Chapter 74: Zhou Yuanshen Seeks Peace

Cheng Zhao turned her head toward the window, remaining silent.

Zhou Yuanshen sat beside her and did not speak again either.

The two sat in silence.

Second Madam called from outside the curtain, Zhaozhao, do you have any dietary restrictions?

Restrictions on what?

Do you eat pork lung soup? Second Madam asked again.

Cheng Zhao: I do. I don't avoid that.

Only the brothers Yuanshen and Yuanqi don't eat it. Let's ignore them and make the soup as usual, Second Madam said.

Cheng Zhao: ...

While speaking, she had turned her head back this way, and when she refocused, she met Zhou Yuanshen's gaze.

She looked away.

Zhou Yuanshen asked, What are your dietary restrictions?

We won't be dining together anyway, so the Lord Duke doesn't need to care, Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen fell silent.

After a long while, he finally said, Cheng Zhao, you cannot get a divorce.

Cheng Zhao could not help but feel a surge of fury.

I don't need to analyze it for you. You are a smart person and know the difficulties involved, he added. You will have to continue being the Duchess.

Nothing is impossible in this world. Do not underestimate me, Cheng Zhao said coldly.

Zhou Yuanshen: We can work together. Perhaps with our combined efforts, the Emperor will agree.

Cheng Zhao slowly turned her face toward him.

Zhou Yuanshen's eyes remained completely unrippled: This bestowed marriage was Grand Preceptor Guo's scheme to begin with. Now that Grand Preceptor Guo monopolizes the court, the Emperor hates him to the bone. When the net is finally drawn in the future, this marriage can serve as one of Grand Preceptor Guo's crimes, and then you will be free.

Cheng Zhao turned her face back.

She wasn't a little fool.

Annihilating a powerful noble faction was much harder than getting the Empress to go back on her word.

Eliminating such a behemoth could drag down the entire Chen Duke's estate, and even the Cheng family.

Cheng Zhao was unwilling to take that risk.

The Cheng family of Wu Commandery had an excellent reputation, and her grandfather enjoyed immense prestige throughout the world. Even if there truly was a change of dynasties, the new emperor's first act would be to curry favor with the Cheng family, needing her grandfather to endorse his legitimacy.

Cheng Zhao would not drag the entire Cheng clan into the struggle between the Emperor and the Guo family.

If Zhou Yuanshen was willing to be a blade, that was his business.

Cheng Zhao was neither stupid enough to be sweet-talked into forgetting herself, nor would she hypocritically humor him.

Therefore, she said, The Cheng family has no grudge against the Guo family, nor with the Emperor. Divorce is a private matter between you and me. I never agreed to conspire with you...

What divorce? someone suddenly asked from outside the window.

The voice was childish and milky.

Startled, Cheng Zhao subconsciously pushed open the window and saw Zhou Yuanqi standing beneath it, listening to their conversation.

She made a shushing gesture at him. Mother is in the outer room.

Zhou Yuanqi had pink, tender cheeks and pitch-black eyes, as exquisite as a carved porcelain doll. With the same cold and aloof expression as his older brother, he looked at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao whispered, Come inside quickly, Young Uncle is here too.

She closed the window again.

She let out a soft sigh.

Zhou Yuanshen hadn't said anything the whole time; he just watched her.

Cheng Zhao ignored him.

Zhou Yuanqi came in. Fan Xiao was teasing him, and the uncle and nephew were talking and laughing.

Cheng Zhao remained seated on the window-side kang. She pulled a resting pillow a bit closer and leaned back against it; she closed her eyes to doze off, paying no more attention to Zhou Yuanshen.

Zhou Yuanshen pulled over another pillow and mimicked her posture, leaning back as well.

The two were silent.

Cheng Zhao, in a few days Concubine Mu will have her grounding lifted, Zhou Yuanshen suddenly said.

Cheng Zhao opened her eyes.

Mu Jiang's pregnancy was stable now. Carrying the first child of the Zhou family's next generation in her belly, she had the capital to stir up trouble; meanwhile, those two in Chengming Hall were very good at using others to do their dirty work, especially Lady Huan.

Cheng Zhao could well imagine that her situation was going to become increasingly difficult.

Without a divorce, she was still the Duchess.

Cheng Zhao could not accept herself being a downtrodden Madam; she needed to pull herself together.

Is the Lord Duke trying to say that from now on, you will frequently stay in Lijing Courtyard to accompany Concubine Mu, ensuring she safely gives birth to this child? Cheng Zhao asked.

