Chapter 184: Without Cheng Zhao's Consent, It Shall Not Stand

Cheng Zhao didn't elaborate further.

She whispered to Second Madam, "I'll tell you slowly later, Mother."

Second Madam didn't press the matter.

Beside Dowager Consort An, apart from several noble ladies accompanying her, there were two beautiful young women.

"Isn't that...?" Second Madam whispered to Cheng Zhao again.

One of the two young women was Xian Xiang, the singer - girl bestowed by the emperor to Prince of Andong.

Unexpectedly, in such a short time, she had changed her appearance and was now dressed like a maid from a wealthy and noble family.

A well - bred maid in a noble family was not only elegant in appearance but also noble in manner, nothing like a woman from the entertainment industry anymore.

Second Madam was a bit surprised.

Thinking of another girl in her own family, she felt annoyed again.

Cheng Zhao looked over and found the other girl familiar too. After a closer look, she realized it was the younger sister of Wenliang, her estate guard.

Although she had grown up, her features were still recognizable, and Cheng Zhao remembered her. Wenliang had brought her to play in front of Cheng Zhao twice.

After the estate guard Wenliang was drowned because of Helian Xuan, his parents and younger sister had taken refuge in the Prince of Andong's Mansion to smooth things over.

Now, it seemed that this girl had become a favorite around Dowager Consort An.

A pang of sadness welled up in Cheng Zhao's heart.

Lunch was quickly finished.

Zhou Yuanshen remained silent, and so did Cheng Zhao and Second Madam during the meal.

Zhou Yuanqi looked from one to another, neither understanding nor caring.

After the meal, they prepared to go down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, they unexpectedly met Helian Xuan and his mother again.

Helian Xuan stepped forward specifically to pay his respects. "Lady of the State - protecting, Duke of Chen, and Duchess of Chen."

Cheng Zhao and the others returned the courtesy.

"Does Your Highness have something to discuss?" Cheng Zhao asked.

Helian Xuan pointed to the "senior maid" Xian Xiang beside him. "She wants to visit her younger sister in the Duke of Chen's Mansion."

"This is inappropriate," Cheng Zhao said.

Helian Xuan smiled handsomely and recklessly. "Even for a maid, if the host is kind - hearted, it should be okay for her to meet her sister. Moreover..."

He looked at Cheng Zhao quietly. "A beauty bestowed by the emperor is at least more honorable than a concubine. If the mistress agrees, it's acceptable for her to receive guests."

"Your Highness, the Duke's Mansion is a traditional place. The Dowager is very particular about rules. As long as the Dowager is alive, the Zhou family has its own way of receiving guests, which involves sending a visiting card through the doorman and then getting a reply.

If the Prince's Mansion follows proper etiquette, you can first send a visiting card to our mansion. I'll show it to the Dowager. If the Dowager can't make a decision, she can ask His Majesty to decide." Cheng Zhao said.

She was reasonable and extremely imposing.

Second Madam enjoyed listening to her.

If Cheng Zhao disagreed, then it was a definite no.

When others tried to refute her rejection, she could come up with countless reasons.

She was smart - witted and quick - tongued.

The Prince of Andong clearly had "ulterior motives" in wanting his concubine to visit the Duke of Chen's Mansion.

Regardless of his purpose, the "concubines" in the Zhou family's inner courtyard did not receive guests. This rule was acceptable even among the noble families.

If the Prince of Andong was dissatisfied, then he could ask the emperor to make the decision.

Let's see if the Dowager's face carried more weight or the imperial bloodline was more solid.

"Madam, you are magnanimous. Please let this servant go and see her younger sister. She is timid and cautious. Being in a strange place alone, I'm afraid she'll be scared.

I just want to see her for a moment. You can send a maid to accompany me, and I'll never do anything overstepping." Xian Xiang looked at Cheng Zhao and bowed gracefully.

Before Cheng Zhao could react, Second Madam was furious.

What a charming act!

