Chapter 192: Thinking of Her

Second Madam led Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanqi to Yixia Pavilion.

The Yixia Pavilion of the Duke of Chen's estate was reserved for banquets.

All the elder members of the clan had arrived.

The entire Zhou clan revered the ducal household above all, and they gathered around the Dowager Madame, offering words of good fortune.

Huan Qingtang sat beside the Dowager Madame. Not formally seated, just keeping her company in conversation.

Mu Jiang, curiously, was absent.

"Second daughter-in-law, now that you hold the rank of First-Class Lady of Honor, you may sit at the lower end," the Dowager Madame indicated a seat.

Second Madam felt the words carried a sting of mockery.

She used to miss such barbs, but now she simply chose not to dwell on them. She replied, "Yes."

Cheng Zhao took her seat beside Second Madam.

Zhou Yuanshen had not yet arrived.

The Dowager Madame asked, "Where is the Lord Duke?"

"The Lord Duke went out this afternoon and will return shortly. He won't delay our moon-viewing, Grandmother," Cheng Zhao said.

"He should be back by now," the Dowager Madame said. "Someone, go to the gate and inquire where the Lord Duke went this afternoon."

No sooner had she spoken than Zhou Yuanshen returned.

He had changed into a brand-new dark robe embroidered with gold cloud patterns—dignified yet noble—and walked in slowly.

Everyone looked at him.

Cheng Zhao looked at him too.

Lanterns hung everywhere throughout the Duke of Chen's estate.

The weather was fine, and the moonlight made the courtyard bright as day, with the glow of the lanterns adding to the splendor and brilliance.

He seemed to stand in the midst of that light, as radiant as the lights themselves.

Cheng Zhao averted her gaze, wiping the brilliance from her eyes. She could not afford to drown in things too dazzling, for she would forget the path she had to walk.

"Lord Duke."

The crowd greeted him, rising to their feet one after another.

He was the head of the household.

And he carried that role well—every step steady, with the gravity befitting a family's master.

"Grandmother," he said as he stepped forward. "Everything outside is arranged. I've brought in some men from the general's mansion, so you may rest easy."

No one quite understood what he meant.

The Second Dowager—Zhou Yuanshen's great-aunt by marriage—smiled and asked, "Lord Duke, why would you summon men from the general's mansion?"

The Dowager Madame's expression tightened slightly.

Cheng Zhao observed quietly: The possibility that the Emperor might visit the Zhou household for the Mid-Autumn Festival was information that should have been known only to the Dowager Madame alone.

Apart from Cheng Zhao's own unauthorized deduction, everyone else was kept in the dark.

This was the Dowager Madame's exclusive piece of intelligence.

Sometimes, secrets were power. When a secret belonged to her alone, she remained the true hand of authority within the family.

Now, Zhou Yuanshen knew it too.

Whether the Emperor had tipped him off or he had sensed it himself, he had broken the Dowager Madame's monopoly.

Within this household, power was slowly slipping from the Dowager Madame's grasp.

The Dowager Madame's face soured at once, and everyone felt the tension thicken, though they did not understand why, glancing from one person to another.

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is a festive occasion—extra hands are welcome. The Lord Duke has been thoughtful," the Dowager Madame said. Then she added, "Take your seat."

Huan Qingtang rose with a smile. "Grandmother, I'll take my seat as well. This is the Lord Duke's place."

"Grandmother, let the elders be seated first. There's a spot for me among the Cheng family. This is a family banquet, so let us sit according to age," Zhou Yuanshen said.

He had openly contradicted Huan Qingtang, making his stance clear.

Between him and Huan Qingtang, there could never be anything more.

This was not disrespect toward his widowed sister-in-law, but rather a clarification of any ambiguous relations.

Huan Qingtang's expression stiffened for a moment.

After offering his respects again, Zhou Yuanshen took his seat beside his mother.

First Madam, née Song, had also arrived.

One by one, everyone settled into their seats, and the opera on the stage began. Fireworks exploded across the distant night sky, and all over the city, displays of light added to the bustling merriment.

