Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1068: Stupid

Chapter 1068: Chapter 1068: Stupid

In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned home, "Has there been any news from the Duke Residence?"

Zhulan had also been constantly worried, "The Duke Residence has sealed off the news, and the Empress has already been guarding there all afternoon."

Zhou Shuren gestured for the maids to leave, "The less news there is, the more it indicates that the issue is serious, the old lady’s fainting is not simple."

Zhulan, "I originally guessed that it was Lady Du’s attempt to take control, but from what you say, it seems even more complicated?"

Zhou Shuren grunted, "I just feel it’s too coincidental. The Emperor had just decreed an investigation into the Zhang family this morning, and not long after, the old lady fainted. It’s too coincidental not to make me think more about it."

Zhulan was astonished, "The Emperor’s words confirmed that someone from the Zhang family has fled. From the look of it, it’s very likely that the person Rongchuan saw last time was from the Zhang family."

Zhou Shuren also thought of that, "If it’s not a coincidence, have you ever considered how many people the Zhang family has placed within the various clans in the capital over the years?"

Zhulan shuddered, "That’s to say, those who came to the capital later have safer inner quarters, no, even the inner quarters of those who came to the capital later are not safe. It seems I also need to take a closer look at our household servants."

Zhou Shuren was also concerned, "Hmm, it will be a lot of work for you."

Zhulan thought about how to investigate, ordinary methods would be useless, she had to be ruthless.

In the Duke Residence, the Empress carefully fed medicine to her mother-in-law with soup, the Duchess drank the medicine and closed her eyes. The Empress signaled the female officer to leave, personally tucked in the blankets for her mother-in-law, and only left after confirming that she had fallen asleep.

Xue Han was the first to notice the Empress coming out, there were no female officers in the room, she thought for a moment then went up to support her, "Your Highness the Empress, you’ve worked hard."

The Empress was indeed a bit tired, having been constantly by the bedside, she felt exhausted. Seeing her daughter-in-law, her mood improved slightly and patted Xue Han’s hand, "You are with child, please sit and rest."

Duke Ning opened his eyes and only after everyone was seated did he begin to speak, "I have already sealed the Duke Residence, allowing entrance but no exit."

Ning Xu stared at his father’s hand, it had been shaking ever since his mother fainted, and his father was filled with self-reproach after knowing that she had been poisoned, "Father, you’ve been worried about mother all day, you should rest early as well. Leave this to your son."

Ning Hui moved his mouth but dared not make a sound, covering his chest, coughing intermittently.

The Empress looked at her two brothers, finally fixing her gaze on her second brother, "Second brother, I can tolerate fools, but I cannot tolerate fools who hurt others. Whatever the reason, if you don’t take action this time, I will."

Ning Hui’s face paled, and his coughing intensified. He looked up at his sister, no, at the Empress, the Empress who had fought for the world alongside the Emperor, "She is the birth mother of Your Highness the Empress’s two nephews."

How could he bring himself to act? The feelings of early years were not false, the many years of companionship, even if the warmth of husband and wife had long since disappeared, they had been together for many years!

The Empress said indifferently, "Precisely because she is the mother of my two nephews, isn’t it the case that the two nephews were not in the room?"

Ning Hui, clutching his chest, knew his sister had always been decisive, once her mind was set on killing, she would not change, his mouth trembling, "She was used."

The Empress scolded, "Enough, don’t make excuses for her. If she hadn’t harbored thoughts of becoming the Duchess, how could she be used? The root of it all is her greed!"

Rongchuan squeezed his wife’s hand; he had wanted to take his wife and leave from the beginning, but no one would permit him to leave. Now, it was a matter for the elders, and he really did not want to know how they would settle it.

Ning Xu noticed his son’s small actions, "It’s getting late and the children are also tired. Father, why don’t you and Rongchuan go back and rest with your wife? I’ll stay here with the Empress."

Duke Ning didn’t leave and signaled Rongchuan and Xue Han to go back.

