Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1060: Higher Pursuits

Chapter 1060: Chapter 1060: Higher Pursuits

"How could the poor afford such an umbrella?" Zhulan explained the value of her own umbrella, finally adding, "Take it to the pawnshop, and you’d get at least ten silvers, even with them pressing down the price."

The value lay in the wood, embroidery, and jade pendant.

Chang Zhong was stunned. "Our family’s umbrella is worth that much silver?"

Zhulan smiled. "The cost of making it ourselves isn’t high, but selling it externally fetches a good price. Your second brother brought back a lot of valuable wood, which didn’t cost us any silver. We also have some jade stones that were not bought but are rare outside."

Of course, not every household’s umbrella was so luxurious; the luxurious ones were in the main courtyard, which she had arranged herself then given each granddaughter one, keeping the rest for the main courtyard’s use.

Chang Zhong, bright-minded, recalled the saying about the crime of hiding jade. "Mother, your son has been thoughtless."

Zhulan said, "Such items shouldn’t appear in this impoverished area. If given to this child, at best he might be beaten, at worst accused of theft; his life would be ruined. My son, today, I must teach you that helping others isn’t wrong, and I support you to help as much as you can, but you must consider the consequences, or else you might harm them."

Chang Zhong’s face turned pale; he had seen the children outside yearning to study and almost caused harm. Now slightly scared, this pure-hearted child responded, "Mother, your son will remember."

Zhulan hugged her son, signaling the coachman to send over the straw raincoat—a common item easy to make and not rare. Then she signaled the coachman to drive away.

Chang Zhong leaned into his mother’s arms. "Mother, is this the happiness that Brother Wu Ming spoke of? Wu Ming said I grew up in a pile of blessings and should cherish it."

He used a costly umbrella, wrote with large characters every day, carelessly using paper, and was taught by the top scorer. When Brother Wu Ming wasn’t present, specialized teachers came to the estate. Soon enough, he could attend the finest Academy. Today’s stark contrasts tightened his embrace around his mother’s waist. "Mother, your son shouldn’t carelessly write large characters."

Zhulan was pleased with her young son’s quick understanding and easy-to-teach nature. She thought it would take several lessons, but it was accomplished in one. Stroking her son’s hair, she said, "So you must cherish this, study harder, and become someone useful to the nation."

Zhulan continued, "Do you want to change what you saw today?"

Chang Zhong nodded, "Mhm."

Zhulan smiled. "Mother doesn’t stop you from becoming a military general. A military general can protect our home and country, but civil officials can manage the country and change the lives of the people. You are born in a peaceful era, and I hope you do better than your father and become a pillar of the state."

Her expectations for her son were high; Chang Zhong was Zhou Shuren’s continuation of life. As for treating Chang Lian, it was for the Zhou family’s sake, but Chang Zhong was meant for greater heights.

Chang Zhong looked up. "Mother, your son wants to be even greater than father."

Zhulan smiled, "Good."

In the Academy, Ran Xun was distracted, answering the teacher’s questions wrong several times and was punished to write many large characters.

Ming Teng couldn’t bear to watch, "What’s gotten into you?"

Ever since the Crown Prince had temporarily taken over government policies, some people in the Academy no longer dared to provoke Ran Xun.

Ran Xun felt guilty. Yesterday, on impulse, he had voiced his hidden thoughts which shocked both grandparents. He thought his grandfather would disagree, but after some contemplation, his grandfather mentioned he would probe Zhou’s intentions. His heart wasn’t in his books, "No, nothing, just didn’t sleep well last night."

Excited, yes, every visit to Zhou’s estate and seeing Jiang Miu satisfied him, a fact he couldn’t mention for fear of losing friends.

Ming Teng was very puzzled. Could Ran Xun, who was carefree, have trouble sleeping?

Dong Zhan smiled, "He must be thinking about an arranged engagement."

Upon hearing this, Ming Teng said, "Yes, you should think about getting engaged too."

Ran Xun panicked, "No, I’m not engaged, definitely not."

Dong Zhan smiled faintly. Believing Ran Xun’s words, Ming Teng had often seen Ran Xun seeking Jiang Zhu. The eagerness to please was unbearable to watch. Thinking of his own marriage arrangements, he wouldn’t get engaged easily; the Dong family would find a suitable match that could assist him.

In the capital’s teahouse, Prince Qi listened to the music, his fan tapping rhythmically as he seemed to forget he was the host.

Zhang Yang felt intimidated by Prince Qi. Every move by Prince Qi seemed targeted at his weak spots. After sitting idly for a while, "Second brother, did you invite your brothers for any particular matter?"

Prince Qi paused his fanning, "No rush, not everyone is here yet."

He had invited Zhang Yang after returning from his maternal grandfather’s estate. Today, his actions were noticed by his younger brothers; both Prince Chu and Prince Liang would arrive shortly.

Just then, the third and fourth brothers arrived together, and to his surprise, Ning Rongchuan joined them.

Prince Liang found a seat and commented nonchalantly, "Why isn’t second brother nesting at Rong Garden? I thought you’d permanently root there in the future!"

As if oblivious to the sarcasm, Prince Qi replied, "This prince is carrying out tasks for our father, the Emperor, and must do so wholeheartedly, unlike some, who hardly attend to their duties."

That ’some’ referred to many, whether Prince Chu or Prince Liang, who delegated their duties to others.

Ning Rongchuan wanted to go home. He hadn’t expected Prince Liang to bring him to this gathering—it was utterly disheartening.

The faces of Prince Chu and others revealed no discomfort. Leaning back, Prince Liang said, "We can hardly match the leisure of our second brother; we brothers are always busy."

Since the loss of the Chen family clan, second brother had pushed off his responsibilities and indeed had become the most idle. Today, he had visited Mr. Chen, something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Prince Qi gestured for Ning Rongchuan to sit, seemingly ignoring Prince Liang’s words. As for his younger brothers, he felt no obligation towards them as an elder brother. He longed for their downfall; if he wasn’t doing well, he wished none of them would, "Why did Ning Rongchuan come along?"

Ning Rongchuan responded, "The Emperor has tasked me to assist His Highness Prince Liang in investigating the Rong family descendants."

Finally setting down his fan, Prince Qi’s gaze turned frosty as he looked at Ning Rongchuan. Perhaps Ning Rongchuan was held too high in their father’s esteem, higher than his own sons, "In recent years, Ning Rongchuan has visited the palace more times than any of us."

Indeed, far too many times. He had never enjoyed such treatment in his youth. He had tried every possible way to attract their father’s attention. He excelled in his studies and in his writing; he excelled in everything. Yet, the Emperor’s heart remained with the Crown Prince.

This feeling was reminiscent of their childhood, when they enviously watched the Crown Prince move in and out of the government hall, unable to step even through its gates. Now, grown up and a prince himself, his access to the government hall remained limited, while Ning Rongchuan seemed to enter the palace as freely as the Crown Prince did in the past.

Ning Rongchuan’s heart pounded loudly though his face remained stoic.

Prince Chu and Prince Liang were deep in thought, particularly Prince Liang. Heaven knew that just yesterday when he visited the government hall, he saw the Emperor carving the Jade Pendant while the Crown Prince handled state affairs and Ning Rongchuan recorded them—the harmonious atmosphere was unsettling every time he remembered it!