Chapter 72: Smooth to the Point of Being Unpleasant

Cheng Zhao waited for her grandfather to return from the morning court session.

She got straight to the point and brought up the matter.

Her grandfather chuckled while sipping his tea. Have you thought it through?

Yes.

Let us first discuss the difficulty of this matter. Your marriage was bestowed by the Empress. If you seek a divorce, it would be a slap in her face and a blow to her dignity, her grandfather said.

He added, The Empress is the Emperor's wife, which means this also concerns the dignity of the imperial family. Not only would the Empress have to agree, but the Emperor must also give his nod of approval.

You have read so many books, and the imperial censors have never won a debate against you. You can quote the classics and cite historical precedents, drawing from legal codes, folk customs, and worldly wisdom. You can find the reasoning to help me, as long as you want to, Cheng Zhao said.

Her grandfather smiled. This matter is indeed difficult, and not just because of the Emperor. For a bestowed marriage, if you want a divorce, you must offer them a way to save face.

A way to save face?

The elders of both families must submit memorials to the throne, requesting the Emperor and Empress to approve your divorce. The head of the Duke of Chen's estate is the Duke of Chen. Would he be willing to submit this memorial on your behalf? her grandfather asked.

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

This matter is fraught with difficulties. If there is a second solution, I do not approve of you taking this path, her grandfather said.

He then asked her, Has it truly come to this? Tell me what happened. Is it about the dual inheritance?

No.

Rest assured about the dual inheritance. I will block it at the front; I will not let the Emperor issue an imperial decree to bestow a marriage for that. If the Emperor really does so, this time I can quote the classics on your behalf and make the imperial censors argue for more than three months, her grandfather said.

Cheng Zhao smiled.

You can still smile, so it does not seem like you are at a dead end, her grandfather said.

He sighed, At your age, you have not experienced much. A small cut on your finger feels like the sky is falling. When you get a little older, if your right hand is broken this morning, you will learn to eat with your left hand by tomorrow morning.

Cheng Zhao was horrified. That is a terrifying way to put it.

Ask your parents if this is not how all adults get through life. How many storms have you weathered? Let alone anything else, you have not even gone hungry, her grandfather laughed.

Cheng Zhao sighed.

Her grandfather asked, You will not tell me? If you have been wronged, you should speak up.

It is useless to say it. Did you not just say that even a broken hand is useless? Cheng Zhao said.

Her grandfather smiled. Even so, you should try to solve whatever can be solved.

Cheng Zhao remained silent.

She did not say anything else and returned to the Duke of Chen's estate.

Later, her grandfather summoned his eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law to ask about Cheng Zhao's situation.

Cheng Zhao's father had not seen his daughter and did not know; her mother had heard about it but was also completely baffled.

...Zhao Zhao has always been resourceful. She would not ask for a divorce unless she was truly suffering. She did not tell you, perhaps because it is something too difficult to speak of. Ask her again, her grandfather said to Cheng Zhao's mother.

First Madam Cheng said, She will not tell me either. I will have her eldest sister go ask; the two sisters can talk more easily.

Her grandfather gave a slight nod.

Cheng Zhao returned to the Duke of Chen's estate, paid her respects around the household as if nothing had happened, and then returned to her room.

She sent someone to deliver a message to the palace.

Two days later, Her Majesty the Empress indeed summoned her to the palace.

The maids at Nonghua Courtyard brought out Cheng Zhao's formal mandate attire. Dressed and made up according to her rank, she took a carriage into the palace.

At Kunning Palace, she ran into the Empress's niece from her maiden family, Guo Hanzhang.

Guo Hanzhang did not have a good reputation in the capital. She was famously fierce and unruly, and many noble ladies had suffered at her hands.

Cheng Zhao had not met Guo Hanzhang when she was little; later, she followed her father to his official post for a few years. After returning to the capital, her mother kept her at home, forbidding her from socializing in order to temper her character and teach her etiquette.

This was her first time meeting Guo Hanzhang.

However, they had both heard of each other.

...What made you think of visiting me? the Empress asked Cheng Zhao with a smile. Is there something the matter?

She added, It is not appropriate for me to interfere much in the affairs of the Duke of Chen's estate. His Majesty has always respected and loved the Dowager Madame above all others.

