Chapter 83: Do You Get Nervous

The atmosphere inside the bedcurtains was enchanting and intimate.

Cheng Zhao remembered what her eldest sister had said about responding. When he kissed her, she gently sucked on his lower lip. Even though she didn't call him Third Brother.

Zhou Yuanshen felt slightly surprised.

Therefore, that night, Cheng Zhao felt as if she was going to be taken apart by him all over again.

After it was over, Cheng Zhao went to bathe. Then, enduring her aching waist and weak legs, she went to the side room to offer a stick of incense to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who brings children.

She knelt down devoutly and kowtowed.

Zhou Yuanshen had also finished washing up. Dressed in plain white inner garments, the usual coldness about him had lessened considerably. He stood at the door, quietly watching Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao knew he was there. She didn't turn around, earnestly bowing to Guanyin before finally standing up.

Zhou Yuanshen looked at her and said, I will offer a stick of incense too.

Cheng Zhao didn't refuse; having children was something they both had to work at together.

She lit three sticks of incense and handed them to him. Please, My Lord.

Zhou Yuanshen earnestly bowed three times and inserted the incense into the censer.

It was as if he had just accomplished something monumental.

Back in the bedroom, Cheng Zhao was just about to fall asleep when he pulled her into his arms again.

Cheng Zhao pushed against him. My Lord, it's very late.

She didn't want to do it again.

She had been tossed about enough. No matter how greedy he was, he needed to show some restraint. Cheng Zhao was not someone he could just toy with.

I can't sleep. Let's talk, he said.

Cheng Zhao was also not sleepy.

But if they were just going to talk, why did he have to hold her in his arms?

Pressed against his chest, she could feel his heartbeat and smell his breath, which carried a hint of cooling tooth powder.

Enveloped by the man's scent, she felt rather uncomfortable.

Let me lie down properly, and we can talk slowly. She broke free from Zhou Yuanshen's embrace.

Zhou Yuanshen didn't force her.

...March 17th is Grandmother's sixty-second birthday. For her sixtieth birthday, Eldest Cousin had just passed away, and the Emperor was in poor health and hadn't named an heir, so it wasn't celebrated grandly. This year, it should be made up for. The Emperor even mentioned this to me before the New Year, Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao frowned slightly. Are you saying this, or is Grandmother? I haven't heard anything about this from Chengming Hall.

Perhaps they will tell you in the next few days.

For a major birthday celebration, a proper household would prepare half a year in advance; even just for a lively gathering, it requires three months of preparation. If they only mention it 'in the next few days,' how will there be enough time? Cheng Zhao said.

Grandmother likes to give people urgent tasks to test their abilities, Zhou Yuanshen said.

Cheng Zhao fell silent.

Are you nervous?

I manage the gatehouse and the main kitchen. When hosting a banquet, the first tasks are sending out invitations and receiving gifts, which fall under the gatehouse's duties. The second is the food and wine, which is the main kitchen's responsibility.

If a birthday banquet is organized in a rush, the two most important and demanding tasks are both mine. How can I not be nervous? Cheng Zhao said.

She felt a trace of resentment, almost gritting her teeth.

But on second thought, the Old Madame loved to play with power and people's minds, so it made sense for her to give such orders.

Perhaps the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at Chengming Hall had already heard the news and were just keeping it from Cheng Zhao.

The next head of Chengming Hall would be Huan Qingtang; this was the Old Madame's very clear stance. To elevate her, she would tell her in advance, allowing her to handle her duties methodically and flawlessly.

When the time came, the only one scrambling in a panic would be Cheng Zhao.

The slight feeling of pleasure Cheng Zhao had just experienced vanished in an instant.

She had to rouse her fighting spirit.

Cheng Zhao quickly thought back to how her mother and eldest sister handled things when her own grandmother was alive and celebrating her birthday.

At that time, her eldest sister kept her and her third sister close by. She had been entirely focused on fried milk cakes, while her third sister kept complaining that the calligraphy on the couplets wasn't elegant enough. Neither of them had listened to their eldest sister's instructions.

But it didn't matter; she could cram at the last minute and go ask her mother and eldest sister for advice.

Do you need my help? Zhou Yuanshen asked her in the darkness.

Cheng Zhao returned to her senses. If I run into difficulties, I will definitely ask My Lord for help.

Zhou Yuanshen gave an affirmative hum.

His tone revealed neither joy nor anger.

