Chapter 97: Watching the Fire from Across the Shore

A "chaotic battle" broke out in the Hall of Cherished Brightness.

Madam Song, the senior wife, confronted Huan Qingtang directly, demanding to know why she had made everyone wait for her.

Huan Qingtang was momentarily stunned, then explained herself with clear logic and justification: "Mother, the appointed time for duties had not yet arrived. This daughter-in-law was not late."

"You dare to argue further?" Madam Song thundered in fury. "Such defiance and unfilial conduct!"

Defiance and unfilial conduct were not mere verbal accusations; they were serious offenses codified in law. Of course, strict criteria applied when determining punishment—trivial matters like disrespectful words rarely led to conviction. Even so, because "unfilial behavior" was enshrined in the legal code and allowed parents-in-law to file complaints at the yamen under that pretext, the term carried immense weight.

The flower hall of the Hall of Cherished Brightness fell into absolute silence.

Huan Qingtang knelt down.

Her knees touched the ground, but her back remained straight as a pole: "This daughter-in-law dares not be unfilial. I beg Mother to calm her anger."

For some time, she had assisted with duties in the Hall of Cherished Brightness, cultivating a number of trusted confidants. Although she had lost some face during this birthday banquet and had not received an imperial betrothal as "rumored," it was plain for all to see that the Grand Madam valued and elevated her.

Thus, many stewards counseled Madam Song, speaking in Huan Qingtang's defense.

Huan Qingtang's posture of admitting fault was somewhat reluctant; Madam Song's fury blazed unchecked. The two women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, found themselves locked in a stalemate.

The stewards offered a few words of advice, but none struck the right chord. Like fanning flames, their efforts only burned Madam Song's anger hotter.

Cheng Zhao stood nearby, watching the spectacle unfold.

"Third Young Madam, you should help mediate as well. The Hall of Cherished Brightness must maintain harmony," a steward said.

Cheng Zhao replied: "I am hardly a person of the Hall of Cherished Brightness, Steward Han. The burden of harmony here is not mine to bear. You are putting me in a difficult position."

The crowd: "..."

These words added yet more fuel to the fire. Madam Song hurled her teacup to the ground: "From now on, who belongs to the Hall of Cherished Brightness remains to be seen. Let no one grow too complacent!"

She retreated into the inner chamber.

Those left behind exchanged glances. Some sized up the kneeling Huan Qingtang, whose skirt hem was stained by a splash of tea; others sized up Cheng Zhao, whose ambition for power was obvious and who seized every chance to stir up trouble.

Who would be the future mistress of the Hall of Cherished Brightness? The stewards had once been certain, but now doubt crept into their hearts.

No matter how much the Grand Madam disliked or diminished her, the incoming Duchess of the State was advancing with formidable force.

"Eldest Young Madam, please rise," a steward said, moving to help Huan Qingtang up. "If you injure yourself kneeling, the senior Madam herself will feel remorse."

Another steward added, "Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are like mother and daughter. If there is a rift, talk it out clearly. Go in quickly and soothe the senior Madam."

They offered Huan Qingtang a graceful way out.

Huan Qingtang merely shook her head, her demeanor composed and expression gentle: "My mother-in-law is punishing this daughter-in-law—it is only proper. I shall kneel and wait until her anger subsides. That is my filial duty."

Then she added, "Everyone, please go about your business. We shall stop here for today."

Even while kneeling, she issued commands.

Her confidants naturally felt she carried great authority, confident they would not suffer under her leadership. Those who disliked her sneered inwardly.

Most of the stewards, however, were simply trying to get by. They usually held no strong allegiance.

Huan Qingtang's senior maidservant urged the crowd to attend to their duties, effectively telling them all to leave.

Cheng Zhao followed them out.

Once outside the Hall of Cherished Brightness, Old Nurse Qian quietly said to Cheng Zhao: "With things this tense, won't the Grand Madam have to step in?"

"It's fine. We didn't join the row," Cheng Zhao said with a smile.

Old Nurse Qian told her to take care and went off to the main kitchen to work.

Cheng Zhao retrieved the gate ledger and began reorganizing the records of social engagements and gifts received during the birthday banquet.

