Chapter 9: Kneel Down

In Dowager Madame's Shou'an Courtyard, Mu Jiang was crying her eyes out.

"I've told you countless times to be steady and composed. You must think thrice before acting." Dowager Madame pulled a long face, looking at her sternly.

"Grandmother, I didn't spread rumors; she really did come knocking on my door in the middle of the night," Mu Jiang said, feeling wronged.

She was stunningly beautiful, especially those eyes, which were charming, dazzling, and seemed capable of stealing one's soul. Her eyelids were swollen from crying, making her look exceptionally pitiful.

She was like a little pet kept by Dowager Madame. Dowager Madame could scold or beat her when angry, but she would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on Mu Jiang.

When she caused trouble, Dowager Madame was furious; when she cried so pitifully, Dowager Madame's heart ached.

"...You still don't know you're wrong." Although Dowager Madame's words were harsh, her attitude had softened.

"Teach me, then," Mu Jiang said, resting her head on Dowager Madame's knee. "I suffered a great loss this time, making a wedding dress for her."

"She is the Duchess. If she comes to your door in the middle of the night, you should at least act 'flattered' and ask for the reason. Even if she really came to snatch someone, you should give her some face. This isn't out of respect for her, but for the Duke," Dowager Madame said.

Mu Jiang: "..."

Wouldn't that suffocate her to death?

The Zhou family didn't have any girls in this branch. Mu Jiang was the only "adopted daughter," and she had been raised in the Shou'an Courtyard since childhood, only moving out to live on her own at the age of thirteen.

She was the most esteemed young lady of the Duke's estate.

In the future, she would also become the true, powerful mistress of the Duke's estate; the Duchess would merely be a figurehead and a decoration, at her disposal.

She would have her own son.

Her son could be registered under the Duchess's name, but he would definitely be raised by her side and have a deep bond with her.

When her son became the Duke, she would move into the Shou'an Courtyard, the place where she grew up.

She could foresee all the glory and wealth of her life, which was why she had such a big temper.

Telling her to tolerate Cheng Shi was impossible for her.

"You threw a little tantrum and almost caused trouble for the Duke. We had to use the title of Duchess to suppress the charge of the Duke 'favoring a concubine and destroying his wife,'" Dowager Madame said.

Mu Jiang cried even harder.

She wasn't regretful, but full of hatred and jealousy; these emotions churned within her, burning her insides.

Dowager Madame wiped away her tears and told her not to be sad.

"The empty title of a titled lady is worth nothing. Our family doesn't lack titled ladies," Dowager Madame said.

She added, "Hurry up and give birth to a son; that's the real business."

Mu Jiang said yes.

She lowered her eyelashes to hide her guilty conscience.

Offspring, how could it be that easy?

The eldest branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, along with the servants, were just as shocked.

They never expected Cheng Zhao to sacrifice her reputation in exchange for such practical benefits.

"...She comes from the Cheng family of Wu Commandery. How could she ruin her reputation for the title of 'titled lady' and tolerate such a shameful thing?" First Madam was very surprised.

For a noble lady, reputation was more important than life.

If no one had fanned the flames, Mu Jiang's cursing would never have reached the Empress.

Cheng Zhao had married Zhou Yuanshen; she would get the title of titled lady sooner or later. Why ruin herself to get it now?

First Madam then said, "Cheng Shi is actually mercenary and short-sighted. She doesn't seem like someone from a scholarly family, but rather like a merchant's daughter."

The eldest young madam, Huan Qingtang, also didn't approve of Cheng Zhao going to such lengths.

But she had to re-evaluate whether Cheng Zhao's desperate ruthlessness would win her more.

"Mother, she's got her title. In the future, she'll also have the chance to go out and socialize. Perhaps she's more formidable than we imagined," Huan Qingtang said.

First Madam: "You're flattering her too much. She's been married for less than two months and has caused quite a bit of trouble. Her 'three axes' must be almost used up, right?"

Huan Qingtang still said, "Mother, let's just wait and see."

First Madam didn't respond.

