Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 398: Convinced_1

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Convinced_1

Zhou Laodi’s knees were numb from kneeling, but he didn’t feel any discomfort at all. He was soaked with fright. Among the Zhous, he was known as Lord Zhou Er, but once adopted out, he would be just another clan member. The difference was too vast, especially since Father was highly favored by the Emperor. Father’s future prospects were bright, and it wasn’t impossible for him to hold a high position and wield great power someday.

As time ticked by, Zhulan sat outside, reading a book and eating pine nuts. With Zhou Shuren taking care of everything, she didn’t need to worry at all.

The courtyards of the first wife and the second wife were adjacent. Zhou Laoda and Lady Li were talking about Zhou Laodi. Following his parents back to the main courtyard, as it was getting late, Zhou Laodi didn’t hear the sound of the neighboring gate closing.

Lady Li’s intuition was sharp. "My husband, Mother had Yushuang move to the main courtyard. Did Laodi do something wrong today? I have a feeling that something’s not right."

Zhou Laoda also sensed something amiss, "What exactly do you think is wrong? You spend the most time with Mother."

Lady Li lowered her voice, "Even though Mother was chatting with me and laughing, I just felt that she was not happy, in fact, very unhappy."

Zhou Laoda calculated the time, "Laodi has been gone for almost an hour now, and he still hasn’t returned. This must be no small matter."

Lady Li pouted, "If the second wife really angered our parents, I will not help Lady Zhao plead with them."

Zhou Laoda smiled, "Good."

In the second wife’s quarters, Lady Zhao was pacing in her room. She had a bad premonition, which grew stronger as time passed.

Yushuang felt dizzy from watching. She didn’t know what her parents had done, but based on her understanding of Grandma, she knew Grandma would always be fair. She wasn’t worried at all. "Mother, Father will be fine."

Lady Zhao brightened up looking at her daughter, taking her hand, "Your grandmother likes you, go to the main courtyard and see your father."

Yushuang frowned, "Mother, Grandma doesn’t like us going over there."

Lady Zhao was anxious and wanted to scold Yushuang, but she held back, knowing her daughter would be living in the main courtyard in the future. She was counting on her to speak well for the second wife.

But Yushuang wasn’t foolish. She might not know what her parents had done, but she knew it all stemmed from Grandma. With pursed lips and displeasure, she recalled how Grandma returned to her room immediately after dinner. She saw it clearly, Grandma’s face was ashen, and she had ignored Mother’s words.

In the third wife’s quarters, Chang Lian was chatting with Lady Dong, a habit they had formed after having a heart-to-heart conversation. Every night before sleeping, he would talk to Lady Dong, and tonight, they discussed the second wife’s situation.

Lady Dong asked, "Husband, what’s the matter with Second Brother going back with Mother and Father?"

Chang Lian replied solemnly, "We’ll know tomorrow."

Of all the people in the Zhou family, he liked Second Brother the least, even when Second Brother wasn’t noticeable.

About two hours later, Zhou Shuren opened his eyes and saw Zhou Laodi still kneeling. "Go back."

Zhou Laodi’s legs were numb, and he staggered to his feet, eventually stabilizing himself by holding onto the table. Standing still for a long while, both legs tingled with numbness and pain, "Father, I’ll stand a while before going back."

Zhou Shuren stood up and hummed in response, tidying up the tea wares on the table. By the time he had almost finished, Zhou Laodi was able to walk, albeit with a limp.

Zhulan heard a noise and glanced over. Zhou Laodi’s nasal voice was particularly heavy, "Mother."

Zhulan waved her hand, "Go back."

It wasn’t that Zhou Laodi wanted to ask his mother to plead for him; he was just moved at having a caring mother, "Mother, you should also rest early."

With that, Zhou Laodi slowly walked out. Upon returning to the second wife’s courtyard, Lady Zhao saw her husband limping and her eyes reddened, "It’s all for me."

Zhou Laodi waved his hand, "It has nothing to do with you, it’s all my own doing. However, you should ask your mother what she took from the Qian family. I’ll be going to Pingzhou, and anything Mother shouldn’t have, I’ll help return it."

Lady Zhao was stunned, "Husband, what are you talking about?"

Zhou Laodi said, "If you don’t know, just ask your mother, you’ll find out. Also, I’ll buy a house in Chuanzhou Province before I leave for Pingzhou. Pack what you need, and when I return, we’ll move to Chuanzhou."

Lady Zhao panicked, "Husband, why do we have to go to Chuanzhou?"

Zhou Laodi looked at Lady Zhao, knowing she had many schemes in mind. It was better to explain everything to prevent her from making wild guesses. Zhou Laodi recounted the conversation he had with Father.

