Chapter 197: The Secret of the Huan Family Was Leaked

The situation in the Chen Marquis Manor had quietly undergone many changes, with the Mid-Autumn Festival as the turning point.

"...Third Young Madam, please try this tea. It was grown at my home. My wife is very skilled at roasting tea leaves," said a minor steward from the purchasing office.

Cheng Zhao recognized him. He was in charge of procuring incense and candles.

In any noble household, the purchasing office was a position rife with emoluments, and those appointed to it were always confidants of the matriarch who managed the household affairs.

In the Zhou family, all purchasing positions were uniformly staffed by the Grand Lady's people. Eight out of ten of them were surnamed Sun. The First Madam had managed the household for years, yet had never managed to place a single person of her own in that office; Huan Qingtang had not touched that area either.

Now, the purchasing office was also under Huan Qingtang's management.

The steward surnamed Sun who offered Cheng Zhao his private tea was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

He was a household-born servant. His parents were certainly the Grand Lady's dowry retainers, and he was a second-generation steward. His brothers, sisters, and in-laws were surely scattered throughout the ranks of the manor's stewards.

Cheng Zhao took a sip. Indeed, it was fragrant and slightly sweet. She smiled, "That's very good tea."

"It can't compare to what you usually drink, but we added osmanthus flowers when roasting it. It gives it a bit more flavor," Steward Sun said.

Cheng Zhao took another sip and smiled. "There is indeed a hint of osmanthus sweetness."

The other stewards watched from the side as they observed.

Cheng Zhao had finished a cup of tea before Huan Qingtang arrived. However, no private tea had been prepared specially for her; a maid simply handed her a cup of hot tea.

When the meeting ended that day, the stewards each left with their own thoughts.

Cheng Zhao went to the Crimson Cloud Courtyard for the evening meal.

The Second Madam asked her how it went.

"Everyone in the purchasing office came to curry favor with me," Cheng Zhao said.

"They're not trying to butter you up just to bring you down, are they?" the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao smiled. "Mother, your concern is quite reasonable. But even if they lift me up high, they may not be able to bring me down. If they want to flatter me, I'll accept it all."

Then she added, "Mother, are there any people among your dowry retainers who could be of use? I want to slowly start placing people of our own in various positions."

The Second Madam was taken aback. "Zhao Zhao, isn't that a bit rash? Your grandmother may be deliberately showing weakness to lull you into letting your guard down."

Cheng Zhao said, "I understand. But we should start preparing anyway."

The Second Madam: "..."

For the first time, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law discussed their respective dowry retainers.

The Second Madam hardly ever concerned herself with such matters. Her dowry retainers were all stationed elsewhere, taking care of her farms and shops, not serving within the manor.

"I only have seven families of dowry retainers. Two were sent away, and I have five left. Not that they're much use—each one of them is lazy and good for nothing.

My largest dowry estate is seven thousand mu of fertile farmland, all in one contiguous stretch. It's managed by a man who has served your father-in-law since he was young.

The rest are scattered plots of land—I let them muddle along, and I don't care whether they yield a harvest or not. As for my two shops and two residences, they're all rented out," the Second Madam said.

She quickly laid out the full details of her dowry for Cheng Zhao.

The Second Madam went on to say that her shops were in good commercial locations and had never lacked tenants; her houses were near the capital's prefectural office, so they were also easy to rent out.

"Mother, were all these dowry properties gifts your mother added later?" Cheng Zhao asked.

"One can tell at a glance," the Second Madam said with a laugh. "We got married on the frontier back then—how could we have afforded things like this?"

The situation was so turbulent in those days. The Fan family and the Zhou family were both military clans without much influence. Never mind residences near the government offices—even contiguous plots of farmland couldn't be bought.

Large contiguous fields were more expensive and highly sought after; it wasn't just a matter of money alone.

"They're all quite low-maintenance and easy to manage. Grandmother doted on you and thought everything through thoroughly for you," Cheng Zhao said, smiling.

"I wish she'd just given me silver instead—that would have been even easier," the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao: "..."

The Second Madam then asked Cheng Zhao about her own dowry.

Cheng Zhao gave a helpless laugh. "Haven't you seen my dowry list, Mother?"

