Chapter 24: Cheng Zhao's Quick-Wittedness

Whenever heavy snow fell or the summer heat became unbearable, prestigious families would always do some good deeds.

On snowy days, many people suffered from the cold and hunger. Setting up a porridge shed to distribute food was a way to accumulate virtue and do good.

First Madam entrusted this task to Cheng Zhao.

She repeatedly emphasized, "This is a major event, so you must not make any mistakes. If anything goes wrong, neither of us will be able to explain it to Dowager Madame."

Cheng Zhao recalled that First Madam had just mentioned "treating her well," and now this task had fallen into her lap. It was highly likely a trap.

"Rest assured, Eldest Aunt, I will be thorough in every aspect," Cheng Zhao replied.

On the day the porridge shed was set up, Cheng Zhao brought Nanny Li, Qiubai, and Suyue to inspect it, overseeing everything with her own eyes.

She inspected the porridge shed at the back gate over and over again, and repeatedly checked the pots and rice used for boiling the porridge in the main kitchen.

Distributing porridge wasn't a huge undertaking; her maiden family did it as well. One year, her mother had put her eldest sister in charge and asked Cheng Zhao to assist.

Her eldest sister had learned many things from their mother and taught them to Cheng Zhao one by one.

Cheng Zhao was young and playful back then, listening to her eldest sister half-heartedly. However, she had been clever since childhood and could achieve perfect results with only half the effort.

The next day, the Chen Duke's Mansion officially began cooking and distributing the porridge.

Cheng Zhao arrived at the main kitchen early and immediately caught a whiff of a strange odor.

In the freezing winter, amidst the steaming hot main kitchen, such a smell was not easy to detect, but she still noticed it.

Cheng Zhao walked a lap around the main kitchen and left immediately.

First Madam, Madam Song, was sitting in Chengming Hall.

Today's reports were delayed by half an hour because the stewards all had to go out and supervise the servants sweeping the snow.

"...Everything has been arranged properly, Madam," Madam Song's confidante, Nanny Liu, walked quietly into Chengming Hall and told her in a low voice.

First Madam took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and said after a long while, "That is very good. Hurry and get rid of that person. She sits there all day without making a sound, playing deaf no matter how much I scold her, staring at me like a venomous snake. She is truly difficult to deal with."

Nanny Liu nodded.

Cheng Zhao was indeed very skilled at using the underhanded tactics typical of girls from scholarly families.

Furthermore, her self-restraint was formidable; her temper was like damp firewood—impossible to ignite, only leaving the person trying to do so full of frustration.

The methods First Madam used against the Second Madam had absolutely no effect on Cheng Zhao.

Having dominated Chengming Hall for over a decade, First Madam subconsciously felt that everything would be hers in the future, and she would be the ultimate matriarch of the Zhou family.

Cheng Zhao was an invader.

How could anyone like a wild beast that invaded their territory?

With dissatisfaction and a sense of crisis coexisting, she naturally had to clear her out as early as possible.

"How has Lady Huan offended Dowager Madame these past few days?" First Madam, Madam Song, took another sip of tea.

Dowager Madame had called Lady Huan to Shou'an Courtyard these past few days, asking her to lead people in helping sort Buddhist beans, which were to be donated to Jin'an Temple during the New Year.

This task was extremely time-consuming and tedious. Unless one was a devout Buddhist, it felt like torture.

Huan Qingtang had already been going there for several days.

This had never happened before.

Huan Qingtang was First Madam, Madam Song's, capable assistant. While she didn't harbor any hypocritical mother-daughter affection for her daughter-in-law, she ultimately still viewed her as a trusted confidante.

She was very protective of her own confidantes.

Therefore, by suppressing Cheng Zhao, she could divert Dowager Madame's anger and conveniently kick Cheng Zhao out of the main kitchen.

"First Madam, do you need this old servant to go and ask around for you?" Nanny Liu asked her.

First Madam waved her hand. "Forget it. Lady Huan is of the younger generation; let Dowager Madame punish her to vent her anger. It's better than the old lady holding it all in for the New Year, which would make everyone miserable."

She added, "Go back and keep an eye on the porridge shed. Don't let that Cheng woman pull any tricks."

Nanny Liu complied.

Cheng Zhao came out of the main kitchen and whispered a few words to Suyue.

Suyue, having great tacit understanding with her, went to do it immediately without the slightest hesitation.

The porridge still needed to boil for a while longer, so Cheng Zhao went to Shou'an Courtyard.

