Chapter 68: Zhou Yuan's Devoted Protection of His Wife

The flower hall was thrown into a momentary chaos.

Over at the main table, however, it was terrifyingly quiet.

The Dowager Madame and Grand Princess Fukang didn't say a word; Madame Sun's expression changed time and again; the First Madame, Madam Song, the Second Madame, Madam Fan, and Huan Qingtang all remained silent.

Only the sight of Sun Zhiya chasing after the scorpion caught the eyes of the guests.

The guests couldn't hold back and began to whisper among themselves.

"Is that a scorpion?"

"Did Miss Sun name it?"

"She's so bold, daring to chase a scorpion?"

"It might be a pet she keeps that suddenly got out."

"That's too terrifying. Who would dare to keep a scorpion around?"

Sun Zhiya certainly dared.

Yesterday, Nanfeng had gathered some information and told Cheng Zhao: Sun Zhiya had a pet scorpion, as long as an adult man's palm, sleek and pitch-black.

It was a gift from someone, non-venomous and harmless, but those who didn't know would be frightened by such a large scorpion.

A few days ago at the Shou'an Courtyard, there had been a minor conflict, and the matter had reached Zhou Yuanshen's ears.

Since it involved the young miss and young master of the Sun family, and today was the Peach Blossom Banquet, Zhou Yuanshen sent Nanfeng to tell Cheng Zhao to be careful of Sun Zhiya's "pet."

She might play a trick on Cheng Zhao, causing her to lose her composure in public.

She might also play a trick on a distinguished guest Cheng Zhao cared about, disrupting Cheng Zhao's plans and thereby damaging her prestige.

Cheng Zhao had brought some sulfur powder in her purse.

Insects and scorpions all fear sulfur powder. However, the smell of sulfur powder wasn't considered strange; it was normally sprinkled during the Dragon Boat Festival, so the guests were familiar with it and wouldn't panic upon smelling the powder.

"...What play shall we listen to today?" After a long while, the Dowager Madame smiled and asked Cheng Zhao.

She didn't ask the First Madame, Madam Song, nor Huan Qingtang, but Cheng Zhao.

This was to show the guests that Cheng Zhao, the Duchess, was the future mistress of the Duke of Chen's estate.

Cheng Zhao smiled and said, "The playbill has been brought to you. Grandmother, you choose the play, and it will begin right away."

"Let the Grand Princess choose the play."

"The Dowager Madame should choose first," the Grand Princess smiled. "I am a guest, I cannot overstep my bounds."

She then praised Cheng Zhao, "The Duchess is the most well-versed in etiquette and truly has good breeding. The most favored household in the entire capital is the Duke of Chen's estate, which is why the Empress chose the most outstanding noble lady for the marriage."

These words elevated both the Dowager Madame and Cheng Zhao.

The Dowager Madame probably didn't want anyone to steal the show at the Peach Blossom Banquet. If Sun Zhiya hadn't made a scene, she would have spoken up to suppress it.

Even the Grand Princess had to bow her head a bit before the elderly lady.

But this moment wasn't suitable.

The Dowager Madame just smiled, chose a play, and Cheng Zhao went to give the orders.

Sun Zhiya's mother, the Marchioness of Qingyuan, found an excuse to go out and look for her daughter, and only brought her back after a long while.

She specially picked a basket of flowers and presented them to the Dowager Madame and the Grand Princess.

"...This child wanted to pick some flowers, but was a bit clumsy. Grand Princess, please don't take offense," the Marchioness of Qingyuan said.

Grand Princess Fukang accepted this graceful exit: "The flowers are truly beautiful. Peach blossoms, pear blossoms, and winter jasmine. It's so thoughtful of you."

Sun Zhiya's smile was very forced.

After presenting the flowers, she finally went to sit down, but many people around her whispered in discussion.

Halfway through the banquet, many guests wanted to go out to freshen up, or go to the back garden to relax.

"The back garden of the Duke of Chen's estate is unique in the entire capital. Second only to the Imperial Garden," someone said.

In the area close to the imperial city, where land was worth its weight in gold, the Duke of Chen's estate occupied an entire street, and the back garden was as large as an ordinary family's entire residence.

Some guests who hadn't seen it wanted to take a stroll.

The guests invited today included not only female relatives but also unmarried noblemen from various families—most banquets in the capital were for socializing; and one of the purposes of socializing was "matchmaking."

Unmarried noblemen with good reputations were often invited to the Peach Blossom Banquet and the Spring Exploration Banquet.

Of course, this wasn't for the noble young ladies to look at, but for the titled madames to observe.

