Chapter 51: Insight

Zhao Cheng had never met his maternal grandparents since he came into this world. Although he knew the intentions of these two uncles, he still felt an inexplicable urge to see them immediately. This feeling might stem from the blood connection, or it might be gratitude for the care his maternal grandfather's family had shown him after he left the palace.

After changing his clothes, Zhao Cheng came to the front hall. As soon as he entered, he saw the third steward, Zheng Shou, accompanying two people who were drinking tea in the small parlor. He guessed these must be his two maternal uncles. "Cheng greets the two uncles!" Without waiting for the eunuch to announce him, he stepped forward and bowed.

"How can I accept such a grand salute from a prince!" One of them quickly stood up, holding Zhao Cheng and smiling.

"Prince, this is the second son of the Marquis, Zheng Xi, who is also your second uncle!" Zheng Shou, knowing that Zhao Cheng did not recognize them, hurriedly introduced them. "That one is the sixth son of the Marquis, Zheng Yu, who is your younger uncle!"

Listening to Zheng Shou's introduction, Zhao Cheng looked at the two men. Zheng Xi was in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, a fair complexion, and regular features. He wore a robe made of Shu brocade, with a golden belt and a silver fish bag, and a jade ring. He held a white jade folding fan from Japan, looking like a son of an official. Behind him, Zheng Yu also wore a brocade robe, but it was clear that the material and craftsmanship were much inferior. He had a clear face but a slightly gloomy expression, and anyone who didn't know the situation would definitely mistake him for the second uncle's attendant.

"Prince, you look much better. Your grandparents are always worried when they mention you. Now that they know you are well, they must be very happy. When they heard you were enfeoffed as a prince, they immediately prepared gifts and sent me to deliver them!" Zheng Xi said with a full smile.

"Grandparents have been worried, but Second Uncle, please don't call me Prince. We are family, and it feels too formal. Younger Uncle, what do you think?"

"Oh, then I will be impolite and call you Cheng!" Zheng Xi answered before Zheng Yu could speak.

The three of them sat down again. Since they were not familiar with each other, Zhao Cheng asked about the health of the two elders, how the New Year was, and how the other uncles, aunts, and siblings were doing. After some casual conversation, they gradually became more comfortable. Zheng Xi was very talkative, able to discuss both court affairs and street gossip, as if he knew everything about the capital. In contrast, Zheng Yu only occasionally interjected, mostly asking about Zhao Cheng's health and studies, and spent most of the time drinking tea and listening to them talk.

In the evening, Zhao Cheng set up a simple banquet to entertain the two uncles. During the meal, only Huang Jingchen and the three stewards of the mansion accompanied them. After the meal, he arranged two guest rooms for them to stay in, and no one mentioned the matter of the distilled liquor. The next day, Zhao Cheng accompanied them to drink and eat, and toured the mansion. The third day was the same.

On the fourth morning, after breakfast, Zheng Xi and his brother were waiting to continue touring the mansion with the prince. A small eunuch came to report that the prince had gone to the construction site of the river embankment to play and told them to do as they pleased. "Sixth Brother, have you asked Zheng Fu?" The mansion, no matter how large, could be toured in two days, and besides, their own home was much better. They had lost interest in wandering around alone, so Zheng Xi asked about the real matter.

"Second Brother, I asked him, and he said he doesn't know about it!" Zheng Yu poured a cup of tea for Zheng Xi and answered carefully.

"This dog, we have raised him for so many years, and now he has learned to play tricks on us!" Zheng Xi slapped the table in anger. "And you, can't you ask others if he doesn't know?"

"I asked, and they all said they don't know about it." Zheng Yu looked at his angry brother and lowered his head.

"What?! They all don't know? These ungrateful bastards, they are all untrained wolves!" Most of the stewards and guards in the mansion were originally from the Zheng family, and now they all claimed to know nothing, which was why Zheng Xi was so angry.

"Second Brother, don't be angry. The matter of the distilled liquor is a secret, and it's normal that they don't know!" Zheng Yu tried to calm him down.

"Bullshit, Cheng is only eight years old. What does he know? It's all up to the stewards like Zheng Fu. How can they not know about such an important matter? Who would believe it!" Zheng Xi was so angry that his nose flared, and he shouted.

"Second Brother, don't forget that the chief steward of this mansion is not one of us. He was sent from the palace. Perhaps only he knows about it." Zheng Yu said softly.

"Oh, didn't Zheng Quan say that a servant in the mansion knows how to make distilled liquor? Could it be someone from the inner court? That's impossible." Zheng Xi shook his head. He had thought that everyone in the Zhao mansion was from the Marquis's family, and that by coming in person, he could find the person, and with a little effort, complete this simple task. But now these people seemed to have taken some kind of medicine, and they were not cooperating with him, making excuses and not telling the truth. He didn't believe that the people from the palace would know how to make liquor.

