Chapter 150: Longing for Offspring

Within the Shou'an Courtyard, there was a momentary deathly silence.

Second Madam didn't even dare to breathe.

Her son had achieved a complete victory, leaving the Dowager Madame and Lady Huan utterly humiliated. Second Madam was terrified the Dowager Madame would fly into a rage and make an issue out of her faults as a pretext for punishment.

She never quite understood the Dowager Madame's methods, always exposing countless vulnerabilities to her.

Thus, Second Madam shrank her shoulders, doing her best to avoid the Dowager Madame's gaze and preserve her son's victory.

The Dowager Madame did not lose her temper.

She simply looked calmly at Zhou Yuanshen.

After a long moment, the Dowager Madame said, "It was just a few words, all for everyone's good. How did it turn into a quarrel?"

"We were just talking, not quarreling," Zhou Yuanshen replied.

The Dowager Madame waved her hand dismissively. "From what I hear, you're quite dissatisfied. All of you, withdraw. I want to rest."

Leaning on Nanny Sun's arm, she stood up and retreated into the inner bedchamber.

The people from the Second Branch quickly left the Shou'an Courtyard.

Only after they had walked a considerable distance past the Chengming Hall did Second Madam finally let out a breath.

She said to Zhou Yuanshen, "You have such a sharp tongue, and you're too harsh."

She truly hadn't expected this.

In Second Madam's heart, her eldest son was very intelligent but also very quiet, like someone who bore many grievances without knowing how to fight back.

Yet it turned out his words were so clear and precise, every sentence piercing the hearts and lungs of the Dowager Madame and Huan Qingtang.

"Mother, Third Brother only spoke the truth," Zhou Yuanqi interjected from the side.

Then he added, "And you were all complaining about my golden pig. If it weren't for that pig, you'd all be in trouble!"

Not to mention others, but at least it "warded off a disaster" for Second Madam.

The matter of Second Madam giving colored glass to Cheng Zhao had pleased both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but someone had indeed used it as a handle to stir up discord everywhere.

It had forcibly driven a wedge between them.

Fortunately, Zhou Yuanqi's golden pig had salvaged Second Madam's dignity.

And just now in the Shou'an Courtyard, Zhou Yuanshen had also used the golden pig to silence his grandmother and widowed sister-in-law, preserving Cheng Zhao's authority over household management.

"...Yuanqi truly has foresight," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

Zhou Yuanqi raised his chin with pride, his mouth pursed arrogantly.

Second Madam longed to burst out laughing but feared that passing maids and servants might witness it and think she was gloating, so she held it in with effort.

The group returned to the Jiangyun Courtyard for the evening meal.

Within her own courtyard, Second Madam felt free to relax and laughed and talked openly.

"Lady Huan isn't as sharp as before. She actually jumped out on her own this time; in the past, she always hid behind your elder aunt," Second Madam said.

"Grandmother is using her," Cheng Zhao responded.

"That old lady is truly impossible to figure out," Second Madam continued.

Since the main branch had no male heirs left, wouldn't it be better for that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to relinquish the Chengming Hall and move to a side courtyard for some peaceful days?

Given the wealth and status of the Ducal Mansion, would Cheng Zhao treat them poorly?

In this dynasty, widowhood wasn't strictly confining; noble widows could go out socially and dress lavishly. Of course, they wouldn't be surrounded by all the attention like the lady who managed the ducal household's affairs.

Yet the Dowager Madame indulged them, even deliberately keeping them in the Chengming Hall, all because she disapproved of the Second Branch mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

"Old Madam wants her children and grandchildren to be obedient, but haven't we done enough?" Second Madam asked again.

Cheng Zhao ladled her some soup. "Mother, if you can't understand it, stop trying to."

"I still feel stifled."

"Just think of it this way: to us, Grandmother is a villain," Cheng Zhao said.

"Why must she choose to act like a villain?" Second Madam asked.

After all, they were her daughters-in-law and granddaughter-in-law—only not personally chosen by her. Did that justify being so malicious toward them?

