Chapter 155: Kill three birds with one stone

At dusk, Cheng Zhao arrived at the Crimson Cloud Courtyard.

It was still hot outside.

The sun had not yet set behind the treetops, but the oppressive heat had lessened, and a faint breeze had stirred.

The rising heat from the ground still made it difficult to breathe.

Inside the Crimson Cloud Courtyard, blocks of ice had been placed, the bronze pillars were cool to the touch, and Zhou Yuanqi had taken an afternoon nap in the warm chamber of the main bedroom. The Second Master and Second Madam had not slept; the elderly couple sat in the secondary room chatting idly.

It was mainly the Second Madam who spoke, while the Second Master occasionally offered her a few soothing words.

Cheng Zhao did not come alone—Zhou Yuanshen followed behind her.

The young couple walked unhurriedly, with Cheng Zhao occasionally fanning herself as she went.

When the Second Madam heard from a maid that they had arrived, she hurriedly slipped on her shoes and came out from the secondary room to greet Cheng Zhao.

They took their seats according to rank in the main hall, and without even bothering to summon the meal, the Second Madam urgently asked Cheng Zhao, "What exactly happened?"

"The night before last at the banquet, the eldest aunt’s senior maid was careless and soiled the dress of Prince Rong’s Seventh Daughter.

The senior maid led her to the Hall of Inherited Light to freshen up, but unexpectedly, the young master of the Marquis of Changling Manor barged in by mistake," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam was stunned.

"So... an accident occurred?" she asked.

Cheng Zhao replied, "No. The Seventh Miss is young and quick-witted; she immediately ran out and happened to run into Qiubai.

Unexpectedly, Young Master Song even chased after her to apologize. It was pitch black all around with no one else in sight, and the maids were slow to follow. Qiubai dragged him into a corner and knocked him unconscious."

The Second Madam gasped in shock.

"It was also because the girl from Prince Rong’s household was clever. She has some martial skill—not one of those dainty, helpless little girls," Cheng Zhao added.

The Second Madam caught on: "So this was a scheme against Prince Rong’s household?"

"And they used the Zhou family’s name to do it. Even knowing it was improper, Prince Rong’s household wouldn’t dare offend the Dowager Madame, so they’d have no choice but to grit their teeth, acknowledge it, and marry the girl off to the Song family to salvage their reputation," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam’s face changed color repeatedly. "That’s utterly vicious!"

She continued, "And held during your birthday banquet—not only did it use the Dowager Madame, but it also used you. It even ruined your reputation.

The Song family latches onto a fine marriage, and everyone else has to suffer for it. What high-ranking match couldn't Prince Rong’s daughter have made? Why should she endure this kind of misfortune?"

Cheng Zhao leaned forward and gently patted the Second Madam’s hand. "Mother, don’t be angry. Their scheme backfired—they tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead. Grandmother was so furious she evicted her from the Hall of Inherited Light."

Cheng Zhao then recounted the full story to the Second Madam in detail.

From the moment she had sent the invitation to Jiahe Prefecture Manor, she had sensed the First Madam’s ulterior motives.

The goal was to benefit the Marquis of Changling Manor—the Song family.

The situation of the Marquis of Changling Manor was well known among the noble families of the capital, though the Second Madam had yet to learn of it.

For the Song family to marry into a high-ranking household, if they didn’t resort to trickery, it would have been utterly impossible.

Cheng Zhao’s birthday banquet had already greatly displeased the First Madam. But since it couldn’t be changed, she decided to sacrifice everyone else to secure a good marriage for her own natal family.

Because she had anticipated this, Cheng Zhao kept Qiubai vigilant all along.

She even drew up a list of four names—young ladies the First Madam might target.

Cheng Zhao also borrowed several maids from Zhou Yuanshen’s outer study, including Mingyu, and assigned each to watch over one of these ladies.

Although Prince Rong’s Seventh Daughter matched the age requirement, as the daughter of a prince of the first rank, her status was so high that Cheng Zhao thought even her own Cheng family wouldn’t dare consider such a match, let alone the Song family, which surely wouldn’t be so reckless as to aim that high.

Yet, she never expected the First Madam and the Song family to actually set their sights on Prince Rong’s household—and even use the Hall of Inherited Light to do it.

If a noble young lady came to a banquet and accidentally soiled her clothes, she might be frightened and wary if led to a side courtyard to change.

