Chapter 242: Epilogue (2)

Cheng Zhao had never heard that the Prince of Andong had a secondary consort.

Not only had she never heard of it, neither had her second sister-in-law or her sisters.

Her second sister-in-law asked Cheng Chao, “He has a secondary consort? When did that happen?”

Cheng Chao was equally bewildered. “I’ve been avoiding him lately and haven’t had any dealings with him for quite some time. I haven’t seen him in at least three months. Even when we met before, we never had the chance to talk at length.”

Then he added, “Could it be that dancer? The one the emperor bestowed upon him?”

“That dancer is called Xian Xiang. We ran into her at Jin’an Temple last time, and she was with Dowager Consort An,” Cheng Zhao said.

At the time, Xian Xiang had said that Xian Si was her younger sister and that she wanted to visit her at the Chen family residence. Cheng Zhao had refused.

Xian Si, however, had never mentioned her, nor had she ever said she wanted to leave the residence to visit her.

“It shouldn’t be her, should it? If a dancer became a secondary consort and still went out to attend social functions, wouldn’t the commandery prince and the dowager consort lose all face?” her eldest sister said.

“Enough guessing. Let’s go see for ourselves.” Third Sister stood up. “I’ll go with you.”

Cheng Chao also rose. “I’m coming too.”

The reception hall of Chengming Hall usually served as a meeting room. During the funeral, it was being used to entertain female mourners. At present, there was only one guest. She sat on one side with Cheng Zhao’s mother-in-law on the other, drinking tea and making polite conversation.

Cheng Zhao frowned slightly—not because the guest’s clothes were luxurious, brightly colored, and ostentatious, hardly appropriate for someone paying respects to the dead, but because six maids followed behind her.

Even Cheng Zhao, a duchess of the highest rank, brought at most two personal maids when visiting someone else’s home. Most of the time, she brought only one.

Such a grand retinue was rather strange.

Everything about this was strange.

Just as Cheng Zhao was about to enter, Cheng Chao suddenly strode forward. With practiced ease and excessive warmth, he said, “You must be the commandery prince’s secondary consort? I can’t believe we’ve never met.”

Then he added, “I’m Cheng Chao. The commandery prince and I have been friends since childhood. He got married without even inviting me to drink with him. He’s become rather distant from his friends. What could I possibly have done to offend him?”

At his display, Cheng Zhao and Cheng Ying exchanged glances, surprise in their eyes. The Second Madam was startled as well.

In her eyes, every one of the Cheng children had been raised with impeccable manners. Cheng Chao’s attitude was simply too ingratiating, and thoroughly improper.

She did not interrupt, merely turning to look at Cheng Zhao.

The commandery prince’s secondary consort rose and smiled. “Young Master Cheng, I’ve heard the commandery prince mention you many times. Meeting you is even better than hearing about you. You truly possess an extraordinary bearing, worthy of being Chancellor Cheng’s eldest grandson.”

She then looked toward Cheng Zhao and Cheng Ying.

Cheng Zhao was dressed in mourning clothes, with a white flower in her hair. It was immediately obvious that she was the Duchess of Chen.

“Duchess of Chen, I have accompanied the commandery prince here to pay our respects. Please accept my condolences,” she said.

With that, she stepped forward and reached for Cheng Zhao’s hand.

At that moment, Cheng Chao suddenly struck.

The short dagger in his hand dropped downward, its sheath flying free as a flash of cold steel shot toward the secondary consort. Because he had been standing close while speaking and moved with such speed, blood was drawn in an instant.

His blade slashed across the secondary consort’s face.

The commandery prince’s secondary consort stumbled back several paces, both enraged and shocked, and immediately struck back.

Cheng Zhao was stunned for a moment. Her mother-in-law, meanwhile, snatched up the decorative spear resting nearby and joined Cheng Chao.

A soft sword was concealed in Third Sister Cheng Ying’s sash.

Its blade was so flexible that it could not be used to block, but when swung, it was sharp enough to cut.

Suyue and Qiubai stood behind Cheng Zhao.

Suyue immediately shielded her. “Young Madam, be careful.”

Qiubai also had a dagger on her and rushed into the fight.

Without any apparent planning, the four of them quickly surrounded the commandery prince’s secondary consort. The six maids behind her froze for an instant before charging forward.

Each of them had concealed a weapon, though the weapons varied.

Cheng Zhao immediately withdrew from the reception hall.

