method she did not understand.
“Dowager Madame, he is your grandson,” Nanny Sun said. “One identity, one heavy mountain—he cannot escape your palm.”
The Dowager Madame fell silent for a moment.
Nanny Sun, fearing she would sink into brooding, spoke many words to comfort her.
“The child of Lady Mu Jiang is lost; she can conceive again in the future,” Nanny Sun said. “Next time, she will surely carry a prince.”
The doctor had told the Dowager Madame that the child in Mu Jiang’s womb was a girl, and the Dowager Madame had been deliberating.
“The Eldest Young Madame is wise and clever, steadfastly loyal. With her here, you can rest assured,” Nanny Sun added.
She also said, “The Second Branch is a bunch of blockheads. That Cheng Shi only has a sharp tongue and a few petty tricks.”
The Dowager Madame’s thoughts shifted from Huan Qingtang to Cheng Zhao.
If she set aside personal likes and dislikes, Cheng Zhao suited the Dowager Madame’s wishes better. She was not only intelligent but also well-connected.
Cheng Zhao had managed to uncover the secret of Physician Feng.
That was no small feat, given that the Dowager Madame herself had investigated it to deal with the Honored Consort, yet had barely heard anything.
Consort Dou had risen to her current position, and her deceased son had nearly become the heir apparent—a testament to her craftiness.
The situation back then had been so dire; Huan Qingtang was too terrified to speak, but Cheng Zhao had turned the tide, wresting life from a dead end.
This capability, Huan Qingtang lacked, and the Dowager Madame had to acknowledge it.
Huan Qingtang could not be said to lack wisdom, but her spirit and methods were inferior, especially compared to Cheng Zhao.
Pity Cheng Zhao was not the Dowager Madame’s choice, so she simply disliked her. Coupled with several plans that failed because of her, the Dowager Madame was almost resentful.
Whenever she looked at Cheng Zhao, she saw only a cunning poison; she could not appreciate her talents and only wished to trample her into the dirt.
Thinking of Cheng Zhao, then of Zhou Yuanshen, the Dowager Madame felt a pang in her heart.
She had not been angered to such a degree in many years.
Cheng Zhao rose early, washed and dressed, then went to Crimson Cloud Court.
Second Master had already gone to court, but Zhou Yuanqi had not yet left for his studies.
Her mother-in-law was somewhat silent.
They did not mention the Hall of Grand Brightness incident, only chatting idly about small matters.
Until the head steward of the main kitchen came to find Cheng Zhao.
“...No council today, but there are several matters in the main kitchen that require your direction,” the steward said.
Cheng Zhao went with her to Dawn Radiance Court.
She handled the matters under her charge concerning the main kitchen and the gatehouse.
“Is no business being conducted at the Hall of Grand Brightness?” Cheng Zhao asked.
The steward replied, “First Madam is feeling unwell. The Hall of Grand Brightness also has to hold a ritual, so they likely won’t handle affairs for about half a month.”
“Then how are other matters to be reported?” Cheng Zhao asked.
“Head Steward Sun said everyone should go to the Eldest Young Madame’s Joyful Elixir Court. Your stewards come to you here,” the steward replied.
Cheng Zhao understood.
Apart from the gatehouse and the main kitchen, all other duties in the ducal mansion were now under Huan Qingtang’s management.
Huan Qingtang had repeatedly schemed against Cheng Zhao and had indeed won the Dowager Madame’s trust and favor.
Once Cheng Zhao finished her tasks, she returned to Crimson Cloud Court.
“Is there anything wrong in the main kitchen?” Second Madam asked her.
Cheng Zhao: “Just the usual trivial matters. Since the Hall of Grand Brightness is not holding council, they needed to find someone to make decisions.”
She then told Second Madam about the Hall of Grand Brightness matter.
“Zhao Zhao, let me give you a word of advice,” Second Madam said after listening.
Cheng Zhao nodded: “I’m listening, Mother, please speak.”
“You and I are alike—not chosen by the Dowager Madame. You must understand her temper. If she didn’t order that dish, no matter how delicious others find it, she won’t touch it,” Second Madam said.
She added, “No matter how good you are, you’ll never win her favor. Do not waste your efforts.”
“I understand, Mother. Grandmother is used to controlling everything. Anything outside her palm, she will sweep away,” Cheng Zhao said.
She had long been an eyesore to the Dowager Madame.
Second Madam nodded.
As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked Cheng Zhao’s head, as a mother would her own daughter. “It’s hard on you. A fine girl like you, married into any family, would be cherished like a treasure. But for us...”
“Mother, our family is good too,” Cheng Zhao said with a smile. “You and Father treat me well, and so does Yuanqi. Lord Duke’s rules are strict, but dealing with him is easy. I think I am very fortunate.”
Second Madam was stunned.
Fortunate?
She had just passed through the gates of life and death.
In any other family, there would not be such chaos.
If it had been Second Madam, she would have considered divorce and escape by now. Cheng Zhao had no children; she could have left everything behind.
Yet she called herself fortunate.
“You child!” Second Madam held her hand.
“Mother, we will be fine,” Cheng Zhao said. “You and I are still young. The Dowager Madame is old.”
Second Madam: “...”