Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1107: Big Fortune is Not Good

Chapter 1107: Chapter 1107: Big Fortune is Not Good

Prince Liang felt a surge of anger and pulled out a letter from the Emperor, "This is an urgent letter that just arrived, and your father himself spoke of the discovery of the box."

Chang Zhi took it, dumbfounded. The letter stated that his grandmother might be from the Rong family, which was indeed shocking, yet it explained a lot. Only the Rong family could compel Prince Liang to search on his own, but he still harbored doubts. What if Prince Liang was deceiving him?

Prince Liang sneered, "You shall return with me."

Chang Zhi thought for a moment. The round trip would coincide with the provincial examination, "Alright."

Prince Liang was anxious to return to the capital, speaking indifferently, "Consider carefully. I will hasten back to the capital, and you are to attend the provincial exam. If you fall ill from this journey, do not blame me."

Chang Zhi grew more wary of being deceived by Prince Liang, and said with a smile, "I have always kept my body in good shape, riding swiftly won’t be a problem."

Prince Liang was eager to see the box but knew Zhou Changzhi would not show it to him. He huffed, "We leave in two hours."

Su Xuan was listening intently in the room, her brows furrowed then relaxed. Her husband’s decision wouldn’t change; luckily, his years of preparation meant a slight delay was of no concern.

In a blink, five days passed, and Zhulan moved into Duke Residence. She and her daughter stayed in a courtyard, lacking for nothing as only few had come with her.

Xue Han asked her mother quietly, "Mother, why was father beaten, exactly?"

Zhulan held her daughter’s hand and thought for a bit, but decided not to mention the Jade Pendant, merely saying, "Your father speaks out of turn."

Indeed, he does speak out of turn. When Zhou Shuren called the intricately carved piece by the Emperor a counterfeit, she felt the Emperor had some justification in chastising Zhou Shuren due to his tactlessness.

Xue Han was speechless.

Zhulan smiled, "Never mind that, your father is just fine!"

Indeed, she had always thought that Yao Zheyu had been safe and sound, surely blessed by her daughter’s marriage to him.

Now Yao Zheyu had married Magistrate Shen and his path was fraught with difficulty. The Emperor considered Yao Zheyu merely a pawn, and though he had a post in the Ministry of War, he was not truly valued.

With this mission abroad requiring more men from the Navy, Yao Zheyu remained trapped in the capital. As for his future, Zhulan considered it unnecessary to speculate; a pawn’s future specter once it was no longer useful.

Xue Han asked, "Mother, how is elder sister doing recently?"

Zhulan replied, "Your sister is occupied with her land. Her household is doing well, and her in-laws keep ducks and chickens; they’re quite busy."

Xue Han rubbed her stomach, "It would be nice if it rained."

Zhulan commented, "Everyone is hoping for rain."

Though the drought was under the control of the Imperial court, the chronic lack of water was not a sustainable solution.

The next day, Zhulan met with the Old Duchess whose spirits were very low, continuously reminiscing about the child Xue Han never had. After seeing the Old Duchess, she sighed internally. If only the weather were not so hot, raining to cool things down, the Old Duchess would have been more comfortable, and her health a bit better.

Zhulan felt that the Old Duchess did not mention her second son, but there was resentment in her heart, especially as her suffering on the sickbed intensified her feelings. She had heard that Ning Hui had been continuously copying scriptures to pray for the Old Duchess’s blessings.

Where was that guilt before? Now Ning Hui had to bear the burden along with Lady Du.

In Duke Residence, Zhulan relished plenty of gossips. Today, she and her daughter were enjoying some as they walked in the garden, heading to see the vegetable patch—a rare sight in the garden, sprightlier even than the flowers.

Ning Zhiqi was holding Ms. Song’s hand, seemingly pleading for something. Ms. Song, face cold, shook off his hand forcibly and then Ning Zhiqi persisted, but Ms. Song did not spare him another glance and simply walked away.

Once everyone had left, Xue Han indicated for her maid to leave, then said, "Mother, sister-in-law always prioritized my elder brother. He took her for granted, and now well, her heart’s gone cold, and elder brother is desperate."

Zhulan muttered in her heart, "How despicable."