Lady Zhao’s heart pounded violently. Her in-laws thought her husband was indifferent, but wasn’t she the same? The first wife didn’t treat her badly, but how had she reciprocated? The Mother-in-law was kind to her, but how had she failed her? She, too, was cold-hearted!

Early the next morning, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had rested well, with Zhulan fully supportive of Zhou Shuren’s decisions. In contrast, the second wife and her husband had dark circles under their eyes, showing they hadn’t slept all night.

Zhou Shuren hadn’t considered sparing Zhou Er any embarrassment; dignity is won by oneself. He announced his decision.

The eldest Zhou brother and the others were all shocked. The eldest brother was stunned; he couldn’t understand what Zhou Er had done to make their father decide to let the second brother and his wife live separately.

Chang Lian glanced at his second brother; he must have crossed a line with their parents. He should be happy that their parents had shown him mercy.

Zhou Shuren hadn’t mentioned the issue of adoption to spare Zhou Er some face, and dressed in his official robe, he carried even more authority, "Enough, let’s eat."

Zhou Er bowed his head. He truly couldn’t eat; this separation felt like exile, and he had no idea when he could return home.

Lady Zhao’s eyes were red. She had asked her mother overnight and only then did she realize how excessive her mother’s actions had been. Even her husband didn’t dare exploit the family name for his own gain; how could her mother dare to do so? The Qian family had always shown great respect to the eunuch, and her mother had taken advantage of the eunuch to acquire most of the Qian family’s wealth. Wasn’t this trapping her father-in-law in dishonor? Her mother had come to seek refuge with her, unaware of how much the Qian family valued the Zhou family. This was almost as bad as making enemies.

Lady Zhao regretted it, regretted not asking for details before begging her mother-in-law, regretted that in seeking to save face she had lost it entirely.

For breakfast, Lady Fang didn’t dare to come.

With her head lowered, Lady Zhao’s tears fell into her bowl. Lady Li saw this and wanted to speak several times but was stopped by her mother-in-law’s looks. Lady Li felt very uncomfortable and had completely forgotten she had said last night that she wouldn’t speak up for Lady Zhao.

After breakfast, Zhou Er went to Chuanzhou to buy a residence.

Lady Zhao didn’t dare to approach Zhulan, and Lady Fang was even more timid, not daring to show herself.

Zhulan found it stuffy inside the house, so she strolled around the garden. As winter turned to spring, the garden was filling with green, which lifted her spirits.

However, Zhulan couldn’t help but look resignedly at Lady Li following behind her, "How long are you planning to follow me?"

Lady Li, heavily pregnant, was quite tired from the walk, "Mother, must the second brother and Lady Zhao really go to Chuanzhou? Can’t they stay? It’s better when the family is together."

Zhulan’s eyes were all smiles, Lady Li was soft-hearted after all, "They must go. This is your father’s wish."

Lady Li was stunned, for she truly feared her father-in-law. In this house, only her mother-in-law dared to defy the eunuch.

Lady Dong, who had been following them, finally realized why the mother-in-law was so partial to her elder sister-in-law. She regretted how she had treated the elder sister-in-law back in Pingzhou.

Zhulan wandered a bit longer before heading back, as Yushuang was likely to have moved in by then and she wanted to see how she was settling in.

Lady Li, also tired, was heading back to her courtyard. She had been fair to Lady Zhao, and she felt much lighter, her steps quickened.

Lady Dong hurried to catch up, "Elder sister-in-law."

Lady Li turned around with a puzzled look, "What is it, third sister-in-law?"

Lady Dong bowed, "I owe you an apology, elder sister-in-law. I was wrong in Pingzhou."

Being young was no excuse, and she had been wrong. Previously, her apologies lacked sincerity, but this time, she truly meant it. She absolutely respected her elder sister-in-law.

Lady Li was taken aback, then smiled happily, "I had forgotten about that long ago. You were young then; I didn’t take it to heart."

Plus, her mother-in-law had avenged her!

Lady Dong believed her elder sister-in-law’s words and said with a smile, "Thank you, elder sister-in-law."

Zhulan returned to the main courtyard, where Yushuang was organizing her jewelry boxes. Upon seeing her grandmother, she said, "Grandmother, I’m almost finished packing."

Zhulan, seeing Yushuang’s red eyes, touched her face, "Your grandfather and I have our reasons for doing this."

Yushuang embraced her grandmother, "Grandmother, I’m not a child anymore. I understand."

She had overheard her mother and grandmother speaking; she knew her grandfather and grandmother were educating her father, just as they had done with her third uncle.

Zhulan stroked Yushuang’s hair, realizing that the women of the Zhou family all had a clear understanding of matters.