Chapter 165: Initiate Ambiguity with Him

Zhou Yuanqi was a rather strategic child.

Upon learning that his father and elder brother would accompany the emperor on a hunting trip, and finding his father at home, he immediately went to ask which imperial relatives would be joining.

His father, always fond of his children, answered all his questions.

"Will the Prince of Andong be going as well?" Zhou Yuanqi asked.

"He is deeply favored by the emperor," his father replied.

"I thought it was the brute who enjoyed the emperor's favor most," Zhou Yuanqi said.

"With all the brushes in your study, you don't only use one. Those for small script and large script each have their own purpose and preference," Second Master said.

He added, "When it comes to utility, your third brother's position is unshakable."

"He can kill, and dares to kill," Zhou Yuanqi said. "He is the emperor's blade."

"The sharpest blade. The Prince of Andong is far from his match," Second Master smiled. "No one can surpass your third brother. You can rest assured."

Zhou Yuanqi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, catching himself, he curled his lip in disdain: "Why should I be relieved? I don't rely on him. I just worry he might drag down my reputation."

"Yes, Yuanqi will one day be the Grand Tutor of the realm."

Zhou Yuanqi nodded, satisfied, lifting his chin: "Well-deserved. Father, just wait and see."

Second Master chuckled good-naturedly: "I'll get to bask in reflected glory too."

Zhou Yuanqi graciously nodded, indicating he didn't mind his father soaking up some of his renown.

Three days later, Zhou Yuanshen returned to the city in the late afternoon.

He first went to the inner study, the Morning Dawn Courtyard.

After bathing and changing, he finally arrived at the Crimson Cloud Courtyard for the evening meal.

When he arrived, his father was back from court and Zhou Yuanqi back from school, but Cheng Zhao had not yet come.

"...Zhaozhao is sometimes busy. It's still early, let's wait for her first," Second Madam said.

She told Zhou Yuanshen, "We've packed the trunks. Also, some insect-repelling sachets—have you prepared those?"

"Already done," Zhou Yuanshen said. "The accompanying officials will prepare these for us as well. Mother needn't worry."

Second Madam said nothing more.

Zhou Yuanqi then brought up his request.

"Third Brother, I want to go too!" He tugged at Zhou Yuanshen's sleeve, looking at him with big, pleading eyes.

The child's eyes were jet-black and round, clear and bright. When softened, they were especially endearing.

Zhou Yuanshen looked at him, subtly pulling his sleeve free: "No."

Zhou Yuanqi: "..."

The brute, unwavering and unyielding, was indeed hard to handle. Fortunately, he had a backup plan.

"If you don't take me, I'll go find the Prince of Andong. He and I are on good terms; he'd be willing to bring me along," Zhou Yuanqi said.

He added, "I've inquired. Bringing family is allowed. Mother has a third-rank mandate title, and Third Sister-in-Law has a super-rank mandate title. They are officially accompanying the Empress, so they don't count as family members."

"The court situation is complicated. Even the hunting grounds are a battlefield. The adults can barely handle themselves; they won't have time for you," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Zhou Yuanqi: "I'm not afraid. Maybe I could even help you."

"You are too young, and overly confident in your cleverness. It's easy to be used by others," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Zhou Yuanqi was furious.

He was being humiliated.

What did he mean by "overly confident in his cleverness"? He was genuinely brilliant.

But Zhou Yuanqi, needing a favor, held back from retorting.

Then Zhou Yuanshen continued, "In the hunting grounds, with horses everywhere, there's horse manure all around. Fresh horse manure—they might have you little kids pick it up to burn for campfires at night."

Zhou Yuanqi: !

He immediately abandoned the idea of going.

"Disgusting!"

Having decided not to go, Zhou Yuanqi felt that his earlier restraint towards his brother was a loss.

So, seizing an opportunity, he threw a few jabs at Zhou Yuanshen, calling him all brawn and no brains, empty-headed—but Zhou Yuanshen completely ignored it.

Cheng Zhao arrived soon after.

She greeted her father- and mother-in-law, then performed a curtsey to Zhou Yuanshen before sitting down.