"Mother, good and evil together make up human nature. Evil is simply evil; it's a part of human nature from the start, like how we have eyes and also a nose on our faces. If you insist on asking why our faces have a nose, you're just tormenting yourself for no reason," Cheng Zhao explained.

The nearby Second Master and Zhou Yuanqi, father and son, couldn't help nodding in agreement.

Zhou Yuanqi said, "Third Sister-in-law is not only beautiful, she's remarkably insightful."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

Second Master added, "What Zhao Zhao just said has enlightened me too. Having lived to this age, I still sometimes ask myself, 'Where does evil come from?'"

Evil isn't something you catch from anywhere else; a person is born with it.

Secular conventions and family teachings teach people to control it; the deterrent of law forces them to conceal it.

Goodness is always praised, everyone agrees that it's innate, and they extol "human nature is born good," never bothering to ask where it comes from.

Second Madam reflected on Cheng Zhao's words and nodded in agreement.

Zhou Yuanshen said nothing, only glancing deeply at Cheng Zhao.

After the evening meal, the young couple returned to the Nonghua Courtyard.

Zhou Yuanshen reached out and touched her head.

Cheng Zhao dodged him. "You'll dirty my hair."

Then she added, "You handled things quickly and wisely in the Shou'an Courtyard."

"Mm."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

It wasn't that Zhou Yuanshen was inarticulate; he simply found Cheng Zhao beneath his notice, always speaking very little with her.

She turned away to wash up.

Neither of the young couple felt sleepy, so they sat by the large window seat playing chess, letting the gentle night breeze waft in while the room stayed cool.

"It's going to be the sweltering summer soon; we'll need blocks of ice, won't we?" Cheng Zhao said. "It seems this courtyard doesn't have any copper-bracing for ice."

"No, we'll place the ice blocks in brass basins," Zhou Yuanshen replied. "The Chenhui Courtyard has that, so we could move there."

Cheng Zhao chuckled. "If you hadn't insisted on celebrating my birthday, we could have expanded the Chenhui Courtyard to live more comfortably."

"I never thought of expanding the Chenhui Courtyard," he said, setting down a piece. "Cheng Zhao, I'm married. I have my own wife and my own courtyard. Why should I keep living permanently in the inner study?"

Only unmarried men, or those at odds with their wives, spent all their time in a concubine's courtyard or in the inner study.

Cheng Zhao retorted, "When I'm pregnant, it won't be convenient for you to still stay in the Nonghua Courtyard."

At once, Zhou Yuanshen captured a large swath of her pieces.

Annoyed, Cheng Zhao deliberately messed up the chessboard right in front of him. "I'm not playing anymore. I'm sleepy."

Looking at the disordered go board, Zhou Yuanshen pulled her close.

Cheng Zhao nearly bumped into the low table on the kang.

He embraced her. As she started to resist, he whispered, "This statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin doesn't seem to be doing its job. Should we get another one?"

Cheng Zhao covered his mouth. "Nonsense! That's blasphemy against the holy image!"

Zhou Yuanshen kissed her.

With lingering, intimate kisses, their lips and tongues entangled. He murmured softly, "When you do get pregnant, I'll serve you, Cheng Zhao."

The word "serve" carried a deliberate ambiguity.

Cheng Zhao wanted to retort that she had maidservants to serve her; what need did she have of him? How could his hands be as skilled as a maid's?

But as his mouth moved ambiguously along her snowy neck, the meaning was clear.

Now, everything she heard seemed to carry a hidden implication.

He had corrupted her!

"Why don't you go see a doctor?" Cheng Zhao blurted out. "I just can't seem to get pregnant."

"Alright," he readily agreed. "I'll find a renowned physician sometime. Cheng Zhao, I'm just as eager for a child as you are."

The words were pleasant to hear.

Cheng Zhao melted into his arms.

The unpleasantness in the Shou'an Courtyard evaporated along with the slight marks from their efforts, fading from Cheng Zhao's heart.

The next day, before dawn broke, Zhou Yuanshen whispered in her ear, "I have to go to the Capital Garrison Camp and will return in half a month. Cheng Zhao, I'll make it back in time for your birthday. Take care of yourself while I'm gone."

Cheng Zhao murmured an acknowledgment and went back to sleep.