Chapter 5: Childhood Sweethearts

The days passed quickly.

The Zhou family prepared gifts for the bride's visit to her maiden home and arranged for Cheng Zhao's brother-in-law to accompany her.

Early in the morning, Cheng Zhao sent her maid Suyue back first, telling her to inform the Cheng family that the groom had a "secret mission" and could not accompany the bride back home today.

This important errand could be a highly confidential mission that couldn't be inquired about.

Given Zhou Yuanshen's status and official position, it was perfectly normal for him to suddenly be entrusted with a secret mission.

First, she blocked the relatives from mocking her to her face.

As for what they discussed behind her back, Cheng Zhao couldn't control it.

For the bride's visit on the third day after the wedding, the newlyweds were the most important. The groom had to meet his parents-in-law and kowtow to the bride's ancestors.

If he couldn't go, doubling the return gifts was also acceptable.

To outdo the eldest branch, Cheng Zhao's mother-in-law deliberately elevated Cheng Zhao's status, preparing triple the return gifts, making it a grand affair.

She also sent Cheng Zhao's brother-in-law to accompany her—since the groom had a secret mission and couldn't go, his brother or another male elder could take his place.

Cheng Zhao had two brothers-in-law.

One was fourteen this year, staying with his uncle at the border; the other was eight, already beginning his studies, looking as exquisite as a carved jade statue, very adorable.

The one accompanying Cheng Zhao back home today was this eight-year-old brother-in-law.

His name was Zhou Yuanqi. He wore a sapphire blue robe with beautiful embroidery on the sleeves, his hair tied in twin knots, with red lips and white teeth, looking very handsome.

"...You're also the fifth child? I'm the fifth too." Cheng Zhao chatted with him.

Zhou Yuanqi put on a serious expression like an old scholar, unsmiling: "Yes, Third Sister-in-law."

"Have you started your studies?" Cheng Zhao asked again.

Zhou Yuanqi: "Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know."

Cheng Zhao: "...Are you telling me to shut up?"

"Third Sister-in-law is indeed a scholar," Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao couldn't help but be amused by him.

Upon returning to the Cheng family, she heard some news: the day before yesterday, Princess Jiahe's only son was killed. The fight happened in a teahouse, and blood flowed into the street, a very terrifying scene.

The murderer was a relative of a side consort from Prince Rong's mansion.

This involved some romantic affairs and old grudges.

Cheng Zhao's marriage, in comparison, held no weight at this time.

"My luck is quite good," Cheng Zhao told her mother.

With the murder case at Princess Jiahe's mansion, probably no one would gossip about Cheng Zhao's marriage, allowing her to escape the idle talk.

Her mother held her hand.

She asked about her situation over the past few days, and then asked about her husband, Zhou Yuanshen.

Cheng Zhao explained in detail to her mother.

Her mother said: "The daughters of the Cheng family are meant to be titled ladies; there is no need to bicker over these trivial matters. You did very well."

She added, "'Duchess' is a super-rank title, representing true wealth and honor in the future. The Zhou family's estate is the richest besides the princes. A'Zhao, you've secured half of a good life."

"I will remember," Cheng Zhao said.

"You don't necessarily need to bear children yourself. As long as your husband has children, you have heirs. You must not fight with concubines out of jealousy. A 'secondary wife' is just for show; she is still a concubine," her mother added.

Cheng Zhao nodded again in agreement: "I can tolerate her, don't worry."

"...Your grandfather said he will urge the Zhou family to request your title as soon as possible," her mother added.

"With grandfather and the Cheng family backing me, I'm not worried about the title," Cheng Zhao said.

"If you have the Old Madam's trust, your parents-in-law's high regard, and your husband's support, you will be able to establish a firm foothold," her mother added. "Spend more effort on the Old Madam; as for your husband, cater to his preferences."

Cheng Zhao took her words as golden rules, remembering them all.

She would be an outstanding matriarch of the clan.

The return banquet was very lively. The Cheng family was powerful, and Cheng Zhao had married into a prominent family, so everyone at the banquet made excuses for Zhou Yuanshen.