Just as Cheng Zhao was about to start making a plan, she heard Zhou Yuanshen speak again. Cheng Zhao, if Grandmother holds a birthday banquet, you must be prepared. The Emperor and the Crown Prince might both attend.

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

She inexplicably felt nervous again.

First, she had never met the Emperor. Second, she had heard that the Emperor's mental state had been very poor these past two years, and he sometimes became delirious.

Cheng Zhao didn't want to cause a massive disaster.

...If the Crown Prince really does come to offer birthday greetings, there can be no fireworks. During the New Year, the Crown Prince set off fireworks to please His Majesty but injured his hand in an explosion. There is still a burn scar on the palm of his left hand to this day, Zhou Yuanshen added.

Cheng Zhao was astonished. I haven't heard about this either.

The news was suppressed. Not only did the Emperor and Empress forbid anyone from speaking of it, but Grand Preceptor Guo also didn't want it to reach the court, as it would be detrimental to the Crown Prince, Zhou Yuanshen said.

The Crown Prince's injury wouldn't earn him sympathy; it would only make the court officials feel he was unreliable and distrust him even more.

I will remember that, Cheng Zhao said.

The two talked for quite a while longer before finally going to sleep.

Waking up early the next day, Cheng Zhao went to pay her respects to her mother-in-law as usual and asked about her brother-in-law, Zhou Yuanqi.

Once his fever broke, it didn't return, the Second Madame said. Don't worry, just focus on your duties with peace of mind.

Cheng Zhao said yes.

She sent a maid to tell Zhou Yuanqi that he should just let her know whatever he wanted to eat. Since she managed the main kitchen, even if she had to pay out of her own pocket, she would make sure Zhou Yuanqi ate well.

By mid-afternoon that day, Cheng Zhao had finished her duties. The servant boy Nanfeng was waiting for her at the entrance of Chenghui Courtyard.

Seeing Chenghui Courtyard made Cheng Zhao's scalp tingle with anxiety, but she didn't allow herself to feel fear. She had to slowly find her power and couldn't just let Zhou Yuanshen do as he pleased.

Young Madame, Nanfeng bowed to her. My Lord is going to drink with the Maternal Uncle tonight and won't be home. He prepared something for you and asked you to take it yourself.

Cheng Zhao asked, What is it?

It looks like bank notes.

It took Cheng Zhao a moment to remember that on the day they went to visit the Fan family, Zhou Yuanshen had said he would give her ten thousand taels in bank notes.

Because she had brought expensive gifts to the Fan family, Zhou Yuanshen was afraid she would suffer a loss.

She entered the western side room.

Sure enough, she saw a black lacquered box on the low table on the kang. Inside were bank notes, each worth one thousand taels, ten of them in total.

I'll take them, Cheng Zhao said. Do I need to sign a receipt?

Nanfeng was momentarily stunned and then laughed. Why would you need to sign for something My Lord is giving you? I've seen you take it, and that's enough.

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

She took the box and went back.

In the blink of an eye, it was March. Cheng Zhao's sister-in-law from the Cheng family sent her an invitation to celebrate the Shangsi Festival.

There was only half a month left until the Old Madame's birthday celebration. When Cheng Zhao went to pay her respects along with the First Madame, Lady Song, and Huan Qingtang, the Old Madame still didn't mention it.

Lady Song also showed no reaction.

Only Huan Qingtang had been somewhat busy these past few days, going out twice.

Lady Song even muttered, Huan usually doesn't like returning to her maiden home. What's been going on with her these past few days?

Cheng Zhao listened quietly.

During the Shangsi Festival, Zhou Yuanshen accompanied Cheng Zhao, and Zhou Yuanqi tagged along as well.

But Cheng Zhao had no mind for sightseeing.

She and her eldest sister were washing by the river, simply dipping their handkerchiefs in the water.

...First, dig out the account books from previous New Years to see which guests were invited, so you have a good idea. Also, make a mental note of which theater troupes performed, what dishes were served, and what wine was poured in the past, her eldest sister told her. As for the rest, you'll just have to see what sudden instructions the Old Madame gives and adapt to the situation.

What about the fireworks? How should that be handled? Cheng Zhao asked.

Because it was uncertain whether the Crown Prince would attend.

It was impossible to host a birthday banquet without arranging a fireworks display. However, if the Crown Prince were to attend, this activity would have to be canceled, leaving an empty gap in the schedule.

"Go ask Ah Chao," Eldest Sister said. "He is full of clever ideas. Have him come up with a solution for you."