Chapter 88: Slapped in Public

The Zhang family of Jingnan Prince’s Mansion were the only non-imperial clan to hold the title of prince in Shengjing.

During the late emperor’s reign, he had shown almost indulgent favor toward the Zhangs; moreover, the Zhangs had sided with the current emperor when he was made crown prince, earning them some merit.

The present emperor was now greatly dissatisfied with this princely house of a different surname, but he still dared not act rashly against the Zhang family.

As for landholdings, the Zhangs’ estates were perhaps the only ones that could rival the Zhous’, though outsiders had no real idea of how much land either family owned.

The Princess Consort Jingnan was usually modest and unassuming, and the noble ladies generally thought well of her. Even those who disliked her could find no open fault with her.

Just as everyone was praising Huan Qingtang, she spoke up and contradicted Huan Qingtang—this was a direct slap at the Grand Lady’s face.

The Zhou family had no quarrel with the Zhangs, so the Princess Consort’s words surprised everyone; a momentary hush fell over the gathering.

Even Grand Princess Fukang cast a curious glance her way.

At that very moment, the Grand Princess had a bite in her bowl. She savored it—the tofu was indeed more tender and delicate, and there was some extra flavor to it.

“...On the first and fifteenth of each month, I also observe a vegetarian fast. We have a cook in our household whose uncle is a head chef in the kitchens of Goldpeace Temple. He has mastered some true techniques and invented several vegetarian dishes of his own.

A few days ago, the head chef of Goldpeace caught a chill and didn’t dare come to cook. That’s why the Duchess asked about borrowing our cook, isn’t it? When our cook makes the Lotus Skin Broth, he adds a bit of homemade peanut paste to enhance the tofu’s aroma. Grand Lady, do taste it again—doesn’t it taste different from what you’ve had at Goldpeace Temple before?”

For a moment, the entire hall fell perfectly silent.

Huan Qingtang’s face drained of color. Calm as she prided herself on being, her eyes trembled slightly.

Cheng Shi sat together with the Second Madam; at those words, she did not move at first.

All the female guests were watching her, but she neither stood up to speak nor showed any particular expression. She simply sat in silence.

Grand Princess Fukang took another taste and laughed, “Indeed, the tofu is richer; I sensed it too just now.”

“Does it feel too heavy, Grand Lady?” the Princess Consort Jingnan asked again.

“Not really. Old folks’ tastes tend to be stronger—I didn’t notice any richness,” the Grand Lady said with a smile.

Huan Qingtang could not let the Grand Lady take the blame, and the Princess Consort had deliberately pointed this out to credit Cheng Shi. She had to say something.

Steadying her expression, Huan Qingtang forced a smile and said, “I’ve been very busy these past few days. A while ago, my sister-in-law gave me the main kitchen’s menu and told me she intended to invite the chef from Goldpeace Temple.

Goldpeace Temple is quite familiar with our household, so I sent over my name card too. I just didn’t expect the chef had been swapped halfway. I trust my sister-in-law with managing the main kitchen and didn’t make further inquiries.”

With that, she looked at Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi rose slowly to her feet and responded with composure.

“I knew my sister-in-law was busy, which is why I didn’t trouble her with such a trivial matter. Grandmother put me in charge, so of course I have to take responsibility for everything. Whatever turns up, I handle it myself—only that way can I live up to Grandmother’s trust.”

“Cheng Shi has done very well. Today’s Lotus Skin Broth is both lovely to look at and delicious to eat,” the Grand Lady said with a warm smile. “I have always had confidence in the way you handle things.”

The atmosphere relaxed.

The earlier incident—where Huan Qingtang had been elevated only to be slapped down—seemed as if it had never happened.

One careless enough would have missed this whole game of raising up and putting down.

But unfortunately, every titled lady present was a shrewd expert, and the noble young ladies were sharp too. No one had forgotten.

“Thank you, Grandmother,” Cheng Shi replied with a laugh. “Since Grandmother has entrusted me with the gate and the main kitchen, and tonight’s fireworks display as well, I certainly won’t disappoint your high expectations.”

Through this matter, she made it clear to the guests: the credit for the main kitchen and the gate matters belonged all to her. The fireworks at the night banquet were also her responsibility.

