Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1025: Punished Kneeling

Chapter 1025: Chapter 1025: Punished Kneeling

The Zhou family was bustling today, Mrs. Tao held a fan to her mouth and asked Zhulan next to her, "Why did you invite so many people?"

Moreover, many of those who came were officials’ families who were taking sides. Look, she saw someone—the wife of Mr. Qiao, whose daughter was famous in the capital as one of the concubines who had been pregnant with the Fifth Prince.

Zhulan also covered her mouth with the fan for a moment: "Having more people makes it lively, the Zhou family hasn’t been this lively in a long time."

Mrs. Tao gave her a side glance, she didn’t believe it at all. Mrs. Yang preferred quiet, her friend knew that well. If it wasn’t for some social obligations that couldn’t be rejected, the Zhou family wouldn’t even host a single banquet in a year. "I don’t know what you’re up to, but I will definitely cooperate."

Zhulan hooked the corner of her mouth, "No need, I have arranged everything."

Having a lot of people today was good, she didn’t just invite those taking sides, but also the maternal families of women from various princes’ backyards and of course, the families of Zhang Yang’s famous concubines had to come.

When Mrs. Tao heard this, she realized there really was something going on. Mrs. Yang didn’t say, and she didn’t ask either.

At the tea party, one could tell the factions just from the seating arrangement. Zhulan didn’t invite many who were actually close to the Zhou family.

In the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi was chatting with Gu Zhuomin, "The municipal examination after the children’s exam has ended. Liufeng’s score was quite high, but the court examination won’t be easy. I’m not sure how Liufeng will perform in the court examination."

Chang Yi was very concerned about his future son-in-law and had even inquired about numerous officials’ children who had taken the children’s exam. Too many of them failed to pass the court examination, leaving him uneasy.

Gu Zhuomin was somewhat confident, "Liufeng’s county exam score was very good, he got second place. His municipal exam score was slightly worse, not because of Liufeng’s capabilities, but because he was a bit under the weather, which affected his performance. I believe he will make the list in the court exam."

Chang Yi talked with Gu Zhuomin also to boost his own confidence, "Hearing you say that, I feel relieved now."

Gu Zhuomin hoped even more than the Zhou family that Liufeng would pass the Scholar exam in one shot. He understood too well how demoralizing it was to fail multiple times, having taken the exam twice himself, and knew the mental hardship all too well.

Speaking of which, Gu Zhuomin looked enviously at Zhou Changyi because having a good father, Zhou Changyi had become an official, though he had to admit that Zhou Changyi had his own abilities.

Chang Yi was puzzled, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Gu Zhuomin paused, "I don’t know what Wu Ming is up to, he’s been very busy."

Even though he and Wu Ming held the same official rank, Wu Ming was assigned to a new department now together with Zhou Changyi under Mr. Wang’s supervision, while he remained in the original place, more leisurely yet not content because it’s hard to accumulate merit in the Ministry of Rites. When the new department was established, those who were insightful knew it was a place where one could advance rapidly.

Chang Yi didn’t know much, shaking his head, "I haven’t looked into it."

Gu Zhuomin, feeling regretful, was bitter inside, noticing that the gap between him and Wu Ming was growing.

At the Zhou family, the banquet was lively, and it wasn’t clear who started it, but the gossip was all about the tactics of the concubines in the backyards, issues like faking pregnancies.

The most eye-opening gossip was about a concubine who had snuck out to get pregnant.

Mrs. Tao flicked her fan irregularly, this gossip about the concubine sneaking around—if she didn’t remember wrongly, the other day when she came to chat with Mrs. Yang, it was about a merchant family related to the Wang family where it happened. As for whether or not someone snuck around, it was all up to the head wife to seal the deal; the merchant was not at home, and the concubine was beaten to death.

Of course, similar incidents had happened before, but only families with a reputation to uphold wouldn’t foolishly eliminate a concubine in such a way, as it would disgrace the entire family.

