Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1040: The Skyrocketing Blaze

Chapter 1040: Chapter 1040: The Skyrocketing Blaze

Zhou Shuren’s carriage rode alongside the Crown Prince’s, with the curtains open, and the Crown Prince showed no intention of stopping.

The Crown Prince leaned against the carriage window, "Minister Zhou, are you returning home from the government office?"

Zhou Shuren’s mind, however, was occupied with thoughts of what the Crown Prince had been up to that day since he hadn’t seen him in the palace that afternoon, "Yes, I am going home."

Upon hearing the word "home," the Crown Prince knew that Zhou Shuren cared about his family and chuckled lightly, "Previously, it was quite common for ministers of the Ministry of Revenue to live in their offices. Since Minister Zhou took up his post there, very few people have chosen to reside in the Ministry for an extended period. Among The Six Ministries, both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites have the tradition of leaving the office when the time comes."

Feeling somewhat guilty, as if he had set the precedent, yet with confidence, Zhou Shuren claimed, "The Ministry of Revenue’s work efficiency is quite high."

The Crown Prince smiled and just then, the carriage came to a halt, "Here I am."

Zhou Shuren was startled, for upon the carriages drawing apart, he saw a mansion surrounded by soldiers. This mansion was well-known throughout the capital, unlike the ruins of the Rong Residence, although in disrepair, its architecture was intact.

The Crown Prince had already alighted from the carriage, and Zhou Shuren craned his neck to look back. The Crown Prince was conversing with a general of the National protection camp. When they had moved off into the distance, Zhou Shuren drew his head back in.

This estate was the ancestral home of the Zhang family. After the entire Zhang family had been executed, the property was seized. After the establishment of the new dynasty, the family that took over died in the capital’s downfall. Since the Emperor’s ascension to the throne, who would dare to claim or reside in this residence? So, it remained deserted.

Elsewhere, Chang Zhi and his group arrived at Mountain County City. Chang Zhi stepped out of the carriage, rubbing his waist, "Not having traveled for quite a while, I am no longer used to rushing about. I feel uncomfortable all over."

Su Xuan had been fretting about her son and daughter upon leaving the capital, but after a few days of travel, she had stopped worrying. All she wanted now was to take a bath and rest. Picking up the conversation, she said, "Ever since I married you, I haven’t rushed about like this. I feel even worse than you do."

Especially for the sake of returning quickly, they had brought only a few pieces of luggage. The swift carriage journey made her feel like her bones were falling apart.

Jiang Sheng also alighted from the carriage, "Chang Zhi, let’s go inside."

Chang Zhi, observing the bustling servants and maids, replied, "Let’s not rush to our guest rooms yet. Let’s have a meal downstairs first. We haven’t had a warm bite all day."

Su Xuan was somewhat troubled by her own body odor and, tempted by the thought of a hot bath, struggled before deciding, "Fine, we’ll eat first."

This inn was the best in the county, and quite crowded. The arrival of Su Xuan and her group drew the public’s attention.

Jiang Sheng felt uncomfortable, unaccustomed to being scrutinized by so many eyes. He looked to Chang Zhi, but Chang Zhi seemed very natural as he ordered dishes and was already warming cups with hot tea brought by the innkeeper.

Chang Zhi, sensing his brother-in-law’s discomfort, handed a warmed cup to his wife first, then to his brother-in-law, murmuring softly, "Brother-in-law, you need to get used to it."

He knew his sister and brother-in-law were not ambitious, but they needed to accustom themselves to certain situations. ever since his brother-in-law came to the capital, he read books most of the time and rarely visited their residence. This time was different. His brother-in-law was traveling with him, and those scrutinizing gazes would always be a part of the journey.

Jiang Sheng sipped the tea and nodded in acknowledgment, "I’ll adapt."

He was not oblivious.

Back in the capital, Zhou Shuren arrived home to find his daughter-in-law amusing Yu Wen, "Did you win today, or did Yu Wen?"

Zhulan, seeing her motionless granddaughter, smiled warmly, "Naturally, I won. This girl has a sweet tooth. She won’t get any candy unless she walks around the yard a couple of times."