To look at their character, appearance, conversational skills, and so on.

The Grand Princess's son also came today.

The Grand Princess even asked Cheng Zhao, "Are there any sisters from your family coming as guests?"

"I was busy today and didn't invite my cousins," Cheng Zhao smiled.

Cheng Zhao had four uncles in her family.

She didn't have any younger sisters from concubines, but she had several younger cousins, two of whom had already reached the age of hairpinning and were in the process of discussing marriage.

"Another day, I'll invite them to play at the Princess's estate, and you should come too," the Grand Princess smiled.

She had already set her sights on the girls of the Cheng family, thinking she could pick one to be her daughter-in-law.

Cheng Zhao joked with her for a few words.

Then, as others wanted to stroll in the back garden, Cheng Zhao continued to accompany them.

Feeling a bit tired, the soles of her shoes had stepped on the mud in the back garden and felt very heavy, so she ordered the maid Qiubai to fetch a pair of shoes to change into.

While Cheng Zhao was resting in the pavilion by the lake, the siblings Sun Zhiya and Sun Zhisheng rushed over.

"...You made my Gale run away. Send someone to find it right now!" Sun Zhiya pointed angrily at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao blinked: "Cousin, are you talking about that scorpion?"

"Exactly!"

"As a noble lady, you bring a scorpion when you go out as a guest. I suppose your mother must be very happy about that?" Cheng Zhao asked.

Her younger brother Sun Zhisheng took a step forward: "Stop threatening my sister! You harmed my sister's beloved pet, you have to pay for it."

"I didn't see any beloved pet."

"That kind of scorpion is hard to buy even with ten thousand pieces of gold. If you don't find it, don't even think I'll let you off," Sun Zhiya said.

Cheng Zhao was about to say something when she saw the brothers Zhou Yuanshen and Zhou Yuanqi walking into the back garden.

They probably just came back, and their grandmother asked them to entertain guests in the back.

Zhou Yuanshen saw Cheng Zhao first and strode over; Zhou Yuanqi hurriedly trotted to keep up, his short legs making him look a bit awkward in front of his brother.

"You bully your own sister-in-law, and you bully your relatives. Your character is malicious!" Sun Zhisheng said. "If you don't find my sister's beloved pet, I'll go out and say you stole my sister's thing. We'll see how..."

"What did you say? Who stole something?" Behind them, Zhou Yuanqi frowned and asked.

The Sun siblings were facing away from the pavilion entrance, and when they turned around together, their legs instantly gave way.

"Cousin."

"Cousin, we just..."

"Call him the Duke!" Zhou Yuanqi's tender little face was stern. "No manners, making a fool of yourselves."

Without waiting for them to answer, "What were you saying just now? You bullied my third sister-in-law, and you want to slander her?"

"...She let my sister's beloved pet escape." Sun Zhisheng wasn't one to be pushed around easily either. After a momentary panic, he immediately puffed out his chest.

He had heard his parents say that the second branch of the Duke of Chen's estate only inherited the title through good luck. If the people of the first branch were all alive, they would have been separated and become a collateral branch, and in the future, they wouldn't have the right to associate with a noble house like the Sun family.

What was Zhou Yuanqi so proud of?

"What beloved pet?" Zhou Yuanqi asked. "Explain clearly, how did it escape, and what is it?"

Sun Zhiya's face stiffened: "Forget it, I won't pursue it."

"You won't pursue it and that's it? You spoke wildly in front of my sister-in-law, did you apologize?" Zhou Yuanqi asked.

He then looked at Zhou Yuanshen, "Third Brother, did you hear that?"

Cheng Zhao had been holding back her laughter all along.

The child was so beautiful, and his aggressive appearance was particularly amusing.

"Kneel down and kowtow, and this matter will be dropped," Zhou Yuanshen said slowly.

Sun Zhiya and her younger brother, Sun Zhisheng, were completely stunned.

"Why should I? Don't push things too far!" Sun Zhisheng snapped back to his senses, flying into a rage.

The moment the words left his mouth, Zhou Yuanshen realized the boy had no intention of quietly apologizing. Grabbing him by the collar, Zhou Yuanshen hurled him straight into the nearby artificial lake.

Sun Zhisheng was fifteen this year. Though skinny, he was quite tall. Yet, Zhou Yuanshen tossed him as easily and smoothly as if he were throwing a pillow.

Sun Zhiya watched, dumbfounded.

Then, Zhou Yuanshen shifted his gaze to her. His pitch-black eyes were downright terrifying, closing in on her like the chilling edge of an unsheathed blade.