Chapter 26: Look at Someone in a New Light

Second Madam really wanted to rush to Chengming Hall and confront First Madam.

She wanted to have a huge fight with First Madam.

As an elder and the mistress managing the Duke's estate, wasn't it too despicable for her to use such underhanded methods to frame a junior?

Cheng Zhao stopped Second Madam.

"Mother, we are in the right this time. If you make a scene, the focus will shift from the main kitchen to you. By then, even with reason on your side, you'll lose the high ground, and we'll be the ones suffering a loss again," Cheng Zhao said.

"How can I swallow this anger?" Second Madam said furiously. "How does your managing the main kitchen get in her way? You are the Duchess now. To think she would be so malicious."

With the slightest misstep, Cheng Zhao would not only be despised by Dowager Madame and slandered by the servants, but could even be involved in a deadly lawsuit.

This was a sin!

A person could be unkind, but to go to such lengths was truly enough to incur the wrath of both men and gods.

"Mother, if you can't swallow this anger, why not go horseback riding and relax? The next time you see Eldest Aunt, you must be smiling. Unless you never want to live in Chengming Hall," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam was speechless.

"Even at the border, one wouldn't wage a full-scale war over a single skirmish. When war breaks out, the goal is to conquer cities and seize territory. If you aren't fully prepared, you shouldn't tear away all pretenses on the surface," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam took several deep breaths.

Still feeling indignant, she left in a huff.

Nanny Li was somewhat worried. "Second Madam won't actually go make a scene, will she? We finally managed to gain the upper hand."

Cheng Zhao thought for a moment. "I think I managed to persuade her."

She added, "My mother-in-law is actually quite easy to get along with, it's just that her temperament is too straightforward."

Such a blunt personality was not very suitable for living in the inner courts of any noble household.

She should have gone with Second Master to his official post. Being the wife of a local magistrate in another region, the female family members of such a small place would curry favor with her. Even if she was straightforward, no one would dare say anything, and she could live freely.

Unfortunately, they didn't choose that path.

Second Madam probably did it for the children.

The brothers Zhou Yuanshen and Zhou Yuanqi had clearly received the very orthodox scholarly upbringing of the Duke's estate.

Even though Zhou Yuanshen had been in the military for years, he could still play the part of a noble young master and quickly conceal his martial aura upon returning to the capital. He must have received this kind of education for a long time.

Cheng Zhao thus deduced that Second Madam had always known what kind of personality and temperament was acceptable among the upper-class nobility in the capital.

Of course, knowing is one thing, but being able to do it is another.

Sometimes when First Madam provoked her, she really couldn't handle her momentary impulses, which was why she repeatedly exposed her true nature.

Straightforwardness was in her bones, making it very difficult to change.

She wasn't brainless or ignorant.

Cheng Zhao sometimes felt that she herself was just a bit cunning, knowing better than others how to use tactics, and mimicking whatever she learned quite well, but in her bones, she shared the same aloof pride as Second Madam.

She really admired Second Madam.

Kind and straightforward people, no matter how many flaws they had, earned Cheng Zhao's respect.

Sure enough, Second Madam endured this matter and didn't go to make a scene at Chengming Hall.

Second Master praised her, seemingly joking, "You've learned some shrewdness. This daughter-in-law of ours is a formidable female teacher; she can actually teach you."

Second Madam replied, "She's better at teaching than you. You can talk for ages without getting to the point."

"My son isn't as good as your daughter-in-law, and now I'm not as good as her either?"

"No one can compare to her!" Second Madam said.

Her daughter-in-law had good looks, a good brain, and was clever and capable. Just looking at her made Second Madam feel comfortable.

For several days in a row, the Chen Duke's estate was buzzing about this matter.

First Madam was still managing the household, so the servants didn't dare discuss her casually, but they inevitably gossiped in secret. After all, Nanny Liu from the main kitchen had been beaten and driven away; such news couldn't be hidden.

The replacement of a major steward involved many minor stewards and other menial servants.

The beating had been carried out publicly in the outer courtyard.

