Chapter 137: Encountering the Prince
The weather was pleasant just before the Dragon Boat Festival.
Both sides of the South Gate River were lined with streets, usually bustling with activity, and during festivals they were thronged with tourists.
Two or three months earlier, the best restaurant seats on the west bank had all been booked; Fan Xiao had long since secured the finest vantage spots for everyone.
There was much to do at the Duke of Chen’s mansion.
Gift-giving for the festival, social engagements everywhere—the gatekeepers and the main kitchen were all very busy.
The relationship between the mother- and daughter-in-law in the Hall of Bright Heritage was tense, making many tasks difficult, and Cheng Zhao and the stewards found themselves caught in the middle.
“Third Young Madam, why don’t you speak to the Dowager Madame and tell her not to let the Eldest Young Madam come to the Hall of Bright Heritage?” one steward suggested privately to Cheng Zhao.
His meaning was clear: The Hall of Bright Heritage had nothing to do with Huan Qingtang, and Eldest Madam Song disliked her.
With her around, Eldest Madam Song was always losing her temper, delaying several matters.
If things weren’t done properly later, the steward would be blamed. He might not only be scolded but also beaten or even dismissed.
Cheng Zhao glanced at the steward. “Steward Sheng, your words are rather pointless.”
Then she added, “Go about your business now.”
The steward wanted to say more, but meeting Cheng Zhao’s gaze, he bowed. “Yes, Third Young Madam.”
Cheng Zhao, Suyue, and Qiubai headed back.
Suyue asked quietly, “Was he sent by the Dowager Madame to test you?”
“Probably not. He’s always been straightforward.”
“Around the New Year, the Eldest Young Madam’s authority outweighed yours. In just a few months, the situation has shifted dramatically,” Suyue said.
She wanted to be happy for Cheng Zhao but dared not show it.
Cheng Zhao, however, was less optimistic than Suyue. “Elder Sister-in-law still has her uses. Now that Eldest Aunt is trampling on her like this, it will likely anger the Dowager Madame soon.”
This had happened before.
On the third day of the fifth month, Cheng Zhao was having dinner at the Crimson Cloud Courtyard when Second Madam mentioned the festival.
“Zhao Zhao, are you going back to avoid the midday heat?” Second Madam asked her.
Cheng Zhao replied, “I’ll return tomorrow to deliver festival gifts and pay respects to Grandfather and my parents; on the day itself, I’ll go to the Fan family.”
She added with a smile, “My maternal family’s home is fun and lively, and I like it very much. My aunts treat me well, too.”
The Cheng family had many members; one person’s absence during such a festive and bustling time meant little. Besides, Cheng Zhao hadn’t married far away and could go back anytime; one day didn’t matter.
But her mother-in-law’s side felt quite empty.
She had three sons—one couldn’t return from the border, one was on duty serving the Crown Prince, and the youngest was sharp-tongued and unaffectionate.
Only Cheng Zhao could keep her company and bring her some joy.
Given her mother-in-law’s leniency, Cheng Zhao felt obliged to be filial.
Second Madam then asked quietly, “I hear the Hall of Bright Heritage has been unsettled these days?”
Cheng Zhao smiled. “It will sort itself out soon.”
“How so?”
“Since you’ve heard about it, Grandmother will know too. By then, Eldest Aunt’s anger will naturally cool,” Cheng Zhao said.
Second Madam said, “The old lady insists on elevating the Huan woman, even though you’re clearly brighter and more capable than Huan Qingtang.”
Cheng Zhao merely smiled.
“You want the Hall of Bright Heritage too; Huan Qingtang’s setbacks benefit you, yet you never take satisfaction in them,” Second Madam continued. “That kind of steadiness is rare. Your mother raised you well.”
Cheng Zhao longed to say that it was because the Hall of Bright Heritage was as solid as a mountain—it had never wavered.
The true mistress of the house was only the Dowager Madame.
So, when Elder Sister-in-law Huan Qingtang occasionally stumbled, it didn’t mean Cheng Zhao could easily take over the Hall of Bright Heritage. These were merely petty tricks, not worth celebrating.
Many people couldn’t see that, swaying with the wind, either excited or disappointed—all just superficial.
Huan Qingtang understood this too.
