Chapter 164: Is Being Cute Effective

Cheng Zhao woke up late, which delayed her sword practice.

She quickly ate breakfast and went to Chengming Hall to handle her duties.

Without Eldest Madam Song’s people in Chengming Hall, it felt much emptier. At the same time, it was more solemn, much more like an official government office. It no longer belonged to anyone, which made everyone fear it.

Nanny Qin was rather restrained today.

Probably because the Grand Madam had agreed to the “fifth day” day off, making both Nanny Qin and Huan Qingtang realize that Cheng Zhao was not someone to be trifled with.

They would have to use subtle tactics.

Mere verbal confrontation against her would be ineffective and only exhaust their own energy.

Cheng Zhao remained composed, focusing entirely on her tasks.

There were two matters concerning the carriage house. The steward tried to demand money, but Cheng Zhao found evidence and refuted him—forcing him to back down in embarrassment. The other stewards also realized Cheng Zhao was astute and could not be easily deceived.

The morning passed quickly, and most affairs were clarified. Since she had nothing to attend to in the afternoon, Cheng Zhao returned to Nonghua Courtyard first.

When she arrived, she found Mingyu, the maid from Zhou Yuanshen’s outer study, was there.

Mingyu was very popular among the staff of Nonghua Courtyard. Every time she came, she could chat cheerfully with them. Suyue had even brought out her treasured fine tea to entertain Mingyu.

Cheng Zhao also liked Mingyu very much. The maid never wasted a word; she always stated her reason for coming clearly and handled matters neatly.

“......His Lordship the Duke has gone to the Capital Garrison Camp and will return in three days. The Second Madam and you may start packing your trunks. The hunting trip will last half a month.” She told Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao smiled slightly. “Much obliged to you.”

Then she added, “It’s hot outside. Stay at Nonghua Courtyard and have lunch with Suyue and the others. Go back to the outer study in the late afternoon.”

“Thank you, Young Madam, but there are matters in the outer study requiring my service as well. I will trouble you another day.” Said Mingyu.

Cheng Zhao did not insist. She told Suyue to reward her and see her out.

After Suyue returned from seeing Mingyu off, Cheng Zhao already had a long face, sitting absently on the kang by the window.

—Or not exactly dazed; she was simply worn out, sitting there blankly, too drained even to be angry.

Nanny Li smiled to comfort her: “It’s not that bad. The hunting grounds are very cool. Where the Emperor goes, it can’t be hot.”

Then she added, “If properly maintained, there won’t be too many mosquitoes. The hunting ground isn’t like the wilds of Fengzhou.”

Qiubai promptly said, “In midsummer, the wilds of Fengzhou have not only mosquitoes but also fireflies—very beautiful.”

Cheng Zhao recalled the fireflies and said, “When Father made me copy books as punishment, Fourth Brother knew he was to blame—he’d dragged me into trouble—so he caught loads of fireflies and set them loose in the courtyard.”

That night, when there was no moon, the stars dotted the sky, and the countless fireflies looked like a Milky Way cascading down—an unforgettable sight.

Cheng Zhao was often driven mad by her fourth brother, but he also had his good moments. Giving her fireflies was only one example.

Though she got mad, it did not sour their sibling bond. In Cheng Zhao’s heart, her fourth brother was still very important. After all, she wouldn’t bother to get angry at someone irrelevant.

“Fourth Young Master does care for you as his sister,” said Nanny Li.

Cheng Zhao: “There are too many people in his heart. For instance, the Prince of Andong refuses to be shaken off no matter what.”

Nanny Li: “So, in the end, you’re upset because he’s close to someone you dislike? You're not bothered by his other friendships.”

“Yes.”

“Not everything can go your way, Young Madam,” Nanny Li said, unusually earnest. “Why harm your sibling bond over outsiders? Even the closest blood ties can be worn thin if drained too much.”

Cheng Zhao thought over the words.

She said, “... I don’t actually hate Fourth Brother. It’s just that there’s a bitter grievance I’ve never let out—the humiliation the Prince of An’s mansion dealt me.”

In her young heart, not having endured many hardships or a separation by life and death, she remained upset over the matter.

Nanny Li and the others had tried to console her many times, but she could not let it go.

