Chapter 189: She Knew the Secret of Nonghua Residence
Cheng Zhao returned from Chenming Hall and went directly to her mother-in-law's Jiangyun Courtyard.
"...Concubine Mu will be returning soon, so you need to stay calm," Cheng Zhao said.
The Second Madam was initially annoyed; but after thinking it over, she said, "It's not necessarily a bad thing. Given Mu Jiang's temperament, there's no way she'll ally with Xian Si.
They live close to each other, so they might even start fighting first. Both of them are the Emperor's people—let them tear each other apart. You'll have some peace."
Cheng Zhao smiled faintly.
"Xian Si probably wouldn't dare to provoke Concubine Mu," Cheng Zhao said.
Second Madam: "If they don't want to stir things up, there are others who won't let them rest easy. Lady Huan is full of mischief."
Cheng Zhao: "True."
"Don't worry, we won't cause you any trouble on our end," Second Madam said. "You've already won more than half the battle."
After a pause, she said, "As for Ah Shen..."
Second Madam was afraid Zhou Yuanshen might lose his composure.
Whether it was Xian Si, Huan Qingtang, or Mu Jiang, they were all beauties, and they lived close to his Chenhui Courtyard.
Late at night, with a beauty adding fragrance to his inkstone—and it being perfectly proper—why wouldn't he indulge?
Second Madam wanted very much to lock her son in Nonghua Courtyard, but she also feared that interfering too much might backfire.
"The Duke is steadier than all of us, Mother. Don't worry," Cheng Zhao said.
Second Madam glanced at her with surprise: "Can he be trusted?"
Cheng Zhao was tempted to say that trustworthiness didn't matter as long as he didn't lose the battlefield.
Just as she was about to speak, someone knocked at the courtyard gate.
It was not yet dusk, and the sunlight fell on the gnarled branches of the courtyard trees, with a few yellow leaves on the path looking as though they had soaked up the sun, making the bluestone road feel warm and bright.
Second Madam looked over: "Who's come?"
The Second Master and his three sons always walked right in—who ever knocked?
Besides, the door wasn't locked.
Whoever knocked didn't push the door open either.
"Let me go see," Nanny Fan said.
Soon, Cheng Zhao and Second Madam saw Madam Song, the First Madam.
Madam Song was wearing a rose-purple soft silk sleeveless jacket and a plain skirt, followed by a maidservant and a coarse-robe woman.
The woman carried a food box in her hand.
Cheng Zhao and Second Madam exchanged a glance, both baffled.
"Sister-in-law, why have you come?" Second Madam stood up, no smile on her face, practically blocking the threshold of the hall.
"Sister-in-law, I've come to see you. I made some osmanthus cakes to share with you and the Duchess." Madam Song smiled.
Her smile looked genuine.
She added, "Mother also said I should get out and about more instead of moping in my room. I haven't congratulated you yet—congratulations on receiving the First-Class Lady title."
Second Madam frowned.
Given all the past grievances, one after another, she truly didn't want to deal with Madam Song.
But then Madam Song invoked the Grand Lady.
The Grand Lady had permitted her to come to Jiangyun Courtyard. Since the family hadn't been divided and she was a widowed sister-in-law with a title, Second Madam couldn't afford to be rude.
After all, Second Madam was now a woman of status.
Status sometimes came with too many constraints. In the old days, she would have thrown Madam Song out.
"First Aunt, how thoughtful of you," Cheng Zhao said with a smile, subtly pulling Second Madam back two steps to let Madam Song in.
She then instructed the maidservants to serve tea.
Madam Song sat down, sipped her tea slowly, and seemed to find a topic.
"...Cheng, I heard that the concubine is returning again. What a hardship for you, child," Madam Song said.
Cheng Zhao's expression didn't change: "When we sent her away, it was only because her mind was muddled and she wandered off recklessly. The Duke and Grandmother feared she might come to harm. Now that she's recovered, it's only right for her to return—she is a concubine of the Zhou household."
“Even so, you’re still hurting inside.” Madam Song said.
She glanced at Cheng Zhao, then quickly lowered her gaze.
But Cheng Zhao caught the sharpness in her eyes, and that barely suppressed hatred.
