Chapter 146: Zhou Yuanshen Brings Blessings to Cheng Zhao
Cheng Zhao listened quietly to Huan Qingtang’s words.
The First Madam kept silent, so Cheng Zhao had to take over the conversation: “It’s not a major birthday, Sister-in-law. Going too grand would be inappropriate instead.”
She added, “The Concubine had a miscarriage not long ago, and the Dowager Madame is not in the mood. I wasn’t planning to hold anything either.”
She extricated herself neatly.
Hosting a night feast for her birthday depended on whether the noble families would grant the favor of attending.
Not only was holding a night feast a major event, but going out for one at night was equally significant.
Such feasts were only held on important days like the Lantern Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Of course, given the Dowager Madame’s status and position, if she were to arrange a birthday celebration for her granddaughter-in-law during the summer heat, noble ladies would undoubtedly respond to the invitation.
Such an affair would require the Dowager Madame’s personal invitation.
After the tasks at the Hall of Inherited Brightness were finished, Cheng Zhao left, but the First Madam, Madam Song, kept Huan Qingtang behind.
“...Why do you have to put on such airs? If she really holds that night feast, she’ll only gain even more power over us.” Madam Song fumed resentfully.
Huan Qingtang replied, “Mother, since it’s her birthday, we can’t pretend we don’t know. I merely told her it would require considerable effort.”
“You deliberately stirred up her ambition, hoping she’d go and speak to your grandmother. I could hear it clearly, and she’s not stupid,” Madam Song countered.
Unhurried, Huan Qingtang spoke in a calm tone: “Mother, if there were no ambition to begin with, how could it be stirred?”
With this, she had killed two birds with one stone.
On one hand, she gave Cheng Zhao a difficult problem, letting her struggle, increasing the chance of mistakes. On the other, she subtly provoked her own mother-in-law.
The First Madam wanted to lose her temper again but held back, fearing the Dowager Madame.
In a short time, Huan Qingtang had transformed from Madam Song’s confidante into the Dowager Madame’s lackey—an utterly repulsive change.
Madam Song retreated angrily to her inner chambers.
Cheng Zhao returned to the Luxuriant Fragrance Courtyard.
Nanny Li had heard from Suyue about “Miss Wang,” the chambermaid in the Splendid View Courtyard.
“...Please do not be angry. That was a gift from the Dowager Madame, so the Lord Duke had to put in an appearance at least once,” Nanny Li consoled Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao said, “I am not angry. I was just thinking about something.”
That basket of cherries seemed deliberately designed to give the chambermaid in the Splendid View Courtyard a glimmer of hope. And indeed, that chambermaid had shown up at the Morning Radiance Courtyard, attempting to gain recognition in Cheng Zhao’s presence.
At first, Cheng Zhao did not understand. Only later, when Huan Qingtang brought up the night feast, did she see the connection.
She realized Huan Qingtang’s intention was to push her into making a request about the feast.
And now, Cheng Zhao seemed to tie Zhou Yuanshen to both matters. Cheng Zhao did not wish to celebrate her birthday, much less think of a night feast. But what of Zhou Yuanshen?
In principle, Cheng Zhao could host a night feast, for she was also an ultra-rank titled lady. Yet she was too young and lacked the necessary prestige.
Without the Dowager Madame hosting it for her, inviting the noble ladies under her name, it would just be reaching for the stars.
“...Zhou Yuanshen really is skilled at manipulating people,” Cheng Zhao thought.
Not only toward herself, but also toward the Dowager Madame.
Cheng Zhao kept silent about the matter, not mentioning it even when she went to the Purple Bamboo Courtyard for the evening meal.
But once the topic was introduced, it could not be hidden.
The Second Madam asked Cheng Zhao again, “Do you like those overseas glass beads? There is a kind called glazed pearls—you can string them into a curtain.”
“Wouldn’t that be far too extravagant?” Cheng Zhao replied.
“It was on your birthday that I thought of it,” the Second Madam said. “I have some in my small storeroom, and I can ask your little uncle to buy more.”
Cheng Zhao said, “Thank you, Mother.”
Zhou Yuanshen said nothing.
Later that evening, back at the Luxuriant Fragrance Courtyard, Cheng Zhao could not help but ask him, “When you went to the Longevity Peace Courtyard this afternoon, what did you discuss with Grandmother?”
