Chapter 78: Zhou Yuanshen Held Her Hand

The chair next to Dowager Madame was empty.

She instructed Zhou Yuanshen, "Sit down and speak."

She pointed to that seat.

However, Zhou Yuanshen sat in the seat below Cheng Zhao. "I just came to see Grandmother. I have matters to attend to later."

Dowager Madame's smile remained unchanged.

But the atmosphere suddenly tightened.

Zhou Yuanshen acted as if he didn't notice.

Mu Jiang wanted to speak very much, but did not dare to act rashly. She looked at Zhou Yuanshen with deep affection, waiting for him to look back at her and look at her belly.

She was pregnant with a child.

Yet Zhou Yuanshen never looked at her, only focusing on sitting there. The atmosphere gradually grew taut, and everyone's heartstrings tightened, their breathing slowing down.

A maid served him tea.

Zhou Yuanshen picked up the tea. The lid gently clinked against the teacup, making a slight sound. Along with the rising aroma of the tea, it broke the temporarily strange atmosphere in the room.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"...Ah Jiang, how have you reflected on the mistake you made last time, after being grounded for so long?" Dowager Madame deliberately asked Mu Jiang in front of Zhou Yuanshen.

Mu Jiang supported her waist and stood up, "My Lord Duke, it was my fault last time. I shouldn't have compared myself with the Young Madam. By subsidizing my monthly allowance, you showed me great favor, and it was my own greed."

She added, "It was only right for the Young Madam to show off, as what she received was also a reward from My Lord Duke. I should yield to her."

Hearing her words, Zhou Yuanshen slowly put down his teacup.

Expressionless, he quietly looked at Dowager Madame. "Grandmother."

Just one word, and he did not speak again, waiting for Dowager Madame to respond.

Everyone felt this oppressive aura once more.

Second Madam felt a layer of sweat form on her palms.

Even Mu Jiang, who was standing there, straightened her body a bit.

"Does Ah Shen feel that she hasn't reflected well?" Dowager Madame smiled.

Still as amiable and kind as ever.

"Grandmother, she was grounded back then only because she was hot-headed and shouting, which might have harmed the fetus in her womb.

Looking at her now, she has no remorse at all and even attempts to smear the Duke's wife. Lock her up for another month to let her completely sober up.

She should understand just how important the fetus in her womb is to us. Once something happens to the child, chopping off her head will be of no use."

Zhou Yuanshen spoke slowly, word by word.

When he spoke, no one dared to interrupt.

And the meaning of his words was baffling. Let alone Cheng Zhao and Huan Qingtang, even Second Madam looked at him in surprise.

Was the fetus in her womb really that important?

Although it was said that the Emperor ordered Zhou Yuanshen to have a child, and the firstborn was precious, what right did this child have to threaten Dowager Madame?

Zhou Yuanshen was clearly using this matter to force Dowager Madame to compromise.

The smile on Dowager Madame's face faded.

She looked back at Zhou Yuanshen, and the grandmother and grandson's eyes met for a moment.

Then, Dowager Madame spoke. "Ah Jiang, from now on you must focus on resting and nourishing your pregnancy. You cannot join in any excitement, lest you disturb the fetus. Do you understand?"

Mu Jiang complied, "I understand, Grandmother."

She then turned to Zhou Yuanshen, "My Lord Duke, I will definitely strive to give you a healthy and lively eldest son."

Zhou Yuanshen ignored her words and picked up his tea again.

After finishing his drink, as if nothing had happened, he looked at Dowager Madame. "Grandmother, Maternal Grandmother sent someone to fetch Mother and the Cheng family daughter to the Fan residence as guests. If Grandmother has no other matters here, I will escort them over."

He added, "We might stay overnight at Maternal Grandmother's house."

He respectfully stood up and bowed to Dowager Madame.

His attitude was docile.

A smile returned to Dowager Madame's face. "Go then. Relatives should visit each other often. Your maternal grandmother is getting old, and her desire for children and grandchildren to reunite is the same as mine."

Cheng Zhao and Second Madam hurriedly stood up.

After bowing to Dowager Madame, they followed Zhou Yuanshen and left.

The small oil-cloth carriage was still parked at the door.

Zhou Yuanshen squeezed in with the two of them.

