Chapter 37: Don't Hold a Grudge Against Me from Now On

Cheng Zhao pressed her hand over Zhou Yuanshen's.

She heard the sound of the maid hastily retreating and closing the door; she remembered her mother-in-law describing what happened last night.

Cheng Zhao knew she had a decent marriage, and she ought to cherish it.

Unlike her third sister's aloofness, she wanted these worldly honors.

She also tried her best to cooperate with Zhou Yuanshen.

But she couldn't.

Not right now.

She couldn't accept it.

She stared at him intently, restraining the flames of anger in her eyes, wanting to say something reasonable, but then she heard him speak.

He said, "Cheng Zhao, I gave you a chance. Don't blame me in the future."

He added, "And tell your family not to resent me either."

He turned to leave.

Cheng Zhao understood what he meant.

Last night, he must have put all his effort into performing his duties with Mu Jiang, perhaps even using some more effective methods; Mu Jiang would likely end up pregnant.

This concubine, due to her connection with the Emperor, was already the center of attention, unlike other concubines; she was also highly regarded by the Old Madame.

If Mu Jiang were to get pregnant first, it would benefit everyone.

After the Emperor said those words, Zhou Yuanshen complied, and he would earn the Emperor's satisfaction; the Old Madame had been waiting for Mu Jiang to give birth first, and she would be pleased too.

As for Mu Jiang, having the eldest son would allow her to suppress Cheng Zhao at every turn in the future; with the Old Madame backing her, the eldest son might not even be called a concubine-born eldest son.

Zhou Yuanshen could do nothing and just reap the benefits.

The only one at a disadvantage was Cheng Zhao.

When that time came, her situation would become even more difficult.

But if Cheng Zhao were to get pregnant at the same time, she might just manage to give birth first if she tried hard enough.

Giving birth even a moment earlier meant getting ahead; if she was even luckier, and Mu Jiang had a girl while she had a boy, bearing Zhou Yuanshen's legitimate eldest son would result in a win-win for both her and Zhou Yuanshen in the future.

When Zhou Yuanshen told her family not to resent him, he had probably seen the Cheng family's attitude toward Zhang Yunqi.

Zhang Yunqi had kept a mistress outside, trampling on the Cheng family's dignity, and the Cheng family didn't even bother to maintain a facade of politeness.

If Mu Jiang got pregnant and Cheng Zhao didn't, outsiders would definitely belittle Cheng Zhao. Cheng Zhao would suffer grievances when socializing, and how would her maiden family view Zhou Yuanshen then?

At that point, it wouldn't be as simple as just getting him drunk.

These considerations were truly for Cheng Zhao's sake.

Cheng Zhao quickly understood. She took a few steps forward and grabbed his hand.

"Duke, I was wrong just now," she said. "You... please don't go..."

Zhou Yuanshen turned his head.

Cheng Zhao gripped his hand tightly, but her eyes felt terribly dry and sore.

Zhou Yuanshen's finger gently wiped away a tear that had fallen from her eye.

"Cheng Zhao, what are you feeling wronged about?" he asked, though his voice was not cold.

His breath was somewhat scorching.

Someone who was usually as cold as ice now breathed with a scalding heat, like a burning brazier.

"Have I not tried my best to be a good husband to you?" he asked. "You are not pregnant, do you blame me?"

Cheng Zhao shook her head.

"I don't feel wronged, and I don't blame you," she said.

It was just that this was not the kind of marriage she approved of.

Her parents, her eldest sister and brother-in-law, her second brother and sister-in-law, they didn't live like this.

Her third sister's marriage was terrible, but outsiders knew of her hardships and sympathized with her.

What about Cheng Zhao?

On their first night of consummation, her husband had covered her face with her hair as if she were unbearably ugly, and pressed her face into the pillow.

He had never faced her directly.

Cheng Zhao was treated like livestock being bred.

Wasn't she his wife?

But Cheng Zhao couldn't take matters of the boudoir outside to complain about.

She had been granted this marriage by imperial decree, and she had received an official title; this was already better than most. The stabbing pain she felt in her marriage could not be confided to anyone.

This was a matter between her and Zhou Yuanshen alone.