“Concubine Mu has been sent to the family temple. I want to tear down both the Splendid View Courtyard and the Jade Glory Courtyard to expand the inner study hall,” Zhou Yuanshen said.
Cheng Zhao: “Grandmother won’t agree to that.”
Mu Jiang would come back eventually; even if she couldn't, as her father-in-law had said, a new person would fill her place, bear a child, and manipulate Zhou Yuanshen.
"Mm."
"Then you..."
"So I'm asking whether Grandmother would be willing to settle for the next best option and hold a birthday banquet for you. Summer has begun; we can't go out during the day, so a night banquet would be best," Zhou Yuanshen said.
Cheng Zhao: "..."
"Cheng Zhao, are you afraid?" Zhou Yuanshen asked her.
Preeminence could earn prestige, but it also attracted trouble and gossip, requiring even more wisdom and luck to handle.
Not only at her age of a teenager, but even at thirty, she might not be able to bear it.
Cheng Zhao shook her head. "I'm not afraid."
"Then have some new clothes made and some new hair ornaments crafted, and wait for your birthday," Zhou Yuanshen said.
Cheng Zhao: "Lord Duke..."
He looked at her.
"Thank you," she said.
Zhou Yuanshen stepped forward and gently patted her head.
The bedroom grew warm for a moment. Cheng Zhao felt quite awkward and turned her head away. "I need to wash up and change clothes."
She stood up and left.
Catching a glimpse of Zhou Yuanshen watching her in her peripheral vision, Cheng Zhao quickened her pace.
The contest between Zhou Yuanshen and the Dowager Madame yielded no results within a few days; the Dowager Madame had not yet agreed to hold a night banquet for Cheng Zhao.
Nor had she revealed any hints.
However, news of Cheng Zhao's birthday gradually spread.
Since Cheng Zhao managed the kitchen and the gatehouse and had handled a few things well, her small matters became big affairs within the household.
A few clever minor stewards made her shoes and socks and gave her pouches and handkerchiefs. Cheng Zhao accepted them all and instructed Nanny Li to reward them generously with a big red envelope.
A few more days passed, and the Second Madam found a box of drilled glass beads, each one sparkling, perfectly round, and smooth, resembling precious gemstones.
"...One kind is a light, pale blue, very clear, and looks just like glass," the Second Madam said.
"If we don't say anything, others will really think these are sapphires," Cheng Zhao said. "The quality is excellent, Mother."
She had some glass items herself, but none with beads of such outstanding quality.
Second Madam: "If this box were full of sapphires, it would be enough to buy half a county's land. I'm not that wealthy."
At that, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law burst out laughing.
The Second Master and Zhou Yuanshen returned first.
Cheng Zhao wanted to show them the beads.
Zhou Yuanshen picked one up: "Overseas glass is even better than Western glass. Not bad."
"String them into a bead curtain; the shimmering colors would be beautiful," said the Second Madam.
"Yes, you could make a bracelet," Cheng Zhao said.
Second Madam: "Though glass is pretty, its value is low. Wearing glass beads would be beneath a Duchess's status."
"If someone asks, I'll just say these are sapphires."
Second Madam: "..."
The Second Master said he couldn't tell sapphires from glass at all; Zhou Yuanshen added that the beads were a bit big, making them heavy to wear on the wrist and not worth the trouble.
While they were talking, Zhou Yuanqi came in.
He was carrying something wrapped in red silk awkwardly, struggling with its weight.
The Second Master casually stepped forward to take it: "What are you carrying... a few catties heavy!"
Zhou Yuanqi directed the Second Master: "Father, put it on the table."
The Second Master obliged.
He lifted the red silk. It was a gold pig.
A plump pig, cast in gold, adorable and playful.
The Second Madam's eyes widened at the sight: "Where did you get this? Did your maternal grandmother give it to you?"
"Mother, don't worry about that; I didn't use your money," Zhou Yuanqi said. "This is my birthday gift for Third Sister-in-law."
"And she was born in the Year of the Pig," he added.
Cheng Zhao: "..."
She stepped forward and weighed it in her hand. “It’s so heavy. How many pounds is this?”
“Five pounds.”
Cheng Zhao was speechless.
Who wouldn’t love five pounds of gold?
But who would want a five-pound pig?