Chapter 190: Cheng Zhao Guesses Right

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mu Jiang returned to the residence.

This time, she came back quietly, going straight to Li Jing Court.

The Dowager Madame did not, as she had in the past, summon the entire household to meet Mu Jiang—in former days, she probably would have.

However, the Dowager Madame did have Li Jing Court tidied up, adding several pieces of furniture, and assigned two people to attend to Mu Jiang.

Neither was a pretty maid this time. One was a stewardess from the Dowager Madame's own service, around forty years old, with considerable acumen; the other was a senior maid, experienced and worldly.

Cheng Zhao heard about it in Cheng Ming Hall.

"The day after tomorrow is the festival. My stewards shall all rest for one day," Cheng Zhao said.

Besides giving them extra bonuses, she also granted them a full day off.

Huan Qingtang's expression soured: "Sister-in-law, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a busy time."

"All the tasks have been delegated. There won't be any trouble on my end. As for your side, Sister-in-law, you may manage it yourself—Grandmother hasn't asked me to meddle," Cheng Zhao said.

For a moment, the atmosphere in Cheng Ming Hall grew tense.

Those on Cheng Zhao's side stood by, listening with interest; those under Huan Qingtang, some disappointed and some fearful, kept their heads lowered in silence.

Huan Qingtang had no time to rearrange her staff's rest arrangements now.

In great noble families, there were ways to win people's loyalty during major festivals—Huan Qingtang might never have learned them. For instance, it never even occurred to her to give the stewards a "day off" for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

That was far more respectable than mere bonuses. It could win devotion and also demonstrate her insight and capability.

If Cheng Zhao had simply done the same or let the matter pass entirely, it would have ended there. But Cheng Zhao had to show off right in front of her.

Cheng Zhao's ambition was plain: to let every steward know that she was more capable and more suited to running the household than Huan Qingtang, so that they would all shift their loyalty to her.

That day, Huan Qingtang went back to rest after lunch. When she woke, her ribs ached.

She was startled, thinking she might be ill; then she realized—she had simply been fuming with rage.

She sat on her bed, silent for a long time.

On the fourteenth of the eighth month, Cheng Zhao divided her small lanterns into several portions, keeping eighteen for herself and giving the rest away as favors.

She sent them to her nephews and nieces, her maternal cousins' children, and also to Second Madam and Zhou Yuanqi.

For the remaining two, Cheng Zhao carried them into the palace.

She brought Second Madam along as well.

Second Madam was dressed in full ceremonial court robes. Even so, she still fumbled slightly with such elaborate attire.

"...When did you request an audience?" Second Madam asked her.

Cheng Zhao: "Mother, didn't we agree last time to visit the Empress again before the festival? I made the request in advance."

Second Madam: "I completely forgot."

"Forgot even to pay respects to the Empress?" Cheng Zhao leaned in and teased her in a low voice.

Second Madam lightly patted her hand: "You rascal!"

Cheng Zhao smiled.

Second Madam asked again: "Are you simply going to greet her, or is there a purpose? Just to ingratiate yourselves?"

"I also want to see whether His Majesty will attend the Chen Duke's mansion banquet tomorrow night," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam was startled.

"He's going again?"

The Emperor had gone several times, and each visit had brought no good.

Second Madam was truly afraid.

"Banquets usually don't observe vegetarian abstention. I checked the main kitchen's records—there's never been such a rule. And His Majesty will perform the Mid-Autumn sacrifices to heaven and earth, so he'll fast for three days. On the festival day itself, he still can't have meat," Cheng Zhao said.

Her voice was very low.

Second Madam stared at her in shock: "You can deduce so much just from a small matter like 'vegetarian food'?"

Cheng Zhao gave a faint smile: "Anything out of the ordinary suggests something hidden. I'm just making wild guesses."

Not only the fasting, but also Mu Jiang.

Grandmother agreeing to bring Mu Jiang back at this time—that was also unusual.

Cheng Zhao thought again of Mu Jiang's child.

Mu Jiang was Zhou Yuanshen's woman, yet the child she had been pregnant with last time was definitely not Zhou Yuanshen's.

