Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 278 Bastard_1

Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Bastard_1

Zhou Shuren only saw a girl by the creek wiping her tears while washing bowls, "There’s nothing to see, just a girl who’s been wronged and is working."

Aside from being thinner, and the dishes she scrubbed being more numerous, there was nothing worth noticing.

Zhulan then realized that Zhou Shuren hadn’t really seen Wang Ru’s elder sister, Wang Xin. Now that Wang Xin wasn’t wearing makeup, her face looked even more ordinary. Zhulan had also taken a while to recognize her just now.

Zhulan pulled Zhou Shuren a little further away and said, "Just now, that was Wang Xin, Wang Ru’s older sister."

Zhou Shuren grasped the meaning behind Zhulan’s words, "Wang Ru is also in the convoy? If Wang Ru is here, then Shi Qing must be as well. This means that the caravan is most likely owned by the Shi family!"

Zhulan felt disheartened, she had not expected to encounter Wang Ru here. "It seems that Shi Qing really takes Wang Ru with him wherever he goes!"

Zhou Shuren decided not to wander around outside anymore and, pulling Zhulan, started to head back, whispering, "Shi Qing keeps her close not only to watch Wang Ru but also to make an impression, to show that he cares for her. Naturally, he must keep her by his side all the time."

Zhulan spoke with concern, "What exactly is Shi Qing taking to the capital?"

Zhou Shuren didn’t care, "Whatever he brings has nothing to do with us, and I don’t think Shi Qing would be in the convoy."

Zhulan came to the realization that the convoy was meant to attract people’s attention. By leaving Wang Ru behind Shi Qing, it not only covered the fact that Shi Qing wasn’t present in the convoy but also drew attention. Shi Qing really used Wang Ru thoroughly. However, it also became apparent that whatever Shi Qing was sending to the capital was no trivial matter!

However, Zhulan was very pleased; Shi Qing’s absence from the convoy meant that the convoy was indeed safe, and it was the scattered groups heading to the capital that were in danger. Indeed, Mr. Jiang had taken great care of her and Zhou Shuren.

Zhulan and her companion returned to their carriage, stowed the table, laid out the bedding, and Zhulan didn’t bother changing clothes, just climbed directly into bed and lay down.

It wasn’t even into May yet, and the temperature still varied quite a bit. Zhulan had brought plenty of blankets, so it wasn’t very cold.

There was nothing worth guarding on the first night, and since Zhou Shuren was a light sleeper who would wake at any disturbance, both of them slept peacefully.

The next morning, Zhulan didn’t feel like having pastries. There was some leftover rice porridge. Using the fire the coachman had lit, she warmed it up and also toasted some buns, thus settling breakfast.

While the convoy had yet to depart, Zhulan boiled a good amount of water, replenishing their water skins.

After another night outdoors, they arrived at the station, where there were plenty of inns nearby. Zhulan wanted to have a proper wash, so the two of them didn’t think of saving money and chose the best inn available.

The group heading to the capital was affluent, with many from wealthy households. Fortunately, there were many inns, so they didn’t have to cram into one.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were the first to enter the inn, securing a deluxe room. The Waiter helped carry the chests containing their bedding and clothes upstairs. The upscale room was well-equipped, even having an en suite bathroom for bathing.

It was just unfortunate that the bathtub had been used by countless others before, which Zhulan found distasteful. She had brought two basins — one for washing faces and one for washing feet. In the evening, she could only use the face basin to hold the water for a quick wipe down.

After inspecting around, Zhulan made a mental note to bring a bathing tub the next time she traveled!

The rooms on the upper floor were very clean, and even the blankets were fresh. Zhulan decided not to use them, instead opting for her own blankets. She ordered hot water, and she and Zhou Shuren got ready to change and clean themselves up.

After the two of them had a simple bath and washed their hair, using a total of four kettles of hot water, they changed their clothes. While Zhou Shuren dried Zhulan’s hair, he asked, "What would you like to eat tonight?"

Zhulan had been eating snacks, buns, and cured meat these past days and was already craving a decent meal, "Let’s order some of the inn’s signature dishes and get a few nice ones for the coachmen too."

Zhou Shuren said, "Okay, let’s also order two chickens and some meat pies. According to the caravan’s pace, it will take three days to reach Huaizhou City, and there won’t be any inns to rest at in between."

