Chapter 18: Zhou Yuanshen's Study

Inside the Jiangyun Courtyard, Cheng Zhao did not come over to serve Second Madam during dinner, but eight-year-old Zhou Yuanqi did.

Second Madam recounted the events of the day to the Second Master, while Zhou Yuanqi sat nearby listening.

"Isn't that quite good?" the Second Master said in a mild tone.

He had always been aloof from worldly strife and was uninterested in most household matters. Second Madam, on the other hand, was not one to fret over things. She never forced her husband to be more ambitious and never resented his indifference.

The older couple's relationship was stable and solid.

"...'Good' is only on the surface. Who knows how many traps are hidden in the dark," Second Madam said.

The Second Master replied, "Our daughter-in-law can handle it; she is quite clever. Even if she can't, living in the Nonghua Courtyard at least guarantees her a meal."

Second Madam agreed, "I also think our daughter-in-law can handle it. She really knows how to speak."

She even repeated Cheng Zhao's words for the Second Master to hear.

The Second Master laughed out loud upon hearing them.

Beside them, Zhou Yuanqi chimed in, "Cunning and hypocritical."

Second Madam glared at him. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"In her eyes, Mother, you are no different from Grandmother and First Madam. You are all outsiders. She curries favor with them, and she curries favor with you. Her words make no distinction between close and distant relations. They are not 'distant,' and you, Mother, are not 'close,'" Zhou Yuanqi said.

Second Madam rolled her eyes. "You only know how to pick apart words. You can't just look at what she says; you have to look at her expression at the time. You don't need to worry about it, I know what I am doing."

Cheng Zhao certainly did not mean it like that.

"Mother, just don't be too disappointed in the future," Zhou Yuanqi said. "Her temperament is no different from Grandmother's or First Madam's."

"At such a young age, slandering your sister-in-law behind her back. Is this how Mother taught you?" Second Madam pinched his cheek.

Zhou Yuanqi's cold, scholarly facade instantly crumbled. "Ouch! You can't pinch my face, I am a big kid... I am an adult now!"

"Adult my foot!" Second Madam laughed.

Zhou Yuanqi's face flushed with anger. "Mother, you are vulgar, you..."

Second Madam simply used both hands to vigorously rub his fair, tender little face, making him squawk in frustration.

Only when he finally acted like a child of his age did she let go.

The Second Master remained sitting nearby, chuckling.

Mid-afternoon, Zhou Yuanshen returned from the government office and also heard about the matter.

He sent someone to summon Cheng Zhao to the Chenhui Courtyard.

Cheng Zhao thought, "Dowager Madame had matters to instruct and called me to the Shou'an Courtyard, which I can understand. Why can't he take a few steps himself? Why must I go over?"

Complaints aside, Cheng Zhao still changed her clothes, put on a cloak, and once again took a small oil-cloth carriage out.

The Chenhui Courtyard was located to the east of the Chengming Hall, separated from it by only two courtyards. Those two courtyards were uninhabited and served as places for the Zhou family to host banquets.

It was Cheng Zhao's first time visiting the Chenhui Courtyard.

She knew this was the inner study of the ducal estate. The courtyard gate looked just like any ordinary courtyard, with no discernible difference. Verdant bamboo was planted in the corners, lush and green this time of year, unfurling in the cold wind.

Upon knocking, a young servant boy came to open the door.

"Madam, please come in. The Lord Duke has been waiting for you for a while," the servant boy said.

Cheng Zhao followed him inside, walked along the left corridor, and arrived beneath the eaves of the main house.

The servant boy did not announce her again; he simply lifted the heavy winter door curtain and invited Cheng Zhao inside.

The central hall of the main house was also like that of an ordinary courtyard, adorned with hanging calligraphy and paintings. There were two main rooms on both the left and right, all with curtains drawn.

"Lord Duke, Madam has arrived," the servant boy said in a low voice, walking to the doorway on the left.

"Come in."

The servant boy lifted the curtain.

Cheng Zhao had no time to look around further and stepped into the room.