Her younger sister, Xian Si, who had entered the Duke's Mansion, was even more beautiful and her manner was even more gentle.

Second Madam vented her anger by glaring fiercely at her own son.

Zhou Yuanshen looked at Cheng Zhao.

"Your Highness, asking your concubine to plead is either looking down on yourself or looking down on me. So, in the future, when interacting with the Prince's Mansion, do we have to inform this lady first?" Cheng Zhao asked Helian Xuan.

She stared at him and walked right up to him.

Helian Xuan: "No..."

"If so, I'll spread the word so that all the titled ladies will know how to deal with the Prince's Mansion in the future." Cheng Zhao said.

Helian Xuan could no longer maintain his smiling face.

Dowager Consort An had been listening for a while.

She wanted to help, but found she had nothing to say. Cheng Zhao was sharp - tongued and every word hit the nail on the head.

"Xian Xiang, step back. Don't be rude," Helian Xuan said after a moment of silence, making a compromise.

Then he said to Cheng Zhao, "I've offended you, Duchess of Chen."

"Your Highness is indeed well - mannered. It's obvious that the Dowager has taught you well," Cheng Zhao said.

In the end, she returned the words that the Dowager had said about her earlier.

Dowager Consort An's face turned ugly, but she couldn't lose her temper.

As a dowager consort with several titled ladies accompanying her, even if she suffered a setback in words, she couldn't damage her "kind and gentle" image.

These social graces were too important, so she had to endure it.

Although Cheng Zhao's words were sharp, her expression remained calm all the time, and every veiled meaning had a basis.

The titled ladies who had heard the Dowager's words earlier and saw Cheng Zhao's counter - attack couldn't help but applaud her.

"If you don't provoke this Duchess of Chen and don't go against her, her temper can be quite satisfying."

"In the future, we have to respect her even more. She's not someone to be trifled with."

On the other side, the Prince of Andong and his mother got into the carriage. The "maids" didn't follow the carriage.

After the carriage curtain was lowered, the Dowager's face darkened.

"Mother, calm down," Helian Xuan comforted her.

The Dowager said, "You spoil that concubine to please the emperor and even want to send her to the Duke of Chen's Mansion as a guest. As a result, we've been ridiculed! We've lost face."

She added, "If Cheng Zhao had any regard for the past, she shouldn't have treated you like this."

Helian Xuan remained silent.

"Back then, you even argued with me. Now you can see clearly, right? She's cold - hearted, and you can never warm her up," Dowager Consort An said.

"Mother, that's all in the past," said the Prince of Andong.

Dowager Consort An was still angry. "Disagreeing to your relationship with her was the wisest decision I've ever made. You'll understand later."

Helian Xuan was silent.

He turned his face to the other side, looking at the swaying shadow of the carriage curtain.

He didn't listen to a single word of what his mother was still saying.

Cheng Zhao had never forgotten him.

She was just angry.

She was so angry that she cared about him, which was why her words were so sharp.

He remembered that meditation room again, and how Cheng Zhao had refused Zhou Yuanshen...

Helian Xuan's heart was like a scorched and yellowed leaf, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

The people from the Duke of Chen's Mansion also got into their carriages one after another.

Zhou Yuanqi didn't want to go home. "I'm going to my maternal grandparents' house. My grandmother has left delicious food for me."

On his birthday, everyone in his maternal grandparents' house would prepare gifts for him.

"I'll take you there," Second Madam said.

Then she said to Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen, "You two go back first."

Zhou Yuanshen agreed.

Cheng Zhao still wanted to have dinner at her maternal grandparents' house. But she thought she needed to have a serious talk with Zhou Yuanshen.

He had confused her in the meditation room just now.

As a result, even after squeezing and mocking Dowager Consort An and Helian Xuan, she still couldn't relieve her anger.

She couldn't just admit defeat like this in a muddle - headed way.

"Mother, the Duke and I will go back first," Cheng Zhao said.

She got into Zhou Yuanshen's carriage.