Zhulan sighed at the prospect of spending three nights outdoors, "Make some more porridge. It’s not summer, so the porridge won’t spoil and can last for two days."

"Alright."

Once Zhulan’s hair was dry, she stood up to wipe Zhou Shuren’s hair. After combing his hair, Zhulan finally put up her own.

One drawback of ancient times was that both men’s and women’s hair was too long, wasting water and effort to maintain. Zhou Shuren couldn’t even comb his own hair, let alone help Zhulan with her hairdo. Zhulan had learned to manage by herself, taking advantage of the pretext of helping Xue Han with her hair as it grew longer—fortunately, she was quick to learn.

Zhou Shuren went out to order a meal, while Zhulan asked for another pot of hot water and washed the clothes they had changed out of. Thankfully, it was not yet May, and with stoves still lit in the guest rooms, the washed clothes could dry overnight.

In just a few days since they had left home, she and Zhou Shuren had already gone through three sets of clothes. Zhulan waited for a while, but Zhou Shuren didn’t return and probably went out for a walk.

Almost done with the laundry, Zhou Shuren came back with the Waiter.

After waiting for the Waiter to put down the meal and leave, Zhou Shuren said, "This inn is famous for its sauce donkey meat. I’ve ordered a plate, and the duck is a signature dish. Had I not given an extra coin of Silver, the last serving of duck would have been gone."

The scent of the dishes was enticing enough, but upon tasting the sauce donkey meat, Zhulan praised, "Mmm, it’s really good."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "I ordered another two pounds to take with us tomorrow."

Zhulan, busy eating, didn’t have the time to respond. She was truly hungry and nodded to show she understood.

Zhou Shuren had ordered four dishes and a soup—the soup being wild vegetable soup. With spring arriving and the wild greens sprouting, the soup, having been devoid of greens all winter, was quite popular.

After eating their fill, Zhulan wanted to lie down and rest. Zhou Shuren called for the Waiter to clean up and, giving him an extra coin as a tip, was again brought a pot of hot water.

Zhulan got ready to rest, taking off her coat and lying down on the bed. Sleeping in the carriage had been uncomfortable; the bed was much more spacious and comfy. When Zhou Shuren also lay down to rest, Zhulan asked, "Did you discover anything when you went out for a walk?"

Zhou Shuren cuddled Zhulan, "I didn’t go too close. There are many people in the inn, not just travelers but others as well. Apart from that, I didn’t find out much. Oh, right, I did make another discovery—Wang Ru has checked into our same inn."

Zhulan asked, "Did you see her?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "I only saw the girl you mentioned, Wang Da Ya. I’ve never actually seen Wang Ru; she must be staying inside her room and hasn’t come out, only Wang Da Ya moves around outside."

Zhulan, "You didn’t see Shi Qing, did you?"

Zhou Shuren shook his head, "But I did see quite a few young servants."

Zhulan thought that it was a good sign Shi Qing was not with the group—it was definite that this trip to the capital was unsafe because of Shi Qing.

Zhulan was right; in a room three doors down, Wang Ru glared at the personal young servant of Zhang Sanni and Shi Qing.

Cursing Shi Qing with death inside her heart couldn’t quell the hatred Wang Ru felt. In her rebirth, she had carefully scrutinized her previous life and realized that Shi Qing had mostly used her. In the last life, only Shi Qing’s life-saving grace had made her more cautious, and Shi Qing hadn’t overstepped—before she got entangled with Yao Zheyu.

This time, Shi Qing had been exploiting her value relentlessly. No matter how she tried to please Shi Qing, he remained unmoved, always keeping her close. Everyone in Pingzhou City knew that Shi Qing had kept a little maid, and she held a significant place in his heart. Her past was not easily investigated, but now that she had likely been exposed, that bastard Shi Qing had left her to draw attention and cover his escape while sneaking away first.

She was so enraged she could tear Shi Qing’s heart out. That bastard had specifically ordered his young servant and Zhang Sanni to keep a constant watch over her; she was at her wits’ end. This life had exposed too much, and she felt it was her own doing that would lead to her death. She was genuinely afraid of dying.

She could only hope that the people Shi Qing had sent would protect her. In contrast to Wang Ru’s anger and desire to kill Shi Qing, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had a good night’s sleep.