No matter how coldly Eldest Madam Song treated her, she remained composed.
Even if the stewards privately felt she had fallen behind Cheng Zhao, she wasn’t worried.
The final outcome was still uncertain.
Cheng Zhao didn’t want to discuss this with her mother-in-law and make her anxious.
So, hearing her words, she simply smiled and said, “I’m secretly pleased too, Mother, just quietly, on the sly.”
She made Second Madam laugh out loud.
On the fourth day of the fifth month, Cheng Zhao was returning to her family home when she encountered Huan Qingtang at the main gate; she too was going home early.
“Tomorrow I need to attend to Grandmother,” Huan Qingtang explained to Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao replied, “Tomorrow I must attend to my mother-in-law as well.”
The sisters-in-law smiled at each other in harmony and climbed into their respective carriages.
To the stewards who observed them, the two young madams seemed to get along quite well.
At her family home, Cheng Zhao met Helian Xuan, the Prince of Andong—one of her fourth brother’s worthless friends.
“It’s rare to have everyone together like this; how about going to listen to opera and have a drink later?” her fourth brother, Cheng Chao, said.
Cheng Ying had come home a few days early.
Every festival, the Princess Consort Jingnan prepared all sorts of gifts to give Cheng Ying face; even for an occasion like avoiding the midday heat, she would send Cheng Ying over early.
If not for Zhang Yunqi, Third Sister Cheng Ying’s marriage would have been quite a good one.
“I’m not going,” Cheng Zhao said. “I haven’t seen Grandfather yet, and I need to accompany Father for a meal later.”
Cheng Chao looked at her as though she were a ghost. “Accompany Father for a meal? You’re asking for trouble when there’s none to be had.”
Cheng Zhao said, “Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten?”
“He won’t hit me for saying that. But if you go hang around him and say a few more words, you might just earn yourself a good beating,” Cheng Chao said.
Cheng Zhao ignored him.
She wasn’t too annoyed with him, but he had to go and invite Helian Xuan home.
While the siblings were talking, Helian Xuan chimed in a few times.
“Physician Feng’s case is closed; the Duchess can rest easy now,” Helian Xuan said.
Cheng Zhao replied, “I have two generations of elders above me; such matters are not my concern, and there’s nothing for me to rest easy about.”
“Your words are so sharp,” Cheng Chao said disapprovingly. “No one’s provoked you. Have you no respect for the Prince?”
Helian Xuan quickly said, “It’s fine!”
Cheng Zhao turned and left, heading to her grandfather’s courtyard.
Cheng Chao couldn’t help complaining, “She’s so arrogant, her tail practically in the sky. This attitude of hers... don’t take it to heart.”
Helian Xuan had a pair of lovely peach-blossom eyes, but there was no gloom in them now.
“I only fear she’d be indifferent,” Helian Xuan said. “Whether happy or angry, it shows she cares about me.”
Cheng Chao was startled, then abruptly turned to look at him. “You... you’re still thinking about her?”
“What of it?”
“She’s already the Duchess of Chen’s mansion! It’s unacceptable!” Cheng Chao frowned.
“I won’t think less of her. This marriage was connected to me as well; it was my fault,” Helian Xuan said. “I couldn’t convince my mother to withdraw her request to the Empress for the betrothal.”
“Let’s leave aside whose fault it was—don’t you dare cause trouble,” Cheng Chao said sternly.
His sister was as beautiful as a flower; even if she divorced and remarried, she could be an empress. Who would presume to think less of her?
“Not thinking less of her” was hardly some noble virtue.
Only a man out of his mind would think less of her.
His little sister was always haughty and domineering, but that was because she was so beautiful that everyone had to pamper her.
One moment Cheng Chao was annoyed to death with her, the next he was dazzled by her beauty, thinking, never mind, being this beautiful gave her the right to be unreasonable.
“What do you mean?”
“If you make trouble for her, I’m done with you,” Cheng Chao said. “No matter how this marriage began, outsiders have no right to cause her problems. If you bring my little sister grief, our friendship ends here.”
Helian Xuan smiled. “I spoke out of turn. Forgive me.”
Cheng Chao said, “Come on, let’s go to my courtyard. I’ll show you my newly acquired longsword.”
Helian Xuan agreed.