The gifts were first recorded in the gate ledger, then the ledger was handed over to the storeroom, where the staff would enter them into their own records before storing them away.

Because this matter required a handover, Cheng Zhao needed to have it sorted out early.

If tomorrow, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the Hall of Cherished Brightness made peace and brought up this matter during their duties, Cheng Zhao would be handing them a weapon if she had left any errors. They would gladly use it to trample over her, distracting from the day's farce.

Since she had to go over the accounts, Cheng Zhao did not return to Verdant Splendor Court. She had to meet with the stewards from the outer gate's ledger office.

She decided to work at Dawn Radiance Court instead.

Dawn Radiance Court was spotless and desolate, with only the young servant Nanfeng present.

When he saw Cheng Zhao arrive, it was as if the place suddenly had supervision. He ran off again and soon vanished.

Cheng Zhao's maidservants Suyue and Qiubai assisted her.

The stewards had already sorted everything out. Cheng Zhao merely made modifications based on their work, gaining a better grasp of the gifts to understand the social connections of the Duke of State's household.

Before they knew it, it was noon.

"Madam, will you dine here, or return to the courtyard?" Qiubai asked.

Cheng Zhao was hungry; her eyes and mind had been working hard all morning.

"Have the meal served here," Cheng Zhao said. "After eating, I'll take a walk back to settle my digestion."

Qiubai went to make arrangements.

As she stepped out of the east side room, she came face to face with Zhou Yuanshen.

"Lord Duke of State," she greeted, deliberately raising her voice.

Cheng Zhao heard her.

She came out as well and performed the curtsy greeting to Zhou Yuanshen: "Lord Duke of State, have you had your midday meal?"

"No."

"Qiubai, go to the main kitchen and tell them to prepare the Lord Duke's noonday meal," Cheng Zhao instructed.

Qiubai acknowledged the order.

Under normal circumstances, the main kitchen did not prepare meals for Zhou Yuanshen or the Second Master, as both were on duty outside the estate.

Days off were the exception.

But the Duke of State's main kitchen always kept a full supply of ingredients. If someone wanted an extra meal, they could simply pay for it out of pocket—the materials were on hand.

Cheng Zhao's standard meal would already be ready; all Qiubai had to do was go and fetch it. Zhou Yuanshen's meal would need to be cooked from scratch, so it would take a bit longer.

He approached, first observing Cheng Zhao's expression.

Cheng Zhao knew what he was thinking—about the incident that had happened here last time, the quarrel between them, and whether she still held a grudge.

But she did not dwell on matters that had already been turned over. She refused to let herself get stuck in trivial affairs that had no bearing on her future.

Thus, she stepped forward and took Zhou Yuanshen's hand: "Let me help you change your clothes."

She unfastened his light wind cloak.

Zhou Yuanshen's gaze shifted from probing to calm.

His dark eyes settled on her face. With no other expression, he simply asked: "Are you hungry?"

"No. Been tired all morning," Cheng Zhao said. "I was just thinking about resting a bit."

The young servant Nanfeng returned.

He came in to pay his respects first, then fetched water for Zhou Yuanshen to wash his hands, and finally served tea.

The couple settled on the kang bed by the window in the side room. Cheng Zhao leaned against a bolster cushion, relaxing as she told him all about what had happened that day at the Hall of Cherished Brightness.

Zhou Yuanshen took a slow sip of his tea: "She shouldn't have made such a scene. The tally tokens haven't been returned yet—starting a fight like this just weakens her position."

He meant Madam Song.

When organizing the birthday banquet, Madam Song had willingly passed the hot potato, handing the tally tokens to Huan Qingtang.

Who could say Huan Qingtang hadn't deliberately provoked her today?

With Madam Song losing her temper so spectacularly, the Grand Madam would likely have to respond somehow. Perhaps the tally tokens would end up permanently in Huan Qingtang's hands.

"But it probably won't happen for now," Zhou Yuanshen added. "The tally tokens will still go back to First Uncle's wife."

Because the imperial betrothal and shared inheritance had not been decreed that night at the birthday banquet.

Without that relationship, the title of "mother-in-law" would always hang over Huan Qingtang's head. She wasn't yet qualified to take over Madam Song's authority over the household.