Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1044: Secret Passage

Chapter 1044: Chapter 1044: Secret Passage

Two days later, the fire in the former Zhang family mansion had completely gone out, and from a distance, it was all charred ash and dust. However, the soldiers stationed outside had not left and were still standing guard in shifts around the exterior of the residence.

In the evening, Zhulan expressed her confusion, "Since the fire has already been extinguished, why haven’t the soldiers outside left?"

For the past two days, there had been nothing but speculation about why the Zhang family’s former residence needed to be guarded.

Zhou Shuren had a guess in his mind, "I believe the Emperor wants to find something. It would be easier to discover now that it’s been destroyed, wouldn’t it? Now there’s nothing to obstruct him."

Zhulan thought of a possibility, "Do you think that not a single person from the Zhang family survived, that they were all wiped out?"

Zhou Shuren replied, "That I do not know."

Zhulan’s thoughts were also guesses. Forget it, she thought, better not to ponder. It would be wiser to think about her sons instead, "Chang Zhi, I don’t know where he has reached by now."

Zhou Shuren looked up from his book, "They are traveling light; by now, they should have covered half the distance, I suppose."

Zhulan lamented, "I want to go back and check on them."

"Once it’s safe in the future, we shall go back and see."

As for when he retires, he probably won’t be able to put up such a fuss anymore.

Zhulan nodded, then the two of them talked about the children at home. Having been like an old couple since they first met, with so many years of caring for a large family, even if their hearts were young, they felt old. Now, the two were living the life of an old couple, mostly discussing their children.

In a mountain village in the northeast, as night fell, Chang Zhi and his party finally managed to reach the village. They found a household and, after making the arrangements, the maidservant tidied up the room and then Chang Zhi helped his wife down from the carriage.

Chang Zhi advised, "Be careful, the path is slippery."

Su Xuan, guided by the light of a lantern, watched her step, "We left ahead of time, but still miscalculated. The snow has melted too quickly, and the ground is all slush, making the road difficult to traverse."

Chang Zhi was also frustrated, "We’ve already covered nearly half the journey. Just bear with it, we’ll get there soon."

Su Xuan gave a hum as she entered the house, her first experience of such rustic travel, enduring the hardships despite not being delicate. She sat on the prepared mat, looking a bit disheartened.

At that moment, a woman entered from outside, saying, "We’re in the middle of dinner, and my mother-in-law asked me to come and inquire whether you noble guests would like some mutton, freshly slaughtered today."

Su Xuan’s spiritless eyes brightened, "Yes, we’ll take some. We’ll take as much mutton as you have."

Zhang Sanni was delighted, "Alright, please follow me."

The maidservant, with her purse, followed along and inquired, "Do you have any fresh wild vegetables? We’d like those too. And, I heard a chicken crowing earlier; do you sell the chickens you raise?"

Zhang Sanni paused, "We don’t have wild vegetables, and as for the hen, I would have to ask my mother-in-law."

The sheep had been slaughtered because it was injured by wolves coming down the mountains the day before, and as the day went by, they realized it would not survive. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have killed it. They had planned to sell it in the town but were getting ready to go the next day when guests seeking shelter arrived at their home.

Two hours later, Su Xuan and the others finally had their dinner of stewed mutton and chicken soup, satisfying their ravenous hunger.

The next morning, Su Xuan and her party prepared to depart; on their way out, they bought some meat from a butcher and grain from a local farmer.

Jiang Sheng stepped out first and saw children standing curiously under the eaves—the bigger ones holding the smaller ones. Smiling, he turned back into the house to fetch some desserts.

Chang Zhi followed him out, "Brother-in-law."

Jiang Sheng, having divided the desserts among the children, said with a smile, "Chang Zhi, I’m starting to miss Jiang Zhu and the others. It’s the first time I’ve been away from them for this long."

Chang Zhi missed his sons and daughter too. Shen Xing stepped over, "Fourth Young Master, the carriage is ready. It’s time for us to set off."

