Chapter 51: Another Farewell to Zhou Yuanshen

Zhou Yuanshen had said he would come over for lunch.

As noon approached, he sent the young servant boy, Nanfeng, to Nonghua Courtyard to inform Cheng Zhao: The Duke has some business to attend to outside and will not be dining here.

Cheng Zhao grabbed a handful of coins to reward Nanfeng, glanced at Suyue, and asked Suyue to see the boy out.

Soon, Suyue returned.

She whispered to Cheng Zhao, The First Madam sent someone to deliver furniture to Chenghui Courtyard, saying she wanted to replace two chairs for the Duke, and sent Nanfeng away. When Nanfeng returned, someone had trespassed into Chenghui Courtyard by mistake. The Duke lost his temper and immediately went to Chengming Hall. He had Nanfeng come over to our side to drop a word, and then he left.

Cheng Zhao asked, Trespassed by mistake? Who was it?

It couldn't be Huan Qingtang.

Huan Qingtang came from a prestigious family and had the Old Madam paving the way for her; she wouldn't be so desperate.

It was a visiting cousin, a young lady, Suyue said. As for who exactly, Nanfeng didn't know either.

Cheng Zhao let out a cold sneer.

The First Madam, Madam Song, truly looked down on Cheng Zhao and was far too arrogant, constantly using these underhanded methods to disgust people.

Taking advantage of Mu Jiang's pregnancy, did First Madam Song also want to send someone to reel in Zhou Yuanshen?

All the women in the inner courtyard used this trick on him. It seemed like scheming and plotting, but in reality, it was just rewarding and flattering him. Cheng Zhao thought he had rather good luck.

Serve the meal. I am a bit hungry, Cheng Zhao said.

Suyue complied.

She went out to give the orders and returned to ask Cheng Zhao, Young Madam, should we go and inquire about that young lady?

Ask around, just so we know what is going on, Cheng Zhao said. Have Qiubai go ask Nanfeng; she is more familiar with him.

Qiubai took on the task.

Cheng Zhao then instructed Suyue to make a trip back to the Cheng family estate around noon.

By dusk, Qiubai had figured out the situation at Chenghui Courtyard, and Suyue had also returned from the Cheng family.

...The girl who intruded into Chenghui Courtyard is named Hu Zhiwei, living in the courtyard near the back street. She is a relative from the First Madam's maiden family who came to seek refuge, Qiubai said.

What kind of relative from her maiden family?

I think she is the daughter of her younger female cousin, calling the First Madam aunt, Qiubai said.

Cheng Zhao pondered, The Marquis of Changling's estate is right here in the capital. Since she is the daughter of a cousin, why didn't she seek refuge with the Song family, but instead came to the Duke of Chen's estate?

Perhaps the Marquis of Changling's estate does not accept outside relatives seeking refuge? Qiubai suggested.

These noble families still looked glorious and prominent on the outside, but their insides were actually quite empty. Just feeding their own servants was a struggle.

It was fine for relatives to occasionally come for a handout, but long-term refuge required assigning a courtyard, arranging meals, and even subsidizing them with hundreds of coins every month. A clean family like the Marquis of Changling's estate might not be able to afford it.

Young Madam, do you need to reveal this matter to the Old Madam? Qiubai asked.

Cheng Zhao replied, I am only inquiring so I know what is going on, lest my Eldest Aunt treats me like a fool. It is not to stop anything.

She added, The harder my Eldest Aunt tries, the easier it is for her to make mistakes. Once she hands me an opportunity, I will have more authority to manage affairs.

Qiubai hesitated, Then the Duke...

This kind of thing requires mutual consent. Could the girl hold him down? If he wants it, what does it have to do with us?

Qiubai was speechless.

Cheng Zhao turned to ask Suyue, What did my mother say?

Madam said she is very gratified that you, Young Madam, are taking the matter of heirs so seriously. She will bring you back for a visit, invite a doctor to check your pulse first, and then use the excuse of visiting the Duke's estate to bring you a Guanyin statue, Suyue reported.

Cheng Zhao nodded slightly.

Her mother handled things flawlessly.

Sure enough, the next day the Cheng family sent a managing older female servant to the Zhou family, saying that Cheng Zhao's mother had a nightmare yesterday and was very worried about Cheng Zhao, so she sent someone to check on her.

