Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1038: Someone Else Knows

Chapter 1038: Chapter 1038: Someone Else Knows

The next morning at the early court, Zhou Shuren entered the great hall and purposefully craned his neck to glance at the front seats, where he saw Zhang Yang displaying not a trace of paternal joy, his face as dark as ink.

Zhou Shuren felt that Minister Xiao in front of him had shifted his position slightly, so he could only retract his neck. He didn’t want to look any further; he just wanted to confirm—oh, if only there were a display screen as his wife had mentioned, for now, he could only guess.

Prince Qi, Yuguang, observed the fifth brother—ever since the Qiao family left him, and the miscarriage had been arranged by him last time, he had concluded that the fifth brother had health issues. After testing him yesterday, he realized that the fifth brother’s concubine was indeed pregnant—whether it was his child or not didn’t matter to him; he was right to assume it wasn’t the fifth brother’s.

Prince Liang also watched the fifth brother, then glanced at the second brother who was peeping at the fifth. The two brothers exchanged a look and smiled knowingly—after all, it was better if the fifth brother remained sickly.

Prince Chu was also pondering how to irritate the fifth brother without damaging the Royal family’s dignity.

The Emperor arrived and swept his eyes over his standing sons, pausing momentarily on Zhang Yang. He knew Zhang Yang was without an heir; when he initially heard the news, he thought Zhang Yang had planned it, which left him ineffably heartbroken—everything seemed to be blamed on him. However, after clearing up the misunderstanding, his feelings were complex. Zhang Yang was indeed a chess piece used to its fullest extent.

Zhang Yang felt the Emperor’s gaze and looked up just as the Emperor had shifted his gaze away.

After the morning court concluded, Zhou Shuren was whisked away by Minister Xiao, who tugged at his official sleeve. Zhou Shuren, helpless, whispered, "Minister, you may let go now."

Xiao Qing snorted, "I thought you had corrected your fault, but it seems your change wasn’t thorough."

Feeling guilty, Zhou Shuren touched his nose, "It won’t happen again in the future."

Xiao Qing was the first to arrive; he noticed the tense atmosphere among the princes. Zhou Shuren dared to spectate and even craned his neck, "Humph, let’s go quickly. The Ministry of Revenue has a pile of issues."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Yes, Minister, after you please."

At the Zhou residence, Xue Mei came to see her mother, bringing a lot of fabric to make some clothes for the changing season.

Zhulan eyed the colors, "Are these for your in-laws?"

"Yes, the clothes of my in-laws wore out a lot last year working in the fields, and they’ve put on some weight over the winter. I have nothing else to do, so I decided to make some clothes for them."

Zhulan noticed the needle marks on her daughter’s fingers, "You just finished making clothes for Jiang Sheng, and you’re not taking a break."

Xue Mei smiled sweetly, "Mother, making clothes is not tiring, and your daughter is already very fortunate."

Zhulan hummed in acknowledgment, understanding her daughter’s choice to keep busy with tasks was to distract herself. Chang Zhi and his wife and Jiang Sheng had been gone for a few days, and the couple hadn’t been separated before. This time, being apart for almost a year made her heart ache with longing.

At that moment, Xue Han walked in, "Big sister is here too."

Xue Mei, surprised, "You can leave the Hou Residence now?"

Xue Han coughed, "I just stepped out for a while; I’ll return soon."

Xue Mei chuckled, "The Hou Residence is also worried about you."

Her little sister was now the precious gem of the Hou Residence, treasured immensely.

Zhulan motioned for her younger daughter to sit down and inquired, "What brings you here?"

Xue Han spread her hands, "I really couldn’t stay put in the Hou Residence anymore. Apart from my father-in-law’s courtyard, there isn’t a place there that I’m not familiar with, so I came back to talk with you for a while."

