Chapter 156: The Duke Is Angry

Second Madam's emotions were easily influenced by Cheng Zhao.

During the birthday banquet, she had no idea anything was wrong; after listening carefully, she was furious.

First Madam's methods were dirty.

If the scheme succeeded, the Song family would gain an advantage; if it failed, the Song family would suffer no losses.

But whether it succeeded or failed, the Zhou family of Chengguo Estate would be covered in ashes, deeply embarrassed. In the future, when people talked about it, their reputation would be damaged.

Yet Cheng Zhao said that none of the bad outcomes had occurred—instead, she had gained many benefits.

Second Madam suddenly thought: "Why am I angry? This matter has actually become more interesting."

Unlike the Dowager Madame's birthday banquet last time, Cheng Zhao's birthday feast was lively, joyful, and flawlessly carried out to perfection.

"Zhaozhao, pack your things. Perhaps in a few days the Old Lady will call for you to move to Chengming Hall," Second Madam said.

Second Master smiled slightly.

He wasn't so optimistic.

"No hurry," Cheng Zhao said. "Mother, Eldest Aunt and Elder Sister-in-law are too impatient, and that's why they keep giving us opportunities. Let's be patient. A ripe fruit is sweetest—let's wait."

Second Master nodded with a smile.

Zhou Yuanqi's childish face also showed satisfaction: "Patience is a good thing. You are very steady."

Second Madam: "..."

Zhou Yuanshen said nothing.

The young couple returned to Nonghua Courtyard.

Cheng Zhao ordered water to be prepared—she wanted to bathe. It was too hot, and even the night breeze carried no coolness. Ice had been placed inside the room, providing some shade and coolness.

She had spent most of the day in Shou'an Hall. The Old Lady feared cold but not heat, so Shou'an Hall used no ice, and the small Buddhist hall burned incense, leaving Cheng Zhao's clothes constantly damp.

After a refreshing bath and hair wash, Nanny Li and Qiubai together dried her black hair with towels.

Suyue held a small round fan, standing nearby to cool her.

Zhou Yuanshen also went to bathe.

When he came out, Cheng Zhao had finished her preparations. He didn't rely on maids; he quickly dried his hair with coarse cloth himself.

While waiting for their hair to dry, the couple sat on the heated brick bed by the window.

He read a book; Cheng Zhao took up needlework to pass the time.

He didn't speak, his expression calm. Cheng Zhao glanced at him.

He didn't raise his eyes.

Later, Cheng Zhao's eyes grew tired, and she went to sleep.

The next morning when she woke, Nanny Li quietly asked her: "Did the Lord Duke seem a little unhappy?"

"Probably not?" Cheng Zhao said.

When Zhou Yuanshen was at home, it was hard for Cheng Zhao to ignore him; when he was away, she rarely thought of him, unless something happened that brought him to mind.

For example, when she returned to her maiden home and found her father and grandfather off duty, she would incidentally remember that Zhou Yuanshen was also an official who had days off.

Her thoughts held no emotion, just drifting to him briefly.

When she was alone, Cheng Zhao had many matters to consider, and it was nearly impossible to think of him unintentionally.

Because they shared little in common; they lived almost separate lives.

Maybe because she rarely thought of him, every time he returned, in Cheng Zhao's mind, it was like he "suddenly burst into Nonghua Courtyard." Like riding smoothly in a carriage only to hit a sudden jolt—she found it difficult to accept his return naturally and smoothly.

She didn't dislike it.

It was like her body—she didn't reject him, but every time he came back after a long absence, when she accepted him, it was slightly painful.

It always took three to five days for her to adapt.

This time when he returned, Cheng Zhao was too busy and tense because of the night banquet. Until last night, she hadn't had the leisure to adapt to him, so seeing him felt unfamiliar.

Had he seemed different?

Wasn't he always like this?

"Where did you see him unhappy?" Cheng Zhao wasn't certain and asked Nanny Li.

Nanny Li: "It doesn't seem that way. I might be overthinking things, which is why I asked you."

"I don't think so either," Cheng Zhao said.

She dropped the matter.