Zhou Shuren sympathetically eyed his granddaughter who looked utterly disheartened. Before, his granddaughter hadn’t been under his daughter-in-law’s control, but now, the tables had turned as she held her granddaughter’s weakness in her grip, forcing her to honestly exercise. He patted his granddaughter’s little head, "No one in our house can outwit your grandmother. You might as well accept your fate."

Yu Wen slowly sat up, "Daddy says that even Grandpa is afraid of Grandma, so I’ll listen to Grandma."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

These little rascals had sure spent a lot of time discussing him in front of the children.

The meals were soon ready, and the Zhou family was about to dine when the steward rushed in, panicked, "Fire, a great fire, Master, a fire that reaches to the sky."

Zhou Shuren’s heart skipped a beat, "Where is the fire?"

The steward swallowed, "In the west, I don’t know whose estate it is."

Upon hearing this, Zhulan said, "Hurry, send someone to check."

Zhulan then followed Zhou Shuren into the courtyard, where even from their own they could see the towering flames. While Zhulan’s heart clenched, she also breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that the fire was some distance from the Zhou residence. These houses were all connected, and she feared that the fire might spread to them all.

Zhou Shuren gestured for his eldest son to bring over a table, then climbed onto it using a chair to get a better view, carefully discerning the direction of the fire. Zhou Shuren stepped down with pursed lips.

Zhou’s eldest son eagerly asked, "Father, whose house do you think it is?"

Zhou’s eldest son looked at the distant blaze with fear in his heart; such a fire gave no one a chance to escape. It was terrifying.

Zhou Shuren said, "It should be the abandoned residence of the Zhang family."

Had the Crown Prince set the fire? No, without the Emperor’s command, the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare burn the former Zhang residence.

Zhou’s eldest son was taken aback; he knew of the Zhang residence. When he passed by it in the past, he had wondered who was so extravagant as to allow such a large estate to go to waste. After inquiring, he didn’t dare to even think about it.

Zhou’s eldest son spoke up, his voice somewhat loud, "How did it catch fire?"

Seeing his father look at him, he hastily shut his mouth. He had not even caught his breath and began coughing incessantly.

Zhou Shuren didn’t want to talk about it, "Alright, let’s go back to eat."

All the members of the Zhou family ate with their minds elsewhere. Having gone through so much, even the naive Lady Li knew this was no simple matter. Although they were not panicking, they felt oppressed.

Midway through the meal, the steward returned to report, "It’s the abandoned residence of the Zhang family that’s burning. There are military men guarding the outside, so the young servant didn’t dare to get close."

Zhou Shuren’s thoughts whirled rapidly, "Are there many soldiers guarding it?"

The steward replied, "A lot, the young servant reported a soldier every few steps."

Zhou Shuren couldn’t understand why the Emperor would want to burn down the Zhang residence. If it were to be burned, it should have been done long ago. The fact it was left until now clearly indicated a reluctance to burn it, yet now it had been set on fire. Zhou Shuren gestured for the steward to leave.

After dinner, everyone returned to their own courtyards, and Zhulan asked, "Did you know there were soldiers from the beginning?"

Zhou Shuren nodded, "When I came back I encountered the Crown Prince, saw the soldiers guarding the area, and couldn’t figure out what was going on. I didn’t expect it to be arson. With no one to extinguish this blaze and the massive complex of buildings, it’s going to burn for a day or two."

Zhulan was very afraid of this fire, "Seeing this fire now, I can imagine the blaze that destroyed the Rong Residence."

Zhou Shuren hummed in agreement, "I just can’t figure out why the Emperor suddenly set the fire."

Zhulan was also baffled, "If it’s about hatred, that should have ended when the Zhang family was executed."

Not just Zhou Shuren, but everyone in the capital didn’t understand. Ever since the fire blazed up into the sky, they had sent people to inquire.

Several princes, upon hearing that the Crown Prince had personally visited, went there themselves.

Prince Qi found the Crown Prince at a teahouse and spared no words, "The Emperor’s command?"