In the mid-afternoon, Cheng Zhao returned to the Duke of Chen's mansion; the bridal chamber could not be empty within the first month.

At the entrance, she saw warhorses and lieutenants.

Before Cheng Zhao could say anything, her eight-year-old brother-in-law, Zhou Yuanqi, sneered like an old pedant: "The barbaric brute has returned to the mansion."

"Are you talking about the Duke?" Cheng Zhao asked with a smile.

"That's him," Zhou Yuanqi said dismissively.

He had not yet shed his childishness, but spoke in a very mature manner. Cheng Zhao found him very amusing.

"We all have to depend on this brute for a living," Cheng Zhao said.

"Are you afraid?" Zhou Yuanqi sneered.

Cheng Zhao: "No, I mean don't scold him to his face. Talk about him behind his back."

Zhou Yuanqi: "..."

All day, he finally looked Cheng Zhao in the eye once.

After looking, he turned his face away, continuing his aloofness.

Cheng Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

Upon returning to the mansion, she first went to Jiangyun Courtyard to pay respects to her parents-in-law.

The Second Madam had some expectations of this new daughter-in-law, but not too high. She also felt that Cheng Zhao didn't have much capability, only a few tricks up her sleeve, and she had just been bluffed by her.

"The Old Madam sent word: in a month, there will be a concubine-taking ceremony. Miss Mu will be the Duke's secondary wife. You need to be prepared; she will live in the Lijing Courtyard to the east," the Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao's expression remained unchanged, and she said gently: "The location of Lijing Courtyard is better than both of our courtyards."

The Second Madam: "..."

Her heart was stung again.

The location of the second branch's residence was very far from the main courtyard.

It was like the location of mansions and the imperial city: the closer you were, the more prominent your status; the further away, the less face you had.

Jiangyun Courtyard was quite far from Chengming Hall. When it was cold or hot, one even had to take a small oil carriage to get there, otherwise, they would be covered in frost or sweat, looking extremely pathetic.

And the Lijing Courtyard, which was about to be given to Mu Jiang, was closer to the main courtyard than the second branch.

"The Old Madam ordered it, what can I do?" The Second Madam was displeased. "Stop making sarcastic remarks."

"Yes," Cheng Zhao lowered her eyes.

The Second Madam added: "Yuanshen has returned to the mansion; call him over tonight."

Cheng Zhao agreed again, thinking he definitely wouldn't come.

Sure enough, Zhou Yuanshen didn't come to the bridal chamber that night.

Not only that night, but he didn't come for the next half month either.

But from the servants' gossip, Cheng Zhao knew he was in the mansion. The Jingji Camp only required occasional roll calls; he didn't have to go every day.

For the past half month, Cheng Zhao was unhurried, going to pay respects to the Old Madam and her mother-in-law every day, never paying attention to any rumors.

She also didn't ask for "requesting a title" or "managing household affairs," things the Zhou family clearly didn't want to give her.

She just waited.

Closing the courtyard door, she practiced swordplay and calligraphy every day.

It wasn't until mid-September, twenty days after Cheng Zhao married into the Duke of Chen's mansion, that she returned from Jiangyun Courtyard in the mid-afternoon and saw someone flying a kite.

"Flying a kite in this weather?" she was still muttering to herself.

Then she saw Mu Jiang.

She threw herself into the arms of a tall man, and he caught her.

Cheng Zhao heard a silvery laugh.

She turned into the bamboo grove nearby, avoiding them.

"Is that the Duke?" maid Qiubai whispered to Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao nodded: "It's him."

When she was granted the marriage, Cheng Zhao was taken by her second brother to a teahouse to look at Zhou Yuanshen from the window.

Her second brother said Zhou Yuanshen was handsome, outstanding in appearance, and skilled in both pen and sword, which was no exaggeration.

Cheng Zhao thought at the time: he didn't have the roughness of a military man she had imagined, and didn't look annoying.

"...It seems this 'secondary wife' and the Duke are very affectionate," maid Qiubai added.

Cheng Zhao nodded: "They must have grown up together as childhood sweethearts; the bond between them is something we outsiders cannot compare to."