Chapter 145: The Restless Concubine

Cheng Zhao’s face changed with fright.

She would never do such a thing!

Even if she experienced the utmost pleasure, she considered it extremely base in her eyes—if Zhou Yuanshen was willing to take the initiative, that was his choice; Cheng Zhao couldn’t understand him.

She had never begged him for that kind of thing...

Zhou Yuanshen seemed to pause for a moment.

The corner of his lips curled slightly, a rare hint of a smile appearing on his face: “Kiss me.”

He pointed at his own lips.

Cheng Zhao: “...”

She was silent for a while, then hit him twice more: “Zhou Yuanshen!”

Zhou Yuanshen’s eyes curved gently: “You were the one imagining things, and yet you blame me.”

He lightly pecked her on the lips.

After washing up and getting into bed, Cheng Zhao turned her back to him and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.

The early summer night was a little warm; the blanket only needed to cover half her body, but she had bundled herself up too tightly and was starting to feel hot.

Zhou Yuanshen had covered the lampshade and lay quietly.

Cheng Zhao stayed wrapped up for a while, nearly breaking into a sweat, then quietly stretched her feet out to cool down.

Zhou Yuanshen: “...”

Most of the time, she was an adult, steady and capable in her actions; occasionally, she had a touch of childishness. This rare innocence was especially precious and endearing.

Zhou Yuanshen didn’t move, not wanting to disturb her.

The night passed without a word.

The next morning, Cheng Zhao first went to Crimson Cloud Courtyard to pay her respects, then to Chengming Hall.

By mid-afternoon, after finishing her duties, she returned to Nonghua Courtyard and began distributing the silks.

“Tell them these are from Wu Commandery. These two bolts of light blue are for Grandmother; this one for Eldest Aunt, and this one for Eldest Sister-in-law,” she instructed the maidservants.

Then she added, “The remaining six will be split evenly between our courtyard and Crimson Cloud Courtyard.”

She also said, “This bolt of sapphire blue looks lovely—it can be made into clothes for Yuanqi. It’ll come from my share; send it over to Yuanqi’s place.”

Everyone acknowledged her orders.

After the fabrics were sent out, the Longevity Courtyard sent back two gold hairpins inlaid with red gems for Cheng Zhao; First Madam and Huan Qingtang returned with some pastries.

Second Madam called Cheng Zhao to her place and brought out some expensive fabrics from her own storage, telling Cheng Zhao to choose a few bolts as well.

“I have more than enough fabric,” Cheng Zhao said.

“It’s about courtesy and reciprocity. The servants and maids are watching—you need to pick a couple,” Second Madam insisted.

Cheng Zhao smiled mockingly: “Mother, you’re learning to be hypocritical.”

Second Madam: “... Those two rascals tease me, and now you’ve gone bad too.”

She added with a sigh, “I used to think, between mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, who doesn’t know whom? Why pretend? But I forgot that we’re running a household as a big family.

Even if mother-in-law and the sisters-in-law understand, the servants and maids have their own stories. That false courtesy—it’s all for show.”

“Yes, Mother has had an epiphany,” Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam then praised the cherries and peaches Cheng Zhao had sent over, saying they were delicious.

That evening, the men returned to the inner courtyard.

The family of five had their evening meal together.

Suddenly, Second Madam said, “June is Zhao Zhao’s birthday. It’s her first birthday since marrying into our family, so we should make it lively.”

Second Master and Zhou Yuanqi looked at Cheng Zhao.

“Which day in June is Zhao Zhao’s birthday?” Second Master asked.

Zhou Yuanshen answered: “The twelfth of June.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

“Eldest Sister-in-law told me,” Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao nodded: “Yes, I share the same birthday as my Eldest Sister.”

Then she added, “Generally, by the twelfth, it’s already the peak of summer—the hottest time of the year. I don’t really like having birthday banquets; it’s too miserable.”

Second Madam laughed: “Then you and your Eldest Sister are quite fated! To be born on the same day as sisters—such coincidences are hard to come by.”

Cheng Zhao nodded.

That was also why she was very close with her Eldest Sister.

Regarding the birthday banquet, Cheng Zhao said she didn’t want to disturb others; just a simple dinner meal in Crimson Cloud Courtyard would be enough.

“Everyone is annoyed in the heat. If I make a big fuss and invite people, they’ll curse me behind my back,” Cheng Zhao said.

It wasn’t that she disliked showing off, but she only enjoyed celebration when it made everyone delighted and willing.

Not when they had to endure the heat just to humor her.

