Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1089: Toughness

Chapter 1089: Chapter 1089: Toughness

Prince Liang felt a sense of ill omen deep inside. After much difficulty in tracing some clues, the result was a grave, "Son has found the Rong family’s graves, there are three tombs. If we want to confirm their authenticity, we’ll still need to open the coffins to inspect the burial goods."

The sliver of hope in the Emperor’s heart was extinguished. He should have known, with so many families surrounding and hunting them, how could anyone have survived? He then squinted his eyes, "Have we found out who repaired their tombs?"

Prince Liang shook his head, "Son has investigated the village. Those who helped with the burials are mostly dead after all these years, and those who are alive don’t have a strong recollection. The only lead Son could find was by following the northern route."

It was lucky to have come across any clues at all. He didn’t have portraits of the Rong family members, plus it had been so many years since their destruction during the previous dynasty’s reign!

The Emperor did not wish to disturb the Rong family members who had been laid to rest. What he cared more about was who buried the Rong family members.

The Crown Prince joined the conversation, "Father Emperor, the restless spirits of the Rong family wander afar, longing to return home. Their noble spirits should return to the ancestral graves to rest."

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince, then at Prince Liang, "You dispatch someone to transport the coffins back to the capital. Once in the capital, then open the coffins."

Prince Liang truly regretted looking for the living members of the Rong family. He could only hope that proving these were indeed the Rong family members with the forthcoming coffin opening would allow him to barely fulfill his duty.

At the Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi had been having his men follow Prince Liang. When Prince Liang found the Rong family graves, Yao Wenqi furrowed his brows. He remembered his father once saying that the entire Rong clan had perished. They had the genealogy of the Rong family, and had not spared anyone who escaped. His father had also lamented more than once that the members of the Rong family were of tough bone, preferring suicide to capture while alive.

Back then, there were a dozen or so of the Rong family who had fled. Everyone was eager to catch the fleeing members because, although they had divided up the Rong clan’s wealth, it didn’t match their expectations. The Rong clan was wealthy enough to rival the state. Later, they learned that the mother of the Emperor had left contingency plans, and the Emperor’s revolutionary funds might well have been from the Rong clan.

But his father still felt something was off. If a cunning rabbit has three burrows, then what about the old fox of the Rong family? The old fox wouldn’t put all his chips on his daughter who had married out.

Even on his deathbed, his father had muttered that the Rong family would rather die and bury all their secrets than live on.

Yao Wenqi stood up and began to pace in circles, thinking. Something was very wrong. There was no way those who hunted them back then would have kindly allowed the Rong family members to be buried in peace. Was the genealogy in his father’s possession correct? His heart thumped violently. If the genealogy was fake, or had been altered, then survivors might still exist from back then.

The following evening, Chang Yi returned home, and Zhulan kept fretting, "You must have endured a lot of hardship at sea, you’ve lost weight."

Chang Yi touched his belly, which had grown considerably, "Mother, Son..."

Zhou Shuren interrupted, "He has indeed lost weight."

Chang Yi swallowed back what he was about to say, "Mhm, Son has indeed lost weight."

Lady Li, who had been on the verge of tears, instantly dried up. Yushuang pursed her lips and stole a laugh; her father always cowered in front of grandfather.

Zhou Shuren cleared his throat, "Just returned from inside the palace?"

Chang Yi’s heart surged, "Father, Son has been promoted. I am now of the Seventh Rank, Seventh-rank Official."

Zhou Shuren’s moustache twitched upward, a smile tugging at his lips, "Good lad, well done."

Chang Yi grinned, receiving his father’s praise brought him more happiness than the Emperor’s. This trip had boosted his confidence, "Father, Son will continue to work hard. I won’t let you down."

At that moment, Chang Yi hurriedly asked, "Mother, have you seen the things Son brought back?"

Zhulan felt her child was incredibly filial. Chang Yi had brought back many precious items, "I saw them. How could you, busy with your duties, still worry about home? Your father and I lack for nothing."

Chang Yi grinned, "A son honoring his parents is to be expected. If there hadn’t been a lack of room, I would have liked to buy some more."

Zhulan looked at Lady Zhao eagerly watching and said with a smile, "Okay, you must be exhausted from today. Go back and rest first, and we can talk more tomorrow, just the two of us."

Indeed tired, Chang Yi decided to take a day off and didn’t stay for long, "Father, Mother, I will head back first."

Zhou Shuren hummed in acknowledgment, "Rest early."

Chang Yi returned late, having dined in the capital’s palace. Now it was almost time to rest. Had they all not been waiting for Chang Yi, each household would have already retired for the night.

Upon returning to her courtyard, Lady Li grumbled, "The second brother has become a Seventh Rank official. He really is something else. In such a short time in office, he’s been promoted."

Zhou eldest son indeed felt some envy, but he didn’t possess his second brother’s abilities, "The diplomatic mission this time was risky for second brother. Father always said the glory is proportional to one’s efforts. If second brother has been promoted, he must have gone through many dangers."

Lady Li was not jealous as she had many sons to depend on later in life. She simply felt reflective, "With the second brother’s promotion, the confidence of the second wife’s household has grown. I am genuinely happy for Lady Zhao. She used to look so weary in the past."

The eldest Zhou brother laughed, "I didn’t expect you to see so clearly."

Lady Li rolled her eyes, "I know plenty, okay? Let’s not talk anymore. Time to sleep, sleep."

In the second wife’s quarter, Yushuang led her sister back to their girls’ chamber. Yu Die changed into her clothes and sat on her sister’s bed, tilting her head, "Sister, you seem especially happy today."

Yushuang set aside the hairbrush in her hand, "Because father has come back."

Yu Die shook her head, "No, just now in grandma’s room, you seemed even happier than when you found out dad was back."

Yushuang stopped brushing her hair and sat on the bed, "Because dad has been promoted, sister is even happier."

"What’s so great about being promoted?"

Yushuang hugged her little sister, "You are still young and don’t understand. Dad’s promotion is too important for our household."

After their father became an official, it had changed the weaker stance of their family, and her role as the eldest daughter had been lifted of all burdens.

Yu Die still didn’t get it, but as long as her brother and sister were happy, she was happy too.

The next day, Chang Yi rested. After eating, he stayed at the main courtyard to chat with his mother, "This time, son’s status has changed, and so has his perspective. I used to only worry about myself, but this time I learned a lot. Mother, I am very glad and thankful for the plans you and father made for me."

Zhulan felt deeply moved. Chang Yi had never been so spirited before, "Mother is also happy for you. She hopes that you won’t lose your true nature. My son, a gentleman has plans but also knows when not to scheme. Mother hopes you will plot with integrity in the future. Petty tricks won’t get you far."

Chang Yi kept her words in his heart, remembering many conversations with his mother, "Mother, I will remember all."

Zhulan then brought up the unusual weather, "You were out of the country and unfamiliar with the domestic situation. With the weather anomalies, do you have any thoughts?"

Having returned by ship, Chang Yi had heard a lot of news, and his wife had also spoken of the situation at home the previous day. He had thought quite a bit, "Son has some ideas, but they are still unrefined. I need to think them over carefully."

Zhulan didn’t press further and changed the subject, "Now that you’re back in the capital, spend more time with your wife."

Chang Yi couldn’t help but blush, thinking back to being confronted by the young girl at the door that morning, feeling rather embarrassed.