Any excellence in these tasks was due to Cheng Shi’s ability; any mistakes would be her failure as well.

She did not covet others’ merits, nor would she let anyone steal her own.

She was neither overbearing nor overly self-effacing.

At the last Peach Blossom Banquet, the noble ladies had already formed a good impression of her. This time, they found her even cleverer and more quick-witted.

Huan Qingtang, however, fell short.

When the guests looked at her, her discomfort was nearly written on her face. She lacked the Grand Lady’s poise in the face of embarrassment.

When the midday meal ended, the guests stayed on to listen to opera and await the night banquet.

Some went to stroll in the Chen Duke’s mansion’s rear garden.

For this occasion, the Chen Duke’s estate had put out over two thousand pots of peonies.

There were many in the flower hall, and even more in the rear garden.

A senior maidservant deliberately announced, “Her Ladyship the senior young mistress prepared all these. Every peony from the Xu family’s nursery is here.”

The guests murmured among themselves, careful not to offer casual praise.

“Could it be that someone else did the work, but it’s being credited to her again?”

“Is the Grand Lady trying to back her up? With the Grand Lady’s support, she’ll become the mistress of this house one day. What a pity for Cheng Shi.”

“Still young and immature—she snatched credit in public without preparing for the counterattack, and now she’s made herself look so awkward. Her skills are poor.”

These were deliberately biting remarks.

The guests knew these peonies were the work of Huan Qingtang, because Cheng Shi had already stated that she wasn’t in charge of that task.

Lady Chu of the Feng’en Earl’s Mansion remarked, “These peonies are truly stunning, in such full bloom. It really takes the young mistress’s influence to lease the entire peony stock of the Xu family’s nursery.”

At that, one lady nearby couldn’t help snorting coldly. “No wonder the Xu family’s nursery canceled my order for a hundred peony pots.

I had placed a deposit last winter for my Spring Gathering Banquet. It turns out they were chasing after the rich and powerful—taking my peonies for this event without a word.”

The atmosphere froze instantly.

No one responded.

If even a merchant could dare cancel her peony order, her family’s clout clearly wasn’t much. The titled ladies certainly weren’t about to stick up for Huan Qingtang or defend her.

But it gave others gossip ammunition against her.

After the midday meal, Cheng Shi invited all the relatives from the Fan and Cheng families to her Courtyard of the Crimson Clouds.

The room was filled with people, lively and warm.

“Aunt, I thank you for speaking up on my behalf just now,” Cheng Shi said to the Princess Consort Jingnan.

The Third Sister, Cheng Ying, had a worthless husband, but the Princess Consort was a decent woman. She felt guilty over her youngest son’s marriage to Cheng Ying and treated her generously.

Every time Cheng Ying came home, she said her parents-in-law had no fault, and the matter of Zhang Yunqi shouldn’t make the Zhang family a target.

When preparations for the Lotus Skin Broth had been underway, Cheng Shi had guessed the Grand Lady would give the credit to Huan Qingtang.

She had spoken about it with her mother.

Her mother happened to know that the Jingnan Prince’s Mansion had such a cook, who was the nephew of the head chef at Goldpeace Temple and inherited his secret recipes.

“Better be safe than sorry. If nobody brings it up, don’t say anything,” her mother had said.

When the mother asked the Jingnan Mansion to borrow the cook, the Princess Consort agreed without hesitation.

Not only that—she also testified on Cheng Shi’s behalf at the critical moment.

Cheng Shi naturally had to express her gratitude.

“We are all kin—it was just a small favor,” the Princess Consort replied.

Second Madam looked from one to the other.

She reflected that human relationships were truly complicated.

The Chengs all detested Cheng Ying’s husband, Zhang Yunqi, yet they genuinely respected his mother, the Princess Consort. It seemed they had long accepted that a marriage alliance was about the bond between two families, separate from the relationship between husband and wife.

Not only the elders thought this way; the sisters Cheng Shi and Cheng Ying seemed to feel the same. One respected the Princess Consort, the other cherished her mother-in-law. Neither held any grievances against the Princess Consort.

As long as the elders honored each other, a marriage was considered good.

Second Madam used to dislike this way of thinking among scholarly families, seeing it in matters like this one with the Jingnan Mansion.

Now, however, she saw it might make sense after all.

She had truly become much more enlightened.