Chapter 153: Cheng Zhao Steals the Limelight

Zhou Yuanshen gave her a small "lantern" doll.

Like a lantern, it had a handle and a string, with a doll dangling from the bottom.

The doll was very exquisite, also a pig, chubby and plump, with two small red gems embedded at the pig’s mouth.

It was also expensive, because the little pig was made of gold.

"Are you competing with Yuan Qi?" Cheng Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, holding the chubby little pig.

As she laughed, most of her sense of distance toward him instantly faded.

Even though their intimacy in the bedchamber had been fervent, the distance between them wouldn’t dissolve quickly just because of that—she hadn’t seen him for half a month, and now he felt unlike himself to her.

Cheng Zhao subtly, imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she added, "This can’t compare either, it’s less than three taels."

The golden pig from Yuan Qi weighed a full five catties.

"You hold it," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao did as he instructed.

When she gripped the handle and the pig drooped downward, wings suddenly sprouted from its back: golden wings, thin as paper, trembling slightly.

It swayed and wobbled, as if it were flying.

Cheng Zhao’s eyes lit up. "What an ingenious little thing."

"This isn’t from me, it’s from Little Uncle," Zhou Yuanshen said. "He heard that Yuan Qi gave you a golden pig, and remembered a goldsmith with remarkable skill, no less than Master Wan, and asked him to craft this."

"Little Uncle is thoughtful," Cheng Zhao said. "The Fan family sent many gifts, and he still specially sent this. I must thank him."

Then she asked, "Why didn’t he send it along with the Fan family’s gifts?"

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "Though you’re a younger generation, you’re still a young married woman. He had to avoid suspicion."

This clearly wasn’t an ordinary gift.

Fan Xiao was showing respect for Cheng Zhao, and also for Zhou Yuanshen, acting with proper boundaries.

"Thank you, it’s delightful," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen picked up his tea and took a few more sips, saying nothing.

He still had matters to attend to later, so he told Cheng Zhao to return to Nonghua Courtyard in the mid-afternoon.

Cheng Zhao took Fan Xiao’s gift and showed it to everyone in Nonghua Courtyard.

Everyone praised it.

"When Little Uncle has some happy occasion, we’ll need to send a substantial gift in return," Cheng Zhao said.

"Is his birthday coming up?" Suyue asked.

Cheng Zhao chuckled. "What birthday? If he remarries, that’ll be a big event."

"True," Nanny Li agreed. "Has he settled on anyone?"

"Haven’t heard it mentioned."

That day, Zhou Yuanshen didn’t return to Nonghua Courtyard.

The maid Mingyu came to tell Cheng Zhao that Zhou Yuanshen had gone to the General’s Mansion on business and might stay there overnight.

Cheng Zhao, tired from the day, went to sleep alone.

Zhou Yuanshen was very busy; he only had time to come back to Nonghua Courtyard the day before her birthday.

However, Cheng Zhao was anxious about the banquet arrangements and didn’t talk much with him; he wasn’t one for idle chatter either, so the couple exchanged a few simple words and then went to sleep.

On her birthday, the Duke of Chen’s Mansion was bustling with activity. Although the banquet was in the evening, preparations started from before dawn.

Cheng Zhao got up early to dress and put on a set of gold head ornaments.

This set of gold headwear had no gemstones embedded, but the designs were unique and the craftsmanship exquisite—every piece was delicately carved.

From hairpins to earrings, they glistened brilliantly yet retained a artisan’s ingenuity, quite different from ordinary jewelry.

"Truly beautiful," Nanny Li and the others praised her repeatedly.

"I went to see Grand Princess Fukang last time and asked her to pass my card to Master Wan. He set aside his other work to make this set for me first," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

"Grand Princess is really loyal," Nanny Li remarked.

Cheng Zhao said, "This time I owe Grand Princess a favor. I’ll have to repay it someday."

"Maybe we can repay it soon," Nanny Li said.

Cheng Zhao smiled.

As night fell, lanterns were lit all over the Duke’s Mansion; floor lamps made of translucent horn were placed every few steps. The moon in the sky cooperated, bright and clear, without a single cloud in the night sky.

