Chapter 35: Believe It or Not

When Cheng Zhao returned from her grandfather's outer study, her sister and sister-in-law both asked her what she had gone to do.

"Those matters concerning the Duke Chen's Mansion," Cheng Zhao said. "Don't ask, they're all unlucky matters."

Her eldest sister looked at her with heartache.

Her second sister-in-law then asked, "Besides the main kitchen, does the Zhou family have any other matters for you to manage? It would be good if you could get the position of the steward at the gatehouse."

The gatehouse was a know-it-all, knowing everything.

When her second sister-in-law married in, the first task her mother gave her was to manage the gatehouse.

This was much more important than the storehouse and the kitchen.

It was equivalent to letting her familiarize herself with the family's network of connections first.

Cheng Zhao's second sister-in-law was named Yin Linlang, who also came from an aristocratic family in Wu Commandery. Her grandmother was the Grand Princess of Rong'an, but she had passed away in her early years.

"Don't even think about the gatehouse. I only make a brief appearance at the main kitchen. The one who really makes the decisions is Nanny Qin. She is a trusted aide of the Old Madam and also the wife's younger sister of the general steward," Cheng Zhao said.

"It's hard to make a breakthrough when they are doubly related," her second sister-in-law said.

Cheng Zhao nodded.

"Don't be anxious either. Wait a bit and the opportunity will come. What's important for you now is to give birth to the Duke's legitimate eldest son," her second sister-in-law said.

Cheng Zhao: "..."

Her eldest sister smiled, "Offspring is the most unhurried thing."

She then said to Yin Linlang, "Zhao Zhao understands. Don't worry too much about her. You're almost catching up to my mother's nagging. As the old saying goes, 'An eldest sister-in-law is like half a mother'."

Cheng Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

Her third sister, Cheng Ying, also laughed beside her.

Her second sister-in-law smiled and changed the topic, chatting about the latest silks and satins.

"... You seemed to really like the enamel hairpin I gave you last time. I recently got another set of enamel jewelry and an enamel rouge box. They are all quite interesting. You can take them back later," her second sister-in-law said to Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying thanked her, "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law."

"If you're happy, Mother won't have to worry all the time," her second sister-in-law said.

Cheng Ying: "I'm not unhappy."

Cheng Zhao gave her second sister-in-law a look, telling her not to say any more.

But her second sister-in-law couldn't help it, "When Father and Mother mention you, they are always full of guilt. You've had a great reputation since you were young, and the madams of noble families all praise you. When you reached the age of marriage, the matchmakers broke down the threshold. But in the end, Father and Mother misjudged..."

Before the marriage, they had also inquired about Zhang Yunqi.

There was nothing wrong with the Prince of Jingnan's Mansion, and Zhang Yunqi was famously handsome.

Cheng Ying was proud and aloof. How could ordinary men match her? Among all the noble young masters in the capital, only Zhang Yunqi's appearance, talent, and family background could match hers.

Who knew the result would be so unsatisfactory.

Zhang Yunqi not only trampled Cheng Ying's face on the ground, but also trampled the Cheng family's face.

The Cheng family had their own confidence and advised the girl to divorce and return home to seek another future.

"There's nothing bad about me," Cheng Ying said. "It's the same as at home. The food and clothing are just as good, and the servants are the same people from before.

The false reputation before marriage wasn't spread by our family, but by others flattering me. I don't care about these things."

"But Zhang Yunqi..."

"He is no different from ordinary people. Every day he is here, I am restrained for a day. Fortunately, he is not often here," Cheng Ying said.

Cheng Zhao looked at her eldest sister and second sister-in-law, not knowing what to say.

Perhaps, none of them understood Cheng Ying.

There was no bitterness on Cheng Ying's face.

Cheng Zhao looked closely at her and felt that she was like someone living on an isolated island. She wouldn't come out easily, and others couldn't get in.

Cheng Ying never cared about the bustling disputes in the world.

When she returned to the Duke Chen's Mansion that day, Nanny Li asked about the situation at home, and she gave a brief account.

She also mentioned Cheng Ying.