“I want to help you, in my own way. I heard you keep a statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin in your side chamber? Let me copy sutras for you—you can offer them before the Buddha, and they’ll be more efficacious.” The First Madam said.
Many households kept Bodhisattva statues.
Cheng Zhao’s Child-Giving Guanyin wasn’t something she advertised, but she hadn’t gone out of her way to keep it secret either.
Yet the First Madam knew all about it.
Cheng Zhao never doubted that her own courtyard, Nonghua Court, leaked information—that wouldn’t make her lose her composure.
She merely smiled and said, “How could I let my aunt by marriage copy sutras for me? That would be disrespectful to you, and the Bodhisattva wouldn’t bless me.”
“We’re one family—no need for such formality.” The First Madam said.
The Second Madam interjected: “Sister-in-law, if you have a purpose, just say it outright. Such a grand gesture is too much for my daughter-in-law—you’d be taxing her good fortune.”
The First Madam: “...”
No matter how much of a troublemaker someone was, facing the Second Madam’s bluntness was enough to drive them mad.
The First Madam could have used any number of arguments, as she had before, invoking her status and rank to pressure others.
But when that approach failed, the Second Madam’s straight-talking words were like a knife to the chest.
The First Madam’s breath hitched: “Sister-in-law, your words are truly embarrassing.”
“I see you have nothing important. The hour is late—those who’ve gone to court or school will be returning soon, and it’s inconvenient for you to stay here. Nanny Fan, see the guest out.” The Second Madam said.
The First Madam couldn’t help herself—she stood up abruptly.
She strode toward the door.
After a few steps, as if remembering her mask of civility, she hesitated, trying to say something more. But the Second Madam added: “And don’t come again, sister-in-law. Your Qingfeng Court is so far away—all that walking just to visit will wear your legs thin.”
The First Madam nearly broke her composure: “You...”
She turned and left.
Cheng Zhao smiled at the scene.
The Second Madam took no pleasure in it. Seeing her sister-in-law reminded her of the past, and irritation bubbled up.
She said to her maids, “Send this food box back too—return it exactly as it was sent!”
Nanny Fan dispatched a quick-witted maid to return it to the First Madam.
“She came deliberately to provoke me. We’ve only just started having better days, and she won’t let it rest.” The Second Madam said, fuming.
Cheng Zhao soothed her: “Mother, don’t be upset.”
“She’s not selling pity, nor is she making snide remarks—I can’t figure out her intent.” The Second Madam said.
Cheng Zhao: “She came to tell me she knows many things about Nonghua Court—for instance, my Child-Giving Guanyin.”
“Has she lost her mind? That statue was gifted to you by your mother—it went through the front gate with everyone’s knowledge. Who doesn’t know about it?” The Second Madam said angrily.
Cheng Zhao fell into thought.
Like the Second Madam, she was puzzled by Madam Song’s purpose.
If not for that jealous glare, Cheng Zhao might have thought she was just a fallen woman paying a social call.
That look...
“Mother, perhaps it was Sister-in-law who said something, stirring up Aunt.” Cheng Zhao said.
“That Lady Huan is truly meddlesome.” The Second Madam fumed. “She’s so sly and underhanded that we can’t catch her doing wrong, can’t deal with her.”
She added, “The ‘revenant spirits’ she controls—one after another—she sends them out with her ‘spells’ to do harm.”
Cheng Zhao laughed.
The Second Madam asked why she was laughing.
Cheng Zhao said, “The Duke also called them ghouls. His view coincides with Mother’s.”
“This is what Yuanshen told me—to be careful and not to be too soft-hearted,” said the Second Madam. “I am now the Lady of Zhenguo. If I fall into their trap, the loss would outweigh any gain. The Crown Prince’s side has always had its eye on me. If I were to be used by someone, the damage would be great.”
Cheng Zhao took her hand. “Mother, you are very vigilant, and you have always done well. It’s just that they deliberately toy with you, making it seem as if you were the one at fault.”
The Second Madam squeezed her hand in return.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law said no more.
Soon, the Second Master, Zhou Yuanqi, and Zhou Yuanshen all returned.
Laughter and cheerful chatter immediately dispelled the eerie, ghostly air that Madam Song had brought in, and the Courtyard of Crimson Clouds returned to its warm and joyous atmosphere.