Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1209: The Dagger

Chapter 1209: Chapter 1209: The Dagger

"Uncle."

A single address of "uncle," and Yu Dang felt a sensation as if he were drained, and he turned back stiffly, somewhat stammering, "Emperor, Your Majesty."

The current Emperor’s face no longer bore a sallow tint; instead, it glowed with health as he walked over, hands clasped behind his back.

Yu Dang swallowed, so the person on the dragon bed was a decoy; he had wondered why the panic seemed excessive, always feeling something was off about the person on the dragon bed.

The Emperor had already taken a seat in the chair, "Just a body double."

Yu Dang exhaled, "It is right for Your Majesty to be cautious."

The Emperor hadn’t really intended to test his uncle; it was just because he had orders to give, hence his late arrival, and he continued, "The person in the prison cell is also fake."

Yu Dang felt a sense of relief and thought about the masks created by Zhang Jinghong’s clan, which now conveniently served the Emperor, "Could it be discovered?"

He remembered Zhou Shuren saying that their flaw would be revealed when coming into contact with potion.

The Emperor said, "No, it has already been improved."

If Zhou Shuren heard this, he would definitely marvel at the ancient technologies’ brilliance!

Yu Dang was reassured, "With that in mind, I will take my leave from the palace."

The Emperor responded, "Hmm, right, go back and tell Zhou Shuren to behave himself."

Recently things had been chaotic, and Zhou Shuren was also someone Zhang’s clan wished to eliminate.

Yu Dang noted this in his mind, "Yes, I will convey your message to Shuren without omission."

The Emperor hummed an acknowledgment, "Uncle, you be careful as well."

Yu Dang made up his mind to stay put at the Zhou Residence from today onward and not go anywhere else.

In the evening, when Zhou Shuren returned and did not find his wife, he learned from the maid that his wife was taking care of Yao Yao.

He waited for a while before Zhulan came back, commenting on the real heat, dabbing her sweat with a handkerchief and then taking a wet cloth passed by the maid to cleanse her face before she gestured for the maids to leave, "Yao Yao was about to leave, but she got frightened, stirred up some trouble with the pregnancy. I figured since there’s no one in Hou Residence to look after Yao Yao, I sent someone to tell En Qing’s father to lock up Hou Residence tight and keep Yao Yao here a few days for the sake of the baby."

As it concerned three lives, she couldn’t ignore the situation, especially since Rong Enqing was already out of trouble.

Zhou Shuren murmured, "When I was coming back, there were soldiers everywhere capturing Gu Ren."

Zhulan queried, "Who’s leading this mission?"

Zhou Shuren said, "Prince Liang."

Zhulan raised an eyebrow, "Whoever they use at this time is who they distrust!"

Zhou Shuren believed it to be the Crown Prince’s doing, having recently overheard whispers that Prince Liang had been enjoying operas and may have encountered Zhang Yang, with many speculating that Prince Liang wished to emulate Zhang Yang.

He didn’t believe in such coincidental encounters; Prince Liang was firmly in the Crown Prince’s grip.

Zhulan rubbed her waist, weary from the day’s exertions and from having kept watch over Yao Yao, not at ease until she watched her take the medicine, "Oh yes, Rong Enqing’s father, Rong Yihuai, also sent over his grandson, Rong Anxing, saying he would take charge of Hou Residence himself."

Zhou Shuren replied, "Hmm."

The Zhou family’s dinner that night was unusually quiet, with Chang Yi and Chang Zhi stealing glances at their father from time to time.

They both had their worries, primarily the unknown reasons for Rong Enqing’s imprisonment. Was the offspring status within the Rong clan no longer useful?

This was their main concern, for the metamorphosis in the Zhou family laid in the bloodline of the Rong clan.

Zhou Shuren furrowed his brows, "If you don’t want to eat, then go back to rest early."

Chang Yi hastily took some food, "No, your son is hungry."

As soon as Dad spoke up, his appetite improved too. What was there to worry about? Dad was here after all!

