Chapter 168: The Duke's Love for His Wife
At noon on the day they reached the hunting grounds, a violent rainstorm broke out.
The rain fell with tremendous force, pouring down like a waterfall, the spray it kicked up joining sky and earth into one blur, the curtain of water separating people who stood only a step apart.
Cheng Zhao sat in the carriage with her mother-in-law.
“...Zhao Zhao, come sit closer,” Second Madam said.
The Zhou family’s carriage was luxurious and sturdy, and it did not leak even under the drenching downpour, but the curtains could not keep out the rain, and half the carriage was already damp.
Second Madam sat near the inner wall.
She pulled Cheng Zhao close, the two women—mother and daughter-in-law—huddling together to keep the rain seeping in from the windows and the carriage door from soaking their shoes, socks, and skirts.
“This rain won’t last long,” Second Madam said.
Cheng Zhao replied, “Yes.”
Then added, “It should be quite cool after the rain. We’ve been lucky with the weather on this trip, Mother.”
Second Madam smiled. “You really are a good child.”
Cheng Zhao was beautiful, intelligent, sweet-tongued, and optimistic. With her by her side, Second Madam’s spirits stayed high no matter what circumstances she faced.
She was not just a spoonful of honey—she was also a steady pillar of support.
As the two women chatted, someone lifted the carriage curtain.
A huge oil-paper umbrella blocked the rain at the door, and with it, the light filtering in. A man in dark soft armor, wearing a straw rain cape and conical hat, his face hidden in shadow.
“Mother,” he said.
“Are you soaked? Why not get in and wait out the rain?” Second Madam leaned forward as if to feel whether he was wet.
With her own children, Second Madam doted on them as much as possible.
“Not wet,” Zhou Yuanshen said. “Take this umbrella, both of you. There’s still twenty li to go. The carriages ahead are moving forward one by one, so you may have to wait another hour.”
“We’re in no hurry,” Second Madam said. “The two of us can keep each other company in conversation. Waiting is no trouble.”
Zhou Yuanshen gave a slight nod.
He looked at Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao said, “Lord Duke, rest assured. Mother and I will look after each other.”
Zhou Yuanshen made a soft sound of acknowledgment.
His gaze traveled over her, from head to foot, and only when he saw that not a drop had touched her did he let the wet carriage curtain fall back into place.
He tucked the oil-paper umbrella away on the carriage, then turned and left.
The official road was muddy and slick, and the rain was still heavy. He had walked a good long stretch through the downpour, coming all the way over just to check on his mother and Cheng Zhao.
He had worried they might not know what was happening and would sit there anxious for no reason.
Some people’s carriages kept leaking, soaking them through. He had also wondered whether their own carriage could be trusted. If they got wet, with nowhere to take shelter and having to sit in damp clothes for an hour or two, they might fall ill.
If that had been the case, he had already planned how to send the two of them on to their destination first.
Fortunately, none of his fears had come to pass. Zhou Yuanshen’s steps were still quick on the way back. Only this time, unlike the urgent pace of his arrival, his stride was light and brisk.
“Yuanshen has always been very attentive,” Second Madam said to Cheng Zhao.
“The Lord Duke is filial,” Cheng Zhao said with a smile. “Mother, you truly raised a fine son. When I have children of my own someday, you must help me—teach me how to manage and guide them.”
“Your own mother is far more capable than I am,” Second Madam said with a laugh.
Cheng Zhao replied, “I’ll take lessons from both sides. There’s no harm in having more wisdom.”
Second Madam laughed.
She gently took Cheng Zhao’s hand and said with a smile, “Yuanshen dotes on you too. He came all this way just to see how you were.”
“We are husband and wife. I care about the Lord Duke as well,” Cheng Zhao said.
Hearing this, Second Madam turned to glance at her.
As a woman who had weathered many years of marriage herself, Second Madam seemed to understand now what had caused the silent quarrel between her son and daughter-in-law some time ago.
But this kind of matter, the mother-in-law had better not interfere, nor even hint at it—let the young couple sort it out themselves.
No sooner had these words been spoken than someone else arrived.
