Chapter 34: Seen by Him

Cheng Zhao took her time getting out of bed.

She did not call anyone in to serve her, but looked at herself in the mirror.

There were indeed bruises on her waist and shoulders. They were not too severe, much like the bumps and scrapes from childhood.

She gently rubbed the blue marks and sighed.

A cough sounded from behind her.

Cheng Zhao slowly turned her head.

She saw Zhou Yuanshen entering the inner bedroom holding a book.

Cheng Zhao hurriedly pulled her inner garments together. However, he had already seen her with her top off, admiring herself in the mirror.

She felt extremely embarrassed.

"With a figure like yours, Madame Duke, there is no need to sigh," he said.

It sounded like a joke, yet also a genuine attempt to comfort her.

Cheng Zhao frowned.

He had already stepped forward.

Her hastily wrapped inner garment still revealed a bit of skin. He casually lifted it and saw her waist.

Cheng Zhao swatted his hand hard.

A loud slap echoed.

"Has the Lord Duke not gone to work?" After hitting him, she felt a bit of regret and spoke up to cover it up.

Looking up at him, his expression was completely placid, showing neither joy nor anger.

Zhou Yuanshen took two steps back and said indifferently, "I am on leave today."

"Would the Lord Duke like to move to another place? My Eldest Sister is coming to visit today."

"Invite brother-in-law to come as well," he said. "We brothers-in-law can play chess, it won't delay your chatting."

Cheng Zhao: "Brother-in-law has no time. He has a lot of official business after returning to the capital."

Zhou Yuanshen took a book from the small shelf next to the kang table in the inner bedroom: "I will go to Chenhui Courtyard to read. Send someone to find me if there is anything."

He turned and left.

Only then did Cheng Zhao call people in to serve her.

Remembering how he had seen her looking in the mirror without clothes just now, Cheng Zhao was so frustrated she wanted to bang her head against the wall.

"...Have someone distribute the gifts brought back yesterday to Dowager Madame and my mother-in-law, and tell them that I am receiving my Eldest Sister as a guest today," Cheng Zhao ordered after washing up.

Suyue complied.

Mid-morning, her Eldest Sister arrived.

Cheng Zhao waited for her at the main gate.

She led her to see Dowager Madame first.

Eldest Sister brought gifts for Dowager Madame, including a box of sea pearls, each one perfectly round. Even in the capital, in a prominent family like the Zhou family, it would not be easy to find such large and plump sea pearls.

Dowager Madame said, "You are too polite, Madame."

"These are just some worldly items to show my filial respect, please do not disdain them. My youngest sister is a clever and smart child; with your guidance, she will surely have a great future. I respect and thank you from the bottom of my heart," Eldest Sister smiled.

Dowager Madame praised her repeatedly.

Accompanying them was the First Young Madame, Huan Qingtang.

Huan Qingtang felt that when Cheng Zhao's Eldest Sister socialized, her approach was the same as Cheng Zhao's: she was good at flattering others while also elevating herself.

Neither haughty nor humble.

The person who raised them must have a profound background.

This demeanor was worth learning, and Huan Qingtang admired it.

It was a pity that Cheng Zhao's Eldest Sister had a very ordinary marriage. As the legitimate eldest daughter of an aristocratic family, she only married a third-rank Cavalry General with no family background.

After sitting at Dowager Madame's place for a while, they went to Second Madame's courtyard.

They also gave some local specialties.

All were rare and expensive.

Second Madame was overjoyed and asked a lot about the garrison at the East Sea defense line.

Cheng Zhao's Eldest Sister was very cautious in this regard, almost claiming ignorance to every question.

"...Last time, my youngest sister asked the family to help inquire with the booksellers in Zhouhai whether they had swindled Young Master Zhou's money.

Those booksellers are all familiar with my fourth brother. Upon being asked, they admitted it was unethical and their fault. The banknotes have been returned." Eldest Sister handed another small box to Second Madame.

Seeing that she used a box to hold it, Second Madame was stunned for a moment.

How much money must this be?

Opening it to take a look, Second Madame almost fainted: "This little brat, spent thousands of taels to buy a calligraphy copybook?"

"Five thousand taels," Cheng Zhao smiled.

Second Madame: "...I must break his legs tonight. No wonder he went to his grandmother for money last time and kept it from me.