Xue Mei remained silent. Although they were sisters, her relationship with her younger sister wasn’t that deep. Her sister had been very young when she married, and she had spent many years at her in-laws’. After moving closer to their mother, their father had also left for the imperial examinations, and the disparity between her husband, who was a Scholar, and the Hou Residence was too significant. After her sister got married, she had never once visited the Hou Residence.

Zhulan knew her younger daughter well, "Speak, what news have you heard again?"

Xue Han, who didn’t experience much morning sickness during her pregnancy, had reactions for only a few days. She ate well, and the child was also quiet, holding a fruit and taking a few bites before saying, "Last night, The Prince Residence was especially lively. Several princes went there, and in the end, they even called for the Imperial Physician."

Zhulan, feeling regretful that she couldn’t watch a live broadcast, said insincerely, "The prince has many rumors, it’s only right that the royal family takes great interest in this child."

Xue Han paused in her action of biting into the fruit and chuckled, "Yes, the royal family indeed values this child."

Zhulan inquired, "Is Rongchuan still busy?"

"He’s not busy anymore," Xue Han didn’t hide it from her mother.

Her husband had vented on her behalf but knew his limits; he no longer interfered.

Ever since Zhulan knew that Rongchuan had come into contact with the Ning family’s power, she had guessed that even if Rongchuan regained his status, the influence from this branch of the Ning Duke Residence would eventually belong to Rongchuan, which must be the Ning family’s sincerity to the Emperor.

Xue Mei sat quietly on the side, sewing clothes while quietly listening to her mother and sister. She understood some and didn’t understand some of what they said. Was she disappointed? She wasn’t, for she didn’t have such capabilities, so she did not participate, just quietly listening to them, existing peacefully in her tranquil life.

Xue Han spoke for a while before noticing that someone was missing from the room, "Mother, isn’t Granny Song here?"

Zhulan nodded, "Yesterday, Yao Xin’s child fell ill, and Zhang Jinghong is out of the capital, unable to ask for help at home. Your father and Zhang Jinghong have been colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue for two years, and your father has protected him somewhat. Yesterday, Granny Song went over, and she will go again today to check."

"Zhang Jinghong must be very capable," said Xue Han.

Otherwise, father wouldn’t protect him that much; father likes smart, capable, and tactful people.

Zhulan tapped her daughter’s forehead, "As long as you know it in your heart."

Xue Han giggled, "Mother, the fruits at home are sweeter than those at the Hou Residence."

"Take more when you leave; these fruits were sent by the Xu family a few days ago."

Xue Han didn’t hesitate, "Alright."

In the afternoon, Granny Song returned and said, "Lord Zhang caught a maid who was poisoning."

"Was it you who found out?"

Granny Song shook her head, "Lord Zhang’s wife caught her last night. Today, they thoroughly inspected the residence again and discovered quite a few things."

Zhulan thought to herself, the Zhou family’s backyard must be the cleanest now, "Is the child alright?"

"His temperature didn’t rise last night, and he looks much better today. The doctor had a look, and the child just needs some care now."

"To think, the Zhou family saved this child," Zhulan reflected. "You’ve also worked hard this morning; go back and rest for a while."

"Yes."

Granny Song did not refuse; she was truly exhausted. The inspection at the Zhang residence was thorough, and she had been busy every moment. Her visit this time was to report her findings, so she was particularly conscientious.

On the streets of the capital, Prince Liang had just left a retired minister’s residence, his face showing dissatisfaction. He had speculated about all the former ministers he could think of and asked them, but had found no clues, inevitably making Prince Liang somewhat irritable.

The carriage had just started moving when it suddenly stopped. The prince asked in a poor tone, "What’s the matter?"

"The road is blocked by carriages in front of Lord Yao’s residence. There was a banquet there today, and it seems it just concluded. The door is crowded with carriages from various residences," reported the guard.

Upon hearing this, Prince Liang lifted the curtain of the carriage. Officials’ families were continuously coming out, hence the crowded carriages. Prince Liang’s gaze fell on Yao residence, "This Yao family is a century-old aristocratic family of the capital."