Chapter 17: Delegating Authority to Cheng Zhao

Breakfast at Shou'an Courtyard was fraught with tension.

The Dowager Madame's veiled warnings and First Madam Madam Song's attempts to sow discord had secretly gone back and forth several times, yet Cheng Zhao's mother-in-law, the Second Madam, completely failed to pick up on them.

Cheng Zhao remembered her mother saying: "You must know how to read between the lines, and even more importantly, how to play deaf. These two are essential skills in the inner chambers, comparable to a general's spear-wielding and archery; they are the true secrets to survival."

She held her mother's teachings as the golden rule.

Looking back at her mother-in-law, she didn't need to play deaf; she simply couldn't understand the hidden meanings. Yet, hadn't she lived perfectly well for over twenty years?

True, she might suffer some grievances, and many benefits didn't come her way.

But it didn't stop her from eating and sleeping.

With a broader mind, what other major things were there in life besides eating and sleeping? She was about the same age as First Madam Madam Song, yet she looked ten years younger than her.

What did gains and losses really matter?

For the first time, Cheng Zhao re-evaluated the words her mother had taught her in her heart.

Cheng Zhao also looked at Mu Jiang.

Although Mu Jiang feigned calmness, disdain and anger coexisted in her eyes, and she occasionally shot a glance at Cheng Zhao.

The breakfast finally concluded. After everyone rinsed their mouths and washed their hands, they sat down to drink tea.

Only then did the Dowager Madame state her purpose for summoning the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the second branch today: "Cheng Shi is an imperial-mandated 'Duchess'.

Madam Song and I are both getting old, and in the future, Cheng Shi will need to manage the household. Let her take charge of a few things first, slowly get familiar with them, and then hand the household over to her."

First Madam Madam Song didn't seem to have received any advance notice. Upon hearing the Dowager Madame's words, surprise uncontrollably surfaced on her face.

Mu Jiang didn't know either.

She looked at the Dowager Madame in astonishment, parting her lips slightly as if wanting to say something, but saw the Dowager Madame looking at her, staring with a sharp gaze.

The words reached Mu Jiang's lips, but she didn't dare speak.

The Second Madam was both shocked and a little uneasy. She looked around, but ultimately said nothing.

Eldest Young Madame Huan Qingtang's attitude remained unchanged. After the Dowager Madame finished speaking, the room fell silent, and she was the first to chime in: "Congratulations, younger sister-in-law."

Cheng Zhao stood up: "This granddaughter-in-law is so overjoyed that my reaction is a bit slow."

The Dowager Madame chuckled: "You're just a child, lacking shrewdness. Practice slowly, there's no rush. It's not like this old woman is going to die right away. I have time to teach you."

Pausing for a moment, the Dowager Madame's smile faded, as if deep in thought, "I'll let you manage the main kitchen."

As soon as this was said, the entire room was stunned, everyone's surprise written plainly on their faces.

The main kitchen was the most lucrative place in the inner chambers, and also where the managing madam placed her trusted aides.

Telling Cheng Zhao to manage the main kitchen, what did this mean?

Did the Dowager Madame truly accept Cheng Zhao as the Duchess and want to cultivate her, or was she trying to trip her up and teach her a lesson?

That was the main kitchen, after all.

Would the Dowager Madame really use the main kitchen for Cheng Zhao to practice on?

Cheng Zhao bowed respectfully: "Thank you for your profound love, Grandmother. This granddaughter-in-law is overwhelmed by the favor. If there are any shortcomings in the future, I beg Grandmother's tolerance."

She then turned to First Madam Madam Song, "Eldest Aunt, this niece-in-law will certainly assist you well in managing the household. If there are any areas where I fall short, I hope Eldest Aunt will be more forgiving, and I will be endlessly grateful."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just come and ask me," the First Madam smiled.

She couldn't really smile; it was a forced expression. It looked rather ferocious and a bit pathetic.

After First Madam Madam Song finished smiling, she couldn't help but say: "You have a better fate than your eldest sister-in-law. She has been married for five years and still hasn't grasped the basics of managing a household.

Her maiden family is the Huan clan of Lujiang, and her father is the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy. She has read more books than anyone. Sometimes, it just comes down to fate."

