Chapter 144: I Have Already Apologized
The Dragon Boat Festival had passed, and the weather was warming up.
At times, it was even hot.
The Chen Duke’s household always prepared seasonal clothing one step ahead.
Just as early summer arrived, they were already making autumn garments.
The old woman from the sewing room brought a fabric sample book to the Crimson Cloud Courtyard for the Second Madam to choose from; Cheng Zhao happened to be there as well.
The silks and satins in this book were darker in color, meant for the Second Madam; the First Madam and the Dowager Madame also wore these.
“...These brocade silks are favorites of the Dowager Madame and the First Madam,” the old woman said.
The implication was clear: don’t pick the same ones as theirs to avoid unnecessary trouble.
A small piece of advice could save a lot of hassle.
The Second Madam instinctively curled her lips in disdain. Did she really need more clothes? Her dowry brought in a considerable income.
Her mother also frequently sent her money.
What she coveted from the Zhou family was the prestige of the Duke’s household, which benefited her sons socially. For men traveling outside, the status of a family with meritorious service was invaluable—something money couldn’t buy.
However, the Second Madam’s peripheral vision caught sight of her daughter-in-law sitting quietly nearby, and she thought of her subtle speech and graceful manner.
That little troublemaker was hard to deal with. The Second Madam could spar with the Dowager Madame and the First Madam, but why waste energy complaining in front of a well-meaning housekeeper and airing her grievances about her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law?
If she insisted on doing so, not only would her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law disrespect her, but even the housekeeper would look down on her.
The Second Madam had truly learned many lessons from Cheng Zhao.
Some of these lessons were quite simple, yet she had never understood them before, which explained why she had suffered setbacks everywhere.
“...I really wasn’t paying attention. Fortunately, you pointed it out,” the Second Madam smiled. “The Hangchou embroidered floral fabrics are beautiful. I’ll take these few.”
She pointed to a few samples.
The old woman from the sewing room then brought out another book for Cheng Zhao to choose from.
While Cheng Zhao was selecting, two other embroiderers came to measure the Second Madam.
Cheng Zhao decided to place her order here, without bothering to go to the Luxuriant Splendor Courtyard.
Once everything was settled, the Second Madam asked Nanny Fan to escort them, and each person was given a red envelope containing a silver ingot as a tip.
“Mother Qi, when you spoke to the Second Madam just now, you really scared me. She’s not very gracious. If she had taken your words badly and made a fuss, the First Madam would have scolded you for stirring trouble,” one embroiderer said.
Mother Qi smiled, “That’s unlikely. The Third Young Madam was right there. She understands the situation. Besides, the Second Madam rewarded us, so she won’t cause trouble.”
“Yes, I was a bit nervous, but the Second Madam has really changed. She’s much more composed now,” another embroiderer added.
The Second Household was clearly improving.
It wasn’t just that the Third Young Madam was capable; the Second Madam had also matured.
Compared to their mother-in-law and daughters-in-law, the First Madam Song had grown increasingly irritable lately; the Eldest Young Madam was sullen, seeming like a schemer.
The kindness and gentleness displayed by the head of the family and her daughters-in-law were all façades, and the masks seemed on the verge of cracking at any moment.
“Dowager Madame really should hand the household over to the women of the Second Household,” one embroiderer said.
Mother Qi sighed, “Dowager Madame is like a living Bodhisattva. How could she possibly manage all that?”
The Dowager Madame’s kindness and charity remained unchanged. She was always extremely generous and compassionate toward the servants and her grandchildren.
The men’s autumn garments were chosen and measured in the outer courtyard.
Zhou Yuanshen returned to Nonghua Courtyard rather late that day, delayed by some matters in the outer courtyard.
However, peaches and cherries had already been brought in.
Cheng Zhao, having just entered the Gui Water phase, felt a bit queasy and thought some sweet and sour fruit would whet her appetite.
“...Have they sent anything to Jiangyun Courtyard?” Cheng Zhao asked the young servant Nanfeng who had just come in.