"Third Sister never practices Zen, but I feel she has thoroughly understood the secular world. It's not that she was forced to understand, but she is extremely talented," Cheng Zhao said.

Nanny Li said, "Third Miss is a heavenly fairy, not like someone who eats whole grains. She indeed has good talent."

"But she is not cold-hearted. She remembers everyone's preferences. Every year, the birthday gift she gives me is what I want the most. She just needs to observe a little to know what I hope for. It's like she can see through me," Cheng Zhao said.

Seeing through everything, including the human heart.

But Cheng Ying was not disappointed, nor did she look down on anyone. She just kept a little distance from the secular world.

However, there were always people who couldn't adapt to her sense of distance.

Either they worried about her with good intentions.

Or they maliciously wanted to pull her down, making her roll in the mud and no longer be noble.

"I really envy my mother. How could she give birth to such excellent children? Every one of them is good," Cheng Zhao said. "Except for Fourth Brother. Was he picked up?"

Nanny Li was amused by her.

Mentioning Cheng Ying, Nanny Li remembered something, "That Master Dai, is she still following Third Miss?"

A distant relative from Cheng Zhao's mother's maiden family came to seek refuge. Her husband died, and the clan wanted to force her to remarry, and also confiscate her dowry and her husband's property into the clan's property.

Madam Dai brought her son and daughter, abandoned the land, packed up gold, silver, and valuables, and fled to the capital overnight to seek refuge with her distant aunt, who was Cheng Zhao's mother.

The mother sent people to inquire about it after hearing about it. After confirming it was true, she let Madam Dai stay.

Madam Dai had good sword skills. She was originally going to teach the Fourth Young Master Cheng Chao, and then Cheng Ying and Cheng Zhao followed to practice.

Cheng Chao was not interested in practicing the sword and quickly disappeared. However, Cheng Zhao and Cheng Ying continued to learn.

Cheng Zhao learned everything quickly, but she liked many things. Once she became familiar with the sword skills, she stopped going. Instead, Cheng Ying kept learning.

Later, Madam Dai became Cheng Ying's exclusive master, and the mother even paid Master Dai a monthly allowance.

When Cheng Ying got married, she also chose Madam Dai as a dowry maid.

Nanny Li didn't know what happened after that.

"She follows Third Sister," Cheng Zhao said. "Master Dai is not only Third Sister's teacher but also her 'guard'."

"Then at least Third Miss doesn't have to worry about her life in the Zhang family," Nanny Li said.

"If the Zhang family dared to kill a wife, wouldn't they be giving the Emperor an excuse to attack them? I heard the Emperor has been dissatisfied with this 'Prince with a Different Surname' on several occasions," Cheng Zhao said.

Nanny Li said she made sense.

Then she quietly asked Cheng Zhao, "I heard the Emperor highly values the Duke. Have you heard about this?"

Cheng Zhao shushed her.

"These matters have nothing to do with us. There's no need to say more in the future," Cheng Zhao said.

In a blink of an eye, it was the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the end of the year approached, some stewards who returned from outside places finally came to Chengming Hall to deliver rent.

Madam Song was secretive and didn't let Cheng Zhao know; while Cheng Zhao, who only went once every three days, was very obedient and didn't ask much.

When she went to the Second Madam's Jiangyun Courtyard, she met Zhou Yuanqi.

Zhou Yuanqi's copybook was fake, his silver notes were confiscated by his mother, and he received two lashes. His emotions towards Cheng Zhao were extremely complicated.

He was cold and aloof, ignoring Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao asked him, "How is your learning?"

He turned his head to the other side, showing that he was at odds with Cheng Zhao.

"During the New Year, how about you go to the Cheng family with me to pay New Year's greetings? My grandfather likes children with good learning. If you don't make mistakes in answering his questions, I will ask him to give you two copybooks of Master Qu Lian," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi suddenly turned his head back.

The movement was so quick that Cheng Zhao was afraid he would sprain his neck.

"Are you just talking big?" he asked tentatively.

He coveted the copybooks very much, but he didn't want to reconcile with Cheng Zhao easily.

"Believe it or not," Cheng Zhao smiled.

Zhou Yuanqi: "..."