Chapter 36: By Imperial Decree

Cheng Zhao was teasing Zhou Yuanqi when Zhou Yuanshen arrived.

Since the last time, the two of them hadn't seen each other for several days.

Cheng Zhao hadn't seen him in Chenhui Courtyard either.

However, she knew that he often rested in Lijing Courtyard. This was because the main kitchen would send his dinner there.

Coupled with the Emperor's frequent mention of the past, Zhou Yuanshen couldn't neglect Mu Jiang.

"Where's Mother?" he asked.

Cheng Zhao thought he was asking Zhou Yuanqi, and Zhou Yuanqi thought he was asking Cheng Zhao, so neither answered, letting the Duke's question fall flat.

The room was briefly awkward.

Fortunately, the clever senior maid bringing in tea chimed in, "The Old Madam called the Madam to Shou'an Courtyard."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Second Madam returned.

She didn't look very happy.

Cheng Zhao quickly stood up, helped the Second Madam take off her cloak, and handed her the hand warmer from the maid.

After she sat down and ordered the maid to serve tea, Cheng Zhao asked, "What did Grandmother call you for?"

"Nothing much. Laba is the Dharma Treasure Festival, and she wants us to accompany her to Jin'an Temple to burn incense and listen to the monks chant," the Second Madam said.

She added, "We have to go every year, attend the evening and morning sessions, and stay overnight."

She looked very annoyed.

The Second Madam didn't believe in Buddhism.

Cheng Zhao said, "She didn't call me."

"Lady Huan isn't going either," the Second Madam said, as if to comfort Cheng Zhao. "She just called Madam Song and me to go with her."

Cheng Zhao understood.

Zhou Yuanqi couldn't interject, so he sat obediently to the side.

Zhou Yuanshen spoke up, "Grandmother called me to go too."

Second Madam: "Then you go too."

Annoyed, she ordered the maids to pack for the trip to Jin'an Temple with the Old Madam tomorrow.

The Second Master returned home in the mid-afternoon.

The government offices were busy before the New Year. The only one not busy was probably Zhou Yuanshen, whose status was unusual now, being the Emperor's favorite.

After dinner, the Second Master called Zhou Yuanshen to the outer study; father and son had matters to discuss.

Zhou Yuanqi, curious, wanted to join the fun. Given that he had previously revealed the secret that Zhou Yuanshen might take on two branches of the family, the Second Master forbade him from following and shooed him away.

Cheng Zhao returned to Nonghua Courtyard.

Since Zhou Yuanshen hadn't said in advance that he was coming, Cheng Zhao didn't wait for him, eating and resting on her own.

The next day, the Second Madam went to Jin'an Temple.

She didn't return until the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

With the First Madam, Madam Song, away, Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang held down the fort at Chengming Hall.

This time, the sisters-in-law talked for quite a while, seemingly getting along well; in reality, they were probing each other.

Cheng Zhao didn't know what Huan Qingtang had found out, but she hadn't uncovered Huan Qingtang's true situation. After all, they couldn't talk too deeply.

On the mid-afternoon of the ninth, the Old Madam's party returned to the manor.

Huan Qingtang went to the gate to welcome them, and Cheng Zhao followed.

Unexpectedly, Mu Jiang also got out of the carriage.

Huan Qingtang observed Cheng Zhao from the corner of her eye.

Cheng Zhao's expression didn't change at all.

When Huan Qingtang stepped forward to support the Old Madam's hand, flanking her with Mu Jiang, Cheng Zhao didn't try to compete.

She went to receive her own mother-in-law.

When Huan Qingtang turned around, she saw her mother-in-law, Madam Song, getting out of the carriage alone, with no one to help her.

With Cheng Zhao as a contrast, Huan Qingtang's behavior of crowding the Old Madam despite knowing Mu Jiang was there, while neglecting her own mother-in-law, was seen by many.

Her face paled slightly as she said something to the Old Madam, then turned towards Madam Song.

To everyone's surprise, Madam Song lost her temper on the spot and shook off her hand.

Huan Qingtang froze.

Mu Jiang couldn't help but smile.

Huan Qingtang looked wretched and embarrassed, her face turning from pale to red.

