Chapter 96: The Stirred-up Duke
Cheng Zhao listened to Zhou Yuanshen’s account and grew very angry.
She shared his indignation: “This was premeditated, sacrificing only you. You had no quarrel with them.”
Zhou Yuanshen tightened his arm around her. “It’s not exactly sacrifice; each had their own agenda.”
He had always been cautious.
The matchmaking proposal from Princess Qing’an had been sudden, catching him off guard.
Moreover, it happened at Princess Qing’an’s residence, during her birthday banquet. As the host, she held the advantage.
Zhou Yuanshen had mentally replayed the situation countless times afterward, but still found no better solution than what he had done at the time. Because he wasn’t familiar with Princess Qing’an’s household—nor did he understand the dynamics—but as a family friend spanning generations, he had no choice but to engage.
Thus, even though the matter rankled him, and those in the know—like his father and his maternal uncle—felt aggrieved on his behalf, he didn’t stew over it.
It was like war. Even with countless precedents of surprise attacks, enemies would still devise new ones.
Being defeated by a surprise attack merely added another lesson; he wouldn’t brood over the humiliation of the defeat.
War meant both wins and losses.
Even the most outstanding general couldn’t be undefeated. Zhou Yuanshen only focused on his own territory, not on the tally of victories or defeats.
As long as his territory hadn’t shrunk, and his most vital strongholds hadn’t fallen, defeat wasn’t terrifying.
His struggles with the Emperor and the Grand Madam were the same.
The incident at Princess Qing’an’s estate occasionally came up in conversation because of Huan Qingtang—his maternal uncle would sometimes mention it; Cheng Zhao, curious, would also ask.
He didn’t want to talk about it. It was meaningless.
Everyone involved in that affair was irrelevant to him.
After hearing this, Cheng Zhao was filled with righteous fury.
She suppressed her urge to curse, afraid of losing the dignified composure expected of a noblewoman’s daughter. After a long pause, she said, “When the chance comes, I’ll get revenge for you.”
She looked like a fierce little cub baring its fangs.
Soft and beautiful, yet still too young and not strong enough. Perched on the city wall, glaring down, she had no deterrent effect—like a cat, instead.
Cute and adorably naive, making one want to scoop her up into an embrace and tousle her.
But Zhou Yuanshen knew she wasn’t a tame kitten. She was clever and formidable; deep down, she was a beast of prey.
She was just like him—needing time to grow.
Time and power would gradually sharpen their claws. Once they commanded the mountains and forests, all other beasts would submit.
He kissed Cheng Zhao.
She kissed him back and murmured softly, “Hurry tonight. I’m tired and want to sleep.”
“... That’s not up to me alone; you’ll need to put in some effort,” he said.
Their clothes fell away, and he took her hand, guiding it to gently brush across his chest.
He nibbled at her lips, then bit her earlobe.
Cheng Zhao bit her lip, holding something back, her body trembling slightly.
Zhou Yuanshen coaxed her in a low voice: “Cheng Zhao, you said you wanted this to be quick. But you haven’t stoked the fire enough.”
“I— I am the Duchess of the State...”
Even in bed, she couldn’t let herself be too unrestrained with him.
“Duchess of the State, then let’s take it slow.” His voice was light, subtle in the darkness—an expressionless, yet vaguely teasing threat.
Cheng Zhao ignored him.
“Call me ‘Third Brother,’” he said gruffly, pausing and waiting.
Her hand touched the thin sheen of sweat on his chest, and a tight string snapped within her mind, leaving her suspended midair—unable to land, unable to ascend.
Her breathing grew frantic. Cheng Zhao feared she might suffocate, but he deliberately tormented her.
As he spoke, his fingers traced her chin, his thumb brushing against her lips.
Cheng Zhao was almost unbearably frustrated; the words slipped through her clenched teeth: “Third Brother.”
She remembered a waterfall once.
In deep winter, it had frozen solid, locking the entire river. In early spring, the sun thawed the ice, and the water surged down.
The roaring current sounded like a river pouring from the heavens. All other sounds drowned in the thundering cascades.