"Elder sister."
Cheng Zhao heard Fan Xiao's voice.
Second Madam was taken aback.
She lifted the carriage curtain and saw Fan Xiao, quite surprised: "Why have you come as well?"
"I came to receive the convoy at Ningzhou Prefecture, elder sister," Fan Xiao said with a smile. "The rain has let up a little; the carriage ahead has already started moving."
Behind Fan Xiao stood Second Master, dressed in a straw rain cloak and wide-brimmed hat.
He normally couldn't leave the procession, but Fan Xiao was inspecting the carriage train and had deliberately brought him along.
"Is the carriage leaking?" Second Master asked.
Second Madam: "No, it's not."
"Sitting must be rather tiring—bear with it a while longer," Second Master said.
Second Madam: "No matter how tiring it is, it's not as tiring as you riding on horseback. We're sitting comfortably, so don't worry about those of us who are at ease."
Second Master simply smiled.
The carriage ahead finally moved at last.
High-summer rain comes swiftly, falls violently, but stops just as fast.
In but a moment, sunlight spilled across the official road, and each muddy puddle shimmered with blazing rays like rippling waves of light.
Beside the hunting grounds stood a temporary palace; behind the palace stretched countless dwellings.
Cheng Zhao and Second Madam were assigned to a courtyard near the front. This time it was a separate residence—they shared it with no one—just the two of them, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, along with their maids and serving-women.
Some of the trunks had gotten damp; Suyue was briskly putting things in order, with Qiubai helping alongside—the two worked quickly.
No sooner had Cheng Zhao sat down than Qiubai brought over a set of Cheng Zhao's spare clothes, shoes, and socks: "Young Madam, you should change in a moment."
Second Madam remarked, "Your maids are very efficient."
"They're like my right and left hands—I can't do without them for a single moment," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.
"Then in the future, we'll pick two good lads from among the household-born servants in the outer courtyard for them. Once they marry, they can stay by your side and continue serving," Second Madam said.
Cheng Zhao: "I'll wait a couple of years."
Until she obtained the rights and standing befitting a "Duchess of the realm," only then would she choose husbands for Suyue and Qiubai.
As they were speaking, a female official from the Empress's side arrived: "It's time to pay your respects to Her Grace, Duchess of Chen."
Cheng Zhao acknowledged and rose.
She and Second Madam changed their clothes and shoes, re-did their hair, and dusted on a light layer of powder before going to see the Empress.
The Empress looked somewhat weary.
Three days of travel by carriage had worn Empress Guo out thoroughly. She normally didn't practice martial arts, ride horses, or wield spears—sitting still for so long was a trial for her.
She still had to muster her spirits.
"On this hunting expedition with His Majesty, you must all observe propriety. However, don't constrain yourselves too much—you may ride horses and go hunting. I look forward to seeing what you can do," the Empress said with a smile.
Everyone acknowledged in unison.
"Your Grace, I heard that a white wolf will be released this year," a young lady said with a smile.
Second Madam didn't recognize her.
Cheng Zhao, however, had seen her before. She whispered to Second Madam: "The daughter of the Chief Justice of the Grand Court, Miss Liu."
At mention of the white wolf, the faces around them showed a flicker of alarm.
White wolves are extremely rare—the leaders of all wolves, the overlords among wolf-kings—and they have always been wild; no one has yet bred a white wolf in captivity.
"There is indeed a white wolf," the Empress said with a smile. "That is precisely why I must caution you all: if you go hunting, take care. Go in larger groups, keep the guards close, and don't wander off alone. The white wolf has been trained for less than three months—its wild nature is still strong—so be wary of it harming anyone."
The ladies and young misses murmured among themselves in quiet discussion.
Empress Guo's niece, Guo Hanzhang, turned her gaze toward Cheng Zhao.
Sitting close to Cheng Zhao and favored by the Empress, she was a bit unrestrained. She asked Cheng Zhao, "Duchess of Chen, will you be joining the hunt?"
Cheng Zhao shook her head. "I'm not skilled at archery or riding. I'll just watch from the side."
Guo Hanzhang seemed rather disappointed.