Chapter 241: Epilogue (1)
On the seventeenth day of the eleventh month, snow was still falling over Shengjing.
Compared with yesterday, today’s snowfall was lighter, like willow catkins drifting in early spring.
The snow on the streets had been trampled into slush, blending with the mud until everywhere was a mire. Both people and horses were liable to slip.
The Duke of Chen’s residence was holding a funeral, while the residence of the Pillar of State General was holding a wedding.
Late in the morning, Cheng Zhao’s family came to offer their condolences.
Her brothers and sisters had arranged to come together to the Duke of Chen’s residence. Cheng Zhao left the various funeral arrangements to her mother-in-law and led her family to Morning Radiance Court beside Chengming Hall, where they could speak in private.
“...We were all shocked when we heard the news. Grandfather immediately sent people out to make inquiries, to see whether there were any rumors detrimental to your husband,” said Cheng Zhao’s second brother, Cheng Yan.
“Thank you, Second Brother,” Cheng Zhao said. “Dowager Madame simply passed away from illness. Yuanshen and I have been filial. Not a single person from her maternal family has said anything against us.”
Her second brother gave a slight nod. “I sent people to ask around, and everyone was indeed surprised. There were no unpleasant rumors. Grandfather and Father and Mother were able to set their minds at ease.”
Zhou Yuanshen had not left behind the slightest suspicion that anyone could seize upon and use for gossip.
When Dowager Madame had vomited blood, Nanny Sun had concealed it from Zhou Yuanshen and summoned an imperial physician. That could be verified.
For an elderly person, there could be nearly half a month between vomiting blood and death. It made perfect sense. The vomiting might simply have been a sign that her illness had reached its final stage.
Afterward, Nanny Sun had summoned Master Qingshan, then Master Zhao, and finally a nephew from Dowager Madame’s maternal family to come and visit her.
Everything suggested that Dowager Madame had been on the verge of death, and that her loyal servant had merely been making a frantic, futile attempt to keep her alive.
They had concealed it from Zhou Yuanshen.
Zhou Yuanshen had had to seek the emperor’s permission in the Imperial Study before he could go and visit Dowager Madame. This, too, had reached the ears of the court officials.
Every detail indicated that Dowager Madame’s death had not been unexpected.
The suspicious one was Huan Qingtang’s death.
But who cared?
She had been a widow from an insignificant family. She had no parents-in-law or husband, no children, and no rank or title bestowed upon her. People were not particularly interested in discussing her.
The only thing they could talk about was probably the disgrace she had suffered at Prince Jingnan’s residence.
“I heard that your elder sister-in-law’s reputation has been ruined,” said Cheng Zhao’s second sister-in-law, Yin Linglang. “She used the Duke to marry into the Zhou family and has already earned everyone’s contempt. Everyone knows it.
“Now that Dowager Madame is dead, she may fall into your hands and your husband’s. She must have feared that you would take revenge, and that her own family might be implicated.
“So she followed Dowager Madame in death. Perhaps the emperor, moved by her filial devotion and loyalty, will promote her father. At the very least, she has won her family a good reputation.”
“The Duke had people spread that explanation,” Cheng Zhao said.
“It makes perfect sense,” her third sister said. “Whatever old grievances there may have been, we need to make the story coherent and stop it from casting further suspicion on you and your husband.”
Cheng Zhao nodded.
Her family cared about her. They had all come to support her, and she felt her strength returning.
No matter how busy or exhausted she was, she no longer felt worn down.
Her grandfather, her parents, her brothers, her sisters-in-law, and her sisters would always stand behind her.
Cheng Zhao had been blessed with so much.
Her eldest sister even said, “Should I stay and help you manage things? Right now, you have only yourself and a single pair of hands.”
Her eldest brother-in-law added, “I can send the children to the Cheng family residence, where Mother-in-law can help look after them. Let your eldest sister stay here with you.”
Cheng Zhao’s heart grew warm.
Even with the ground frozen and the weather bitterly cold outside, she felt surrounded by warmth.
She shook her head. “I plan to take this opportunity to bring all my household stewards and attendants into the estate. Once the funeral is over, I’ll spend a large sum of money. Any managers who are willing to retire can take the money and leave.
“I expect at least half of them will be willing to go. If they stay, their monthly wages, together with the retirement stipends they’ll receive later, won’t amount to much.
“The remaining managers will be fewer in number and weaker in influence, so they won’t dare make too much trouble. This way, my own people won’t dare become too arrogant, but they also won’t be so constrained that they can’t act.”
Cheng Zhao intended to make use of them, but she would not rely solely on them.