“That makes sense,” Second Madam said. “Having a birthday that brings curses isn’t very auspicious. Zhao Zhao, you’re perceptive.”

“Then we’ll celebrate it in Crimson Cloud Courtyard,” Zhou Yuanshen said.

That settled the matter.

“Is there any birthday gift you’d like?” Zhou Yuanqi asked her.

Cheng Zhao: “If you obediently say a few nice words, that’s already a very good gift.”

Zhou Yuanqi: “Who do you think I am? I’ve got money.”

“He has money—Grandmother keeps stuffing cash into his pockets. Zhao Zhao, tell him to buy you a set of red-gem head ornaments,” Second Madam said with a laugh.

“That can be done,” Zhou Yuanqi said, very much like a little adult as he nodded.

Cheng Zhao: “I don’t like red gems; I prefer gold pieces.”

Zhou Yuanqi: “...”

The matter of Cheng Zhao’s birthday was only discussed within Crimson Cloud Courtyard and not spread outside.

Another day passed, and when Cheng Zhao went to Chengming Hall to handle business, she saw a rough servants’ woman carrying cherries to Dawn Courtyard.

That servants’ woman was from the outer study, the same one who had moved bolts of fabric to Nonghua Courtyard before. Cheng Zhao remembered her. The woman bowed, and Cheng Zhao glanced into her basket.

Cheng Zhao had been eating cherries for three days.

No matter how delicious something was, eating too much made one uncomfortable—her teeth ached and her stomach soured.

This basket of cherries wasn’t as big as last time, nor did it look as good.

Cheng Zhao thought to herself: “Is Zhou Yuanshen trying to fatten me up like a pig?”

If she didn’t eat, it would be rejecting his good intentions; if she ate, she couldn’t stomach it. She frowned slightly.

However, that day when she returned to Nonghua Courtyard, she didn’t see any cherries.

No one had sent them over.

Cheng Zhao was slightly surprised.

If the cherries weren’t for her, was Zhou Yuanshen supposed to eat them himself?

They didn’t even look very nice to eat.

The main kitchen had some trivial issues, and Cheng Zhao quickly forgot about the cherries.

Two more days went by. At noon, Cheng Zhao went to Dawn Courtyard for a rest, and Zhou Yuanshen happened to be home.

“I came back this morning,” he said.

The page boy Nanfeng went to pick up the lunch, while Suyue and Qiubai also went to the main kitchen.

The couple sat facing each other, making small talk.

When Nanfeng, Suyue, and Qiubai came back in, they heard the couple chatting at the doorway.

Then, Suyue gave Nanfeng a meaningful look.

“My Lord, Young Madam, Miss Wang is at the entrance. She wants to come in and serve you both during the meal,” Nanfeng said, forcing himself to speak.

Cheng Zhao looked up.

In the noble mansion, there were no “Miss” relatives for this kind of role.

Someone addressed as “Miss” was either a visiting guest or a senior maid— a term of respect, not family.

Cheng Zhao thought back to that basket of cherries and the two concubines or maids in Bright Scenery Courtyard who hadn’t been dismissed yet.

She glanced at Zhou Yuanshen.

Zhou Yuanshen remained expressionless: “Tell her to go back.”

Then he added, “And inform the Longevity Courtyard that this person is causing trouble by trying to force her way into Dawn Courtyard. Ask Grandmother to send someone to teach her proper rules.”

Cheng Zhao’s anger immediately subsided, and she was even a little puzzled.

Suyue and Qiubai laid out the meal in silence.

Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen ate lunch together. After the meal, she was about to lie down and rest her energy when someone arrived from the Longevity Courtyard.

The Dowager Madame summoned Zhou Yuanshen to the Longevity Courtyard.

She didn’t call for Cheng Zhao.

Suppressing her curiosity, Cheng Zhao went to Chengming Hall for her afternoon duties as usual.

“...Sister-in-law, is your birthday coming up soon?” Huan Qingtang suddenly asked.

Cheng Zhao: “Not yet, Eldest Sister-in-law.”

“I vaguely remember it is in June?” Huan Qingtang pressed.

“Yes.”

“June weather is hot,” First Madam remarked.

She clearly didn’t want any big birthday banquet; the heat annoyed her, so she looked at Cheng Zhao impatiently.

“If your birthday is in June, holding a night banquet would be better,” Huan Qingtang said with a smile.

First Madam gave her a startled look.

This flattery to set Cheng Zhao up for a fall was all too obvious. In the entire mansion, who other than the Dowager Madame had the privilege or status to hold a night banquet?

A night banquet was a big event, requiring an exceptionally heavy protocol.