Chapter 212: Cheng Zhao Is Well-Informed

Huan Qingtang paid her respects to Second Madam.

Second Madam nodded slightly and took a small oiled cart to Shou'an Court. Since she had come to Chengming Hall, she naturally had to make an appearance at Shou'an Court as well, lest the Dowager Madame find fault.

Huan Qingtang's maid could not help but say, "Chengming Hall doesn't belong to the Second Branch, yet they all come running over."

Huan Qingtang said nothing, and stepped into Chengming Hall.

The five main rooms looked unchanged from the outside, but light spilled through the doorway, exceptionally lavish—the crystal beads at the entrance to the inner bedchamber were quite ostentatious.

Both cheap and conspicuous, like certain people.

Huan Qingtang looked away.

Cheng Zhao had also arrived early and was seated in the flower hall, flipping through the registry of names.

She had not managed affairs for over half a month, and her side had accumulated quite a lot of work. The stewards were all waiting for her decisions.

Even though matters were pressing, Cheng Zhao did not begin right away. She waited for Huan Qingtang to arrive.

The Dowager Madame had said that from now on, Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang would manage the household together—it was not Cheng Zhao's sole decision.

"Since everyone is here, shall we begin?" the chief steward asked the two young mistresses.

Cheng Zhao looked at Huan Qingtang: "Sister-in-law?"

Huan Qingtang nodded slightly and also picked up the registry.

The morning's business proceeded in the usual order, with each department reporting in turn.

Cheng Zhao handled matters with great efficiency.

Even though she had not attended to affairs for over half a month, she knew everything that happened in the household, down to the smallest detail.

For instance, regarding the invitations at the gate—which ones the Dowager Madame had already replied to, which required gifts and her decision—she knew them all by heart. The needlework department and the main kitchen's affairs, she managed with familiarity, without needing to ask for details.

Her manner intimidated the stewards. Huan Qingtang tried hard to contain herself, but could not help showing a trace of surprise.

When the morning ended, Cheng Zhao had her meal in Chengming Hall, unhurriedly.

As the others left Chengming Hall, they all discussed among themselves.

"The Third Young Mistress has eyes and ears everywhere. How many people has she bought over?"

"Who among us is her spy or confidant, we don't know. Best be careful from now on."

"She is the Duchess, and she has moved into Chengming Hall. This household is hers. The battle lines are clear. Anyone who still doesn't know where they stand is a fool."

In other words, Huan Qingtang's defeat was already certain.

The steward at the gate was not one of Cheng Zhao's people—he remained the Dowager Madame's trusted man.

But even during Cheng Zhao's absence from the residence, Cheng Zhao knew everything about the gate's affairs. The steward broke out in a cold sweat.

Who exactly was the spy beside him? If the Dowager Madame suspected him of betrayal, how would he defend himself?

"Perhaps I should simply switch allegiance," he said to himself. "The Dowager Madame is old. How much longer can she manage?"

If he threw in his lot with Cheng Zhao, the benefits in the future might be considerable.

After all, Cheng Zhao had brought few retainers with her. She would inevitably rely on the old stewards.

The gate steward's mind raced in turmoil, and his resolve was already wavering.

Huan Qingtang returned to Cuiyun Court.

Cuiyun Court was very close to Chengming Hall. She walked back in a few steps and sat down in silence.

"Eldest Young Mistress, have some tea to calm yourself," her trusted maid said, handing her a cup. "Don't worry."

"Cheng Zhao has quite the skill. That retreat of hers was a clever move. She leaves for half a month and comes back to win a stunning victory," Huan Qingtang said.

With three parts of effort, she gained a full ten parts of merit.

In less than two hours this morning, Cheng Zhao had secured the hearts of the stewards with her proficiency.

Even if they were not willing to be loyal to her, they would fear her.

Such skill, such worldliness, and such well-informed intelligence—how could any steward remain indifferent? Even Huan Qingtang herself had been deeply shaken.

"Don't rush," her trusted maid said to Huan Qingtang. "The Dowager Madame is more anxious than you. The one who doesn't want Cheng to manage the household is not you—it's the Dowager Madame."

What the Dowager Madame wanted was servants and stewards, not a mistress of the house.

What Cheng Zhao was encroaching upon was not Huan Qingtang's position, but the Dowager Madame's.

The Dowager Madame would be the first to find her intolerable.

"She's showing off too much. The Dowager Madame will become wary," the maid said.

