Chapter 89: Want to Overthrow the Duke

Inside Jiangyun Courtyard, the conversation was lively and far more engaging than at the banquet.

Everyone present was either family or closely related.

“...Zhao Zhao, why didn’t you invite Princess Qing'an?” Princess Consort Jingnan suddenly asked.

Cheng Zhao replied, “She wasn’t invited to the previous gatherings either. This time, I tried to include her, but my elder sister-in-law crossed her name off the list.”

Cheng Zhao suspected that Second Madam was unaware of the behind-the-scenes matchmaking Princess Qing'an had arranged between Zhou Yuanshen and Huan Qingtang, but Princess Consort Jingnan certainly knew.

If Second Madam had known, given her personality, she would have told Cheng Zhao long ago.

Cheng Zhao realized that her younger brother-in-law, Zhou Yuanqi, inherited his inability to keep secrets from his grandmother.

“...Did you used to invite Princess Qing'an?” Cheng Zhao asked, directing the question to the princess consort.

The princess consort only smiled, “This is only my second visit to the Chen Guogong residence, so I’m not very familiar with the customs here.”

She added, “Next time you come to our residence, I’m fairly close with Princess Qing'an. I’ll introduce you.”

Fairly close...

Introduce me...

She definitely knows!

Cheng Zhao glanced at her mother.

Her mother smiled helplessly, resigned to Cheng Zhao’s habit of prying into secrets.

This matter concerned Cheng Zhao’s future, and she truly wanted to uncover the past between Huan Qingtang and Zhou Yuanshen. But from what she knew of Zhou Yuanshen, asking him would be pointless—he wouldn’t say a word.

Amid the lively chatter, Zhou Yuanshen arrived.

After changing his clothes, he came forward to pay his respects.

“Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be attending to guests?” Second Madam asked him.

Zhou Yuanshen replied, “There are honored guests inside Jiangyun Courtyard as well. I came back especially to pay my respects, Mother.”

Second Madam was speechless.

She hadn’t put on a proud face for her son, and almost caused him to offend someone. She regretted speaking without thinking.

Cheng Zhao smiled beside them, “Guogongye is thoughtful. I’m here to entertain the guests, so you can greet them and then get back to your duties.”

Everyone else agreed, telling him to get back to work and not waste time on formalities.

Zhou Yuanshen had many matters to attend to today; the guests in the outer courtyard were being hosted by him and the Second Master.

Only then did Zhou Yuanshen leave.

Everyone was smiling, except Princess Consort Jingnan, who looked a little gloomy.

Compared to Zhou Yuanshen, her own son was simply too disappointing.

Thankfully, the in-laws were reasonable, and Cheng Ying was tolerant and magnanimous, so no one had lost face.

As Zhou Yuanshen left, he glanced at Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao saw him out of Jiangyun Courtyard.

“...I heard about what just happened,” he said.

Cheng Zhao replied, “It’s a small matter, nothing serious.”

“It was your grandmother who went too far,” Zhou Yuanshen said.

Even if the Dowager Madame was indifferent to affairs, she couldn’t be unaware that the main kitchen was managed by Cheng Zhao. Yet she stole the credit for herself.

She couldn’t even maintain this basic fairness.

It was like in the court—when the emperor showed favoritism, it bred sycophants and corrupt officials.

Once people tasted the power, they became addicted and demanded more, trampling on others’ efforts, even lives.

“Were you prepared in advance, or was it a lucky accident?” Zhou Yuanshen asked again.

Cheng Zhao said, “Guogongye, please don’t think ill of me. I was just cautious and kept a watchful eye. I didn’t expect it to come up.”

“That’s not being distrustful; it’s being prudent,” Zhou Yuanshen said. “You did well. Truly a worthy Lady of the Highest Rank.”

His words were praise, but carried a hint of something strange.

Cheng Zhao didn’t think much of it and took it as a compliment, smiling, “Thank you, Guogongye.”

Zhou Yuanshen nodded slightly and left Jiangyun Courtyard.

Halfway through, he skirted around a corridor and ran into Mu Jiang.

