Chapter 20: Argument

First Madam Song strongly disliked Cheng Zhao.

With the Old Madam absent, she couldn't even be bothered to pretend.

"Here are the account books and tallies for the main kitchen, along with the keys to its storehouse. Keep them safe." The displeasure in the First Madam's tone was evident from her slightly furrowed brows.

The managers and stewards were all stealing glances at them.

Cheng Zhao, however, maintained a respectful and polite attitude as she accepted them: "If there is anything I fall short on in the future, please point it out clearly, Eldest Aunt. I will correct my mistakes if I have made any, and strive to do better if I haven't."

"I wouldn't dare. You were appointed by the Old Madam, how could you fall short? Are you saying that the Old Madam made a poor judgment in appointing people?" the First Madam asked.

Cheng Zhao smiled: "Grandmother's decisions are naturally a million times perfect. It's just that I feel a bit timid in front of you, Eldest Aunt, and I'm afraid of making mistakes out of panic."

"There's no need for that," the First Madam said. "Just do your job well. You don't need to speak such glib words in front of me."

This "reprimand" was like a sudden downpour, completely merciless.

The stewardesses occasionally peeked at Cheng Zhao.

The young "Duchess" might have her eyes turn red from anger.

Today was her first day on the job. Whether she cried from anger or talked back to her aunt out of frustration, the First Madam would have an excuse to pin a crime on her.

The first day was crucial. Once trampled down, it would be very difficult to climb back up later.

Cheng Zhao, however, never changed her expression.

A faint smile lingered on her face, gentle and quiet.

For the whole morning, the First Madam ignored Cheng Zhao; Cheng Zhao didn't say a word either, sitting quietly to the side, maintaining a focused and gentle expression as she listened.

During the noon break, Cheng Zhao retreated from Chengming Hall.

Among the stewardesses, someone had already gone to Shou'an Courtyard to report everything that happened this morning to the Old Madam.

"...She has a good temper and impressive self-restraint," the old servant said.

The Old Madam said: "How could the girls of the Cheng family be pushovers? The Empress arranged for such a person to enter the Duke of Chen's mansion, who knows what her intentions are."

She added, "To secure the Crown Prince's position, the Empress will resort to any extreme. Unfortunately, she has miscalculated."

Cheng Zhao was merely a pawn caught in the struggle.

The Old Madam didn't really take her seriously.

Let alone Cheng Zhao, the entire inner residence was in the Old Madam's palm.

First Madam Song seemed to have some power, but it was nothing more than the Old Madam still needing to use her and being too lazy to teach her a lesson.

"Let's wait and see. If it really doesn't work out, we'll have Lady Huan manage the household affairs," the Old Madam said.

She had a very good impression of Huan Qingtang.

As for First Madam Song, she was cautious when she was young; now that she was older, she had become spoiled, losing her past prudence and intelligence, and becoming a bit arrogant and ignorant.

Indeed, without competition, a person will slowly become lazy and corrupt.

The First Madam had lived a good life for too long.

"Where is Lady Cheng dining at noon?" the Old Madam asked.

She wanted to send one of her own dishes to Cheng Zhao to secretly support her and give First Madam Song a warning.

"She said she is resting at Chenhui Courtyard for noon," the stewardess said.

When this stewardess left, she specifically asked Cheng Zhao.

She was the Old Madam's confidante and often thought ahead of her.

Today was Cheng Zhao's first day on the job. The Old Madam might or might not ask where she was resting at noon. She couldn't be ignorant when her master asked; she had to prepare for a rainy day.

The Old Madam indeed asked.

Hearing the words "Chenhui Courtyard", the Old Madam slightly turned her face.

She was a bit surprised.

There were truly not many things that could surprise her.

"It seems the Duke is very satisfied with Lady Cheng," the Old Madam said.

The old servant replied yes in a low voice, not really daring to say more.

The Old Madam pondered for a moment, called her senior maid in, and told her to set aside a dish from Shou'an Courtyard and send it to Chenhui Courtyard for Cheng Zhao to eat.

The senior maid left.

The east main room of Chenhui Courtyard hadn't been tidied much overnight.

There were just a few pieces of furniture and a small bed; on the heated brick bed by the window, there was a resting pillow and a low table; on the table were a few books.