Cheng Zhao's shoulder was pressed against his, and she tried her best to shrink back.

"...What were you two sparring over just now? I didn't understand," Second Madam said.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "The fact that Mother can tell it was 'sparring' makes me see you in a new light."

Second Madam made a motion to hit him. "You dare to make fun of your old mother?"

Cheng Zhao turned her head and saw that his eyes were a bit bright.

When he was happy, he rarely smiled, but his eyes would be a third brighter than usual—of course, this might just be Cheng Zhao's illusion.

Cheng Zhao looked at him, and he looked at Cheng Zhao.

Being so close, the couple's breaths were mere inches apart. Cheng Zhao turned her face back.

"Your grandmother seemed to be somewhat deflated. What exactly did you say?" Second Madam asked again.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "I didn't say much."

"Zhao Zhao, did you understand what they were saying?" Second Madam asked.

Cheng Zhao shook her head. "I didn't really understand either."

This time, she truly didn't understand what kind of riddles Zhou Yuanshen and Dowager Madame were playing.

Logically speaking, the child in Mu Jiang's womb should be what Zhou Yuanshen hoped for and wanted the most, yet he used it to threaten Dowager Madame.

It seemed that Dowager Madame was the one who cared the most.

Dowager Madame did not turn around and use this matter to intimidate Zhou Yuanshen.

"My Lord Duke, what exactly were you talking about?" Cheng Zhao asked him directly.

It was rare for her to initiate a conversation with him.

Disregarding the fact that Second Madam was still there, Zhou Yuanshen grasped Cheng Zhao's hand.

Cheng Zhao was stunned and tried to pull her hand back, but Zhou Yuanshen held it tight.

He said, "Let the matters of the Shou'an Courtyard stay in the Shou'an Courtyard. Don't worry about it."

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

If you want to talk properly, why must you hold my hand?

Mother is still here.

Seeing this, Second Madam couldn't help but smile. "Alright, since you tell us not to worry, we'll rely on you. If there's trouble, you solve it."

"Alright!"

Zhou Yuanshen's voice was firm, carrying a rare hint of emotional fluctuation.

Second Madam said, "Don't boast. What will you do if the Concubine provokes Zhao Zhao next time?"

"She wouldn't dare," Zhou Yuanshen said. "If she provokes her, she will be grounded again."

Second Madam didn't say anything more.

She just thought to herself that grounding wouldn't solve the problem.

This concubine was given to Zhou Yuanshen by Dowager Madame, and she had the Emperor's backing behind her; moreover, she had striven to get pregnant first.

Grounding was merely a temporary fix.

Forget it, she would think about such troublesome matters later. Asking Zhou Yuanshen to come up with a plan now was also making things difficult for him.

"Did your maternal grandmother really send someone to invite us?" Second Madam asked.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, "No. We can just visit directly, Maternal Grandmother will be happy."

Second Madam was speechless.

While they were talking, they arrived at the entrance of the Jiangyun Courtyard, and Second Madam got off first.

Cheng Zhao also wanted to get off, but Zhou Yuanshen had already instructed the older female servant driving the carriage to head to the Nonghua Courtyard.

"Let go of me," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen asked, "Still angry?"

"If you don't let go, I'm going to get mad," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen released her hand.

The couple entered the Nonghua Courtyard.

Nanny Li didn't expect Cheng Zhao to return so quickly. Hadn't she said she was going to the Shou'an Courtyard to accompany Dowager Madame for breakfast?

"My Lord Duke, Young Madam, have you had breakfast?" Nanny Li asked.

Cheng Zhao replied, "No."

She added, "Just prepare something simple. We have to go out later."

Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen had breakfast together.

Although the two did not converse, Nanny Li felt that the atmosphere between them was fairly harmonious.

The Duke hadn't visited the Nonghua Courtyard for several days, and now he was here again, right on the day the Concubine was ungrounded. This was a good thing.

After the meal, Cheng Zhao went to change her clothes.

Since she was going out as a guest, she needed to dress more elegantly.

She stepped into the inner chamber with her maids Suyue and Qiubai trailing behind her, only to hear Zhou Yuanshen's voice call out, "Wait outside the door for now."

Cheng Zhao: "..."