"...Has your headache cleared?" Zhou Yuanshen leaned in to ask Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao replied, "It's passed now."

"Give me your hand," he said.

She gave him a startled look, as if she hadn't heard correctly.

He said again, "Hold out your hand to me."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

At this night's feast, over a hundred members of the clan had gathered, all of Zhou blood, and their seats were near the front—countless eyes were on them.

Though Cheng Zhao felt it was highly improper, she still extended her hand.

He handed her an ornate tassel.

It was shaped like a little rabbit, woven from colorful threads—delicate, pretty, and novel.

"It's lovely," Cheng Zhao said.

"I passed by a street stall and saw a peddler selling these. One look and it seemed so bright and cheerful, I thought you'd like it," he said.

Warmth spread through Cheng Zhao's heart.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Zhou Yuanshen had already straightened back up in his seat.

Second Madam had leaned over to peek at them while they were whispering.

She saw it and laughed, "Yuanzhen takes after his father. Even to this day, his father will pick up any amusing trinket or tasty snack he finds on the street and bring it home."

Second Madam had an easygoing nature; she never cared whether a gift was costly or even palatable.

Whatever Second Master brought home, she was delighted, cherishing simply the warmth of being thought of.

Cheng Zhao pressed her lips into a smile and fastened the tassel to the front of her robe.

Her garment was made of light-colored fabric with understated silver-thread patterns—quietly luxurious—and it paired perfectly with a brightly colored tassel.

"Very pretty," Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao liked it a great deal too.

Mu Jiang was the last to arrive.

She was as flamboyant as ever, in a flame-red dress with ruby-adorned headpieces, her jewels glittering.

Yet her cheeks were slightly hollowed, and even with powder, she looked a little haggard mind.

"The Secondary Wife has arrived," the Second Dowager said with a welcoming smile.

Mu Jiang stepped forward to pay her respects to the Dowager Madame, then found a seat and settled in quietly, without making a scene.

"I heard from the Lady Huan that quite a few stewards have been given leave today," the Second Dowager began with a smile.

Someone asked curiously, "Why is that? Is something auspicious happening?"

Cheng Zhao looked up briefly.

The Dowager Madame smiled. "This is a kindness granted by Lady Cheng. On festival days, she lets the stewards enjoy the holiday as well."

"Strictly speaking, servants attending their masters shouldn't need holidays—loyalty should come first. Though the Duchess's consideration for human bonds is kind, it may also put the stewards in an awkward spot," the Second Dowager laughed.

Cheng Zhao did not reply.

The Dowager Madame said with a smile, "The young have their own ideas. She is a young wife, and the stewards are all veterans—it's fitting for her to extend this grace."

"The Dowager Madame is lenient, both in showing compassion to servants and in giving the younger generation room to learn," the Second Dowager praised.

After all that, they had circled back around to complimenting the Dowager Madame.

Second Madam was seething.

This time, she did not swallow her anger as before. She spoke up: "Aunt, with all the Mid-Autumn arrangements handled properly, there's no need for so many stewards about. Lady Cheng has real skill in managing the household—even the Dowager Madame has praised her for it."

The Second Dowager paused, then smiled. "Well said."

The Dowager Madame said nothing.

After speaking, Second Madam felt a twinge of uncertainty, seeing that no one rebuffed her. She looked at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao smiled with encouragement and gratitude: "Thank you for your trust, Mother."

Mu Jiang could not help but let out a cold snort from the side; First Madam thought to herself that there would surely be entertainment tonight—someone had deliberately provoked Second Madam into saying such things, all to set Cheng Zhao up for a fall.

Huan Qingtang sat quietly nearby.

Cheng Zhao was grateful for Second Madam's defense, and Huan Qingtang was equally grateful to Second Madam.

Once the chaos broke out, let Huan Qingtang's stewards see whose plans were superior, and whose were nothing but empty gestures to buy goodwill.

The tide would turn soon enough.