"Let's go in quickly, it's so cold outside." The Old Madam turned back, looking at Madam Song with a smiling face.

Madam Song forced a smile: "Mother, take your time."

She personally went over to help the Old Madam step over the threshold.

The Second Madam watched the drama, feeling somewhat pleased.

Zhou Yuanshen stood to the side, saying nothing and showing no expression from start to finish.

Everyone got into their own small oil carriages. As Cheng Zhao was helping the Second Madam, Zhou Yuanshen walked over and said to Cheng Zhao, "I will dine at Nonghua Courtyard tonight."

The Second Madam frowned.

She seemed to want to say something.

But Cheng Zhao had already agreed.

On the way back, the Second Madam's expression was dark and very displeased.

"Mother, what happened? You look very unhappy," Cheng Zhao said.

Second Madam: "It's nothing."

"Why keep it from me? Does it concern me?" Cheng Zhao asked with a smile.

Second Madam: "Not really. I'm just afraid it will disgust you."

Cheng Zhao thought for a moment. What could be disgusting?

"Last night in the guest room at Jin'an Temple, did the Duke sleep with the Secondary Wife?" Cheng Zhao asked.

Second Madam: "How did you..."

Cheng Zhao: "What's the big deal? Mother, both the Secondary Wife and I belong to the Duke."

Second Madam: "..."

She still found it disgusting.

Jin'an Temple was bustling with incense offerings, so guest rooms were hard to book, and the courtyards were small.

The Second Madam had assumed Zhou Yuanshen would stay at the front and squeeze in with the monks.

Unexpectedly, he shared a room with Mu Jiang.

Staying together was one thing, but they caused a commotion in the middle of the night. The courtyard was too small, and the windows and doors were too thin.

It was the first time the Second Madam realized how shameless Mu Jiang was; the way she called out "Third Brother" was simply unbearable to hear.

If the Second Madam heard it, who among the Old Madam, the First Madam, and the other maids and servants didn't?

It was mortifying.

In a sacred Buddhist place, no less.

When she got up in the morning, the Second Madam had a long face, intending to reprimand Zhou Yuanshen.

But the Old Madam was smiling, looking to be in a good mood.

So the Second Madam didn't dare to act out of line.

If Cheng Zhao knew her husband and his concubine had such a merry night in a temple guest room, right in front of the family elders, she would be disgusted too.

She hadn't wanted to say anything.

But since Cheng Zhao had guessed it, and she was a married woman, the Second Madam spoke without restraint.

"...Even the top courtesans in the brothels aren't as wanton as her."

Cheng Zhao didn't laugh or change her expression, but said seriously, "Mother, just telling me is enough. Don't go spreading this around."

"Do I even need to? Don't those maids and servants have mouths?" the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao: "I heard from my grandfather that His Majesty told the Duke to have a child with Mu Jiang as soon as possible. This is consummation by imperial decree."

"What?"

Cheng Zhao then told the Second Madam what her grandfather had heard in the imperial study.

The Second Madam was horrified: "Absurd! Does Yuanshen actually believe such words? The Emperor is clearly out of his mind."

"Even if the Duke doesn't believe it, he has to put on a show," Cheng Zhao said. "At the very least, he has to show the Emperor that he tried."

The Second Madam was stunned.

For a moment, she felt both angry and heartbroken for her son.

The Emperor and the Old Madam were forcing Zhou Yuanshen to be a lapdog for imperial power and the family, not treating him like a human being at all.

No wonder it was so awkward; Zhou Yuanshen had no choice but to do it, at least to let the Old Madam hear.

And no wonder the Old Madam was satisfied.

The Second Madam felt a bitter ache in her heart: "Yuanshen never even wanted the Zhou family's title."

"Mother, things have come to this point. Who can jump ship now? We're already tied together," Cheng Zhao said.

In the evening, when Cheng Zhao returned from Jiangyun Courtyard to Nonghua Courtyard, the maid said the Duke had arrived.

"Set the table," Cheng Zhao said.

She turned and went into the inner bedroom.

The maid followed, intending to help Cheng Zhao change her clothes, but Zhou Yuanshen stepped forward, picked Cheng Zhao up in his arms, and placed her on the bed.

Cheng Zhao was slightly startled.

His hand lifted her skirt.