Chang Zhi also felt relieved enough to eat, and he ate quite a bit since tonight’s dinner included his favorites.

Yu Dang played with his chopsticks, Zhou Shuren being the mainstay of the family, was very reassuring to the children, and he couldn’t help but let his lips curl into a slight smile.

After dinner, Yu Dang relayed the Emperor’s message to Zhou Shuren and added his own warning, "You also need to be extremely careful these days."

If things got chaotic, the Zhang family would not let Shuren go.

Zhou Shuren took note, "I’ve got it. Fourth Uncle should also avoid going out these days."

Yu Dang, "Hmm."

After Yu Dang left, Zhou Shuren turned to Zhulan, "Let’s have the kids take a break from the Academy for now, and there’s no need for them to attend. Also, have Xue Mei and her husband come and stay at the Hou Residence for a while. Right, write a letter to Chang Lian."

Zhulan memorized every instruction, "I will take care of it."

Zhou Shuren thought it over to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, feeling a bit more at ease. The city was abuzz with the search for Gu Ren. The reason why Rong Enqing was thrown in jail couldn’t be kept secret for much longer, and the Zhang family would find a way to leak it.

Recently, the Zhang family had been laying low, and that spelled a few more days of peace.

At the Zhang Jinghong residence, this time they received a message delivered by dagger—the final ultimatum.

Zhang Jinghong didn’t touch the letter but picked up the dagger instead, his eyes icy cold. He’d been used as a pawn before and could vividly recall the pain of manipulation, detesting threats above all else. As he touched the sharp edge of the dagger, a bloodthirsty chill filled his eyes.

Yao Xin was terrified that her husband might hurt himself, "What, what do we do now?"

Zhang Jinghong’s eyes were closed as he held his wife’s hand tightly, "Listen to me."

Yao Xin grew serious, but then she heard their son crying and was alarmed. Turning to look at the child on the bed, his face was bright red.

Zhang Jinghong’s heart skipped a beat. He opened the letter with a sinking heart. He had planned to hide his wife and child away, but hadn’t anticipated that his son had already been poisoned. Clenching his fist, he hastily wrote a reply.

Yao Xin panicked, "Doctor, no, the Imperial Physician! Summon the Imperial Physician!"

Zhang Jinghong’s lips were pressed tightly together as he summoned the maid waiting outside. This unremarkable maid had already been standing by the door, and she took the letter, withdrawing a potion vial from her bosom, "Divide the antidote into two doses. Give the rest once the job is done."

Zhang Jinghong watched the person leave, his heart tumultuous. He then gave the antidote to his son, fully aware that if they needed him to do a job, the antidote wouldn’t be fake.

Yao Xin stared blankly at the potion vial, and when their child stopped crying, she sat down and began to cry herself.

In the following days, despite the citywide manhunt, Gu Ren remained elusive. Meanwhile, rumors started to circulate about why Rong Enqing had been thrown in jail.

Zhou Shuren and Qiu Yan were discussing business when Zhang Jinghong entered.

Qiu Yan couldn’t help but chuckle, "Is that tea you brought again? You’re too generous, that’s some rare good tea."

Zhang Jinghong, "This subordinate has received much help over the years. Tea leaves are just lifeless things if kept, better that we all enjoy them together."

Qiu Yan thought to himself that it was quite a bit of Silver Coin, and it was thanks to the tea leaves. Recently, anyone who saw Zhang Jinghong greeted him with a smile.

Zhang Jinghong placed the neatly arranged booklet down, "Then the subordinate will take his leave."

Zhou Shuren, "Hmm."

Qiu Yan looked at the booklet on the table, "Zhang Jinghong is really working himself to the bone. Those tasks aren’t urgent."

Zhou Shuren, "He can only have a good life if he excels."

Qiu Yan’s mouth twitched, turning into a sigh.

At Zhou Residence, Zhulan had not been studying these past days, the eldest daughter had come home, and with more children around, the main courtyard was very lively.

Xue Mei was somewhat anxious, "Mother, won’t the twins be bothering Fourth Uncle?"