Chang Zhi nodded, helped his wife onto the carriage, and looked back at the woman standing under the eaves, feeling she looked familiar, yet he couldn’t recall who she was as he boarded the carriage.

Zhang Sanni had been given some pastries by her daughter and had come out to express her gratitude. She hadn’t expected to recognize someone, the Zhou family’s fourth son, Zhou Changzhi. She hadn’t seen clearly the night before. So many years had passed, and she thought she had forgotten, but she still remembered. She had never returned to her hometown, but now she had sons and daughters, and life was good.

She felt somewhat bewildered; it was the Zhou family after all, a procession of carriages with eight or nine guards alone.

The boy tugged at his mother’s hand, "Mom, what are you thinking about?"

Zhang Sanni smiled, "Mom is thinking that Dongzi will have to study hard in the future."

The boy nodded, "Mhm."

In the capital, Zhulan was on her way to the Ning Duke Residence by carriage, passing by the burned-down residence. The main gate had long been taken down, and there were still many guards stationed outside the courtyard, with quite a few soldiers inside, divided into many groups searching the courtyards.

Zhulan arrived at the Ning Duke Residence, where Rongchuan was also present today.

With her arm entwined in her mother’s, Xue Han said to Rongchuan, "You go handle your matters; I’ll accompany Mom."

Rongchuan bowed, "Mom, I’ll get on with my business."

Once Rongchuan had left, Zhulan asked her daughter, "What is Rongchuan busy with today?"

Xue Han didn’t keep it secret, "Today Rongchuan will accompany the Crown Prince on an errand."

Xue Han signaled the servants following her that they didn’t need to come any closer and only continued in a low voice after walking a bit further, "Mom, I heard Grandpa and Rongchuan saying that the Emperor wants to investigate the secret passages."

Zhulan looked to her daughter, "You overheard them?"

Xue Han shook her head, "No, I was there the whole time Grandpa and Rongchuan were talking, and they didn’t avoid me. So, I thought that Grandpa must want to pass the message to our family through me."

Zhulan thought that for the Emperor to carry out such a thorough investigation, it was clear that it had struck a nerve with him. She patted her daughter’s hand, "I know."

Xue Han continued, "Rongchuan secretly told me that the Crown Prince is holding a complete map of the capital, and in the next few days, there will be National protection camp soldiers patrolling and searching the city. He told me to stock up on more food, in case the city gets locked down in a couple of days."

Zhulan’s mouth twitched, the Emperor and the Crown Prince really trusted Rongchuan—well of course, a true son and a true brother. And yet, Rongchuan’s heart was with the Zhou family, secretly informing Xue Han, as if hoping the Zhou family would know. This wasn’t just a son-in-law; he was like a son!

Xue Han continued, "Mom, you should buy more food too."

Zhulan shook her head, "No, the Ning Duke Residence can buy more, but the Zhou family cannot; it would trigger a chain reaction."

She had enough foreknowledge to be prepared, there was no need to do too much.

Xue Han thought about it and agreed, "As long as Mom knows what to do."

"Don’t worry, we have enough food at home."

Xue Han chuckled, almost forgetting her mother liked to hoard things. With that thought, there was nothing to worry about.

Zhulan went on, "And there won’t be chaos in the capital; food supplies will definitely be ensured. You don’t have to worry too much."

Xue Han nodded, "Mhm."

Inside the Palace, Zhou Shuren and others left the government hall, only to encounter Marquis Yao entering the Palace. Zhou Shuren looked at Yao Wenqi, who already had some white hair. On closer inspection, Yao Wenqi wasn’t as old as he was, in fact, he seemed a few years younger. After all, Zhe Yu was not much older.

Now, however, Yao Wenqi looked almost his age. This time, Zhou Shuren wondered how the Emperor would torment Yao Wenqi.

Li Zhao pushed Zhou Shuren, wordlessly urging, "Let’s go."