Only after Huan Qingtang left did First Madam say to her trusted servant, "Lady Huan is talking without feeling the pain. Cheng Shi just married in and can already share the same title as me. How can I tolerate this?"

First Madam had been the heir's wife for seventeen years before her father-in-law passed away and her husband inherited the title.

After her husband inherited the title, because he had to observe three years of mourning for his father, First Madam had waited twenty years after marrying in to get the title of "Duchess."

Before she had held it for long, her husband and legitimate eldest son passed away one after another—they were both refined, quiet, and had suffered hardships with Dowager Madame in the borderlands in their early years, leaving them weak and sickly.

In contrast, the second branch was as strong as calves.

First Madam had endured twenty years of hardship to get her title, while Cheng Zhao easily got it by riding Mu Jiang's coattails.

Mu Jiang wasn't brainless; she was just too smooth-sailing and arrogant. Cheng Zhao stepped on Mu Jiang to "climb to the high platform" and stand shoulder to shoulder with First Madam.

Cheng Zhao hadn't experienced any of the hardships First Madam had suffered. How could her heart be balanced?

"Lady Huan cannot understand my bitterness," First Madam said.

Cheng Zhao's success made First Madam's sacrifices seem worthless. For someone who had lived half her life, "value" was her roots; how could she allow it to be shaken?

Two days later, Dowager Madame hosted a banquet to celebrate Cheng Zhao receiving her title.

Although only female relatives of the Zhou family's close and branch families were invited, it still provoked the eldest branch and Mu Jiang.

At the banquet, Cheng Zhao was poised and well-mannered, and because of her good background and her current status as a first-rank titled lady, everyone praised her.

Second Madam saw it all and was somewhat moved.

She had never received such treatment; Cheng Zhao really had some skills.

When the banquet ended, Cheng Zhao saw off the guests one by one and exchanged a few pleasantries with Dowager Madame.

Just as they were talking, Mu Jiang arrived.

Mu Jiang wasn't qualified to attend today's banquet; she was only a "concubine."

"...Young Madam, congratulations," Mu Jiang said.

She wore a crimson long dress. The hem was embroidered with peonies, the embroidery so exquisite that the petals looked lifelike, like fresh flowers pinned to her hem, cold and fragrant.

She wore ruby jewelry. The vibrant color complemented her face, and her dazzling eyes outshone even the evening glow in the sky.

Compared to her flamboyant luxury, Cheng Zhao's sky-blue long dress, gold ornaments, and pearl earrings seemed very low-key and plain.

Second Madam sneered.

No matter how brightly Mu Jiang dressed up, her appearance was still thirty percent inferior to Cheng Zhao's.

"Thank you, sister," Cheng Zhao smiled and turned to Dowager Madame. "Sister has perfect manners; it's all thanks to Grandmother's good upbringing."

"She's like a cat, wild and untamable," Dowager Madame chuckled. "You two must be harmonious in the future and not argue anymore."

Cheng Zhao agreed.

Mu Jiang looked at Cheng Zhao again, her hand moving slightly under her sleeve.

Cheng Zhao sensed something was wrong. Just as she was about to dodge, Second Madam waved her hand and knocked down a small knife.

The hidden weapon injured someone; Second Madam's palm was cut.

The sudden turn of events caused the expressions of the Zhou family women to change drastically. The eldest branch's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both looked at Dowager Madame's expression.

Dowager Madame had a kind face, as if she hadn't seen what happened clearly: Second Madam gasping in pain, the crisp sound of the knife falling to the ground—she seemed not to have heard any of it.

"You..."

Second Madam pointed angrily at Mu Jiang, then looked at Dowager Madame.

Just as she was about to make a scene, she saw Cheng Zhao take a few steps forward and slap Mu Jiang across the face.

With a hard slap, Mu Jiang's face was turned to the side; she was stunned.

Dowager Madame's eyes flashed, her gaze falling sharply on Cheng Zhao's face like a falcon's.

When no one spoke, Cheng Zhao opened her mouth: "Kneel!"