Chapter 79: You Need to Be Gentle with Her

Inside the bedroom, Cheng Zhao's spine stiffened.

She couldn't help but recall that day in the Chenhui Courtyard, when he had also stepped around the folding screen to find her just like this.

Her eldest sister had counseled her a lot, and Cheng Zhao had come to accept the reality of what happened at the Chenhui Courtyard.

She could not change the current situation.

She didn't plan to continue arguing with him.

But she didn't want to be intimate with him either.

She took two steps back. "Does the Lord Duke have something to say?"

Zhou Yuanshen stopped in his tracks. "Are you still angry about what happened last time?"

"It's all in the past," Cheng Zhao said. "You asked my eldest sister to intercede, and I must give her face. We will let this matter go."

She only said "let this matter go," but she didn't say she wasn't angry.

Zhou Yuanshen was dressed in a dark robe, its lapels embroidered with golden auspicious clouds, but the faint golden gleam could not dilute the coldness and detachment radiating from him.

Cheng Zhao always felt that he had nothing to do with her, probably because of this attitude of his: he had no intention of getting close to anyone.

He only sought what he needed.

Whatever he wanted, he would stop at nothing to get it, whether it was his status in the royal court or those fleeting moments of pleasure with Cheng Zhao.

He didn't let anyone get close to his heart.

Even with his parents, who defended and accommodated him at every turn, there was a certain barrier; they were never truly close.

There was nothing wrong with this attitude; at the very least, it meant Mu Jiang wouldn't be able to enjoy any special treatment either.

"I need to change my clothes. Let's not keep Mother waiting," Cheng Zhao said.

"Cheng Zhao, you are the Duchess," he spoke up.

"Yes."

"If I were no longer the Duke of Chen, would you still want to be the Duchess?" he asked.

Cheng Zhao replied, "My bestowed marriage was to the Duke of Chen. If you no longer hold the title, I will simply live my days like the women of the eldest branch. You do not need to worry about me."

Zhou Yuanshen's gaze fell upon her face.

Cheng Zhao met his eyes without backing down.

"If you say so, I will take it as the truth, Cheng Zhao," Zhou Yuanshen said.

"I am speaking from the heart," Cheng Zhao said.

"Then I want to tell you that Concubine Mu's child is very important to the Chen Duke's estate. If you only wish to be the Duchess, you must yield to her somewhat regarding her affairs," Zhou Yuanshen said.

He added, "At the very least, this child must be born safely."

Every word and sentence from the recent confrontation in the Shou'an Courtyard echoed in Cheng Zhao's mind.

"Yes, Lord Duke," Cheng Zhao said.

Zhou Yuanshen turned and walked out.

With his departure, Cheng Zhao felt the heavy pressure dissipate significantly, and her spine slowly relaxed.

She sat alone for a while, silently pondering the words he had just spoken and what he had said in the Shou'an Courtyard.

Cheng Zhao instructed her maid to help her change and comb her hair. When she stepped out of the inner bedroom fully dressed, she found Zhou Yuanshen sitting in the main hall, drinking tea as he waited for her.

She resumed her usual demeanor and smiled at him. "Lord Duke, apologies for keeping you waiting."

"Let's go."

"Wait just a moment," Cheng Zhao said.

Nanny Li quickly gathered a few gifts, taken from the storehouse containing Cheng Zhao's dowry.

"These are gifts for Grandmother and Aunt. There's an aged ginseng root and a set of tourmaline jewelry," Cheng Zhao said.

"...You've spent too much. I will compensate you with ten thousand taels of silver," Zhou Yuanshen said.

"It didn't cost that much," Cheng Zhao replied.

Last time, when he gave Cheng Zhao a small crossbow, he had also said that if she didn't like it, he could give her ten thousand taels as compensation.

"Keep the extra. Whenever you want to have new jewelry made, just call the manager of the goldsmith's shop to the estate," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao voiced her compliance.

The couple left together. Waiting for them at the main gate were the Second Master and Zhou Yuanqi.

They each boarded their carriages.

Zhou Yuanshen and Cheng Zhao shared a carriage. Neither spoke; they simply sat in silence.

They soon arrived at the Pillar of State General's Manor.

Cheng Zhao had visited during the New Year, dined with the Fan family, and remembered quite a few people.