Since this had happened, naturally everyone from top to bottom wanted to know what exactly had happened to Nanny Liu.

"She used poisoned rice to cook charity porridge and was caught by the Third Young Madam."

"That day, Dowager Madame happened to be preparing to do some good deeds and saw it with her own eyes. Nanny Liu was so scared she confessed honestly. She even dragged First Madam down with her."

"I heard that First Madam has gone to Shou'an Courtyard to pay her respects these past few days, but has been turned away every time."

The servants didn't dare speak too harshly of First Madam, Madam Song; they only said Nanny Liu had committed a sin.

Of course, anyone with clear eyes knew what was really going on.

Second Madam's people asked around for news. Seeing First Madam suffer a setback made Second Madam very happy; she was cheerful every day and barely got angry anymore.

Hearing that First Madam was blocked at Shou'an Courtyard, Second Madam couldn't quite believe it, so she took a small carriage to Shou'an Courtyard early in the morning to pay her respects.

Sure enough, she saw First Madam standing in the courtyard.

Dowager Madame hadn't blocked her outside the courtyard—that would look like an evil mother-in-law tormenting her daughter-in-law—but she didn't let her enter the main hall either, simply leaving her to stand in the courtyard.

When Second Madam saw this, she was itching to go up and gloat with a few words.

Remembering Cheng Zhao's warning, she forcefully held herself back.

"...My daughter-in-law's small kitchen stewed some beef soup. There is a thick kind meant for dinner, which I'll bring to you next time, Mother; this kind is light and nourishing, perfect for a bowl at breakfast to keep your body warm all day," Second Madam said.

Dowager Madame glanced at her.

She said pointedly, "Second daughter-in-law, you've improved."

The meaning of this sentence was unclear.

Second Madam caught a hint of it, but she couldn't be bothered to figure it out: "Being filial to my mother-in-law is what a daughter-in-law should do. It was only after becoming a mother-in-law myself that I understood many principles."

Dowager Madame lost interest. "It's good that you understand. In all our years as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, I've had to endure so many of your complaints."

Second Madam was speechless.

I've complained my whole life, and you haven't changed one bit. In the end, I'm the one suffering. Who is enduring whom exactly?

Second Madam held back again and again, not talking back.

After delivering the soup, she left Shou'an Courtyard.

Dowager Madame said to her trusted aide, "She even knew to find an excuse when coming to watch a spectacle. The second daughter-in-law has indeed improved greatly. Has that Duchess from the second branch become incredibly resourceful?"

She looked at Cheng Zhao in a new light.

Regarding the poisoned rice in the main kitchen, Dowager Madame thought about Cheng Zhao's handling of it afterward and concluded there was no method more suitable than hers.

If Cheng Zhao had brought the poisoned rice to complain, Nanny Liu might have found an excuse and perhaps even turned around to falsely accuse her.

Cheng Zhao wasn't very familiar with the main kitchen yet. If Nanny Liu had time to prepare and struck first with a false accusation, Cheng Zhao might not have been able to take her down.

Then, according to Dowager Madame's temper, whoever was in charge of the task would bear the consequences, so Cheng Zhao would have been punished no matter what.

First Madam, Madam Song, had targeted Cheng Zhao precisely because she saw this point.

Unexpectedly, they had underestimated Cheng Zhao.

"...How much land does the Cheng family own?" Dowager Madame suddenly asked her aide. "The Cheng family has no noble title, though they are known as a prominent family of Wu Commandery. But how much wealth do they actually have?"

The aide was taken aback. "The Cheng family was a prestigious clan even in the previous dynasty. They supported the late Emperor, so their family assets didn't suffer much loss. Chancellor Cheng has served as an official for three reigns and is an old, crafty fox; the Cheng family is never seen flaunting their wealth. Outsiders aren't quite clear on exactly how much land they have."

She then asked Dowager Madame, "Why do you bring this up?"

"Cheng's insight is deeper than I imagined. She is still so young; if the Cheng family didn't have substantial resources, how could they have raised someone like her?" Dowager Madame said.