Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1042: Stingy Trust

Chapter 1042: Chapter 1042: Stingy Trust

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan had finished her breakfast and was covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. The former residence of the Zhang family had burned all night and was still burning, filling the skies above the capital with dense smoke. Although the Zhou residence was a bit farther away, the scent was still present.

The steward returned from the street and reported, "Today, there are very few pedestrians in the capital, only a few carriages hurrying along."

Zhulan nodded to indicate that she understood. A great fire had the people of the capital on edge, accustomed as they were to bloodshed year after year, with the ordinary people especially terrified.

Zhulan said to the old maid, "Go to Minister Zhang’s house later to check on the children and pass a message to Yao Xin for me, just tell her to keep the mansion doors firmly shut."

The old maid noted it down, "Yes."

Lady Zhao spoke up, "Mother, should I send a young servant to inform Lady Hu?"

"Just notify her. Lady Jin and Lady Ding should be busy with their own mansions; she doesn’t have a source of news and probably doesn’t even know the nature of the panic yet!"

Lady Zhao nodded, instructed the maid behind her, and after the maid left, she said, "Mother, I will head back now."

"Alright, go ahead."

Lady Zhao left the room and glanced at the smoke-filled direction. Although she couldn’t see the flames in the daylight, she could see the true severity beneath, the billowing smoke weighing heavily on her heart. She missed her husband and had no idea if he was safe.

On the sea, Wu Ming had breakfast and then went up to the deck to enjoy the breeze. The sea and sky seemed to blend into one line, and after watching for a while, he felt no beauty, only irritation, uncertain of when they would reach their destination.

Hearing footsteps, Wu Ming knew who it was, "You’re here."

Chang Yi pulled up a chair and sat down, his concern evident as he looked at Wu Ming, "You’ve eaten too little; you only had a small bowl of porridge this morning. It hasn’t been long, and you’ve already lost weight."

Wu Ming also sat, returning Chang Yi’s gaze. Chang Yi hadn’t lost weight, able to eat and drink plenty, "I’m one of the better ones; there are two others who are sick!"

Chang Yi empathized, "It was the same for me the first time I was on a ship, but I’ve gotten used to it now. Beyond being a bit boring, it’s quite interesting."

Wu Ming pressed his temples, "Even though we’ve brought enough food and dried vegetables, it’s still hard to get used to eating at sea. The dried meat gets moldy in stormy weather, and the dried vegetables get damp. We can’t just keep eating fish."

Chang Yi pursed his lips, "We’ve been replenishing supplies ashore as much as possible."

Wu Ming knew, but having been accustomed to good food and supplies at home, he wasn’t prepared for this, "It’ll be fine once we’re back."

Zhang Jinghong came walking over, and Chang Yi, seeing him, remarked, "Your appetite seems to be doing well."

Zhang Jinghong chuckled lightly, "I didn’t expect to be so easy to nourish. Haven’t you said that human potential is limitless? That’s exactly my case."

He had adapted continually simply to survive, and he could live well, not just as a prince.

Chang Yi felt a bit embarrassed, "It wasn’t me who said that, it was my father, encouraging me to tap into my own potential."

Zhang Jinghong paused, "Minister Zhou is truly admirable."

Chang Yi nodded—his father’s abilities were something he could never fully learn in several lifetimes.

At the Palace, Zhou Shuren was in a daze. The Emperor discussed not state affairs but hobbies, as if they were friends, making Zhou Shuren even more vigilant.

The Emperor displayed his own paintings, "This was painted when I was fifteen years old, Shuren, come take a look."

Zhou Shuren stepped closer, silent—the Emperor’s painting skills were truly not great, "Who did Your Majesty learn from?"

The Emperor touched the painting, "I taught myself."

The Emperor then brought out two more paintings, "These two were painted in these recent years, actually I haven’t painted much, I have always kept them myself."

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, you still know your lack of talent for painting is embarrassing, "Your Majesty, why show these to me?"

The Emperor put away the paintings, smiling, "Because I am happy today, very happy."

Zhou Shuren saw it, "This servant is happy for Your Majesty."

The Emperor felt quite pitiful, having no friends, no friends in his childhood, pretending to be foolish didn’t help, and later becoming the Emperor, Emperors need no friends, he had never shared with anyone, today because of happiness, he wanted to be whimsical once, and the person he could think of to share with was Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren silently watched the Emperor fuss, discovering another side of the Emperor, the Emperor was quite good at hiding things, of course, the older he got, the stronger his eccentricities became.

Eunuch Liu stood in the distance, his eyes never leaving the Emperor; Eunuch Liu’s eyes reddened, the Emperor never had a childhood, now old and whimsical, yet he saw a glimpse of childhood innocence; he knew, after today, the Emperor would return to his usual self, today was the only whimsy.

The Emperor messed around for a while then got tired, rubbing his lower back, "I’m old, I can’t fuss anymore."

Zhou Shuren thought for a moment, stepped forward to support him, "Your Majesty is not old, your body is still robust."

The Emperor waved his hand, "I know my own body, it is just unfortunate that my ambitions, but no matter, the Crown Prince is outstanding, he will carry on my ambitions."

Zhou Shuren withdrew his hand, bowing his head, "This servant is terrified."

He was truly terrified—you haven’t scared enough people today, so blatantly saying this in his presence, isn’t this directly telling him the Crown Prince will succeed the throne?

The Emperor playfully scolded, "You clever old thing, I know you are capable and broad-minded, don’t think I don’t know just because you keep it hidden, you may be clever, but eyes can’t lie."

He had also observed carefully to find out, Zhou Shuren was very good at concealing, what then, why did he like having Zhou Shuren attend deliberations, because he wanted to see Zhou Shuren’s reactions, even if Zhou Shuren didn’t speak, at critical moments, Zhou Shuren would still show some reactions.

He was very pleased with Zhou Shuren’s passion for a strong country, it was exactly because of this belief of Zhou Shuren that his wariness towards Zhou Shuren lessened.

Zhou Shuren’s heart trembled, at this moment not a bit of mockery crossed his mind, the Emperor was the Emperor, controlling a country, holding ministers in his palm, if he really focused on a person, how could he be deceived by pretense, he just didn’t know how much the Emperor had discovered.

The Emperor looked at the still composed Zhou Shuren, chuckled softly, "I hope you do not betray my trust, I am miserly, having experienced too much to trust easily, therefore I only give one chance, Shuren, treasure it, I despise betrayal."

Zhou Shuren’s heart fluctuated, he steadied his mind, "This servant will always bear it in mind, I will never betray Your Majesty’s trust."

His words were sincere, he had never harbored thoughts of defiance, he liked his current home, which he had always longed for, although without parents, he had been a good father, he wanted to protect everything from Zhulan and his son, to everyone in his family, feeling his son’s respect, his grandson’s admiration, he was the pillar of the Zhou family!

The Emperor stared fixedly at Zhou Shuren, patted Zhou Shuren’s shoulder, "I am tired."

Zhou Shuren bowed exceptionally respectfully this time, "Yes, your servant will take his leave."

The Emperor paused, then his eyes curved, a smile forming in his usually calm eyes, "Hmm."

The Crown Prince waited for Zhou Shuren to leave, then came out from behind the partition, "Father seemed very happy?"