Zhou Yuanshen came to Nonghua Courtyard to escort Cheng Zhao to the banquet hall.

He saw her wearing a vermilion blouse and a purple-red skirt, the gold ornaments adorning her black hair and slender white neck, shimmering with golden light.

"Is it time?" Cheng Zhao asked with a smile.

Zhou Yuanshen seemed to snap back to reality. "Yes. Let’s go, the small carriage is ready."

As she boarded, he helped her up, carefully, afraid of disturbing her hair ornaments.

Cheng Zhao also took every step with care as she slowly got into the carriage.

The guests had all arrived.

Drums and gongs clamored from the opera stage.

Cheng Zhao stepped into the banquet hall amid the lights and noise, and every eye turned to her.

First, there was a moment of silence, then low murmurs erupted into lively discussion.

The banquet passed quickly, yet slowly.

From time to time, titled ladies asked her, "Which master made these ornaments?"

Cheng Zhao answered each time that Grand Princess Fukang had specially asked Master Wan to craft them for her.

"Don’t just stare at the jewelry," Grand Princess Fukang said with the biggest grin. "Look at her too!"

A lady who was on good terms with Grand Princess teased herself deliberately, "I want a set too, to wear when I turn forty."

"Don’t make things hard for Master Wan," laughed Grand Princess.

Both of them chuckled.

One must first have Cheng Zhao’s looks to wear such pieces.

There were no mishaps during the banquet, except that Cheng Zhao’s maid Qiubai entered twice.

The first time, Qiubai whispered a few words in Cheng Zhao’s ear, and Cheng Zhao didn’t move. The second time, Qiubai spoke a few more sentences, and Cheng Zhao turned to Zhou Yuanshen, who then left the hall.

The banquet ended late into the night.

The dishes were excellent, the wine fine, the opera even better, and the fireworks spectacular.

There were no scandalous novelties, but the feast was joyful and lively—guests arrived delighted and left content.

Cheng Zhao, the Second Madam, and Huan Qingtang saw the guests off at the gate.

Suddenly, the Second Madam asked, "Where is your Eldest Aunt?"

Cheng Zhao shook her head.

The Second Madam then asked Huan Qingtang, "And your mother?"

"She may be feeling unwell, went to freshen up. She’ll be along soon, Second Aunt," Huan Qingtang replied with a smile.

But even after all the honored guests had left, the Eldest Madam still hadn’t come.

The Second Madam felt a hint of doubt.

Still, she didn’t count on the Eldest Madam and didn’t think too much of it.

After seeing off the titled ladies, there were still some young wives, young ladies, and unmarried young masters who hadn’t left. The Second Madam handed them over to the stewards.

The next day, the entire capital city was discussing Cheng Zhao’s birthday banquet.

"She was as beautiful as an immortal."

In no time, Master Wan’s orders were booked up two years in advance.

Everyone wanted to have the same set of head ornaments as Cheng Zhao’s.

Business at the city’s gold shops boomed.

Even the Empress heard about it and summoned Cheng Zhao to bring her head ornaments to the palace for a look.

Cheng Zhao tidied herself up and went to show the Empress.

They were dazzling under the night’s lantern light, but equally striking in the daytime.

Cheng Zhao was naturally beautiful, and the headwear only added to her charm. Everyone praised both the ornaments and goldwork, as well as the exquisite appearance of the Duchess of Chen.

"Your Majesty, keep this set in the palace. You can have the goldsmiths copy a set for you, for your own amusement or to give as gifts," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

The Empress admired her tactfulness. "Then I’ll give you a few pieces of jewelry in return. Leave this set here for now; I’ll send it back later."

Cheng Zhao bowed in acknowledgment, then went to a side chamber to change.

Three days after the banquet, at the height of the hottest days of the year, an event occurred at the Duke of Chen’s Mansion.

The Eldest Madam, née Song, moved out of Chengming Hall and into Clear Wind Courtyard, located west of Shou’an Courtyard.

The entire household was shocked.