The Dowager Madame knew.

Mu Jiang was like a sacrificial offering, placed upon the altar. Add to that the vegetarian fast, and Cheng Zhao let her thoughts wander.

At any rate, it cost nothing to be cautious. Better to overthink than to be caught off guard.

Cheng Zhao feared she might sicken her mother-in-law, so she didn't share this guess with her.

"You may well be right," Second Madam said.

"The Empress will probably know as well. If our gifts please her, she might give us a subtle hint. Either way, just listen to what she says," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam grew more nervous: "I won't be able to catch any subtle hints."

Cheng Zhao laughed.

"I'm here," she said.

Second Madam: "Thank heavens for you."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went to Kunning Palace and paid their full respects to the Empress.

Cheng Zhao presented her small lanterns.

As Qiubai had said, no matter how old people were, they still delighted in little trifles—they were full of charm.

The Empress had seen all kinds of lanterns, but she was still enchanted by this little one: "It's lovely."

She examined it closely, sighing repeatedly: "This is exquisite craftsmanship. Only the Liao family's workshop could make it; no other house could produce such a thing."

Cheng Zhao said, "Your Majesty, those revolving lanterns—the Liao family's workshop also makes them the best."

"Your Majesty, I do have many revolving lanterns. I've grown tired of them. Yours is far more amusing," the Empress said with a smile.

Second Madam sat nearby, thinking to herself how lonely the deep palace truly was.

It wasn't that the Empress liked small lanterns—she simply liked the little spark of novelty Cheng Zhao brought with her, something to dilute the lifeless stillness of the inner court.

For so many years, the Empress had held little authority, and the Emperor did not much favor her.

The Empress was fortunate—she had a powerful father who had secured her position; he had also secured for her son the position of Crown Prince.

Cheng Zhao chatted with the Empress about lanterns, while Second Madam drifted off into her own idle thoughts, half-listening, trusting that her daughter-in-law would handle the conversation.

"...When the time comes in the future," the Empress said.

Second Madam snapped back to attention, pricking up her ears. Why did she mention the future?

She glanced at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao smiled: "The heir apparent is still a sovereign, even if not yet enthroned. That would be too great an honor for my mother."

Second Madam: "..."

This involved her?

What had she missed?

The Empress looked over, and Second Madam hurriedly smiled, saying nothing.

"You mother-and-daughter-in-law are too honest," the Empress said. "I am the same. I always end up at a disadvantage. But what seems a loss may be a blessing in disguise—not necessarily a bad thing."

She added: "If the Crown Prince goes out and you two happen to meet him, tell him not to drink too much. Lately he's become too fond of wine, at such a young age."

Second Madam's heart jumped.

That was practically explicit, wasn't it?

After leaving Kunning Palace and boarding their own carriage, Second Madam relaxed her back and shoulders.

"Does the Empress mean that the Emperor and the Crown Prince will both leave the palace for the festival?" Second Madam asked.

Cheng Zhao nodded.

"Zhaozhao, your guess was spot-on." There was a hint of admiration in Second Madam's eyes. "That's wisdom."

Then she asked: "What were you two talking about—about 'the future'?"

Cheng Zhao laughed: "The Empress said the Crown Prince wants to honor you as his adoptive mother. Did you not hear that?"

Second Madam: !

She was stunned.

She truly hadn't heard—she had been too busy feeling sorry for the Empress at the time.

She'd likely been too tense, and when she tensed up, things slipped past her.

"The Empress said, when the time comes in the future—after the Crown Prince ascends the throne and has real power—then they'll raise the matter again. Both mother and son are grateful that you saved the Crown Prince's life," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam: "That won't do."

"What the future brings, no one can say." Cheng Zhao smiled. "The Empress only mentioned it in passing. There's no saying we might not come into conflict with the Guo family—who knows whether we'll end up at odds. In that case, the Crown Prince would surely side with his maternal relatives, and all this would quietly come to nothing."

Second Madam agreed wholeheartedly.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law then returned together.