Without waiting for Zhou Yuanshen to answer, she said, That is fine. You don't need to discuss this matter with me. I have no objections.

Zhou Yuanshen turned his head slightly to look at her: I have no intention of staying in Lijing Courtyard.

That is between you and her, Cheng Zhao said.

Cheng Zhao wanted to be the Duchess, wanted to live in Chengming Hall. Mu Jiang and her child were never stumbling blocks.

If pushing Zhou Yuanshen away could buy Mu Jiang's peace and quiet, Cheng Zhao was more than willing to do it.

Not having an heir for the time being didn't matter.

Zhou Yuanshen was silent for another long while before saying, How should I apologize to you? Can you tell me clearly?

Cheng Zhao did not want to forgive him.

If she told him how to apologize, it would be as if the matter was resolved and behind them.

In Cheng Zhao's heart, this hurdle could not be crossed. She did not want to silently accept the harm and pretend it didn't exist.

The Lord Duke does not need to apologize. Just get me the divorce papers, and we will be even, Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen stood up and walked out.

Cheng Zhao: ...

A breath caught in her throat; she was almost furious.

A moment later, her father-in-law returned, and the meal was set in the flower hall.

The pork lung soup was prepared very well, with two types of medicinal herbs added, making it refreshing and tender.

It's delicious, Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanqi looked disgusted. You are someone who has tasted black-bone chicken soup and sour radish duck soup. How can you bring yourself to praise such a vulgar thing?

It's not vulgar. It's very delicious, Cheng Zhao said. You should try some.

Even if I died, and had to choose between going to the eighteenth level of hell and drinking pork lung soup, you could come visit me in the eighteenth level of hell, Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao: You'd still care about vulgarity after dying? Truly a scholar, a great talent.

She added, My third sister would probably like it. She loves this kind of flavor the most.

Zhou Yuanqi looked at her.

Fan Xiao quietly raised his eyes but didn't answer, continuing to drink his soup.

Second Madam initially wanted to remind the two of them that bickering at the dining table was forbidden; but finding their banter amusing, she let it slide.

I don't believe she likes it, Zhou Yuanqi said.

Cheng Zhao: In a few days, we're all going out for a spring outing to fly kites in the suburbs. You can ask my third sister then.

Alright, Zhou Yuanqi said. We'll have people protect us. Call your fourth brother, and I'll arrange for others.

Fan Xiao chuckled. Yuanshen and I can protect you. There's no need to find anyone else.

We don't want you two! Zhou Yuanqi immediately retorted.

Zhou Yuanshen glanced at his younger brother.

His gaze was deeply meaningful.

Zhou Yuanqi thought that since his sister-in-law wanted a divorce, he better quickly kick this brute away so as not to lose her. Recruiting a live-in husband was an urgent matter.

If they brought the brute on the spring outing, what if his sister-in-law got upset?

Young Uncle was even worse. The man had a glib and wicked tongue; he would surely offend his sister-in-law and the heavenly talented lady.

...I have my own candidates, Zhou Yuanqi said.

Second Madam was curious. Who are you choosing?

Mother, don't worry about it. You will thank me in the future, Zhou Yuanqi said.

Second Madam was completely baffled, thinking to herself, what kind of wretched son is this, spouting such nonsense?

Second Master didn't understand either, but he didn't need to understand.

Zhou Yuanshen said to the maid serving dishes beside them, Serve me a bowl of pork lung soup.

Everyone looked at him.

Including Zhou Yuanqi.

Zhou Yuanqi: You don't like drinking it.

I can try, Zhou Yuanshen said.

Zhou Yuanqi curled his lip: If you try it, I'll be the only one not drinking it, giving Mother another excuse to scold me.

Traitor!

When the soup was brought to him, Zhou Yuanshen picked it up. He sniffed it and put it down. A moment later, as if mustering his courage, he brought it to his lips but then put it down again.

Zhou Yuanqi sneered, If you don't like it, don't ask for it. What a waste.

Second Madam never forced her children, so she also said, If you don't want to drink it, then leave it.

Zhou Yuanshen, however, looked at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao refused to meet his eyes.

This was just a meal, not a test or a punishment from her. He could drink it or not as he pleased.

"It is fine if you do not drink it," Fan Xiao said with a smile. "You and the Duchess can agree to disagree and respect each other's dietary preferences. You can still grow old together just the same."

Zhou Yuanshen picked it up and took a sip.