But being invited to the main courtyard of the host’s residence would put her at ease—she would feel both respected and safe.

The First Madam Song had exploited precisely this trust.

Fortunately, Prince Rong’s Seventh Daughter was quick on her feet; and luckily, Cheng Zhao was well prepared, and Qiubai stayed close.

"...Qiubai knocked out Young Master Song right then and there. When the maids from the Hall of Inherited Light came chasing out, they couldn’t find anyone in the shadows and didn’t dare to make a big scene searching, so they had to pretend nothing happened and walk away.

Then Nanfeng hid him, while Qiubai called the Lord Duke outside. They tied him up and interrogated him," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi listened with bright, sparkling eyes. "We had no idea at all."

"I didn’t want others to know either. On my birthday, it’s enough to talk about the dishes and my jewelry," Cheng Zhao replied.

"Still, it was quite a gain," Zhou Yuanqi commented.

Cheng Zhao nodded.

The Second Madam was still furious. "What a twisted, vile scheme!"

"Mother, when I first married into this family, I told you I would surely have you move into the Hall of Inherited Light. Look, it has already been vacated," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

Cheng Zhao was not particularly angry about this incident.

Earlier, in the Longevity Courtyard, the Dowager Madame had not said a single word to Cheng Zhao or Huan Qingtang. Instead, she ordered them both to kneel in the small Buddhist shrine.

Of course, it wasn’t to punish Cheng Zhao, but Huan Qingtang.

Cheng Zhao was merely caught in the backlash.

In this affair, Huan Qingtang had a hand in it. Although she herself had washed her hands clean, the First Madam Song had already shouted aloud that Huan Qingtang had incited her to do it.

Huan Qingtang refused to admit it, saying only, "Can my mother-in-law’s intentions be defied by her daughter-in-law? Mother, did I ever give you any schemes?"

The First Madam was left speechless.

She was sent to the Clear Wind Courtyard.

Within a great household, a courtyard named “Clear Wind” was often remote and crude.

The First Madam had lived in the Hall of Inherited Light for many years, which was not only spacious and elegant but also had its own small kitchen. Wherever she went, people flocked around her like stars around the moon.

Now, forced into the Clear Wind Courtyard, her predicament could be imagined.

Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang knelt together in front of the Buddhist shrine for most of the day.

Cheng Zhao did not complain even once.

Because she knew she had gained a great deal from this incident.

"Yesterday, Princess Rong sent me a pair of emerald bracelets. The quality is excellent—only slightly inferior to that heirloom piece of yours, Mother," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

"Does she already know?"

"The Seventh Miss would certainly have told her," Cheng Zhao replied.

"And she isn’t angry?"

"That’s the grace of the Princess. When trouble occurs, she can distinguish right from wrong. Besides, living nearby in the same capital, a complete rift with the Zhou family would serve no purpose," Cheng Zhao explained.

She continued, "Prince Rong’s fief is less than two hundred li from the capital. He also had contributions to the new emperor’s ascension, so by imperial decree, his household was permitted to stay in the capital.

But when it comes down to it, if the Cheng and Zhou families join forces, forcing Prince Rong’s household back to their fief would be entirely within reason.

So why should she insist on laying the blame for the Eldest Aunt’s wrongdoing on me? As a close neighbor, wouldn’t she know the conflicts and divisions between the two branches of the Zhou family?"

The Second Madam couldn’t help nodding. "Princess Rong is truly a sensible woman."

Then she added, "Of course, it’s also because the Cheng family and the Dowager Madame are capable enough to keep things under control. Otherwise, shifting blame without any real cost would be too easy for the Princess to resist."

Cheng Zhao nodded. "Exactly right, Mother."

The Second Madam felt a little embarrassed at being praised.

Social matters, when fully understood, boiled down to a few rules. Extrapolating from one example to others, the Second Madam had become much more perceptive than before.

"Will your grandmother have us move into the Hall of Inherited Light?" the Second Madam asked again.

Cheng Zhao shook her head. "Not for now. But since it’s empty, there’s hope. Grandmother naturally wants us to compete with Sister-in-law. By vying to outdo each other, we’ll only prove our loyalty more fiercely to her."

At Cheng Zhao’s birthday banquet, she gained prestige, significantly elevating her standing among the noble ladies. She also earned the gratitude of Princess Rong, and the Chengming Hall was vacated as well.

Three birds with one stone.