Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 345 Eternal Governance_1

Chapter 345: Chapter 345 Eternal Governance_1

Zhou’s eldest knew that the eunuch had come to proclaim the decree, and had everyone prepare for it early in the morning when father hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, "Go and notify each house to come to the front courtyard to receive the decree."

After giving his instructions, Zhou’s eldest headed towards the main house. The door to his parents’ room was open, and mother was writing. He knocked on the door, "Mother, a government officer and a eunuch have come from the palace to announce the imperial decree."

Zhulan set down her pen, her gaze falling on the small wooden box beside her. She pressed her lips together, clearly not pleased. Holding the small box, she said, "Let’s go."

Zhulan took a few steps then paused, "Wait a moment."

Before Zhou’s eldest’s very eyes, mother took out fifty silver notes from her purse and stuffed them into the purse, then handed it to Zhou’s eldest, "Give this purse to your father later."

Zhou’s eldest took the purse, "Okay."

This must be for the eunuch, he thought, sucking in a breath of cool air. Fifty silver notes!

Zhulan, followed by Lady Li and the others who had been waiting in the back courtyard, went to the front. Zhou Shuren and the eunuch had been chatting for a while, since Zhou Shuren had been the first summoned by the Emperor yesterday, the eunuch was particularly courteous towards him.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, the eunuch took the imperial edict. Zhou Shuren and his entire family knelt to receive it. The eunuch declared, "By the decree of the Emperor, thus it is said: Lady Yang of Prefect Lizhou Residence...You are hereby granted the title Yiren, by the imperial decree dated the sixteenth day of the fourth month in the fourteenth year of Yongzhi’s reign."

Zhulan was genuinely stunned. She had just glanced at the government officer holding something; it was clearly Zhou Shuren’s official uniform. She had always thought the decree Zhou Shuren mentioned that was to come would be for him, not anticipating it was actually a decree for her. She, now, had received an official rank and would be able to draw a stipend in the future.

Zhulan followed Zhou Shuren in expressing their gratitude and quickly understood. The Emperor had shamelessly taken away their three homes, so he proactively granted her the decree. And Zhou Shuren had guessed it, so he wasn’t surprised at all. No wonder he had that ’you’ll know when it happens’ look when he spoke to her.

Zhou Shuren helped Zhulan rise. Yesterday, he had cursed the dog Emperor in his heart, but today his mood had improved considerably. The government officer neatly arranged his official uniform and Zheng’s decree robe. Zhou Shuren took out the purse and stuffed it into the eunuch’s hand, "Thank you for your hard work today."

The eunuch proclaiming the decree pinched the rather light purse, his smile growing deeper, "You are too courteous, Master Zhou."

Zhou Shuren noticed that after announcing the decree, the eunuch showed no signs of leaving, and his mood soured again. He was waiting for the deeds to the properties!

Zhulan inwardly cursed but kept a smile on her face as she handed the box to Zhou Shuren, who then passed it to the eunuch. The eunuch’s smile deepened, "I (a eunuch) will return to the palace to report."

Zhou Shuren stood to see him off. He didn’t view the eunuch with contempt - if not for being driven by dire poverty, who would willingly enter the palace to become a eunuch? Moreover, when the Emperor mentioned exchanging homes, he had spoken very softly. Despite the young eunuch’s appearance, he must have been one of the Emperor’s trusted confidants, so personally escorting him out was the right thing to do.

The eunuch appreciated the respect, thinking to himself that Master Zhou was indeed as clever as Eunuch Liu had said, "Master Zhou need not send me off any further."

Zhou Shuren stood at the doorway, "Please, eunuch."

Only after the government officer and the eunuch had left did Zhou Shuren return to the yard, seeing Zhulan fondling the decree robe. However, with so many people around, some things were better left unsaid.

Zhulan quite liked the decree robe. She had glanced at the size earlier, and it was indeed her size. Bemused, she thought that the size must have been acquired from a ready-made clothing store. The Emperor, having likely had his eye on the properties for some time, had the decree robe prepared in advance. It was true: he had thought through everything down to the bone. No wonder he was able to stabilize the imperial court so quickly after becoming Emperor. She felt sympathy for the Princes.

Lady Li’s restless hands kept wanting to touch the decree robe. Zhulan, noticing out of the corner of her eye the little plump hands reaching out then drawing back, her eyes full of mirth, said, "If you want to touch it, go ahead."

Lady Li’s hands moved faster than her brain, and she touched the robe, "Mother, this is the decree robe! It’s so splendid, so beautiful."

It was the most beautiful garment she had ever seen.

Zhulan too found it beautiful, but it was too cumbersome to wear, suitable only for when visiting the palace. Zhulan paused, right, she could enter the palace now that she had the decree. Her knees!

Luckily she was only granted the title of Yiren, not high enough in rank to warrant a visit to the palace to thank the Empress, sparing her knees for now!

Lady Li, not daring to touch more, withdrew her hands, filled with longing, "I’ll never have such a chance in my life."

Zhou’s eldest, "....."

His wife kept hitting him right in the feels!

Zhulan chuckled, "You still have a chance. The decree isn’t just for wives. There are also mothers. You can wait for Mingyun to request one for you."

Lady Li’s eyes, which had been dim, lit up again, "Right, I can count on my son."

After speaking, her gaze carried a hint of disdain towards the head of the household.

Zhou’s eldest, "....."

There was something he wasn’t sure if he should say. The son was his as well. Without him, could Lady Li have given birth on her own?

Zhou Shuren still had a headache. There was nothing special about his official uniform, and as for the imperial decree awarded to him, its contents had already been made clear in court yesterday. Thinking of the decree, he mused that he had forgotten something. Ah, I should get going!

Because the decree had been issued, the officials destined to announce it in the various prefecture cities had already left the capital yesterday. And this session’s degree recipients had only seven days to prepare; they must set off for their assigned locations after seven days, without even enough time to return home to pay respects to their ancestors!

Zhou Shuren’s already aching head now throbbed incessantly, his complexion particularly unwell. Ugh, what a pitfall. Right, he had drunk too much yesterday, and he still had names and places to organize. The more his head hurt, the more details seemed to slip his memory.

Looking around the room full of people making a mess, Zhou Shuren became even more exasperated, "Enough, go about your business."

The previously lively room fell silent instantly, and then everyone went about their business.

Zhulan waited until everyone had gone, then pulled Zhou Shuren to sit down, "You have a bad headache."

Zhou Shuren, "Yes."

There was so much he had to do, and he felt overwhelmed by the scarcity of time. He said to Zhulan, "Start packing our luggage. We’ll depart for Lizhou Province in seven days."

Zhulan, "..."