"Please don't go." Cheng Zhao raised her eyes, the moisture in them fading away. "I promise, from now on you will never see a wronged expression on my face. I am not unwilling."

Just as she had told him before, it was exactly what she wanted.

Cheng Zhao reached out and untied his sash.

Zhou Yuanshen watched her without moving.

The floor heating had not yet warmed up, and the bedroom was a bit cold; Cheng Zhao was cold too, seemingly trembling the whole time, so she tried hard to suppress it.

Her stomach cramped in waves, and she immediately forced herself to forget what her mother-in-law had described about the guest room at Jin'an Temple last night. She told herself she was probably just hungry.

Lying on her stomach again.

This time, Zhou Yuanshen's movements were a bit more brisk.

After it was over, he actually left.

Cheng Zhao did not get out of bed; she couldn't be bothered to wash up.

She didn't sleep either. Covered in blankets, she felt the bedroom's floor heating finally warm up, slowly bringing some heat.

In the second half of the night, she finally called the maid to bring in water for a simple wipe-down.

After that day, Cheng Zhao never saw Zhou Yuanshen again, nor did he come to Nonghua Courtyard to spend the night.

With the busy end of the year approaching, Cheng Zhao slowly pushed him to the back of her mind.

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.

The New Year's Eve ancestral sacrifice was another grand drama, because the Old Madame told the First Madame, Madam Song, and Huan Qingtang to stand at the front, which displeased the Second Madame.

The Second Madame had endured it for nearly half a year and finally couldn't help but lash out.

"Why do my daughter-in-law and I still have to stand in the back?" the Second Madame asked.

The Old Madame didn't speak to her, but instead said to the Second Master, "Teach your wife what rules are."

"Mother, you don't need to make things difficult for us. If your rules were clear and strict, I wouldn't be saying this. You have to give us a reason," the Second Madame said.

"Is contradicting the Old Madame reasonable? No reasoning can surpass filial piety," Mu Jiang, standing to the side, said coldly.

She was standing right next to the Old Madame.

Concubines generally did not participate in the New Year's Eve ancestral sacrifice. But with Mu Jiang attending, who dared to say a word of objection?

Huan Qingtang glanced at Mu Jiang and then lowered her gaze again.

"Yes, filial piety is paramount."

As everyone fell silent, Zhou Yuanshen spoke up.

He affirmed Mu Jiang's words.

A smile immediately floated onto Mu Jiang's face.

"Grandmother, if we are not dividing the household, please allow my mother to stand at the front. As a son, I cannot be unfilial," Zhou Yuanshen said.

The Old Madame looked at him.

Zhou Yuanshen quietly looked back at her without blinking.

Just as the Old Madame was about to flare up, Zhou Yuanshen took a few steps forward and said softly, "Grandmother, the sacrificial offerings from the palace have not yet been bestowed this year."

Every New Year's Eve, the Emperor would bestow sacrificial offerings upon noble families to show imperial favor.

In previous years, the Old Madame was the one called to receive the imperial decree for these offerings.

What about this year?

Zhou Yuanshen had put in a lot of effort for the Emperor this year, and he had already inherited the title. According to old customs, only he was qualified to receive the decree.

The rewards hadn't arrived yet, and it was still undecided who would receive them.

It was a psychological battle at this moment.

"Madam Fan, you stand here," the Old Madame finally spoke after exchanging a few glances with Zhou Yuanshen.

She had compromised.

The Second Madame was slightly stunned. Without showing joy, she simply asked, "What about my daughter-in-law?"

"If you continue to nitpick, you can go back," the Old Madame said.

Cheng Zhao squeezed the Second Madame's hand, urging her to step forward. Regardless, winning one position for now was acceptable; they could take it slowly in the future.

Just as the Second Madame took her place, the sacrificial offerings bestowed by the imperial court arrived.

This time, the Emperor still called for the Old Madame to receive the decree.

The Old Madame breathed a sigh of relief; she then looked at Zhou Yuanshen, her gaze unreadable.

It seemed to say: "You are still a bit too young to challenge me. Before the Emperor, I will always be the first person."

Yet it also seemed to say, "You are very good at playing with people's minds; you actually bluffed me. A person of my age showing timidity in front of you."

The grandparent and grandchild met each other's gaze, neither of them saying a word.