With the two sides evenly matched, both would have to curry favor with her and strive to become her trusted aides. As a result, both sides would work hard to prove themselves.
Her second sister-in-law could not help laughing. “What a clever plan! I always said our little sister was the smartest. Mother really never needed to worry about you.”
Her eldest sister also breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I don’t need to worry about you working yourself to exhaustion.”
She urged Cheng Zhao repeatedly, “Get plenty of rest. You don’t need to do everything perfectly. As long as things are passable, that’s enough. From now on, you’re the lady of the house.”
Cheng Zhao nodded.
The Cheng siblings chatted for quite some time, surrounding Cheng Zhao the entire while.
Qiubai entered and said to her, “Young Madam, Prince of Andong has come to offer his condolences. The Duke is receiving him outside.”
Cheng Zhao’s expression changed. “He actually dares come here!”
Her third sister placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t get angry. Don’t let him provoke you so easily.”
She continued, “He came to offer his condolences—that is only proper etiquette. Once he has paid his respects, he’ll leave.”
“He murdered Dowager Madame!” Cheng Zhao said.
Cheng Zhao’s eldest brother-in-law remained silent for a long while.
When her second brother saw that he was not speaking, he asked, “Eldest Brother-in-law, is something wrong?”
“What does Prince of Andong hope to gain by arranging all of this?” Du Anli said. “He should understand better than anyone that His Majesty trusts your husband not because of Dowager Madame.”
“I also don’t believe he did all this merely to sever the Zhou family’s close relationship with the emperor,” her third sister said. “That man is deeply sinister.”
Several people turned to Cheng Chao.
Cheng Chao was in an awkward position. “I truly have no idea what Prince An and his son were doing in Qinzhou. Helian Xuan never revealed any secrets to me.
“Back then, he only associated with me because he was infatuated with our little sister and hoped to befriend her. Who could have known that she would want nothing to do with him, and that one of her attendants would die afterward?”
Cheng Zhao abruptly turned to him. “Don’t disgust me!”
Cheng Chao fell silent.
Her third sister then said, “It’s true, Zhaozhao. Back then, Dowager Consort An was afraid that Helian Xuan would ask to marry you, so she requested that Empress Guo arrange a marriage for you. She wanted to marry you off to just anyone.”
Cheng Zhao was somewhat surprised.
So that had been the truth.
The scheme was hardly impressive—not painful or damaging in the slightest. Instead, it had given Cheng Zhao such an excellent marriage.
“I married the Duke of Chen. Was Dowager Consort An out of her mind? How was that supposed to harm me?” Cheng Zhao said.
The youngest duke in the dynasty—how could he possibly be inferior to a prince?
Besides, Zhou Yuanshen was far more handsome than Helian Xuan, and much more imposing. He might not be especially obedient, but his parents-in-law were easy to get along with, and his younger brother was adorable. Apart from being quiet, Zhou Yuanshen was efficient and considerate in everything he did.
Cheng Zhao had been extremely fortunate in her marriage.
She really ought to thank Dowager Consort An.
“Dowager Consort An simply didn’t want you to marry Prince of Andong; she wasn’t trying to ruin your life. Our family isn’t one that Dowager Consort An and Empress Guo could manipulate at will.
“If the marriage had been too humiliating, Dowager Consort An’s scheme would never have succeeded. And Empress Guo must have had her own reasons for cooperating with her,” her third sister said.
Everyone came from powerful, distinguished families. Whenever they acted, who did not weigh the benefits and consequences?
Could Empress Guo really have been moved solely by an old friendship, rushing to resolve Dowager Consort An’s problem and avenge her without a second thought?
“I should thank Dowager Consort An,” Cheng Zhao said.
Then she added, “I never felt that Helian Xuan was in love with me.”
A young man’s infatuation was a blazing, passionate thing. How could anyone fail to sense it?
Cheng Zhao hardly ever thought about love, yet even she could tell how much Zhou Yuanshen cared for her.
If she had felt nothing, then there had been nothing to feel. Helian Xuan had not loved Cheng Zhao as much as he claimed.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his pride mattered more to him than his feelings for Cheng Zhao.
He wanted Cheng Zhao to submit to him.
As if she would ever agree!
Just then, the maid Suyue came in and said, “Young Madam, the women from the Prince of Andong’s residence have also come to offer their condolences. They would like to see you and offer you a few words of comfort on behalf of the prince.”
Cheng Zhao asked, “Is Dowager Consort An here?”
“No. It’s one of the prince’s secondary consorts,” Suyue replied.
Cheng Zhao frowned.