Xue Han was pregnant and had been tending to her duties all day, she was indeed very tired, and she too wanted to leave the place; she got up with Rongchuan and they both withdrew.

The next day, no news came out of the Duke Residence, even the Crown Prince had gone to the Duke Residence, and Zhulan was worried but could do nothing about it.

Zhulan focused more on what was happening inside the residence; she held the roster of all the servants in her hands, carefully reviewing the information that had been recorded at the beginning, slowly going over it. Fortunately, she had been thorough with her questions back then, and many details were documented. Now, even the most recent addition to the residence had been there for three years. Time could blur many things, not to mention words that had been spoken.

Zhulan handed the roster to Lady Li and Lady Zhao, "Both of you, take this roster and personally question the servants, make sure you ask thoroughly."

Lady Zhao, sensitive in her thinking, knew that her mother-in-law’s actions were always meaningful, "Mother, why do we have to investigate the servants?"

Zhulan explained, "I feel uneasy inside; that’s why I want to make sure everything is clear in our own house. It’ll be hard work for you."

Lady Li took the roster, "Mother, we don’t mind the hard work; we’re just afraid that we might not do well on our first attempt at this kind of task."

Zhulan gave a light laugh, "I don’t expect you to find anything. Your questioning is simply to pressure the servants, that’s all."

Investigating the servants still required her personal attention; the two daughters-in-law were not up to the task.

Lady Li felt happy for a moment, thinking she had been quite capable!

Inside the palace, Zhou Shuren accompanied the Emperor in a game of chess. The Emperor had left no piece of Zhou Shuren’s unattacked on the board, and a trace of sweat had formed on Zhou Shuren’s forehead. Eventually, he had no choice but to put down the white piece, "Your Majesty’s skill at chess is unparalleled; I admit defeat."

The Emperor placed down a black piece, "Shuren’s chess has improved a lot; I have thoroughly enjoyed our game today."

Zhou Shuren was silent; this was the Emperor’s true nature. In past chess games, the Emperor never let his emotions enter the board, "I have learned a lot, too."

The Emperor fixed his gaze on Zhou Shuren, "Shuren, what do you think of the Zhang family from the previous dynasty?"

Zhou Shuren’s heart rate sped up a notch; this was a difficult question. The Emperor’s taboo was not to be trifled with. Only after going over his words twice in his mind did he respond cautiously, "I don’t know much about the Zhang family; the affairs of the previous dynasty are hearsay to me. Your Majesty, I know too little to speak presumptuously."

The Emperor inwardly cursed ’cunning fox,’ "Ah, Shuren, I trust you very much. I want to hear what you have to say; I don’t care to hear a word from anyone else."

Zhou Shuren cursed inwardly. The Emperor wasn’t questioning his own thoughts, but rather sought affirmation. It seemed the Emperor was also pitiable, yet without tribulations, one could not achieve the status of a wise ruler today, "I have not heard much, but I have seen for myself that the underground network of the Zhang family is vast. Your Majesty says these tunnels are ancient, which shows they are the result of generations of effort. At the end of the previous dynasty, the court was corrupt, and the Zhang family had big ambitions. With such ambitions, they would naturally leave themselves a foolproof escape route."

Having said this, Zhou Shuren did not say more.

But the Emperor thought of Yao Wenqi; there must be secret passages in the Hou Residence, escape routes indeed.

At the Duke Ning Residence, the Duchess having heard why she was poisoned, was completely relieved, "Thank goodness I argued with your father and snatched away his pastry yesterday morning, otherwise, it would have been your father lying down here."

The Empress inwardly felt scared, "Mother, if you hadn’t been consistently taking nourishing medicine, which just happened to counteract the poison, you wouldn’t have had a chance to wake up. Even now that you’ve awakened, you can only lie in bed."

Xue Han felt distressed upon hearing this; her grandmother loved to move about so much.

The Duchess, however, was more philosophical about it, "Being alive is good; being alive is better than anything else."

But this time, the fool had been used; she could no longer afford to be lenient.