The interior was warm, and a cozy aura brushed against her face. Red plum blossoms in the corner exuded a faint, elegant fragrance, accompanied by a light scent of sandalwood.

It was a sitting room, much like an ordinary sitting room, except the shelves in the corner did not display antique ornaments, but books.

Half a wall was filled with books, some wrapped in silk cloth, looking quite precious.

Zhou Yuanshen sat on the heated brick bed by the window, a Go board placed on the small table in front of him.

Cheng Zhao greeted the Lord Duke again. Seeing no senior maidservants attending in the room, she took off her cloak herself, hung it up, and then walked over to sit down.

"...I heard Grandmother asked you to manage the main kitchen," he said.

Cheng Zhao replied, "Yes, Dowager Madame instructed as such. I will go take over the duties tomorrow."

"The main kitchen has been a bit chaotic lately," he said.

Cheng Zhao sat up straight. "Please enlighten me, Lord Duke. I am currently completely in the dark and planned to slowly figure things out after going there tomorrow. With your guidance, I can avoid taking many detours."

Zhou Yuanshen raised his eyes to glance at her.

His gaze was pitch-black, and this glance seemed to carry a cold glint.

He did not seem to like Cheng Zhao's polite pleasantries.

Cheng Zhao returned a smile and did not speak again.

Zhou Yuanshen withdrew his gaze. "Let's play a game."

Cheng Zhao agreed.

As the two played Go, Zhou Yuanshen explained the personnel disputes of the main kitchen to Cheng Zhao.

Simply put, Dowager Madame's steward wanted to retire and return to his hometown as he was getting old, and First Madam's people had taken control of the situation. Meanwhile, Dowager Madame and that steward both hoped their own trusted aides would take over, yet they found no way to intervene.

Dowager Madame's solution was to introduce a third party, shifting the conflict onto First Madam and Cheng Zhao, thereby reaping the benefits without lifting a finger.

"...First Madam has managed the household for so many years, yet she doesn't have much real power. Everything is still decided by Grandmother," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "It is good that you understand."

"What are your thoughts?" Cheng Zhao asked. "What do you want me to do?"

Should she help Dowager Madame and sell her a favor, or help First Madam and break Dowager Madame's control over the inner quarters?

"Keep to yourself. Do not become someone else's blade, nor make yourself a target," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao interpreted this to mean: the household management rights of the ducal estate have nothing to do with you from now on, and there is no need for you to get involved.

Who was the female master of the house in his heart?

Huan Qingtang, who wanted a dual-lineage marriage, or Mu Jiang?

Cheng Zhao felt it was Huan Qingtang.

No matter how you looked at it, Mu Jiang was not suited to be the female master of the ducal estate.

A female master not only had to run the household but also socialize. Mu Jiang was not a noble lady from a prominent family; many titled noblewomen looked down on her, and she would be unable to fit in.

Once ostracized, it would affect the entire ducal estate.

Huan Qingtang, however, was different. Like Cheng Zhao, she came from a scholarly family, which was the most respectable background for meritorious and highly titled noble families. Wherever they went, they carried dignity.

"Yes, I will keep that in mind," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen placed another piece on the board.

The two played quietly; Cheng Zhao could even hear the sound of someone knocking on the courtyard gate.

The servant boy went to answer the door.

Soon, the servant boy spoke from the doorway, "Lord Duke, the Secondary Wife has arrived."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

Zhou Yuanshen put down his Go piece. Without saying anything to Cheng Zhao, he went out.

Holding a Go piece, Cheng Zhao wondered, was she just supposed to wait here?

Would Zhou Yuanshen personally bring Mu Jiang inside?

A moment later, Mu Jiang left, and Zhou Yuanshen returned to the room.

He looked at the Go board and said to Cheng Zhao, "Let's continue."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

She did not say anything more.

In this game, neither Cheng Zhao nor Zhou Yuanshen won; it ended in a draw.

Zhou Yuanshen then said, "There is one more thing I need to discuss with you."

Cheng Zhao was truly afraid of them discussing matters.

It was never anything good anyway.

"Please give your instructions," she said.