She said, "Lord Duke, I have prepared a trunk with ten sets of your summer linen clothes, just in case. If you find yourself short of anything during the trip, please let me know."

Zhou Yuanshen gave a slight nod: "You are thoughtful."

"My duty," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

Very considerate.

A good wife.

And a qualified Duchess of the State.

Zhou Yuanshen looked straight ahead, his expression blank.

The evening meal went pleasantly enough. After eating, Zhou Yuanqi was about to leave when he called Cheng Zhao aside. The sister-in-law and brother-in-law spoke under the eaves.

"Did he agree?" Cheng Zhao asked first.

Zhou Yuanqi felt his efforts on his third sister-in-law's behalf had not been in vain. His sister-in-law kept his affairs in mind and remembered them.

"No," Zhou Yuanqi said. "Next time, don't try to plead with him piteously. It doesn't work; he's not swayed by that."

Cheng Zhao nodded, indicating she had taken the lesson to heart.

The day before departure, Cheng Zhao told the stewards under her charge: "I will be away for at least twenty days. For anything, please consult Eldest Young Madame."

Then she said to Huan Qingtang, "Sister-in-law, I'll trouble you."

"You're too kind, sister-in-law," Huan Qingtang said. "Managing the household is the proper duty of the eldest daughter-in-law; it's no hardship."

Cheng Zhao exchanged a few more pleasantries with her, then returned to the Fusang Courtyard.

The stewards were uneasy. They wondered if Cheng Zhao would still have a place in the Hall of Inherited Brilliance upon her return. If the Dowager Madame came to depend on Eldest Young Madame, should they switch allegiance, or wait?

Everyone's thoughts were divided.

Huan Qingtang's senior maid was delighted.

"Young Madame, this is your opportunity. Perhaps in a few days, we can move to the Hall of Inherited Brilliance," the senior maid said with a smile.

But Huan Qingtang remained silent.

To move into the Hall of Inherited Brilliance, she needed a title.

She was not the widowed Eldest Young Madame; she would need to be the Duchess of the other branch of the jointly-inherited Chen State Duke Mansion.

The reason the First Madam lived in the Hall of Inherited Brilliance was that she, too, held a Duchess's mandate title. Huan Qingtang had none.

Being included in the imperial hunting entourage should have been the perfect time for the emperor to betroth her to Zhou Yuanshen. All it would take was for the Dowager Madame to summon her, for the emperor to let her go.

Yet, no one mentioned it.

The Dowager Madame hadn't even brought it up.

It was Nanny Sun who had gently hinted the day before, telling her to behave well during this period and not disappoint the Dowager Madame again.

Huan Qingtang's heart tightened.

Had the Dowager Madame given up on her?

If these twenty days passed without incident and no opportunity arose for her to shine, her grandmother's anger would persist. If something did happen under her watch, it would be her fault, and she wouldn't be able to escape responsibility.

What was a hot potato?

This was it.

She couldn't take it, and she couldn't refuse it. And the people around her, optimistic and blind, thought it was good luck.

Huan Qingtang traced back the source of the problem.

It all came down to Zhou Yuanshen.

If only, earlier, she had been a bit more ingratiating, a little ambiguous and flirtatious regardless of propriety, things might have gone smoother now.

Her charm could easily handle a man.

Huan Qingtang sighed softly.

The senior maid kept chattering, offering suggestions. Huan Qingtang cut her off: "Prepare some insect repellent and heatstroke remedy, then send them to Lord Duke. Tell him to take care along the way."

"Who will deliver them?" the senior maid asked.

Huan Qingtang was silent.

The senior maid understood her intention and said, "Shall this maid accompany you?"

"Stooping like that would be beneath my dignity," she said.

"Young Madame, you cannot afford to be aloof. You'll lose to Cheng if you are. Since you want to send it, you should deliver it yourself," the senior maid said.

Huan Qingtang pondered.

She nodded: "Go prepare it. I'll take it to the Morning Dawn Courtyard."

Then, thinking it over, "No. I'll take it to the Fusang Courtyard."

Straight to Cheng Zhao's face.

Open and aboveboard.

Sometimes, that could be more effective.