Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1058: Diverting Attention

Chapter 1058: Chapter 1058: Diverting Attention

Rongchuan truly felt uncomfortable within the Palace, so having a mission was good, but this mission didn’t fit with the Hanlin Academy, "Your servant obeys the decree."

At the Zhou family’s home in the evening, Rongchuan had dinner with his wife after coming back, then he quietly discussed the day’s events in the court, "Father, I feel that I won’t be appointed to an official position next year."

He now felt that, just like his father had said, he was like a piece of brick, moved wherever needed, and indeed his identity was not suitable. He felt very disappointed, as he still wanted to be like his father and become a pillar of the state.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t comfort Rongchuan’s feelings, to comfort him would be to confess without being pressed, "You’re overthinking it. The Emperor values you, he will definitely arrange a good mission for you."

Rongchuan laughed without further explanation, "Father, I’ve been following Prince Liang recently, you don’t need to worry. I can take care of myself."

"You were taught by me, father is at ease."

Rongchuan’s smile turned into a grin, "Father, I should get going."

"Alright, pay more attention to safety these days."

After Rongchuan and his daughter left, Zhou Shuren and his wife didn’t speak. Today’s news was somewhat shocking and hadn’t spread yet, but it couldn’t be kept secret for much longer.

It wasn’t until they were about to rest for the night that the couple softly conversed. Zhulan was truly startled, "I do feel that somebody has indeed escaped."

How could such a big family not have a backup plan? They aren’t fools. It’s just unclear how many have been pursued and killed or if all were completely eradicated.

Zhou Shuren believed so too, "I’m thinking that the note is likely Yao Wenqi’s doing. The Yao family clan is experiencing the same situation as the Rong family. Yao Wenqi is now completely trapped, his hands and feet bound. He doesn’t dare to make a move, and to seek some opportunity, he only dared to play this trump card."

Zhulan expressed her agreement, "If the news really comes from Yao Wenqi, it also proves that the eradication of the Rong family clan back in the day involved more than just a small part of the Yao family clan. Everyone says that the Rong family clan was wiped out, and the Zhang family took most of the advantage. Now it seems these rumors might not be entirely true."

Zhou Shuren curled his lips, "Yao Wenqi now has a breather, but in the future, the Emperor will act even more ruthlessly."

Zhulan said eerily, "It’s somewhat better if they are found, but if not, heh, no, regardless if they are found or not, the situation remains the same. By the way, do you think someone might pose as a decoy?"

Zhou Shuren pondered deeply, "Before, no one would pose as a decoy because the Rong family was taboo. Yao Wenqi stayed hidden and did not dare to bring up the Rong family. He knew a decoy would implicate too many things. Now, I suppose he wouldn’t dare to either. Once it’s discovered to be fake, the Emperor’s fury would be enough to burn everything down. Yao Wenqi doesn’t dare to bet, as he no longer has much at stake to continue gambling."

Zhulan was particularly spirited today, "I somehow feel that the Yao family clan might have harbored rebellious intentions early on. If the Emperor hadn’t started a rebellion, the Yao family clan would have!"

Zhou Shuren’s mind raced, "Back then, the Rong family’s alliance through marriage with the Zhang family also stabilized the court situation to some extent. If the Yao family clan truly harbored thoughts of rebellion early on, this wasn’t what they would have wanted to see."

Zhulan was shocked, then snickered, "Years of careful caution have been etched into their bones, which is why the Yao family clan was slowly devoured by the Emperor."

Zhou Shuren helplessly said, "Haven’t you overlooked the two of us? Don’t forget, along our journey we’ve changed so much. We’ve constantly thwarted the dark forces’ plans, cutting off their finances, which led to them being purged by the Emperor time after time. Without the two of us flapping our wings, the court would surely be in chaos."

Over the years, so many people have been purged. The dark forces made complete preparations both in appointing their officials in the court and cultivating their military forces in secret. Without their intervention, should anything happen to the Emperor, chaos would be inevitable, and restoring order would result in rivers of blood.