Pressing down on her fan, Mrs. Tao demanded, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Zhulan looked innocently at Mrs. Tao, "I haven’t done anything, just look into my sincere eyes."

Mrs. Tao, "You and I have known each other for many years, and I understand you well."

Zhulan smiled, "It’s nothing, just planting some seeds."

Mrs. Tao was stunned, still not understanding what Yang was doing.

Zhulan did not continue the conversation and looked toward Mrs. Qiao. She had inquired quite a lot about the Qiao family these days. Mrs. Qiao was very shrewd, and such people tend to be suspicious. The news that Zhang Yang’s concubine was pregnant was already odd. Looking at Mrs. Qiao’s expression, she must have discovered something.

Zhulan hooked the corner of her mouth. As for the rumors of theft, she did not care whether the rumors about Zhang Yang were true or false. Whether the antidote was real or not, it would be exciting if news of a pregnancy at The Prince Residence spread. The people who came today were not vegetarians.

Zhulan observed the other officials’ spouses. Just now, she had heard someone mention Zhang Yang’s concubine, Mrs. Qiao. They were all masters of palace scheming. The miscarriage had been suspicious and involved the prince, and she did not believe the other princes would let this go.

Especially now, with the Ning family taking action and Zhang Yang in deep trouble, she believed the princes would be happy to add fuel to the fire.

In the palace, Zhou Shuren followed the eunuch and reached the government hall. Seeing the kneeling figure, Yao Wenqi was being punished again by kneeling. His body slightly shook from the torture he had undergone these past few days, appearing greatly haggard and much older.

Hearing the footsteps, Yao Wenqi’s complexion changed repeatedly. The Emperor targeted him, and whether he spoke or stayed silent, neither was correct. The Emperor intended to humiliate him. Many ministers had entered the palace recently, and he could feel their strange looks.

Yao Wenqi looked up and saw Zhou Shuren, his face turning ashen. When he first met Zhou Shuren, he was aloof and never paid him any attention. Now Zhou Shuren was standing while he knelt by his side. A surge of blood boiled at his heart as if it might erupt, and the scene before him blurred.

Eunuch Liu came out to greet, "Mr. Zhou, the Emperor is waiting for you."

Zhou Shuren shook the sleeves of his official robe and stepped into the government hall. He was petty indeed. Now that Yao Wenqi was kneeling, he had purposely paused in front of him just now. The feeling was indeed satisfying.

Eunuch Liu, puzzled, looked at Marquis Yao. His gaze inquired the little eunuch, signaling what Mr. Zhou had done just now and why Marquis Yao appeared as if he might faint.

The little eunuch was also confused, shaking his head. Mr. Zhou hadn’t done anything!

Inside the hall, Zhou Shuren looked up, and lo, Zhang Yang was also present. Zhang Yang wasn’t kneeling in the inner hall, but he seemed to be swaying from having knelt for too long.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that this time the Emperor was not simply angry, but also intended to pressure Yao Wenqi, or else he wouldn’t have humiliated Yao Wenqi so.

Upon seeing Zhou Shuren, the Emperor said, "Shuren, come take a look."

Zhou Shuren paused for a moment, after respectfully greeting, he approached. The Emperor was increasingly fond of calling him by his name, "Emperor, is this a model of a foreign ship?"

The Emperor caressed it lovingly, "Yes, a model built by the Ministry of Works. Isn’t the hull more beautiful?"

Zhou Shuren did not understand technology, but he had seen his own family’s ship models at the Ministry of Works. He could tell that indeed, this model looked more beautiful, "Yes, it’s very beautiful."

Now that the model had emerged, it was clear that the Emperor’s secret acquiring of the designs was no issue.

The Emperor hooked his lips, "Shuren ah."

Zhou Shuren, "....Emperor, the Ministry of Revenue really can’t spare much silver right now."