A daughter-in-law's dowry list was always kept in her mother-in-law's hands. Even if the original wasn't kept, a copy would be made and given to the mother-in-law.

"...Why would I be bothered to read it? You can just tell me about it—it's the same thing," the Second Madam said.

So Cheng Zhao began to tell her.

It was much the same—farmland, shops, and residences.

Cheng Zhao's farmland wasn't particularly extensive—only three thousand mu—but she had eight shops and eight residences.

All eight residences were in the vicinity of the Six Ministries, which made them even easier to rent and fetch higher rents than the Second Madam's properties.

"That's quite impressive," the Second Madam said, marveling.

Besides what her natal family had given her, there were also the empress's gifts and those prepared by the Ministry of Rites. Cheng Zhao's dowry was exceedingly generous.

"How many families of dowry retainers do you have?" the Second Madam asked.

Cheng Zhao said, "Mother, this might come as a bit of a surprise to you."

"Quite a lot, is it?"

"I have seventeen families of dowry retainers," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam's eyes widened: !

Then she asked, "Where have they been stationed?"

"Only four families are in the manor; the rest are all outside. Of the four inside, they serve in the kitchens, the stables and carriage house, and the gatehouse," Cheng Zhao said.

"Then you certainly don't lack for people to use," the Second Madam said.

Then she added, "Huan Qingtang definitely doesn't have as big a dowry as yours, nor that many retainers."

"Ah, but we can't know that for sure."

The Second Madam thought for a moment. "Your First Aunt is restless too. How about I go sit a while in the Clear Breeze Courtyard and pump her for information? At this critical juncture, she's just looking to sell us a favor cheap—she might actually be willing to tell me something."

Cheng Zhao laughed. "Aren't you afraid she'll turn the tables and pump you instead?"

"I'll be on my guard against her," the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao encouraged the Second Madam to try all sorts of things: "Then go ahead and ask."

The Second Madam began to plan how she might go about it.

And she actually did go.

She went to pay her respects to the Grand Lady and offered up simmered beef soup; then she asked the Grand Lady, "I'd like to send a bowl to Sister-in-Law as well. She's moved to the Clear Breeze Courtyard, and I haven't been to see her yet."

The Grand Lady gave her a slightly surprised look. "That's a matter between you sisters-in-law. No need to ask me."

She knew the Second Madam had an ulterior motive, but she wasn't too concerned.

The Second Madam went to the Clear Breeze Courtyard.

The First Madam, née Song, was equally astonished.

The two sisters-in-law met, each harboring their own schemes, and chatted about this and that.

Then it suddenly struck the Second Madam that Song Shi was extremely eager to know what her real intention was in coming.

"...What am I trying to find out? Huan Qingtang is no match for my daughter-in-law, period. I'm not saying a word. Let them all guess!" A mischievous impulse rose in the Second Madam.

She didn't mention even half a word about dowries or retainers. Instead, she just talked about festivals and holidays; she also launched into a lengthy discussion about what flowers and plants to put in the courtyard.

The First Madam, née Song, was eager to pry something out of her, so she offered up a secret of her own: "Huan Qingtang and Yuancheng never consummated the marriage. Even back then, Yuancheng's health wasn't too good."

The Second Madam: !

There was no need to tell her that, really.

She felt like her ears were going to fall off.

Who wanted to hear gossip like that?

So what if Huan Qingtang had kept her virtue? The Second Madam didn't believe that Zhou Yuanshen was so lacking in spine that he'd be swayed by such news.

Zhao Zhao had said that Yuanshen was trustworthy.

Zhao Zhao trusted him, so the Second Madam believed her son had some depth to him and was steady on his feet.

She felt a little disgusted hearing it, but she didn't let it show on her face.

The First Madam then brought up Princess Qing'an's residence.

"What's been going on lately? Everywhere I turn, it's Princess Qing'an's residence?" the Second Madam suddenly thought.

It was eerie.

The Second Madam had a vague premonition that Princess Qing'an's husband might end up imprisoned because of the Sun family affair. The Sun family was the Grand Lady's natal clan, and the Second Madam's younger brother was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

But that wasn't of immediate concern.

Right now, the Second Madam just wanted to hurry back and share the secret she'd heard with Cheng Zhao.