Xue Han walked a bit further when suddenly the wind picked up, a rare occurrence in these dry conditions, and Xue Han suddenly felt a sharp pain, "Mother, I think I’m about to give birth."

Zhulan promptly called for the nearby servant girls, quickly arranging things: summoning the Imperial Physician, heading to the delivery room, where the midwife had been residing in the Duke Residence.

Xue Han entered the delivery room, and Zhulan followed her in, holding her daughter’s hand inside, "Don’t be afraid, mom is right here with you."

At that moment, Xue Han became panicked, holding tightly onto her mother’s hand, "Mom, don’t leave."

Zhulan, feeling heartbroken, used her other hand to wipe her daughter’s forehead with a handkerchief, "Okay, mom won’t go anywhere, just holding you like this."

Xue Han endured the pain, her nose twitching, fortunate in her upbringing as she was pampered, yet always veiled under a composed demeanor. Now, no longer pretending, she wanted to cry, "It hurts."

Inside the delivery room, things were relatively calm. Outside, it was chaos, all stirred up by Rongchuan. Rongchuan, upon hearing the news, had ridden back and tried to enter the delivery room but was stopped by the hustling Marquis Ning.

The news had also reached the imperial palace; the Empress could not leave but sent a Female Officer instead.

As time ticked by, the sky gradually darkened and Xue Han still showed no signs of giving birth. When night had fully set and a strong wind began, Xue Han’s repeated cries seemed to intensify the wind.

Zhulan counted the hours; it had been six hours already, the baby was still in her belly; she had switched handkerchiefs several times.

Outside the room, Rongchuan sat at the door of the delivery room, wishing he could take Xue Han’s place.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren frowned, his mind obviously not on his work, as the baby had not yet been born.

The wind outside gradually ceased, another four hours passed, and Xue Han’s strength was fading, her first childbirth challenging. Zhulan kept encouraging her, "Soon, soon."

Xue Han now had ginseng in her mouth and the midwife said, "I can see the head now, push, push."

Xue Han gripped her mother’s hand tightly and yelled, the baby was born at last, crying out after a firm pat, cleaned from the blood and wrapped up, the midwife carrying the baby out, laughing, "It’s a girl."

Rongchuan grinned, carefully took the baby, and eagerly asked, "How is my wife?"

The midwife replied, "All is well."

Rongchuan was relieved, looked down at his daughter, and stupidly grinned, "Dad, I have a daughter now, you have a granddaughter, look how beautiful my daughter is."

Marquis Ning stood up, thinking to himself, the Emperor had always mentioned wanting a granddaughter; this being the legitimate granddaughter would surely delight him.

The Song family and others leaned in for a closer look, Mrs. Song smiling, "This child will grow up beautifully, taking the best features of both Rongchuan and his sister."

Rongchuan proudly said, "My daughter is clever."

Marquis Ning fondly took over, speaking to Mrs. Song and the others, "You’ve all worked hard too, you can go back now."

Indeed, Mrs. Song and the rest were tired and needed to convey the good news to their grandfather, nodding as they pushed the door open. Once opened, the wind picked up again, now a cool breeze, and as Mrs. Song and the others looked up, they could hear the sound of raindrops falling, Mrs. Song shouting, "Uncle, it’s raining!"

Marquis Ning handed the child to Rongchuan and walked to the door. It had been a light drizzle initially, but it was now pouring. Marquis Ning felt a tinge of regret; if only his granddaughter had waited a little longer to be born. However, he chuckled, "This child is blessed, born under good circumstances."

Mrs. Song and the others couldn’t help feeling the same; it would have been better with just the delay of one more tea session.

Zhulan, listening to Mrs. Song’s words from inside, curled her lips in disdain. As if great fortune was so wonderful, she found her granddaughter exceedingly intelligent for not being born just a little bit earlier or later, blessed but without the burden of the expectation of continuous fortune. Fortune was a double-edged sword; once accustomed to your fortune, a single misstep would lead to a hard fall, hurting oneself. Her granddaughter was the Emperor’s granddaughter, fortune enough, not needing any added!

Zhulan smiled, "It’s not a pity, my granddaughter is smart, choosing the right moment. Don’t think a great fortune is always good, great fortune is not always a good thing."

The Female Officer, hearing this, smiled with understanding in her eyes. Such truly wise words!