When she entered, several stewards from the outer courtyard were standing respectfully before Dowager Madame in Shou'an Courtyard.

One of them was the head steward. Cheng Zhao knew him; his wife managed the storehouse of Shou'an Courtyard—a slightly plump woman with an amiable smile.

The servants secretly called the couple "smiling tigers."

"Third Young Madam," everyone addressed Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao nodded slightly.

Dowager Madame sat in the main seat, smiling. "Why have you come?"

"Grandmother, the snow was too heavy yesterday, and it doesn't look like it will stop today. Eldest Aunt asked me to distribute charity porridge," Cheng Zhao said.

Dowager Madame replied, "You come from a prestigious family in Wu Commandery. You can handle such a small matter well. Your Eldest Aunt has a good eye for people."

Cheng Zhao smiled brightly. "With Grandmother trusting me, I absolutely dare not mess things up. I checked the almanac early this morning, and today is the birthday of the Goddess of Plum Blossoms."

Dowager Madame was slightly surprised. "Is that so?"

"Starting from this hour, the Goddess of Plum Blossoms descends to the mortal realm and will not return until the Beginning of Spring. On such a grand day, I thought that since Grandmother is a devout Buddhist, perhaps you would prefer to do some good deeds with your own hands?" Cheng Zhao said.

Dowager Madame pondered.

She cast a quiet glance at Cheng Zhao, her expression unreadable.

Cheng Zhao added, "I'm not asking Grandmother to go out and distribute porridge. How could you withstand such cold weather? You just need to go to the main kitchen and stir the large porridge pot. I've already sent someone out to spread the word that today, the Dowager Madame of the Duke's Mansion is personally making offerings to the Goddess of Plum Blossoms by doing good deeds."

Dowager Madame's gaze instantly sharpened.

Cheng Zhao met her gaze, her clear eyes blinking, looking very innocent.

"Our Zhou family is used to keeping a low profile. From now on, you must not spread such words and cause such a commotion," Dowager Madame said.

Cheng Zhao replied, "Yes, I will remember Grandmother's teachings."

Dowager Madame said, "Go and keep an eye on the porridge shed first."

Just as she finished speaking, the steward from the gatehouse rushed hurriedly into Shou'an Courtyard.

"Dowager Madame, word has spread outside that you are honoring the Goddess of Plum Blossoms today. The Dowager Consort of the Rong Prince's Mansion has sent some incense, candles, and modest gifts."

Dowager Madame slightly clenched her fingers, though a smile still floated on her face. "We have lived next to the Rong Prince's Mansion for so many years. Whenever there is an event, the Dowager Consort is always the first to show support."

She stood up with a smile. "Send someone to deliver a return gift of thanks to the Dowager Consort."

Only then did she look at Cheng Zhao. "Let's go. We'll head to the main kitchen to take a look. It's been many years since I last boiled porridge."

Cheng Zhao complied.

Huan Qingtang walked out from the side room. She had heard everything Cheng Zhao just said.

She smiled and exchanged greetings with Cheng Zhao before saying, "I shall also accompany Grandmother to the main kitchen."

She then ordered the managing women, "Prepare a soft palanquin."

As Dowager Madame set off from here, Huan Qingtang's senior maid immediately went to deliver a message to Chengming Hall.

First Madam, Madam Song, was reviewing the recent invitations from the gatehouse, preparing which ones to reply to and what gifts to send, when she suddenly heard Huan Qingtang's senior maid report that Dowager Madame had gone to the main kitchen.

She was struck as if by lightning.

"How, how did this trouble Dowager Madame?" Madam Song stood up, her face pale with shock.

Seeing this, the senior maid smiled and said, "You should go over and take a look too. We wouldn't want Dowager Madame to lack people serving her."

It was a hint for her to hurry over and quickly put away any tricks she had planned.

If this blew up, Dowager Madame would show no mercy.

First Madam, Madam Song, hurriedly ordered a maid to fetch her wooden clogs. The snowy ground outside was hard to walk on, so she needed to put on the clogs to go to the main kitchen.

She walked extremely fast, almost slipping several times, desperately trying to get there ahead of Dowager Madame.

However, Dowager Madame's group had already set off long ago. By the time she arrived, Nanny Liu from the main kitchen was already kneeling on the ground.

First Madam Song's vision went dark and her legs grew slightly weak. She only managed to steady herself by holding onto her maid's hand.