“Prepare the small crossbows!” she ordered Suyue. “Quickly!”

Her maids knew how to use the small crossbows. Even if they merely struck threatening poses, the sight alone would be enough to intimidate people.

Suyue hurried off.

Fortunately, all of Cheng Zhao’s people were in Chengming Hall. Suyue opened the chests, and several maids grabbed the small crossbows without a word and rushed into the reception hall.

The fighting inside was fierce.

The seven women from Helian Xuan’s residence each had weapons hidden on them. Cheng Chao wielded a short dagger, which had limited power, while the Second Madam’s spear was merely a decorative piece.

Cheng Zhao turned around to look for proper weapons.

Zhou Yuanshen’s residence had several weapons suitable for combat. Cheng Zhao took a long spear and a long sword, then threw them to her mother-in-law and Cheng Chao.

“Catch!”

Qiubai and Cheng Ying moved in to take their places, while Cheng Chao first withdrew from the fight to catch the sword.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zhao’s maids had already formed a line behind her, crossbows raised protectively.

Suyue fired an arrow, striking one of the commandery prince’s maids in the shoulder. The woman’s weapon fell from her hand.

The secondary consort tried to charge toward Cheng Zhao, but stopped when she saw the maids holding crossbows. She had no idea how skilled they were, and Suyue’s arrow had been frighteningly accurate.

In truth, only Suyue and Qiubai knew how to use the weapons. The others did not, but their imposing presence was enough to make a convincing show. They were all remarkably good at bluffing.

When Cheng Zhao had first married into the family, even the Second Madam had been intimidated by that very display.

“Withdraw!” the secondary consort ordered under her breath.

They turned and tried to flee.

The Second Madam shouted sternly, “Don’t let them get away! Zhao Zhao, go call for reinforcements! Keep them here!”

She and Cheng Chao continued grappling with the secondary consort.

When the secondary consort found an opening and tried to escape, Cheng Ying ignored the maid fighting her and broke away to block the woman’s path. Her arm was slashed, but her soft sword struck the secondary consort.

The secondary consort staggered as the blade sank into her, blood gushing from the wound. Her strength gave out at once, and she collapsed.

The Second Madam’s spear pinned her down, and she planted one foot firmly on the woman.

The other women from the commandery prince’s residence immediately fell into disarray. They were clearly still capable of fighting, yet one by one, they panicked.

Suyue seized the opportunity to fire another arrow, while Qiubai followed up by stabbing one of them.

Only two maids remained. One had already fled to the rear window. Apparently uncertain that she could jump out safely—and afraid of being shot in the back—she threw down her weapon.

The other surrendered as well.

Cheng Zhao soon brought several sturdy servant women and male attendants to the hall.

Everyone pinned down the women from the commandery prince’s residence and bound them tightly.

Only then did the Second Madam speak. “What exactly are we doing?”

Blood from Cheng Ying’s right arm had run down to the back of her hand, but she seemed not to notice. She calmly wiped her soft sword clean.

“I don’t know,” she said.

The Second Madam: “...”

If you didn’t know, why had you fought as though your lives depended on it?

After calling for help, Cheng Zhao returned to the reception hall. She supported Cheng Ying. “Third Sister, is your injury serious?”

“Just a superficial wound. It isn’t deep.” Cheng Ying glanced at it.

Then she looked toward Cheng Chao. “What happened?”

Cheng Chao pointed at the woman who had been bound from head to toe, a deep bloody slash marring her cheek. “She’s one of Helian Xuan’s covert guards. I’ve seen her before.”

The secondary consort’s eyes flickered.

The Second Madam and Cheng Zhao both turned to look at her.

No wonder she had dressed so flamboyantly, drawing everyone’s attention to her clothes and distracting them from everything else. And because she seemed frivolous and extravagant, no one had thought it strange that she brought six maids with her.

They had come to cause trouble.

“What were they planning to do? Assassinate the Duchess of Chen?” the Second Madam asked.

“What were you planning to do?” Cheng Chao demanded directly of the covert guard.

The woman tried to bite through her tongue and kill herself, but Cheng Chao moved swiftly and seized her jaw, dislocating it.

“Lock them up. They won’t talk unless we use harsher methods,” Cheng Chao said. “These maids have some skill, but they aren’t death soldiers.”

Only then, amid the drifting snow and the biting winter wind, did Cheng Zhao belatedly realize that her clothes were soaked through with sweat.