Cheng Zhao took the opportunity to tell the First Madam, My mother occasionally suffers from nightmares, and I am not very at ease. I want to go back and see her.

She quietly watched the First Madam.

Yesterday, the First Madam had sent someone to trespass into Chenghui Courtyard by mistake. Many people already knew about this, and she felt inexplicably in the wrong.

Facing Cheng Zhao, the First Madam's smile was even more attentive, You are a filial child. Have the gatekeeper prepare some gifts for you. Go early and return early.

The gatekeeper prepared several common gifts for her.

Cheng Zhao also went to tell the Second Madam.

The Second Madam prepared precious tonics like ginseng and bird's nest, instructing Cheng Zhao to attend to the sick carefully, and added, Staying overnight is also fine. Send a maid back to tell me, and I will go to Shou'an Courtyard to speak on your behalf.

Cheng Zhao smiled, Thank you, Mother. I shouldn't need to stay overnight.

The Second Madam didn't yet know about the incident at Chenghui Courtyard yesterday, otherwise she would have exploded with anger again.

Cheng Zhao didn't tell her, to avoid causing her grief.

Returning to the Cheng family, she first went to see her grandfather.

Grandfather indeed had not gone to court.

The Emperor had slashed a court official, and the impact of this incident was terrible. For the past few days, ministers had claimed illness and refused to attend court. Yesterday, the Emperor even invited several trusted aides into the imperial study to discuss the matter.

...Establishing a crown prince is also troublesome, Grandfather said.

Grandfather did not want to establish a crown prince.

Once a crown prince was established, the entire political situation would fall into the hands of Grand Tutor Guo, which would be detrimental to the Cheng family.

Of course, the Guo family had the upper hand this time.

Grand Tutor Guo even secretly threatened the Emperor: This matter is too terrible. For the sake of the Emperor's dignity, the historians can choose not to record it, Grandfather said.

Cheng Zhao's expression changed, That is truly terrifying.

The role of historians is to clearly record historical facts.

Once it was not recorded, this event would have no historical evidence to support it. In the future, folk rumors and unofficial histories would adapt it into something outrageous.

Outrageous enough to go down in infamy for thousands of years.

For example, unofficial histories might say the Emperor skinned a minister alive in court, and even roasted human flesh to eat.

—And that wouldn't even be the most bizarre. Cheng Zhao couldn't even imagine the more outrageous versions.

In short, the incident had happened. Grand Tutor Guo saying do not record means there would be no evidence to refute the claim that the Emperor ate human flesh, which would scare the Emperor to death.

A mistake was fine if it was wrong; if properly recorded, it was merely a stain, rather than a blank canvas for rumors to spread.

The blank canvas was the most terrifying.

A crown prince must be established, Cheng Zhao affirmed.

Grandfather nodded.

Cheng Zhao asked, What about Zhou Yuanshen? What effort is he going to put in for the Emperor this time?

He is in the palace today. The Emperor will definitely entrust him with a heavy responsibility, Grandfather said. The Emperor currently trusts the Zhou family very much.

The Emperor has always relied heavily on the Zhou family. Back then, it was the Zhou family who protected him, and it was the Zhou family's military power that helped him secure his rule over the empire, Cheng Zhao said.

The grandfather and granddaughter talked for quite a while.

Only then did Cheng Zhao go to her mother's courtyard.

Her mother asked her what she and her grandfather had chatted about.

Grandfather told me about some court affairs, Cheng Zhao said.

The doctor her mother had invited for her was from Wu Commandery, skilled in medicine and tight-lipped.

After checking her pulse, the doctor said Cheng Zhao had a heavy heart, causing her qi to stagnate, but her body was otherwise fine.

Relax your mind, Madam, the doctor advised. A person is like driftwood; let the water support you, and perhaps you will rise. If you keep struggling, you will keep sinking to the bottom, which is counterproductive.

Cheng Zhao agreed vocally, but smiled bitterly in her heart.

If she fell into the water, she would definitely be the one scratching and struggling desperately.

She could not let fate arrange things for her. She seemed to believe more in hard work than in destiny, unlike how water naturally supported driftwood.

Her mother saw the doctor out and then chatted with Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao then asked about the past, You previously inquired about it. What old history is there between Zhou Yuanshen and Lady Huan?