The Second Madam: "..."

She almost couldn't control her temper.

This wasn't the first time First Madam Madam Song had blatantly tried to sow discord.

Whenever things didn't go her way, she would use "praise on the surface, criticize in secret"; she was very familiar with this trick.

Having suppressed the Second Madam for a lifetime, she was now starting to suppress Cheng Zhao.

The Second Madam wanted to step forward and say a few words.

But she knew very well that she wasn't good with words. Words spoken couldn't be taken back, and she always ended up handing a weapon to First Madam Madam Song.

Now that her daughter-in-law had secured the job of managing the kitchen, First Madam Madam Song was probably coughing up blood in anger. Just thinking about it made the Second Madam feel great.

She needed to hide her weaknesses and not give First Madam Madam Song any leverage, lest she and Cheng Zhao end up at a disadvantage again.

She held back again and again, and truly managed to restrain herself.

As soon as First Madam Madam Song's voice faded, no one responded.

Huan Qingtang seemed not to have heard, and neither did Cheng Zhao. The Dowager Madame picked up her tea to drink, gently blowing on the floating leaves as if it were none of her business; Mu Jiang had a strange expression, but was just enjoying the show and didn't chime in.

At this moment, the lack of response was like a slap right back in First Madam Madam Song's own face.

Her complexion visibly turned pale and green.

"So it can be done this way?" The Second Madam seemed to have learned something.

Finally, she wasn't the one being deflated.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The Dowager Madame finally set down her teacup.

As if nothing had happened, the Dowager Madame said in her usual tone: "Starting tomorrow, Cheng Shi will also go to the Chengming Hall to handle affairs. You all should do a handover of duties tomorrow morning."

She added, "You all have things to do, so you may disperse."

She stood up and, supported by Mu Jiang's hand, went to the small Buddhist hall.

Everyone stood up to see her off.

Watching her back disappear behind the curtain, Cheng Zhao said to the Second Madam: "Mother, shall we go back?"

The Second Madam agreed.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left Shou'an Courtyard first.

Sitting in the small carriage, the Second Madam felt as if in a dream: "Are you really going to manage the main kitchen? This is like delivering a piece of fat meat right to your mouth."

She added, "There must be some trap. This is not an easy job."

Cheng Zhao smiled: "Wait until I take over the management tally and the account books of the main kitchen; then I will slowly investigate. Once I figure out the reason, I will explain it to you in detail, Mother."

"You must tell me," the Second Madam said. She was dying of curiosity.

Cheng Zhao agreed.

The Second Madam couldn't help but feel delighted again: "Did you see your Eldest Aunt's face? She has been married into the family for over twenty years, and the Dowager Madame has always favored her. This is the first time I've seen her get deflated."

Cheng Zhao smiled and said: "Mother, I was so afraid you would start arguing with her and fall into her trap. Fortunately, you held back."

The Second Madam was a bit proud: "I thought about it. At the time, I wondered if I should scold her back for you. But then I realized it might do more harm than good, so I kept quiet."

"It wouldn't have done more harm than good. Helping is helping. Only those who lack ability themselves blame their helpers for causing trouble," Cheng Zhao said. "I fully understand your heart in wanting to protect me, Mother."

The Second Madam turned to look at her: "No wonder the Dowager Madame praised you; you really have a sharp tongue."

For daughters of scholarly families, their mouths are the spears in their hands.

They can just as easily kill without leaving a trace.

The Second Madam suddenly understood why she had suffered grievances in front of her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law for so many years: because they used different weapons.

And on the "battlefield of the inner chambers," their weapons were the most effective.

Since Cheng Zhao married into the family over two months ago, it was as if a lightbulb had gone off for the Second Madam, making her understand truths she hadn't grasped in the previous decades.

"...In short, be careful," the Second Madam said. "From now on, you'll have to forge your own path. When it comes to the affairs of the inner chambers, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak."

"You have helped me a lot, Mother. Without the jade bracelet you gave me when I was newly married, I wouldn't have been able to show my skills no matter how capable I am. Mother, you don't need to underestimate yourself. This daughter-in-law will still rely on you in the future," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam was instantly filled with fighting spirit.

She had to help, and help well, to be worthy of her daughter-in-law's trust.