Zhulan thought of the recent roundup of masters in the capital; without preparation, the capital would have been caught off guard and suffered huge casualties, "So our wings are truly very strong."

Zhou Shuren also felt pleased, "We may not have the heart of rebellion, but we indirectly safeguarded the common people and stabilized the court. We’ve saved so many lives, not to mention the economic development over the years, resulting in the people living in peace and contentment. These, too, are our meritorious deeds."

He had never forgotten his virtues, so he always opposed proposals to increase taxation on the populace. Ancient calamities were plentiful, especially the severe water shortages in some northern areas. If the project hadn’t been so massive, the national treasury not lacking in silver, and it not been a burden and harm to the people, he would have indeed liked to initiate a South-to-North Water Transfer Project, but alas, he could only dream.

Zhulan leaned against Zhou Shuren’s shoulder, "If we could really return to the modern age, I wish we could be the best of neighbors."

Zhou Shuren, "...I’d rather get a marriage certificate."

Who wants to be neighbors? He desired to move in and become family!

Zhulan yawned, "I’m sleepy, going to sleep."

"Don’t, don’t sleep, let’s chat."

Unfortunately, Zhulan feigned sleep and continued pretending until she actually fell asleep. Zhou Shuren held his wife, unsure if they could return, but it’s always good to have hopes.

The next day, at the Chen Residence in the capital, Prince Qi left the city before dawn and headed straight for the residence. He saw his maternal grandfather by the lake, wearing a straw rain cape, fishing in the rain as though he were an old fisherman rather than the Clan Leader of the Chen family clan.

Mr. Chen, seeing the fish on the hook, quickly reeled it in, "This one’s big, will send it to the kitchen for a fish stew at noon."

While releasing the fish, he eyed the boots and raised his head, "What brings you to the residence?"

Prince Qi had never heard his grandfather laugh so heartily, "I see Grandfather is in good spirits."

"Don’t worry about me. I sleep till I wake naturally, eat whatever I desire, and take strolls around the area when I’m free. With such a life, naturally, I’m in good health. But you haven’t said why you have come."

Prince Qi had already seated himself on a chair brought over and took the umbrella, signaling the guards to leave, "I’ve heard some news about the Rong family, and I wanted to ask Grandfather about it."

Mr. Chen set the fishing rod back into the lake, "I know you can’t let it go."

Prince Qi interrupted his grandfather’s words, "I just want to know the news about the Rong family."

Mr. Chen, "I’ve already said last time that I don’t know much. The Rong family’s traces have been thoroughly erased. The only thing I know is that many families must have been involved back then. A toothless tiger still hiding a fortune that rivals the country’s wealth, whether the wealth is real or not, the tragedy of the Rong family was inevitable."

Prince Qi was aware too, "Grandfather, do you think the Yao family clan was involved as well? And heavily involved?"

Mr. Chen stroked the rainwater off his beard, "What have you discovered?"

Prince Qi broke off a fresh blade of grass, "Indeed, I have discovered some things. You had me look at the political situation from a distance. I used to be enveloped by it, but now I see things much more clearly."

Everyone thought he stayed secluded in the Rong Garden because he had lost his strongest support, but they didn’t know that he had been reflecting on the past, uncovering many things, and seeing many things more clearly.

Mr. Chen did not want Prince Qi to get involved; if Prince Qi lived well and bowed to the Crown Prince, the Chen family could be protected by Prince Qi. As long as they had protection for two generations, the Chen family could rise again. His gaze fixed on the fishing rod, "You."

Prince Qi lowered his voice, "Grandfather, you wish for me to live well, but have you ever considered, if the Yao family clan truly harbors malice and has been plotting for years, can I really be safe? Even if I bow to the Crown Prince, I am still a Prince. If anything happens to the Crown Prince, I’ll be next."

It was precisely because he understood that he saw the danger ahead even more clearly.