Chapter 73: Don't Let Mother Know

Cheng Zhao emerged from the Kunning Palace and returned to the Duke of Chen's mansion.

Nanny Fan, her mother-in-law's trusted servant, was sitting idly in the Nonghua Courtyard.

Seeing her return, Nanny Fan smiled, "Young Madam, it's good that you are back. Did something happen in the palace? The Second Madam has been worried all day."

Cheng Zhao replied, "Nothing happened. I just went to visit Her Majesty the Empress and offer a peace charm. Nanny, please go back first and tell my mother to rest assured. I will come over after changing my clothes."

Nanny Fan checked her expression a few times.

After making sure she was fine, she went back to report.

The fact that Cheng Zhao took the initiative to submit a visiting card and request an audience with the Empress was known only to her and her confidants. It was not something to be broadcasted to everyone.

"...Young Madam, why did you go to see the Empress?" asked Nanny Li.

She knew Cheng Zhao had requested to enter the palace, but she didn't know her purpose.

Cheng Zhao hadn't even told her confidants about the conflict that erupted in the Chenhui Courtyard; as for her desire for a divorce, she hadn't breathed a word of it either.

It wasn't worth making everyone worry and feel down over something that hadn't even taken shape yet.

"My marriage to the Duke of Chen was bestowed by the Empress. Going to pay my respects occasionally is the right thing to do. If I am living well, she will naturally feel gratified and might even reward me," Cheng Zhao said.

She added, "It's not a bad thing to have another person to rely on. The Empress did help me get my title of mandate."

"Then if you are not doing well, could you go and complain?" Suyue asked with a smile.

Cheng Zhao replied, "No. If the Empress truly felt guilty, I would be in trouble. Her guilt would only make her help me once. Over time, she would rather I didn't exist."

To maintain a long-lasting and good relationship, "guilt" cannot exist; it would be a thorn. Therefore, Cheng Zhao didn't go to complain.

Her grandfather had analyzed the many difficulties of getting a divorce with her.

If she couldn't link this matter to what the Empress feared most, the Empress would never slap her own face and agree to Cheng Zhao's divorce.

Cheng Zhao had to slowly look for an opportunity.

The maids helped her change clothes. She put on a casual pale lotus-root colored upper garment embroidered with interlocking branches and a plain white skirt. They simply tied her hair into a low bun, and Cheng Zhao went to the Jiangyun Courtyard to see her mother-in-law.

"...During the Peach Blossom Banquet, Young Master Sun fell into the water. Grandmother is probably unhappy about it in her heart. I went to the Empress to find some backing," Cheng Zhao told the Second Madam.

The Second Madam said, "The status of the Empress and the Crown Prince is only average; it is Grand Preceptor Guo who holds power over the court. Against the Old Madam, the Empress might not have a winning chance."

"I'm not trying to go against the Old Madam," Cheng Zhao smiled. "In social relations, you have to water the plants and pull the weeds regularly. You can't just beg her when you desperately need a favor."

The Second Madam was relieved.

She sighed, "I am most afraid of social interactions, but you handle them with ease."

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses," Cheng Zhao smiled.

While the mother and daughter-in-law were talking, the porter outside announced that the maternal uncle had arrived.

The Second Madam said, "It's your young uncle. Last time I sent someone with a message, asking him to look into something for me. He's probably here to report back."

She added, "Quickly, invite him in."

Soon, Fan Xiao entered.

After greeting each other, the Second Madam ordered the maids to serve tea and hurriedly asked, "Quick, tell me, what exactly happened to Yuanjin?"

Fan Xiao smiled, "Congratulations, Eldest Sister. Yuanjin did not become a captive."

The Second Madam let out a huge sigh of relief.

She said to Cheng Zhao, "A few days ago, I received a letter saying Yuanjin went missing while on night patrol. They couldn't find him anywhere, and thought he might have been abducted by the Northern Di people."

Cheng Zhao said, "Fortunately, that's not the case."

Fan Xiao said, "Not only is it not the case, but the twelve men he led encountered a sneak attack unit. They fought against the odds but were then surrounded by hundreds of the enemy. To escape, he and his men fought fiercely for eight days and repelled them. Second Brother requested a merit reward, and the imperial court appointed Yuanjin as a Commandant."