Nanfeng replied, “No.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
What’s the use of having sons after all? In the mundane world, sons inherit titles, and the future of the old marquis depends on his son, but beyond that, they’re utterly meaningless.
Cheng Zhao hurriedly called for half of the fruit to be sent to Jiangyun Courtyard.
Second Madam sent back some pastries in return.
Nanny Li washed the cherries, and Cheng Zhao sat on the kang by the window, flipping through the ledger on the gatehouse while eating. Before long, the plate was empty.
Her appetite whetted, by the time Zhou Yuanshen came in, she was already ravenous.
But he wasn’t alone.
Behind him followed two rough-looking maids and the young servant Nanfeng.
Each of them carried several bolts of cloth.
Cheng Zhao’s eyes immediately caught sight of a pale purple fabric, resembling the cloth from Wu County—the same material as the jacket she had soiled.
She paused in surprise.
Nanny Li and the others were also slightly taken aback.
“Put it on the kang in the east side room,” Nanny Li instructed the maids.
The colors were rich and piled high on the kang. Several senior maids from Nonghua Courtyard came over to take a look, while the maids stood by, not leaving.
“...The workshop you mentioned, the best cloth this year—I picked out ten bolts,” Zhou Yuanshen said with a calm expression. “Take a look, do you like it?”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
Suppressing the joy in her heart, she maintained a composed demeanor, “You sent someone to Wu County to buy this?”
“Yes,” Zhou Yuanshen replied. “The new silkworm season just came in, the best batch of fabric. I just found out that the tribute cloth to Wu County also comes from that workshop.”
“My second sister-in-law is the granddaughter of the Grand Princess of Rong’an. Although the Grand Princess has passed, the Yin family still holds influence in Wu County, so the workshop gives them the best first,” Cheng Zhao explained.
She flipped through the fabric laid out on the kang. “They didn’t cheat you. This batch is truly excellent.”
“As long as you like it,” Zhou Yuanshen said.
“Is this an apology gift?” Cheng Zhao teased him.
Zhou Yuanshen looked at her quietly, expressionless, but in front of the entire room full of servants, he leaned in close, almost whispering in her ear, “I already apologized the night I kissed you.”
Cheng Zhao’s face flushed instantly.
She clearly felt a wave of heat rise, burning hot.
Ignoring everyone in the room, she glared fiercely at him.
He straightened up, his dark eyes calm and bright. “This is a gift for the Duchess. It’s modest, so please don’t despise it.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
This man was pushing his luck.
Not only was he disrespecting her, but he was also teasing her!
She didn’t even know where her battlefield was losing ground. All she knew was she was retreating step by step, losing ground and territory.
It was as if he had found the key to controlling her, while she had yet to discover his weakness.
He was so good at putting on airs; and because his personality was a bit like Cheng Zhao’s father’s, she felt intimidated by such a man.
She wasn’t strong yet.
She hadn’t subdued her Fourth Brother, nor had she tamed Zhou Yuanshen. Her heart was frustrated and furious, desperate to go complain to her grandfather and throw a tantrum.
But if things continued like this, her prestige would drop another notch, and she would never have a chance to turn things around. So she simply gritted her teeth and sneered, “Thank you, Lord Duke.”
Nanny Li standing nearby couldn’t help but laugh.
“Let it be for now,” Cheng Zhao said. “We’ll divide it again tomorrow morning.”
The attendants withdrew.
Back in the inner chamber, Cheng Zhao refused to pay any attention to Zhou Yuanshen.
Zhou Yuanshen asked her, “Still upset?”
Cheng Zhao felt stuck, unable to rise but unable to fall.
If she said she was upset, it would sound like she was throwing a childish tantrum.
But if she wasn’t upset, he would only become more greedy.
“Zhou Yuanshen, you—how could you say such nonsense just now!” Cheng Zhao couldn’t hold back any longer and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
Zhou Yuanshen pulled her into his arms.
Cheng Zhao fell into his embrace and, taking advantage of the moment, punched him two more times, trying to vent her frustration.
“Cheng Zhao, if you’re not upset, then kiss me,” he said.
Cheng Zhao was taken aback, her eyes wide. “Are you crazy?”