His grandmother even said that a child asking for some money is harmless; and buying a calligraphy copybook is a scholarly pursuit, so any amount of money is worth spending."

She couldn't help but want to spit, "No matter how scholarly it is, it's not worth five thousand taels."

Cheng Zhao and Eldest Sister were both amused.

"As for the booksellers..."

"They seek my grandfather's calligraphy and paintings, and my fourth brother is friends with them. They usually make a lot of money from the Cheng family. To get them to spit the money out, my fourth brother treated them to a meal with wine," Cheng Zhao smiled.

Second Madame: "Then I must thank the Fourth Master. Later, I will have Yuanshen invite his brother-in-law for a drink."

Cheng Zhao agreed.

Speaking of Master Qu Lian's calligraphy copybooks, they can now sell for a thousand taels a copy on the market, but unfortunately, there is demand but no supply.

Forgeries are disastrously common.

Cheng Zhao's fourth brother stole the authentic works from home and gave them to the booksellers, allowing them to pass off fakes as genuine.

Of course, as to how much benefit the fourth brother gained from this, he would not say a word to outsiders, and even their grandfather was unaware.

When the fourth brother asked them to refund the money, they did so straightforwardly.

Leaving Jiangyun Courtyard, Eldest Sister said, "Your mother-in-law has a rather straightforward personality."

"She is very direct."

"That is very good, it makes getting along easy," Eldest Sister said.

Cheng Zhao nodded.

She led Eldest Sister back to Nonghua Courtyard.

Because Eldest Sister gave a gift that pleased Dowager Madame, the banquet sent from the main kitchen at noon was truly rich.

There were also four additional dishes added by Dowager Madame for Nonghua Courtyard.

Second Madame also added dishes.

The meal was very enjoyable.

In the afternoon, Cheng Zhao saw Eldest Sister off.

After Eldest Sister returned to the capital, Cheng Zhao was a bit absent-minded while handling affairs at Chengming Hall.

First Madame, Madam Song, having suffered a minor setback, was also a bit more clear-headed and much more polite to Cheng Zhao, maintaining a superficial harmony.

However, having lost a key subordinate, she harbored even more resentment toward Cheng Zhao in her heart.

Being busy with various matters recently, Madam Song clearly had her own calculations, and she was just as absent-minded as Cheng Zhao.

The tasks at the main kitchen were simple, so Cheng Zhao asked her for a leave of absence.

"Dowager Madame has already said that after the New Year, the managers of the main kitchen will go to Nonghua Courtyard to report," Madam Song said to Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao: "It is hard on the managers to run so far, it would be better if I continue to come over. If you do not mind, Eldest Aunt, I will still come to Chengming Hall to bother you."

First Madame: "..."

She probably hated Cheng Zhao lingering around her very much, and her expression changed uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Cheng Zhao took the opportunity to say, "The main kitchen does not need to report every day. I would like to manage the affairs once every three days, do you think that is acceptable?"

Coming only once every three days made First Madame feel a bit more comfortable.

"This is your task. As long as you guarantee there will be no trouble and explain things clearly to the managers, you can naturally do as you please," First Madame said.

Cheng Zhao: "Then I will do it once every three days."

This way she could just rest for two days.

She returned home again.

Third Sister also came back often.

Second Sister-in-law brought pastries over, and the four women played cards together happily.

A maid from her grandfather's side came: "The Chancellor heard that the Fifth Young Lady has returned to the estate, and asks you to go to the outer study."

Cheng Zhao figured it must be about the Zhou family, so she got up and went.

"In the Imperial Study, the Emperor told the Duke of Chen that his eyes resemble his aunt's; and he also said that Mu Jiang's nose and mouth resemble hers," her grandfather said.

Cheng Zhao: "So that was the reason he picked up Mu Jiang back then. But he didn't keep Mu Jiang by his side, and even let her become a concubine to Zhou Yuanshen."

"The Emperor's thoughts are extremely chaotic now. He told the Duke of Chen to hurry up and have a son with Mu Jiang. If the child resembles Empress Xuancheng, he will crown that child as the Crown Prince."

Empress Xuancheng was Zhou Yuanshen's aunt. The emperor had only ascended the throne after her death, posthumously granting her an empty title.

Cheng Zhao: "..."

The courtiers would absolutely tear Zhou Yuanshen to pieces.