The implication was clear: if you are trying to stop the Duke of Chen from taking a dual-inheritance wife, do not come to me. I cannot help you. The Dowager Madame has more face before the Emperor than I do.

I made a scented pouch and prayed for a peace amulet at Jin'an Temple, which I wished to present to Your Majesty. Spring has arrived, and as the deities descend to the mortal realm, I feared Your Majesty might accidentally offend a spirit while admiring the flowers. This item can ensure your safety. I brought it especially as a small token of my devotion, Cheng Zhao said.

Empress Guo was a little surprised. You are very thoughtful.

She looked closely at Cheng Zhao's embroidery and praised it repeatedly, even showing it to her sister-in-law and her niece, Guo Hanzhang.

Madam Guo also praised it.

If Hanzhang spent some time on needlework, I would be relieved, Madam Guo added.

Guo Hanzhang's face instantly darkened.

Madam Guo was still dissatisfied and continued, Her stitches are not even steady.

Empress Guo just smiled and did not chime in.

But she also did not like hearing her sister-in-law complain about her niece.

My mother also rarely does needlework; managing the household always keeps her exceptionally busy. When my grandmother was alive, she never criticized my mother's embroidery, Cheng Zhao said.

She did not say her mother's embroidery was bad, only that being good at needlework was not particularly meaningful.

No matter how much society demanded women to be skilled in needlework, there were actually very few occasions where it was truly needed.

Your grandmother was tolerant, Madam Guo smiled.

With your excellent judgment and keen eyes, and with Her Majesty the Empress keeping watch, the in-laws chosen for Miss Guo in the future will surely have a very tolerant and gentle mother-in-law, Cheng Zhao smiled.

She was signaling to Madam Guo to look at the Empress's expression and stop talking.

Upon hearing this, Madam Guo indeed looked at the Empress and immediately smiled. The wife of the Duke of Chen truly has a clever tongue. Her words have made me feel much more at ease, and I am not so worried anymore.

Everyone outside says she has a clever tongue; Grand Princess Fukang loves listening to her speak the most, the Empress said. Do not worry too much. Children have their own destinies.

The topic was successfully changed.

Guo Hanzhang glanced at Cheng Zhao.

This glance carried a hint of interest.

Cheng Zhao really knew how to speak and read the room, managing to control the situation perfectly.

Such a person was considered very slick and not particularly likable. At least, Guo Hanzhang did not quite like her.

But with her around, the atmosphere was indeed very pleasant. Therefore, she was popular most of the time and could reap the benefits.

Is not the Cheng family a scholarly household? How come her glib tongue makes her seem like she comes from a merchant background? Guo Hanzhang thought to herself.

She lazily shifted her gaze away.

Empress Guo had received Cheng Zhao's pouch, and her mood, which had nearly been ruined by her sister-in-law's complaining, had been salvaged by Cheng Zhao.

Therefore, after the Guo mother and daughter left, Empress Guo kept Cheng Zhao behind alone and asked her the purpose of her visit.

I just wanted to see you, Cheng Zhao said.

She had a request, but she could not say it outright; she needed the Empress to guess it.

Those in power do not like being made demands of; they only like to figure things out themselves and bestow favors as a reward.

If you do not tell me, then I will not be able to help you, Empress Guo smiled.

It is really nothing. It is because of your bestowed marriage that I was able to become a duchess. I dare not forget this kindness and ought to come serve you often. But I also feared disturbing you, so I have not dared to come pay my respects frequently, Cheng Zhao said.

Empress Guo said, You are a first-rank duchess. Requesting an edict to visit me is proper etiquette. Come often in the future.

Cheng Zhao said yes.

She did not say anything else.

She was merely observing, looking for an opportunity.

Just as her grandfather had said, the root of the problem lay in the bestowed marriage.

As for how to proceed, Cheng Zhao would have to play it by ear. At this stage, the path to a divorce was completely blocked, without a sliver of hope in sight.

She would have to plan it slowly and carefully.

With the heir to the throne officially appointed and her husband serving as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, the political landscape was much clearer than before. Cheng Zhao's growing closeness to Empress Guo was no longer considered a sensitive matter; rather, it was a relationship she now needed to carefully cultivate.