Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1119: Some Stimuli Are Too Overwhelming

Chapter 1119: Chapter 1119: Some Stimuli Are Too Overwhelming

At night, Zhou Shuren returned home and was happy to see his fourth son. After having dinner together, he chatted with the younger members of the family in the study. Zhulan went to sleep, and only then did Zhou Shuren come back to rest.

The next morning, Zhulan sat up. Zhou Shuren was already awake and tidied his disheveled hair. "What time did you get back last night?"

Zhou Shuren was in good spirits. "About an hour after you fell asleep."

Zhulan, wrapped in her clothes, got out of bed. Following the autumn harvest, the temperature had dropped quickly. She tightened her clothes around her. "From the tone of your voice, you seem in good spirits?"

Zhou Shuren uttered a sound and quietly recounted yesterday’s matter concerning Prince Liang. "I’ve been keeping it in mind!"

Zhulan, too, felt better; it was indeed something to be pleased about. They were protective, and though previously without the means or daring to set traps, now they could act openly without concern. "Should I ask the kitchen to prepare your favorite small wontons this morning?"

Zhou Shuren was somewhat hungry. "Mmm, cook more today."

Zhulan nodded and left, signaling Qing Xue and a few maids to bring in water for washing. Zhulan was particularly accustomed to being served—her days involved stretching out her hand for clothes and opening her mouth for food, an utterly blissful existence.

Breakfast was a meal they ate alone. The parents of the fraternal twins had returned, and neither needed to stay in the main courtyard any longer. As for their youngest son, he had been handed over to Wu Ming a long time ago and did not live at home.

Zhou Shuren, while eating his wontons, said, "Without Ming Jia constantly talking, it suddenly feels unusually quiet."

Zhulan almost laughed. Before the twins had come to stay, they had enjoyed the quiet. They had mentioned it several times, but Ming Jia could not keep his mouth shut. Slowly they had gotten used to it; now, "it really is too quiet."

After breakfast, changed into his official attire, Zhou Shuren remembered something. He turned to his wife, who was rinsing her mouth, and said, "The fourth son’s wife has returned to the capital, and you could talk to her about regulating the merchants, ensuring the businesses she controls leave no loopholes. Clean up whatever can be cleaned now."

Zhulan kept it in mind. "Mmm, I have it in mind."

Su Xuan, having been granted the title of Magistrate by the Emperor, still had her title even after marrying into the Zhou family. Prince Liang would not make a move against the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law first.

After breakfast, the master of the Zhou household who had to go to the Academy did so; everyone had their own business to attend to. Zhulan called for Su Xuan.

Having not seen her mother-in-law for a year, Su Xuan thought, although droughts did not affect their social layer much, her mother-in-law had gained weight since her departure. "Mother, there were too many people yesterday, and I didn’t get a proper chance to chat. It’s been almost a year, thank you for your efforts."

All the branches of the Zhou family hoped to send their children to be raised by their grandmother, but unfortunately, the grandmother didn’t speak up, and though they had the intention, they dared not show it as the father-in-law would deal with them. The grandmother took good care of the twins, with her youngest son and daughter learning many poems and even arithmetic. She knew how devoted the grandmother was to the children.

She also loved her own children, but she truly could not match her mother-in-law’s patience—her youngest son’s mouth could indeed drive one crazy.

Zhulan pointed at a box on the table. "I am their grandmother; you don’t need to thank me with gifts."

Su Xuan said, "This is Calming Incense. I didn’t get much myself. We are younger and sleep well, mother, so please, don’t be polite with me."

Zhulan raised an eyebrow, but in the end, she accepted it. They were getting on in years, and their sleep quality indeed fluctuated. At times sleep was good, but at other times, it was poor.

Zhulan gestured for the old Song woman to put away the Calming Incense, and then she spoke of the major events in the capital, focusing on the control of the merchants, "Prince Liang has already acted against some merchants, and our Zhou family has never controlled the merchants, so we have no holds, you have been managing the Su family for so many years, I never intervened or asked about it, I speak about this now because I hope you understand the severity."

Su Xuan had correspondence with the steward, hearing some news, now that her mother-in-law spoke like this, it seemed action was imminent, "Your daughter-in-law understands."

Zhulan knew Su Xuan was intelligent, yet she still paused and lowered her voice, "The Emperor suffered losses at the hands of the merchants."

She knew from the news brought back by Zhou Shuren, that even without Zhou Shuren’s advice, the Crown Prince already had plans, it was clear the Emperor had always intended to control the merchants, only allowing freedom these past years to foster growth, this time many would be skinned.

Su Xuan’s face grew more serious, carefully considering her merchants, fortunate she had never involved herself in any blood-sucking, conscience-eroding business.

Just as Rongchuan left the Hanlin Academy, he was headed to the Imperial Hospital. Since Prince Liang’s last departure from the capital, he had returned to Hanlin Academy, and after completing Prince Chu’s task, he was assigned there, with the Imperial Hospital specifically establishing a department higher in rank than itself, yet it was not connected to politics for now, he had been responsible for sorting out the opinions of the common folk from various provinces and categorizing them before submission.

Rongchuan’s carriage stopped halfway, unexpectedly encountering Zhang Yang, "Greetings, fifth Prince."

Zhang Yang, however, found it ironic, his eyes deep and unreadable. The child he had intentionally harmed was not just out of suspicion for the child’s origin but also to pressure those behind him who held power; he already knew the doctor lied to him, and many in his mansion were not trustworthy.

Dropping a child was seriously useful, considering the child somewhat resembled him, Zhang Yang’s face darkened.

Rongchuan appraised Zhang Yang without a word, it had been a long time since he last saw him, back then he was rather timid, avoiding Prince Qi whenever he could, but this time, Zhang Yang had changed, concealing too much in his eyes, "Fifth Highness?"

Zhang Yang smiled, "Ah, I was a bit lost in thought just now, oh, I have a favor to ask."

Rongchuan asked, "What matter makes the fifth Prince use the word ’request’!"

The corners of Zhang Yang’s mouth stiffened, his face sour, "I know my father the Emperor and mother the Empress are worried about my offspring, last time I made a blunder, and now they are still angry at me, I cannot even enter the palace gates, you frequently enter the palace, so I wanted to ask you to visit mother the Empress’s palace, to see my son for me."

He was truly surprised by his own origin, and even more so that he was a member of the Zhang family, no wonder he and the Emperor resembled one another, naturally, being of the legitimate lineage of the Zhang family, he was an important pawn for Jinghong, but as for fabricating anything about being more valued or missed by his parents, he dismissed it all as nonsense.

Zhang Yang’s gaze grew even darker, a concubine with a Human Skin Mask, he could not have offspring, how ironic he missed him, his heart mocked with some madness.

Indeed, Rongchuan was about to enter the palace, and readily agreed, "Alright."

Zhang Yang snapped back from his thoughts, the smile still stiff on his face, "Thank you, you are the only one I can ask for help."

Rongchuan watched the carriage leave, rubbing his arms, unable to suppress the shivers, what had stimulated Zhang Yang? Why did he feel a chill running down his spine?

At the Zhou family home, Magistrate Shen came with her child specifically to see Su Xuan, and Su Xuan received Magistrate Shen.

Su Xuan looked at Magistrate Shen’s son, "This child is really growing nicely, look at how handsome he will be."

Magistrate Shen felt moved, "I have a son, and you have a daughter, why not betroth them!"