The Second Madam seemed in disbelief, a mix of surprise and joy: "Really?"

"It's the news Yuanshen found out. Second Brother requested the merit, and Yuanshen exerted effort in the court to secure this reward for Yuanjin," Fan Xiao said.

Tears of joy welled up in the Second Madam's eyes: "Yuanshen didn't tell me."

"He probably got the news a few days ago, but he might have been busy these past few days," Fan Xiao said.

After saying that, he glanced at Cheng Zhao, "What has Yuanshen been busy with these days?"

Cheng Zhao: "..."

The Second Madam also looked at Cheng Zhao.

"The Duke of Chen has not been resting in the Nonghua Courtyard these past few days, and his whereabouts are unknown," Cheng Zhao said.

The Second Madam said, "He's probably resting in the outer study. Someone, go find the Duke."

Nanny Fan instructed a maid to pass the message.

Cheng Zhao really wanted to leave.

Taking advantage of the gap when the Second Madam and Fan Xiao were talking, she said, "Mother, I just returned from the palace, and I'm quite exhausted right now. I'll go back and lie down first."

"Eat before you go back. If you are tired, go to the kang in the side room and rest for a while. Drink some ginseng soup to replenish your energy," the Second Madam smiled. "Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

Cheng Zhao: "..."

Fan Xiao looked at her curiously and smiled, "Madam Duke, do you have time to visit the Pillar of State General's Mansion another day? My mother has been talking about you."

The Second Madam said, "We can go back together. Zhaozhao, you come too. Your spearmanship is too flashy. Have your grandmother give you some pointers, and you will definitely benefit a lot."

Fan Xiao was a bit surprised: "Madam Duke knows how to use a spear? I couldn't tell. Do the girls in your family have to learn spearmanship too?"

Cheng Zhao smiled forcedly: "I only learned a little bit of the basics."

"Does every girl have to learn?" Fan Xiao asked again.

Cheng Zhao: "No, just me."

Because of this interruption, Cheng Zhao couldn't find an opportunity to decline visiting the Fan family, and the Second Madam and Fan Xiao finalized the matter.

Fan Xiao added, "Bring Yuanqi along too. Mother only thinks about him. Out of all the children and grandchildren in the family, Yuanqi is her precious darling."

The Second Madam said, "He is extremely boring. Only Mother still thinks about him. Who else likes him?"

"Yuanqi is quite interesting. He has read a lot of books and can scold people without using dirty words. Eldest Sister, you really can't imagine how he mocked me last time..."

The siblings were solely focused on complaining about Zhou Yuanqi, and Cheng Zhao had no way to steer the conversation back.

She didn't even have a chance to stand up and take her leave.

Soon, a maid brought ginseng soup to Cheng Zhao. This was what the Second Madam drank every day, and she casually gave her a bowl.

After Cheng Zhao finished drinking, the Second Madam was very considerate: "Go lie down and rest. You don't need to stand on ceremony in front of me."

Having accepted her hospitality, Cheng Zhao had no choice but to go to the side room.

Then, she heard that Zhou Yuanshen had arrived.

Cheng Zhao leaned against the bolster, keeping her head suspended to avoid messing up her hair bun, and closed her eyes to rest her spirit.

Someone gently touched her cheek.

She opened her eyes. Zhou Yuanshen was standing nearby. He wore a sky-blue kesi robe embroidered with cloud patterns and floral medallions, his face expressionless.

Cheng Zhao frowned and immediately shifted inward.

She wanted to distance herself from him, but it coincidentally made room for Zhou Yuanshen to sit down.

Zhou Yuanshen took the opportunity to sit.

Cheng Zhao immediately tried to get up.

Zhou Yuanshen said, "I apologize to you. Don't let Mother know, or she will worry."

Cheng Zhao didn't want to say a single word to him.

"What do you want me to do for you to let go of your anger?" he asked again. "Should I also go and burn incense to your Guanyin the Child-Bringer every day?"

Cheng Zhao glared at him.

Bringing up the Guanyin the Child-Bringer again.

She didn't even care about having children anymore; she was currently looking for a chance to get a divorce.