Cheng Zhao felt a little delirious.
When she regained some awareness, Zhou Yuanshen’s hands were gently stroking her spine, pulling her close into his embrace.
Cheng Zhao had discovered a new joy in life.
At this moment, she was happy; based on previous experiences, her mood would stay lifted for the next two or three days.
Like savoring an exquisite pastry—it brought her delight for quite some time.
If she tried to hoard this pleasure and cling to it anxiously, she would soon find it unbearable.
Cheng Zhao’s mind didn’t wander to anyone or anything. She simply nestled quietly against Zhou Yuanshen.
After resting, they both went to the washroom.
Cheng Zhao bathed, changed into fresh undergarments, and grew drowsy; Zhou Yuanshen came in afterward.
Suddenly reminded of something, Cheng Zhao said, “I didn’t burn incense for the Bodhisattva... Ah, never mind. I’ll do it tomorrow morning and tell Suyue to remind me.”
She was too sleepy to keep her eyes open and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, when she got up, Zhou Yuanshen had already left for court. Cheng Zhao slowly freshened up and dressed, feeling as though she had forgotten something.
After breakfast, she remembered the Guanyin statue for fertility.
She had been lazy the night before and hadn’t offered incense, hoping to make up for it this morning.
She called for a maid to prepare the offerings.
The maid who had been on night duty said, “The Duke lit incense twice last night. He offered three sticks himself and also burned another three on behalf of the Madam.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
She said nothing else and hurried to Chengming Hall to attend to business.
After the birthday banquet, Chengming Hall had taken a few days off; the stewards also rotated their leaves, as everyone had been exhausted.
Only a handful of duty stewards remained on shift.
Today, work resumed. The great hall within Grand Madam’s domain was filled with stewards, crowded inside and out.
When Cheng Zhao entered Chengming Hall, the stewards made way for her, allowing her a smooth path to the seat beside the Grand Madam.
The Grand Madam’s expression was very sour.
But when she saw Cheng Zhao, she managed a smile. “Cheng Zhao, you’re quite early today.”
Cheng Zhao had come precisely on time, neither early nor late.
It was just that Huan Qingtang had not yet arrived.
“I ought to have come earlier to serve you, Aunt,” Cheng Zhao said smiling. “But I had to pay my respects to my mother-in-law first, which delayed me.”
Her words made the Grand Madam’s face shift again in color.
Why hadn’t Huan Qingtang arrived yet? There was still an incense stick’s worth of time, but she, too, had gone to pay morning respects at Shou’an Compound.
This was something Cheng Zhao had mentioned to the Grand Madam before.
The Grand Madam had always found it grating. But after the birthday banquet incident, her displeasure had peaked.
“Let’s begin. First, call roll from the name ledger,” the Grand Madam said. “Cheng Zhao, take care of it.”
This task was usually Huan Qingtang’s.
Cheng Zhao didn’t want to be anyone’s knife. The Grand Madam was not her ally—she was merely using her to provoke Huan Qingtang.
The stewards were watching.
If Cheng Zhao allowed herself to be manipulated so easily and acted so brainlessly, would any steward respect her?
She had started off so well.
So she laughed and said, “Aunt, I know all the stewards in the household by name. I don’t need to consult the ledger.”
The Grand Madam, taking this for boasting and showing off, frowned slightly.
“Isn’t that right, Nanny Qian?” Cheng Zhao pointed to a matron. “I have a good memory—don’t you all believe me?”
She was deflecting—joking to lighten the mood.
She neither refused the Grand Madam outright, nor accepted the task meant for Huan Qingtang, which would have caused trouble.
Nanny Qian smiled. “Third Madam is still young, so indeed has a sharp memory. When this old servant was your age, I remembered everything too. Every thread and needle in the house, and how many roots of ginger I had stored—everything was clear.”
Nanny Qian was from the main kitchen and was familiar with Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao called on her, of course needing her to respond, simply to kill time.
The First Madame could not yet lose her temper.
Just as they were exchanging questions and answers, Huan Qingtang finally arrived.