Chapter 2: The In-Laws' Game

Armed and holding the line, Cheng Zhao took control of the situation.

Her mother-in-law, the Second Madam of the Zhou family, looked extremely displeased and immediately ordered her maid to bring out her spear.

However, she was stopped by Cheng Zhao's father-in-law, the Second Master Zhou.

"A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law fighting in the courtyard—if word of this gets out, or even reaches the imperial court, everyone will laugh at us, and others will get exactly what they want," the Second Master said.

The Second Madam snapped, "I don't care!"

"The First Branch will laugh."

The Second Madam immediately dropped her aggressive stance.

The couple did not tell the kneeling Cheng Zhao to rise, so Cheng Zhao stood up on her own.

She took a few steps closer, pressing toward the Second Madam. "Mother-in-law, could you bestow the jadeite bracelet on your wrist to your daughter-in-law?"

The Second Madam flew into a rage. "You..."

Without waiting for her to finish, Cheng Zhao slightly raised her voice, cutting her off. "Mother-in-law, why do you live in the Jiangyun Courtyard instead of Chengming Hall, the main courtyard of the Duke's estate?"

The Second Master gasped.

This daughter-in-law was truly fierce.

These words hit the Second Madam right where it hurt, and her face turned ashen.

Just as the Second Madam prepared to strike, Cheng Zhao did not retreat an inch. She stared directly into her eyes. "The Zhou family's noble title is hereditary and passes down without being downgraded.

It was only because the First Master and the two young masters of the First Branch passed away that the title fell to the Second Branch. Yet, even though your son has inherited the title, the honor seems to have nothing to do with the Second Branch.

The massive estate properties of the Duke's mansion, which bring in hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year, are controlled by the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the First Branch. The most prestigious main courtyard, Chengming Hall, is occupied by them as well.

As the Second Madam, you used to have to listen to the First Branch and were suppressed at every turn. Now, you still cannot turn things around. How could you not be resentful?"

The Second Madam froze.

She had not expected Cheng Zhao to have found out everything about the Zhou family.

Was it already widely known outside?

Then why wasn't anyone speaking up for her injustice?

"Mother-in-law, why is this?" Cheng Zhao asked.

The Second Master thought to himself: Why else? The Old Madam favors the First Branch, of course.

The Second Madam thought the same.

But Cheng Zhao said, "Because the Old Madam never intended for the Second Branch to inherit the family estate. If the eldest legitimate son of the First Branch hadn't suddenly died of illness, it wouldn't have been the Third Young Master of the Second Branch's turn. Moreover, with my father-in-law, a legitimate son, still alive, she let a legitimate grandson inherit the title. Why does she look down on the Second Branch so much?"

"Because she is biased!" the Second Madam said through gritted teeth.

Cheng Zhao smiled faintly. "Mother-in-law, this is not bias. You come from the estate of the Pillar of State General, and my father-in-law serves as a military official. The Third Young Master grew up at the border and served in the capital garrison after establishing military merits. The Second Branch carries the spirit of warriors in its blood."

"What's wrong with warriors?" The Second Madam grew angrier. "The Old Duke earned his title through military service, helping the late emperor conquer the realm."

She added, "The Old Madam comes from a scholarly family herself, so she looks down on military officials!"

The Second Master coughed lightly. "Do not speak ill of Mother."

The Second Madam retorted, "She's biased, and I'm not even allowed to complain?"

The Second Master was momentarily at a loss for words.

Cheng Zhao looked at her parents-in-law with a serene expression. "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, it is not that the Old Madam is biased. Since ancient times, families have been sustained by poetry and literature, not swords and spears.

For a family to endure for a century, the descendants must study to accumulate prestige and earn the respect of others.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the First Branch both come from scholarly families. The Old Madam values them because she is entrusting the family's century-long legacy to them.

Mother-in-law, given your background, as long as the Old Madam is alive, you will always be suppressed by your eldest sister-in-law."

The Second Madam also gasped.

It seemed to be the first time she had heard someone analyze it like this for her, and she looked at Cheng Zhao seriously.

