Chapter 69: Call Me Duchess

Sun Zhiya backed away in fear.

She leaned against the pillar of the pavilion, trembling uncontrollably, "You, you dare to push me down. Great-Aunt will not spare you."

Zhou Yuanqi snapped back to his senses.

He was just shocked by the reckless fellow's casual wave of the hand.

When the reckless fellow was showing off, he actually had the heroic bearing of a military general.

Not bad, fit to be his brother.

—Temporarily cross off a few from the list of live-in sons-in-law for his fairy-like sister-in-law, leaving only the Prince of Andong. The reckless fellow still needed to be observed for future performance.

"If I pushed you down, and you clung to the Lord Duke, who would be at a disadvantage?" Cheng Zhao smiled and spoke up. "Hurry up and pull your brother up, the water is cold."

She added, "He's too playful, actually falling into the water."

Sun Zhiya bit her lip fiercely.

She didn't dare to glare at Zhou Yuanshen, so she stared at Cheng Zhao, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

The artificial lake wasn't deep, but it was almost submerging Sun Zhisheng's head.

He shouted loudly, "Help!"

Cheng Zhao then said to Zhou Yuanshen, "Lord Duke, let's retreat, lest we be seen and people gossip that you didn't save someone in danger, which would be detrimental to your reputation."

"Mm."

The three of them left by another path, turned past a rockery, and disappeared from the side of the artificial lake. Only shouting could be heard from afar.

Zhou Yuanqi was still dissatisfied. "Third Brother, why didn't you throw that woman down too? She's so arrogant."

Not only arrogant, but also unyielding.

Cheng Zhao then said, "If she gets all wet and we see her in a disheveled state, can you take responsibility or can I? Only the Lord Duke can take responsibility."

Zhou Yuanqi, "Who wants to look?"

"The world wants to look. People love to watch this kind of wicked spectacle. You are still young and don't understand the sinister nature of human hearts," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi, "..."

The most sinister human heart is probably tucked in your own chest, right?

The three of them walked back along another path. Zhou Yuanqi and Cheng Zhao bickered, neither admitting defeat. Zhou Yuanshen walked behind them, listening in silence.

"...In short, they are the maternal relatives of Grandmother. Yielding to them a little is out of respect for Grandmother," Cheng Zhao educated Zhou Yuanqi.

Zhou Yuanqi rolled his eyes. "You didn't yield to them either."

"I did. But they pushed their luck," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi, "If we didn't come, could you have handled them?"

"Naturally."

"Be careful not to bite your tongue making big boasts," Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao, "You are not even nine years old, yet so long-winded. How will you turn out in the future? You probably won't even be able to get a wife."

Zhou Yuanqi, "..."

Hearing his wife defeat his younger brother twice in a row, Zhou Yuanshen finally spoke up, "Go back to the flower hall to entertain the guests, lest Grandmother sends someone to look for you if you're gone too long."

Cheng Zhao agreed.

Zhou Yuanshen added, "Come to Chenhui Courtyard later, rest a bit before going back."

A lot of things instantly flashed through Cheng Zhao's mind.

But with her brother-in-law right in front of her, and this child being too sharp, she agreed without hesitation, "Alright."

She then asked Zhou Yuanqi, "Do you want to go with me?"

"No. I have already seen Grandmother, and now I need to go back and practice calligraphy," Zhou Yuanqi said.

They really just came to find Cheng Zhao.

It was Zhou Yuanshen who wanted to find Cheng Zhao, and Zhou Yuanqi tagged along.

By the time Cheng Zhao returned, the Dowager Madame had already heard about the incident in the back garden.

Sun Zhisheng was taken away to change clothes, and the Marchioness of Qingyuan hurriedly went to check on her son.

The room was full of guests, and some had already heard rumors, after all, Sun Zhiya had shouted loudly for people to pull her brother up.

But no one said anything.

When the Dowager Madame's grandnephew came as a guest, whether he playfully fell into the water himself or was pushed down by someone, it was not appropriate to bring it up and ruin the Dowager Madame's mood.

Except for the minor commotion caused by the two Sun children, the entire banquet was very lively, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves.

The titled ladies all praised the two young madams of the Zhou family.

Someone mentioned Cheng Zhao and tentatively asked the Dowager Madame, "In the future, will this be the Third Young Madam, or the Second Young Madam?"