Cheng Zhao's mother-in-law had sent her own people to deliver food to Chenhui Courtyard early on, afraid that Cheng Zhao would go hungry; the maid Qiubai went to the main kitchen to fetch Cheng Zhao's daily food allowance and was waiting in the room.

Just as she was about to eat, the Old Madam's maid arrived.

She added a dish of braised chicken with quail eggs for Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao stood up and thanked her, asked Qiubai to reward the senior maid, and saw her out.

She couldn't let people stay in Chenhui Courtyard for long.

During the noon break, she just took a casual nap on the large heated brick bed by the window.

After a whole day, Cheng Zhao found that there was almost nothing for her to do. Her tasks could be finished in half the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

But she had to spend the whole day in Chengming Hall.

Cheng Zhao wasn't afraid of waiting around.

She just listened quietly, watching how the First Madam and Huan Qingtang managed affairs, silently memorizing it all.

In three days, Cheng Zhao had figured out the general workings of the inner residence of the Duke of Chen's mansion.

It was similar to her maiden home.

Cheng Zhao's mother was the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest branch. When she managed the household, her daughters-in-law and unmarried daughters all had to stand by and learn.

She never said anything.

Even if the First Madam intentionally suppressed her and spoke harshly, Cheng Zhao didn't argue with her, just silently kept it in mind.

On the fourth day, the First Madam felt a bit unwell when she woke up.

She told Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang that they would rest for an hour at noon, as she was very tired from holding up all morning; whether they would continue working in the afternoon depended on her condition after resting, and told them to wait for word.

Cheng Zhao returned to Chenhui Courtyard.

Since the noon break was long this time, Cheng Zhao took off her outer clothes and rested on the bed, rather than just napping on the heated bed by the window.

Qiubai slept at the foot of the bed.

Later, Cheng Zhao was nudged awake by Qiubai.

Listening closely, there were two men talking in the outer room.

It wasn't Zhou Yuanshen and a page boy, but him and his father.

Qiubai hinted to Cheng Zhao with her eyes.

The master and servant weren't quite sure if Zhou Yuanshen knew Cheng Zhao hadn't left yet, after all, the noon break had already passed.

Cheng Zhao listened carefully; her father-in-law's voice was a bit loud.

"...The path of power is piled with white bones. Hasn't our family committed enough sins in the past? Why must you do these things?

Those families whose homes were raided and confiscated, which one wasn't made of living people? Ah Shen, you have already gained so much. Why must you do these things for the Emperor?" her father-in-law said.

"If I don't do it, there are plenty of others who will," Zhou Yuanshen said. "It is the natural order for a minister to die if the sovereign commands it. It doesn't count as committing a sin."

His father then said: "That is their business. If you don't accumulate virtue, what kind of end will you face in the future? Beneath which noble title is there not a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood?"

Zhou Yuanshen seemed to say something.

The voices of the father and son lowered a bit.

Cheng Zhao vaguely heard her father-in-law say: "You promised your grandmother to inherit both branches. Have a child with the daughter-in-law of the eldest branch, and return the title to them.

Ah Shen, we don't need these things. Back then, your grandfather left me enough property to ensure you three brothers live a life of comfort for the rest of your lives."

"Being controlled by others, I can tolerate; but asking me to act as a breeding stud..."

"My Lord Duke, is the Madam awake? A sister from Chengming Hall is here," a page boy called out loudly.

The voices of Zhou Yuanshen and the Second Master came to an abrupt halt.

The room was terrifyingly quiet for a moment.

Cheng Zhao facepalmed.

The father and son truly had not known that Cheng Zhao hadn't left yet.

However, Cheng Zhao hadn't heard any grand secrets.

Which family's ancestral title and estate weren't built on the saying 'one general's success costs the lives of ten thousand'? They were all obtained by stepping on countless corpses.

If one really dug into it, no family's ancestors had clean hands.

As for the matter of Zhou Yuanshen taking Huan Qingtang as a co-wife, Cheng Zhao had long since heard about it from her grandfather.

"...Are you awake?" Zhou Yuanshen asked Cheng Zhao as he stepped up to the curtained doorway.

"I just woke up, My Lord Duke," Cheng Zhao replied. "I will get up right away."