That evening, Zhou Yuanshen didn't return to the estate. Cheng Zhao waited for him for the evening meal, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Did he say he wouldn't come back?" Cheng Zhao asked.

The maids shook their heads: "He didn't say."

Then Mingyu, a maid from the outer study, came again.

She told Cheng Zhao: "The Lord Duke will be staying at the General's Mansion for these two days. He asks the Young Madam not to wait for him."

Cheng Zhao smiled and told Suyue to see Mingyu out.

She had her evening meal alone.

Nanny Li said: "Before your birthday, the Lord Duke also stayed at the General's Mansion for several days. Now he's gone again."

"Maybe something's come up?" Cheng Zhao said.

Nanny Li: "You really don't think he was unhappy?"

Cheng Zhao frowned and quickly defended herself: "I didn't provoke him!"

When he returned to the estate this time, she had specifically gone to Chenhui Courtyard.

If there was anything out of the ordinary, it was that she felt uncomfortable when the slightly makeshift bed in the next room had its leg break—it scared her a little.

It was also hot at the time.

She seemed to impatiently avoid his lips and even let out an "ah."

Afterward, he didn't show any reaction.

They quickly washed up; he checked the bed leg, said it was only bent, not broken; and gave Cheng Zhao the gift Fan Xiao had brought for her.

Then, he went to the General's Mansion, while Cheng Zhao prepared for the night banquet.

And that was the last she saw of him until today.

Far from provoking him, Cheng Zhao hadn't even had time to speak with him about anything.

"Don't guess. There's probably really some important business," Nanny Li said.

Cheng Zhao hadn't thought much of it initially.

Even if he stayed at the General's Mansion, it was reasonable. Not to mention the General's Mansion—if he stayed the night with his chamber concubine at Lijing Courtyard, Cheng Zhao would have found that normal.

But since Nanny Li had brought it up, Cheng Zhao recalled that they had gone to sleep in total silence last night.

She had been tired these past two days, always on edge. After going to bed last night, she deliberately avoided him.

It was too hot. Moving about would only leave them drenched in sweat; the sheets might even become damp. And she was exhausted after kneeling for half a day in the small Buddhist hall at Shou'an Hall—she really didn't want to be intimate with him.

She was probably a little resistant, and he had noticed.

He didn't do anything.

And today, he didn't come back.

Before sleeping, Cheng Zhao suddenly thought: "Could he have acquired a new beauty and lodged her at the General's Mansion?"

If that were the case, it would be better for her to be brought back—Yujin Courtyard could house her.

Having a concubine at home and a mistress outside were completely different.

Cheng Zhao didn't want a falling-out with him.

Third Sister wasn't interested in worldly honor, but Cheng Zhao wanted her "title of Commandery Lady." She had no intention of clashing with Zhou Yuanshen, let alone letting the Cheng family become enemies with him.

These thoughts passed quickly through Cheng Zhao's mind.

She meant to think it over deeply, but she was too tired from the day. First Madam had moved out of Chengming Hall, and Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang had divided the duties equally. Chengming Hall was currently a battlefield.

Intellectual battles were exhausting, and the weather was hot. When it was hot, Cheng Zhao tired more easily and needed more sleep to regain her strength.

Cheng Zhao felt she should think more about Zhou Yuanshen's situation, but before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

The next day when she got up, she even forgot that he hadn't stayed in Nonghua Courtyard the night before.

Because whenever she woke up, he had already gone to court.

This day, Cheng Zhao was busy again from morning till night.

The duties for the inner and outer courtyards of Chengguo Estate had been split equally between her and Huan Qingtang. The Dowager Madame hadn't yet said what would happen going forward.

The stewards were all waiting to see which of them—Cheng Zhao or Huan Qingtang—would end up living in Chengming Hall.

As for Cheng Zhao, the prestige she had gained already clearly surpassed Huan Qingtang's.

This did not make her proud; instead, it made her more careful and cautious, determined not to make any mistakes.

On her way to the Lotus Cloud Courtyard for the evening meal, she was so exhausted that she could barely muster any energy.

If her mother-in-law hadn’t asked, “Hasn’t Zhou Yuanshen returned yet?” she wouldn’t have even remembered that Zhou Yuanshen had gone to the General’s residence.