Coming again this time, she was familiar with the way.

The group went to the main courtyard.

The Old Dowager resided in the Fan family's main courtyard.

"Grandmother," Zhou Yuanqi greeted her with a bow.

The grandmother beamed with joy. "Out of all of you, only Yuanqi's bow is the most proper and pleasing to the eye."

The Second Madam's mouth twitched. "Mother, you spoil him too much."

"Nonsense, a child should be praised when he does well. His manners are perfect, and he is smart and eager to learn. I can never praise him enough," the grandmother laughed.

It was a lively scene.

After exchanging greetings, the aunt arranged for the meal, and the youngest uncle, Fan Xiao, also came in.

After sitting idly for a moment, Fan Xiao said to Zhou Yuanqi, "I recently got a new foal. It's incredibly beautiful. Do you want it?"

"What color is it?" Zhou Yuanqi was clearly interested but deliberately played hard to get.

"Pure white all over."

Zhou Yuanqi immediately stood up. "I'll go take a look."

He added, "I'll just look first. If the breed is good, I might reluctantly accept it."

The Second Madam was almost angered to death by him. "You have no respect for your elders! Are you asking for a beating?"

Fan Xiao ruffled Zhou Yuanqi's hair. "Did your uncle say I was giving it to you for free? If you like it, trade me five thousand taels of silver for it."

He added, "If you don't have enough silver, borrow it from someone."

The grandmother chimed in with a laugh, "Go take a look. If you like it, Grandmother will pay for it."

"Then hurry up and go, your grandmother is rich," Fan Xiao laughed.

The group headed to the training grounds.

Cheng Zhao also followed along to join the fun.

The Second Madam didn't go. She stayed behind to complain to the Old Dowager, "By spoiling him like this, he doesn't know his limits. Have you forgotten the time he was scammed out of five thousand taels buying a calligraphy copybook?"

"The money was recovered, and he even got two authentic works out of it. Look at how good his luck is. With such good fortune, he doesn't need to practice asceticism; he is destined to live a life of wealth and honor. What are you worrying about?" the Old Dowager asked.

The Second Madam was speechless.

Her mother hadn't been like this when she was younger. Whenever the Second Madam and her siblings lost focus for even a second while practicing the horse stance, a horsewhip would crack against their bodies.

Now, with her grandsons and maternal grandsons, her indulgence knew no bounds.

The Second Madam lamented that she hadn't been born at the right time and shook her head helplessly.

There were many horses in the stables at the training grounds, including quite a few fine steeds.

Cheng Zhao didn't know much about horses. Judging purely by their appearance, she praised them all the way.

The snow-white foal was tied up separately.

When it was led out, it even kicked up its hind legs.

"...This is a wild horse. It's too untamed and not suitable for Yuanqi. Tame it for half a year before giving it to him," Zhou Yuanshen said.

Fan Xiao laughed, "It just has a slightly fierce temperament, it's fine. It's not a wild horse. How could a wild horse have such a fine coat?"

"It is a wild horse," Zhou Yuanshen said with certainty. "Its coat is indeed very fine, shiny and smooth, looking as if it were meticulously cared for. This proves that it truly possesses a wild nature, allowing it to fight for the best water and grass."

Fan Xiao replied, "It's already been trained for a few days, it'll be fine."

"I want to ride it." Zhou Yuanqi was already captivated, wishing he could leap onto its back immediately.

Fan Xiao ordered someone to saddle the horse.

"Look, it allows itself to be saddled, don't worry," Fan Xiao added.

Zhou Yuanshen merely frowned but did not try to stop them again.

Once the snow-white foal was saddled, Zhou Yuanqi stamped his feet in delight. "Youngest Uncle, quickly lift me onto the horse."

Cheng Zhao stood to the side, smiling.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqi was very much a child. His words, actions, and expressions were all those of a young boy who hadn't grown up yet, full of innocent charm.

All his pretenses were cast aside.

Fan Xiao led the horse, and Zhou Yuanqi took the reins. He tentatively tapped the horse's belly with his heels, and the foal began to trot.

Everything was normal.

After running half a lap around the training grounds, just as everyone let their guard down, the foal suddenly began to gallop wildly and buck, desperately trying to throw Zhou Yuanqi and the saddle off its back.