During the New Year, rumors had spread from the Chen Duke's estate about a dual-lineage inheritance.

Cheng Zhao was currently the Third Young Madam because Zhou Yuanshen was the Third Young Master; if the dual-lineage inheritance took place, Huan Qingtang would be the primary, and Cheng Zhao would rank second, so she could also be called the "Second Young Madam," following Huan Qingtang's ranking.

This question could be taken in different ways.

If the Dowager Madame was displeased, she could say the ranking remained unchanged, and stability was best; if the dual-lineage inheritance was to become a reality, they could pretend to congratulate Cheng Zhao on moving up a rank.

The Dowager Madame's expression was unreadable, showing neither joy nor anger.

But Cheng Zhao spoke up before her, "I am the Duchess."

She smiled and added, "Madam Feng, you can just call me 'Duchess'. You are busy with important matters and don't need to trouble yourself with remembering rankings.

I am the Duchess bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. You will absolutely not go wrong addressing me this way."

She then asked the Dowager Madame, "Isn't that right, Grandmother?"

The Dowager Madame smiled amiably, "Look at her, so eloquent, smart, and quick-witted. Of course, she is the Duchess titled by the imperial court."

Many titled ladies heard these words.

Upon leaving the Chen Duke's estate, it was inevitable that they would discuss Cheng Zhao.

"She speaks very well. At first glance, the two young madams seem similar, equally beautiful and equally worldly-wise. Looking closer, Lady Huan is in favorable circumstances while Cheng Shi is in adverse ones, yet the two are evenly matched, with Cheng Shi even being slightly superior."

"Cheng Shi is also a bit more beautiful. They all say Lady Huan is a beauty, and her reputation is widespread. She is indeed pretty, but standing next to Cheng Shi, she falls short."

"How many families in the whole city can compare to the foundation of the Cheng family of Wu Commandery? She is also bestowed marriage by Her Majesty the Empress. Now that the Eastern Palace has a master, the status of the Empress and the Crown Prince is stable, and Cheng Shi's status rises along with it."

After this banquet, Cheng Zhao's position in the hearts of the titled ladies became a bit more solid.

Compared to the noble and elegant demeanor of the aristocratic Lady Huan, Cheng Zhao was more like a typical high-born noble lady, worldly-wise, sharp, and excellent at reading people.

High-born ladies found it easier to interact with someone like Cheng Zhao.

As for people like Huan Qingtang, the noblewomen felt a bit of awe and a bit of intimidation towards her. They were afraid of being polite to her face only to be despised as "vulgar" behind her back, always feeling inferior in front of her.

Over time, they wouldn't want to associate with her.

And among prominent families, frequent interaction and socializing were necessary.

The noblewomen still hoped Cheng Zhao would be the "First Madam" of the Chen Duke's estate, making it easier to deal with her in the future. They were all people of the same kind.

After the guests left, the Dowager Madame kept Madam Song, Cheng Zhao, and Huan Qingtang behind.

"What happened with the falling into the water?" the Dowager Madame asked Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao told the truth.

The Lord Duke threw him down.

The Dowager Madame silently drank her tea.

Madam Song and Huan Qingtang held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

After Cheng Zhao finished speaking, she also stood silently to the side.

"...I will speak to the Lord Duke about this matter. Cheng Shi, you may go back first," the Dowager Madame said.

Cheng Zhao agreed and turned to leave briskly.

The Dowager Madame then said to the First Madam, Madam Song, "You may go back too."

Only Huan Qingtang was left behind.

Madam Song glanced at Huan Qingtang.

This glance carried a hint of warning: no matter what the Dowager Madame said to her, she must report back to her mother-in-law and not overstep her bounds.

Madam Song bowed and took her leave, departing from Shou'an Courtyard together with Cheng Zhao.

The First Madam ignored Cheng Zhao, but Cheng Zhao spoke up, "In front of Grandmother, neither First Aunt nor I have much face.

It's a pity the Duke's estate is too large and there are too many trivial matters, otherwise, Sister-in-law alone would be enough to manage the household. Why would our help be needed?"

"Cheng Shi, stop trying to sow discord..."

"Aunt, please take your time. I will be heading back now." Without waiting for her to finish, Cheng Zhao strode away.

She gave the First Madam no opportunity to retort.

The First Madam's words caught in her throat. Unable to swallow them down or spit them out, she felt utterly stifled.

Her anger burned furiously.