Chapter 135: Punishing the Concubine

Mu Jiang caused a tremendous uproar in Nonghua Courtyard in the middle of the night.

She hurled curses at Cheng Zhao.

When Zhou Yuanshen reached out to steady her, she suddenly lost her voice. She struggled violently, her hair completely disheveled, her face flushed red, yet she could not utter a single word.

Her eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuanshen.

In that moment, the hatred she felt for Zhou Yuanshen matched almost equally the depth and intensity of her hatred for Cheng Zhao.

Old Madam Li came out of the house and stuffed a cloth into Mu Jiang's mouth.

A small carriage arrived swiftly.

The First Madam and her daughter-in-law had arrived.

"Eldest Aunt, you have finally come," Cheng Zhao stepped forward as if with great warmth. "I truly did not know what to do with such a disturbance from the Secondary Wife."

Second Madam paused.

Her daughter-in-law was quite clever, immediately shifting the responsibility upon arrival. Such matters ought to be handled by the head of the household. Her daughter-in-law had performed admirably.

Qiu Bai, Cheng Zhao's maidservant, had gone to Chengming Hall to wake the First Madam, who had already retired for the night. The First Madam then sent for Huan Qingtang.

Thanks to Qiu Bai's swift actions, the First Madam was delayed only briefly.

"The Lord Duke is here, so we shall follow the Lord Duke's orders," said First Madam, née Song.

"Send her to the family temple," Zhou Yuanshen said coldly. "Creating a disturbance in the dead of night, utterly without discipline. Let her rest for half a year. If she still shows no remorse, she need not return."

Mu Jiang, who had inexplicably lost her voice moments ago, erupted in rage again upon hearing this. She struggled with all her might against the old women restraining her, wanting to argue with Zhou Yuanshen.

How utterly muddled he was!

How could he be so completely swayed by Cheng Zhao, to strike her down like this?

Even ignoring the child she had carried for him, a child that was now gone, did the authority of the Dowager Madame and the Emperor mean nothing to him?

Did he want to throw away his own future?

To vent Cheng Zhao's anger, was he willing to abandon not only her but also himself?

Mu Jiang was in agony.

He was the one whose mind was clouded with phlegm!

In pain and desperation, Mu Jiang wept. "Third Brother!"

A faint sound escaped her throat, slightly better than before.

But the First Madam spoke, drowning out Mu Jiang's cry. "Yuanshen, this matter should be raised with your grandmother first."

Second Madam immediately countered. "Is the Lord Duke not authorized to decide? Eldest Sister-in-law, is that your attitude toward the head of the household?"

The First Madam sneered. "Sister-in-law, there is no need to split hairs. I know your son is the Lord Duke, and from now on we must all kneel when speaking to him."

She turned back to Zhou Yuanshen. "Am I not still your elder?"

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "You are an elder. But elders must act with dignity to commands respect, Eldest Aunt. You disregard my orders and show contempt for my mother. What aspect of that is worthy of respect?"

The First Madam was left speechless.

She was stunned for a moment, her face turning ugly from embarrassment. She turned her anger on Cheng Zhao. "Since this is a matter within your chambers, why did you, as the Duchess, summon me?"

Everyone chose the softest target to bully.

Second Madam moved a step forward, shielding Cheng Zhao behind her. "Calling Eldest Sister-in-law here is naturally to obtain the authorization records for this matter. Are you suggesting the Lord Duke himself must escort the Secondary Wife to the family temple?"

The First Madam nearly choked with fury.

She had been rebutted twice in a row, each time leaving her speechless. And one of those rebuttals came from a sister-in-law she had long dominated.

Huan Qingtang stepped forward and spoke. "Since the Lord Duke has made his decision, let it be done. We can inform Grandmother about it later."

The First Madam turned her full wrath toward her. "What business is this of yours? Are you also part of the Lord Duke's household?"

Huan Qingtang slowly raised her eyes to meet her mother-in-law's gaze. Her expression did not waver, nor did she flinch. "Mother, you are the one who presides over Chengming Hall."

"Then you intend to replace me? Did I authorize you to replace me?" the First Madam demanded angrily.