Huan Qingtang silently stirred the floating tea leaves with her cup. A thought lingered on her lips, but she did not voice it: if the Dowager Madame were truly so formidable, Cheng Zhao would never have moved into Chengming Hall.

Cheng Zhao moving in meant that the Dowager Madame had lost ground.

Huan Qingtang did not know how Cheng Zhao—or rather, Zhou Yuanshen—had pressured the Dowager Madame.

Not only had the Dowager Madame allowed Cheng Zhao to move into Chengming Hall, but she had also taken out silver to distribute to each branch—not a few hundred taels as a token, but fifty thousand taels a year.

To cut flesh and let blood like that showed how badly the Dowager Madame was losing.

Huan Qingtang's father had a reputation but held a modest official rank. Many matters he did not know either. Huan Qingtang felt that the struggle between the Dowager Madame and Zhou Yuanshen might be playing out at court or in the palace, but she could not get word of it.

If she had Cheng Zhao's connections, she would have done better than Cheng Zhao.

"Grandmother is getting senile. At a time like this, she is still hiding things. If she doesn't want to keep losing, she should support me with everything she has," Huan Qingtang suddenly said.

Her trusted maid immediately replied, "Will you go speak with her?"

"I cannot speak to her face to face," Huan Qingtang said.

If she had to, she could tell Nanny Sun, and Nanny Sun would relay it to the Dowager Madame.

But because of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet incident, Huan Qingtang had offended Nanny Sun.

Now Nanny Sun guarded against Huan Qingtang as warily as she guarded against Cheng Zhao.

Over on Cheng Zhao's side, they were all of one mind—no one was dragging their feet. Everyone wished Cheng Zhao well and worked hard to support her. On Huan Qingtang's side, by contrast, everyone had their own schemes.

"I must try again," Huan Qingtang said.

Inside Chengming Hall, Cheng Zhao had finished her midday meal when Zhou Yuanshen's page boy Nanfeng arrived.

"...The garden's procurement has been switched to two new vendors," Nanfeng told Cheng Zhao.

During Cheng Zhao's absence, Nanfeng and Mingyu from the outer study had quietly gathered much information on her behalf.

The main kitchen staff had also contributed, passing on what they knew to Cheng Zhao's steward, Nanny Li.

Cheng Zhao listened quietly.

"This afternoon, I'll deal with the garden matter," Cheng Zhao said. "Once these affairs are straightened out, they probably won't dare stir up trouble deliberately anymore."

First intimidate the hearts of men. Once they dared not act recklessly, they would not be swayed into becoming others' tools.

Huan Qingtang excelled at driving others to make trouble while she stayed safely behind the scenes.

Cheng Zhao would first suppress the stewards and see what other tricks Huan Qingtang had when she no longer had people to move.

"Qiubai, give some money to Nanfeng," Cheng Zhao instructed. "Go buy yourself something good to eat. You did exceptionally well this time."

Nanfeng thanked her.

Then he added, "Young Mistress, if you're satisfied with my service, please don't forget to mention it to Lord Duke."

Everyone laughed at this.

Cheng Zhao smiled as well: "You're very clever, Nanfeng. Don't worry—men of real substance like you, Lord Duke will surely reward and promote."

That was the truth.

Given time, Nanfeng would surely become Zhou Yuanshen's right-hand man.

Young as he was, he was not just flexible in handling matters—he also thought long-term. That kind of foresight was nothing short of wise.

Cheng Zhao thought that, in the future, the chief steward of the ducal residence would be none other than Nanfeng.

Nanfeng was so delighted his eyes crinkled: "Thank you, Young Mistress."

Zhou Yuanshen returned to the residence in the evening, when the stewards had all left.

Cheng Zhao was not in Chengming Hall either.

"Young Mistress has gone to Jiangyun Court for the evening meal," Nanny Li told him.

Zhou Yuanshen headed to Jiangyun Court instead.

When he arrived, he happened to see his mother practicing with a spear, while Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanqi sat off to the side playing chess.

The Second Master had returned and, after changing his clothes, came out to wait for dinner.

The setting sun shone into the courtyard, bathing the little yard in a golden afterglow, cozy and lively.

“...Tonight we’re having sour radish duck soup,” Cheng Zhao told Zhou Yuanqi.

Zhou Yuanqi swallowed hard. “Fine, I’ll let you have two moves.”

Cheng Zhao: “Check!”

“I give you a courtesy, and you go for my throat?” Zhou Yuanqi’s little face scrunched up.

The Second Master came over to watch the game and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Zhou Yuanshen stepped into the courtyard.