Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1080: Weakness

Chapter 1080: Chapter 1080: Weakness

Zhou Shuren entered the government hall, trembling as he bowed. When he heard the Emperor tell him to rise, he seemed to lack the strength and instead sat down on the floor.

The Emperor, "..."

The Crown Prince, "..."

Silently, Zhou Shuren confessed it was not an act. Today had been one fright after another, from the drama at the palace gates to the long walk to the hall. For him, who was usually bound to his office desk, he had indeed exhausted his energy. "Your Majesty, I may need to sit for a while."

The Emperor, looking over Zhou Shuren’s disheveled appearance—now even more an eyesore with his unkempt beard and puffy red eyes—shifted his gaze away, "Shuren, you may sit as long as you need."

Zhou Shuren, "... Your Majesty, I have just cried, and now I feel incredibly empty. I fear I must sit for a long while."

This was the truth. He’d need to summon up some emotions to cry now; even acting required genuine feelings. Now with his depleted energy, he looked even more dispirited.

The Emperor, noting Zhou Shuren’s increasingly evident aging, felt a pang of sympathy, and his tone softened noticeably, less concerned about whether Zhou Shuren was acting or not. "I understand your grievances. I have summoned Prince Qi into the palace to conduct thorough investigations in every household until clarity is reached and explanations are provided to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shuren found his strength returning, although his throat was genuinely hoarse, "Your Majesty, I am not resentful. I am simply terrified. My earlier life was undistinguished, and I blossomed only later in life, but throughout, I could not have done without my wife. In the mundane days, she managed our entire household, supporting me onward, and in prosperous times, too much mingled within. My current status owes half to her contributions. Today, I was truly frightened."

Zhou Shuren spoke calmly, without any pretense, his honest words stirring the listener’s hearts even more.

The Emperor was inwardly moved. Zhou Shuren couldn’t live without his wife, just as he couldn’t live without his own, the silently devoted support always behind him.

Zhou Shuren didn’t stare at the Emperor but paused before continuing, "One might say one could live without anyone, but I don’t feel it so. I cannot live without my wife. When I came home and detected trouble, I thought if something happens to my wife, I would follow her. I want to accompany my wife on Yellow Spring Road."

The Crown Prince stared intensely at Zhou Shuren, scrutinizing his words carefully. Zhou Shuren’s eyes were clear; this old fox meant every word he said and kept silent. The affairs of the Ministry of Revenue today made Zhou Shuren not even want to enter the palace, rather going straight home as trouble had erupted, so dire that he disregarded his own dignity to come.

The Emperor, his eyes becoming slits, "I have always known that Shuren deeply loves Mrs. Yang. Today, I understand what that love entails. Shuren, which is greater, the nation or the family?"

Zhou Shuren curled his lips, slightly ashamed to reveal, in this era, his spouse mattered most, their influence the reason for his changes. "The nation is greater than the family, but my heart is very small, Your Majesty. I can be loyal to the Emperor and to the nation, but my heart completely belongs to my wife."

His heart encompassed only his wife, as for the family, previously selfish, he didn’t have one like completing tasks. Now, enriched with emotions, it was guided by his wife.

The Emperor and Zhou Shuren exchanged looks, the old fox’s eyes always hiding emotions but now, for the first time, fully exposing his true feelings. Mrs. Yang had ascended in his heart. Previously, she was just an able minister’s wife, now a person influencing the minister’s life, "Between your wife and your current power, which holds more weight?"

Zhou Shuren bluntly, "My wife."

The Emperor moved his fingertips, "I understand."

Zhou Shuren’s tension relaxed;]]>

He wanted the Emperor to know that his wife was the most important. As long as he was useful to the imperial court, his wife would be safer. Being targeted for assassination twice nearly caused him a heart attack. Moreover, in the midst of power transitions within the empire, he needed to magnify his vulnerabilities to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, letting them see clearly, to give them confidence in him.

Zhou Shuren felt deeply conflicted, experienced in the bureaucratic arena, the more he was involved, the more he thought ahead with each step. While speaking, he rapidly analyzed the pros and cons, "I thank Your Majesty."

The Crown Prince now found Zhou Shuren more agreeable, the old, slippery fox he used to be on his guard against.

The Emperor signaled Eunuch Liu to bring in the assassin.

Supported by a eunuch, Zhou Shuren sat on a chair, awaiting the assassin’s entry, then startled, "That face is wrong."

He knew his own maid well.

Eunuch Liu responded, "She’s wearing the Human Skin Mask, this is her true face."

Zhou Shuren processed quickly, "Eunuch, do you imply that my maid was harmed and this assassin entered my residence wearing the Human Skin Mask?"

Eunuch Liu nodded, "Yes, sir."

The Emperor already saw the human skin mask on the tray, "Shuren truly has fortune."

Zhou Shuren, "Hmm??"

The Crown Prince smiled, finally understanding why someone had escaped during the last purge; the human skin mask was indeed a miraculous object. "Put it on her; I want to see."

The man in black behind Eunuch Liu, already holding a bottle of potion, applied it and fitted the mask onto the assassin.

Zhou Shuren widened his eyes as she transformed back into his head maid, then stood to inspect her face for any discrepancies before quietly returning to his seat, "Hard to detect flaws."

The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Liu, who explained, "Indeed, it’s hard to spot. Even during the interrogation, we didn’t notice; only those skilled in mask-making identified it. This substance requires a potion to remove."

Eunuch Liu paused then continued, "Drop the potion into water, and washing with it will reveal if anyone wears a Human Skin Mask."

Zhou Shuren focused on the potion in the man’s hand, eyes slightly gleaming, "Your Majesty, an assassin appeared in my home, and I fear others have not yet revealed themselves. I wish to return and see if anyone else is wearing a Human Skin Mask."

The Emperor consented and signaled Eunuch Liu to give Zhou Shuren the potion.

Eunuch Liu slightly pained, "Sir, just a few drops are sufficient, this whole bottle..."

Zhou Shuren interrupted Eunuch Liu with a sigh, "As an official who has climbed up the ranks, my exposure is too limited; I have no means of self-protection unlike those from grand families."

This time, the Crown Prince interjected, "Minister Zhou, this whole bottle is for you."

Zhou Shuren managed a smile, though it was somewhat pained, "I thank the Crown Prince."

Eunuch Liu wordlessly handed the black-clad man’s other bottle to Zhou Shuren, "Minister Zhou, the potion is hard to come by; use it cautiously."

Zhou Shuren treasured it in his possession, "Understood, understood."

The ancient times truly had marvelous items; he thought of various poisons, the ancient times being quite perilous.

Prince Qi arrived, his first gaze upon entering was Zhou Shuren, whose wailing at the palace gates had spread throughout the capital, quickly averting his eyes.

Prince Qi greeted, "This son bows to the father Emperor and greets the Crown Prince."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

He felt personally affronted.