The maidservants and older serving women gathered—not only those from Nonghua Courtyard or Jiangyun Courtyard but also others who had arrived from elsewhere—all stared at the First Madam in surprise.

She was publicly humiliating her own daughter-in-law.

And the Eldest Young Madame seemed to have no grounds for defense. She was neither the titled lady of Chengming Hall nor was she the Lord Duke's legal wife. She held no position of authority in this household.

Everyone felt embarrassed for her.

Huan Qingtang merely said, "Mother, please calm down. Do not harm your health over this."

She showed no sign of offense, only concern for her mother-in-law.

It appeared as though the First Madam, having been cornered and humiliated herself, had simply taken out her anger on an innocent. The onlookers abandoned any thought of mocking Huan Qingtang. Instead, they felt the First Madam had lost her temper for no reason.

The First Madam grew even more furious.

In the midst of this chaotic scene, another small carriage arrived.

Cheng Zhao saw it. She gently patted Second Madam's hand, then let go and walked toward the carriage.

Old Madam Sun descended first.

Cheng Zhao helped her escort the Dowager Madame out of the carriage.

Huan Qingtang quickly came over to pay her respects to the Dowager Madame. "Why have we disturbed you at such a late hour, Grandmother?"

As Huan Qingtang approached, the Dowager Madame seemed about to shake free from Cheng Zhao's supporting hand.

Before she could act, Cheng Zhao released her and moved to stand behind Second Madam.

"What is going on?" The Dowager Madame raised her hand, pointing at Mu Jiang.

Mu Jiang wanted to call out to her, but she was tied up, pinned down, and still gagged.

Even with the Dowager Madame's arrival, the old women from the Nonghua Courtyard did not release Mu Jiang.

These two women were part of Cheng Zhao's dowry retinue.

Previously, the Nonghua Courtyard had been staffed with a few members of the Zhou household's servants, but Cheng Zhao had found excuses to send them all away. Only a few were left for rough work, all of whom had to return to the servants' quarters in the back courtyard by nightfall. The maids and older women who could spend the night in the Nonghua Courtyard were all Cheng Zhao's trusted confidantes.

It was a tightly controlled fortress here.

Seeing that they treated Mu Jiang with such contempt, their hands not loosening even in her presence, the Dowager Madame's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Grandmother, the Secondary Wife suddenly came here," Cheng Zhao said. "She reviled both me and the Lord Duke. I was worried something might happen to her, as she had just lost a baby girl. Her health was fragile, which is why the child was born with deficiencies.

If she continues this way, something awful could happen. Since she was raised by you, Grandmother, we dared not make decisions for her. That is why I called for Eldest Aunt."

She continued, "Eldest Aunt asked the Lord Duke for a decision. The Lord Duke ordered her sent to the family temple. Then Eldest Aunt objected.

She insisted we first ask for your opinion. All of this descended into chaos. I am sorry for troubling you, Grandmother."

Mu Jiang struggled with all her might to make a sound.

Cheng Zhao's words reached not only her own ears but those of everyone present.

The Dowager Madame gave Cheng Zhao a long, hard look. "Very well. Withdraw."

Cheng Zhao complied, her manner utterly respectful. She did not take the Dowager Madame's attitude to heart; she had said all she needed to say.

The Dowager Madame fell silent.

The courtyard grew quiet.

Even Mu Jiang ceased her struggles, looking at the Dowager Madame with tear-filled eyes.

"...Yuanshen?" the Dowager Madame finally spoke.

She did not press further, merely calling his name.

"Grandmother," Zhou Yuanshen said, his voice cold and distant. "If Concubine Mu remains in this household, she will be constantly incited and manipulated by others. Her life will be in danger. Sending her away might make her see reason."

He paused then added, "This agitation would take a toll on even a strong person. If anything truly happens..."

He looked at the Dowager Madame, his words trailing off as if unfinished.

The Dowager Madame understood him.

Another long silence followed.

Everyone waited for the Dowager Madame's final decision.

"Send her to the family temple," the Dowager Madame said. She turned her gaze to the dazed Mu Jiang. "Her mind is indeed clouded. If she cannot learn to think clearly, then let her not return."