“Young Madam, grievances like this—hard to swallow and even harder to spit out—how many will one have to experience in a lifetime? This old servant can hardly advise you. You will have to slowly go through it yourself,” Nanny Li sighed.

Cheng Zhao said nothing more.

With a bit of banter, Cheng Zhao’s resistance to the hunting trip eased somewhat.

Suyue and Qiubai would definitely go with her.

“When we go, I’ll catch you tons of fireflies, put them inside your bed curtains, and use them as lanterns,” said Qiubai.

Cheng Zhao grew a little hopeful and nodded. “Bring the finest thin linen to make a bag for them. It’ll be even brighter than lanterns.”

“All right,” Qiubai laughed.

Cheng Zhao remembered that her mother had twice gone hunting with the Empress Dowager.

“Suyue, go home and ask Mother about the hunting grounds, and what essentials we should bring,” Cheng Zhao said.

Suyue agreed and braved the scorching sunlight to return home.

By the late afternoon, as the shadows shifted westward, Cheng Zhao’s preparations were almost done.

Nanny Li was methodical, and maids like Qiubai managed everything daily in good order, making it easy to find anything.

Cheng Zhao had lunch and took a nap, feeling much more refreshed.

Suyue returned from the Cheng family home.

She was carrying a bundle.

“......Madam sent this for you. All sorts of heat-relief medicines, mosquito-repellent sachets, and so on. Madam also said the hunting grounds are in Ningzhou Prefecture. There, the mornings and evenings in midsummer are extremely cool, and mosquitoes are scarce.” Suyue reported.

Then she continued, “Ningzhou is dry, unlike Fengzhou. Madam also asks if you remembered the mosquitoes in the Fengzhou grasslands and got spooked?”

Cheng Zhao: “......”

“Madam added that the titled ladies can also go hunting and horse-riding, which makes it quite enjoyable. It’s not a hardship. The only nuisance is that traveling there and back takes seven or eight days, and the carriage ride is a bit bumpy and uncomfortable,” Suyue said.

Cheng Zhao understood most of it.

She told Suyue to separate the sachets and medicines and give half to her mother-in-law.

By the time she arrived, Zhou Yuanqi was also there.

“I want to go too!” Zhou Yuanqi declared.

“I’d like to take you to broaden your horizons, but I don’t know if it’s allowed. This is an imperial escort trip—everyone going needs an official rank or a title,” Second Madam said.

Zhou Yuanqi: “I’m a child.”

Second Madam: “... Don’t fall back on ‘I’m a child’ only when it suits you. That trick works on your parents, not on the court’s regulations.”

Cheng Zhao laughed out loud beside them.

Zhou Yuanqi grumpily said, “You’re all going. Suppose Grandmother tries to harm me—what then?”

“If you’re not at ease, stay temporarily at your grandmother’s house.”

“I’ll go talk to The Brute myself. If he doesn’t agree, it means he’s useless,” Zhou Yuanqi said.

Second Madam replied, “With that attitude, who’d help you? Think up some nice words first.”

“What nice words does he like to hear?” Zhou Yuanqi asked Second Madam.

Second Madam didn’t know.

Zhou Yuanqi then asked Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao: “I don’t have to flatter him.”

The two had no conflicting interests—their goals were aligned, and they each needed the other. Why would she have to flatter anyone?

Besides, Cheng Zhao didn’t need to flatter anyone.

“Go ask Mingyu,” Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi really wanted to go to the hunt, so he went straight to ask Mingyu.

Mingyu told him: “Talk less.”

Another maid also told him: “Be quick in doing things, no rambling.”

The page Nanfeng said: “Lord Duke hates it when people pester him. If you beg him and talk a lot, he’ll be displeased.”

Zhou Yuanqi understood. The Brute wanted everyone around him to be mute.

Pity that he’d already insulted The Brute a lot—said far too much—and he didn’t know if it could be fixed in time.

He felt quite disheartened.

He decided that he would go grab The Brute by the sleeve, look up at him with a pitiful expression, and say as little as possible.

“...If it works for you, you should try this trick next time too.” Zhou Yuanqi was generous, even trying to pass on the tactic to Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao: “...”