"Second Brother, why don't we talk to Cheng directly and see what conditions they will offer?" Zheng Yu suggested.

"Cheng is a child and doesn't know the great benefits of this. If we tell him, will it be so easy to find the person?" Zheng Xi looked at him as if he were stupid and scolded him with a sideways glance.

"Second Brother, didn't Father say we should partner with the prince? What you are doing..." Zheng Yu said as if he hadn't seen his brother's anger.

"Don't talk anymore. I have my own plans. Tonight, call Zheng Fu and tell him I am inviting him!" Zheng Xi waved his sleeve and said with a grim face.

Zheng Yu was startled and understood his brother's intentions. He wanted to take it all for himself. He opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words and went out to find someone, not holding much hope. In the past two days, he had met several of the old servants from the original mansion, but he felt that although they still remembered the old times, they were not as close as before. Their words were full of respect for the new master, and he could tell that these praises were not just because they had climbed the social ladder, but out of genuine admiration.

For several days, Zhao Cheng did not see them. He continued to practice martial arts, read books, and grow vegetables, as if he had forgotten about his two uncles. "Jianxi, what have the two imperial uncles been doing these past two days?" He asked, crossing his legs. His military life in the past had taught him to gather information before making decisions, and this was no exception for the partnership.

"Second Master, the second imperial uncle has been inviting several stewards to drink and eat every day, trying to find out about the distilled liquor. The chief stewards and the second stewards are so afraid of his questions that they spend all day at the river embankment, not daring to return to the mansion. The third steward can't avoid him and can only勉强应付, but I think he won't be able to hold out much longer!" Jianxi said with a smile. "The sixth imperial uncle, on the other hand, is quite relaxed. He spends his days reading or wandering around, and hasn't sought out anyone in the mansion since the first few days."

"Hmm, he hasn't given up. Have you been bought off by him?" Zhao Cheng nodded and suddenly turned to ask.

"Second Master, I swear to heaven and earth, I haven't revealed a single word about the distilled liquor to him. If I lie, may I be struck by lightning!" Jianxi said, pointing to the sky and earth as he swore.

"Alright, stop putting on a show. Aren't you tired?" Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes and said helplessly. This boy was getting more and more 'bold.' "Have you found out their backgrounds?"

"Second Master, you can trust me. I have found out from some of the old servants in the Marquis's mansion. The first and second imperial uncles are both sons of the matriarch, but the first imperial uncle is indifferent and does not like business, so the Marquis's business is managed by the second imperial uncle. However, it is said that he is stubborn and likes to bully others, and people only tolerate him because of the princess. The sixth imperial uncle is the son of a concubine, studied hard for years but failed the exams repeatedly. He passed the imperial examination two years ago but was not given an official post. Now he manages two taverns in the capital and is known for his kindness and righteousness, with a good reputation."

Listening to Jianxi's report, Zhao Cheng understood. Zheng Xi, as the second son, had no hope of inheriting the title. Although he managed the family's business, it was all public property. This time, he had a personal motive, wanting to use this opportunity to get the recipe for making distilled liquor, to have a backup plan and a way to start a new life after the division of the family.

"Money corrupts people. To think that even my maternal uncles would try to trick me for money!" Zhao Cheng had seen such things in his past life, where people would force him to jump off a building or leave his mother on the street for money. He never thought it would happen to him in ancient times.

"Second Master, that guy has evil intentions. I think we should just send him away!" Jianxi saw Zhao Cheng's dissatisfaction and referred to the imperial uncle as 'that guy.' His uncle had castrated him and sent him to the palace, so he had no good feelings towards 'uncles.'

"They are unrighteous, but we cannot be unrighteous. Even if we don't consider Mother, we should consider the care Grandfather has shown me and give them some face. But we cannot let the second uncle manage this matter. Let's go see them together!" Zhao Cheng sighed, ending the evaluation period for the two men. He knew that Grandfather had sent his two sons to discuss this matter to make him choose one. As they say, no one knows their child better than their father, and the old man was also testing him.

Hearing the order, Jianxi immediately sent someone to inform them, but only Zheng Yu came. It turned out that Zheng Xi had tried every method over the past few days but could not get any useful information from the stewards. In a fit of anger, he had taken two attendants to the capital of Ying to relax. He didn't know that the only ones in the entire mansion who knew how to make distilled liquor were Zhao Cheng and Jianxi. Playing mind games with Zheng Xi was a miscalculation.