Mu Jiang was adorned in all her finery, her garments lavish and rich.

This made Zhou Yuanshen think of the royal family of the Northern Di.

There was once a Khan of the Northern Di who adored horses; his horses had tails braided with gemstones of every color; their saddles were inlaid with the finest woven fabrics, and their hooves were shod in gold.

Later, the soldiers captured his horses, but those horses could barely run anymore — utterly useless.

Yet the useless beasts still flaunted themselves, proud and arrogant.

Much like Mu Jiang now, her head crowned with ruby jewelry.

She was also the Dowager Madame’s carefully adorned “pet,” pitiful yet tragic. But she had not the slightest awareness of her plight, basking complacently in such splendor.

“Third Brother.” She spotted Zhou Yuanshen and stood up happily. “Third Brother, I’ve been waiting here for you. I saw you go that way and thought you’d be coming back.”

“Is there something you need?” Zhou Yuanshen asked.

“Third Brother, the child is kicking me now. Would you like to feel?” Mu Jiang leaned in closer.

Zhou Yuanshen’s face remained expressionless. “Take good care of the pregnancy.”

He brushed past her, about to leave.

Mu Jiang reached out to grab his hand but missed.

“Third Brother!” she called out sharply.

The Chen Duke’s residence was bustling with guests today, many eyes watching.

Hearing her loud call, some turned to look; not far off, Huan Qingtang, preparing to visit the main kitchen, was about to pass by. She and her maid stood there awkwardly.

Mu Jiang noticed her.

Zhou Yuanshen halted.

Mu Jiang stepped forward, wanting desperately to collapse into his arms.

But she recalled last winter, when she had deliberately flown a kite in his path to throw herself at him.

Back then, she had giggled coquettishly, hoping to soften his heart; even if he pushed her away, she would have taken it as a playful jest.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuanshen had outright thrown her off that time. She had fallen to the ground, her knee bruised by a stone, aching for quite a while.

Now she was pregnant, guests were everywhere, and Huan Qingtang was nearby. Mu Jiang, for once, had some sense and didn’t throw herself into his arms.

She feared he would push her away again.

Yet that night at Jin’an Temple, they had been clearly affectionate.

Mu Jiang had felt only pain and anxiety then, but she had tried hard to create an illusion of happiness. He had been breathing hard on her, deeply moved.

In the darkness, without seeing his face, lying with her back turned to him, she still made him feel a man’s pride.

And now she was pregnant again.

Why was he still dissatisfied?

Mu Jiang thought this over, feeling a little wronged: “Third Brother, you haven’t once looked at our child alone.”

Her belly was already slightly rounded, the shape becoming visible.

She felt fuller, more voluptuous.

The nursemaid had said that after three months, they could be intimate again. She should show him.

This time, she wanted the candlelight bright, to let him see their child and her beauty.

“Is now the time to talk about this?” Zhou Yuanshen asked coldly, his face unreadable.

“I don’t know when I can say it,” Mu Jiang replied. “Third Brother, when will you go to Lijing Courtyard? Or let me come to your Chenhui Courtyard? Could you give our son a name?”

Zhou Yuanshen said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

"Third Brother, I know you're upset today. Some people stole the credit and embarrassed the Chen Duke’s household in front of the guests. Your anger is only natural," Mu Jiang raised her voice.

But Huan Qingtang didn’t leave.

She just stood there.

Mu Jiang spoke, and she listened—neither stepping forward nor retreating.

“Don’t be angry. You still have me and the child,” Mu Jiang said.

Zhou Yuanshen heard this and replied coldly, “If you have nothing to say to me, why keep repeating the same few words?”

With that, he walked away.

Mu Jiang called after him again, but he seemed not to hear, ignoring the curious looks from the guests.

As he passed Huan Qingtang, she bowed respectfully and said, “Your Grace.”

Zhou Yuanshen acknowledged her with a grunt and returned the greeting, “Sister-in-law.”

“Your Grace, I...” Huan Qingtang spoke again, as if she had something to say.

But Zhou Yuanshen didn’t stop; he kept walking.

In the past, he would have at least given her some dignity.