"Mother-in-law, the Old Madam is very healthy. You will be suppressed for decades to come," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam: "..."

It was simply despairing.

She had never gotten along with her eldest sister-in-law, and they constantly competed with each other.

Losing at every turn was infuriating.

"...Then what should I do?" She asked Cheng Zhao, treating a dead horse as a living one in a desperate attempt.

Seeing that the conversation had reached this point, Cheng Zhao took a slight half-step back, her attitude becoming much more respectful. "Mother-in-law, haven't I married into the family?

You can count how many poets, famous scholars, and prime ministers the Cheng clan, a prominent family of Wu Commandery, has produced throughout the dynasties.

When it comes to nobility and a scholarly heritage, which of the maternal families of the First Branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has the right to be arrogant in front of the Cheng clan?"

The Second Madam: "..."

This was exactly what she hated about the Cheng clan.

Every single one of the noble young ladies from these cultured families was annoying.

"You need to know where the battlefield is," Cheng Zhao continued. "Only by knowing who the enemy is can you win.

What the Old Madam values is not the cleverness or household management skills of the First Branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but the 'heritage' behind them. From now on, what they have, we have too.

Mother-in-law, as long as we are of one mind, we can move into Chengming Hall within two years. That is the main courtyard of the Duke's mansion, and it should belong to us."

The Second Master gave his daughter-in-law a surprised look, then quickly averted his gaze. A father-in-law and daughter-in-law rarely crossed paths under normal circumstances, let alone stared at each other.

The Second Madam's eyes, however, lit up slightly.

Cheng Zhao looked at her. "Mother-in-law, can you give your daughter-in-law the jadeite bracelet on your wrist now? For today's traditional greeting ceremony, your daughter-in-law needs a 'talisman' to hold down the fort. Only with the precious bracelet you bestow upon me can I establish my footing."

The Second Madam hesitated for only a few breaths before taking off the bracelet.

She pulled Cheng Zhao's hand forcefully and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

"Don't be like those scholars, only having a sharp tongue. I want to see your real skills!" the Second Madam warned fiercely.

Cheng Zhao complied.

She withdrew her hand and smiled radiantly. "How shall the greeting ceremony begin, Mother?"

Changing 'Mother-in-law' to 'Mother'—she really knew how to push her luck.

But the Second Madam did not stay angry. Simply because Cheng Zhao's smile was like the first bloom of the morning glow, dazzlingly beautiful.

This daughter-in-law truly had a beautiful face.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the First Branch was pretty, but the Second Madam's daughter-in-law was not bad either.

Very well. Perhaps they really could win and vent this deep-seated frustration!

"Someone, prepare the firecrackers. Go and announce that the Duchess is about to perform the greeting ceremony," the Second Madam said.

Nanny Fan complied.

The Second Madam looked at Cheng Zhao again. "Tell your people to put away their small crossbows."

As if to save face, she added, "These flashy moves of your maids are nothing to look at. I come from the estate of the Pillar of State General."

Cheng Zhao gave Suyue a look.

The maids put away their small crossbows. One by one, they held their breath, lowered their eyes, and slightly hunched their shoulders, looking delicate and fragile.

The Second Madam was dumbfounded.

They could actually do that?

It was as if they hadn't been acting like fierce demons just a moment ago.

"Yes, my maids cannot compare to even a single hair of Mother's maids," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam snorted, as if to say, It is good that you know.

She walked outward, suddenly catching sight of the broken door latch at the courtyard gate. She turned back and asked, "Who kicked the door just now?"

She hadn't seen clearly at the time.

She had only seen Lady Cheng walking in with her people, unhurriedly and gently revealing their weapons.

It was simply shocking.

Cheng Zhao's tone was very light. "This door latch must have broken on its own due to years of disrepair."

She sighed, "Mother, your daughter-in-law truly feels wronged for you. This Jiangyun Courtyard is so dilapidated; how is it worthy of your status? You are the mother of the Duke."

The Second Madam: "..."