Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 407

Chapter 407: 407

The midday meal was light, plentiful in greens during the summer. Zhulan had also grown a number of vegetables for the later season, foods that Wu Ning, with her poor appetite, could still manage to eat.

After lunch, Zhulan saw that Wu Ning seemed unsteady on her feet, clearly a sign of prolonged lack of rest. Once Wu Ning went back to rest, Zhulan asked Steward Ding to invite a doctor.

Without the doctor checking on Wu Ning, she really couldn’t be at ease, especially under the conditions of ancient times. If something truly happened to Wu Ning, she wouldn’t know how to explain it to Wu Ming.

When the doctor arrived, Wu Ning was in a deep sleep. Zhulan didn’t have the maid wake her. After examining her, the doctor said, "Her frustration has settled in her heart, her thoughts are too heavy, and her liver is inflamed. I’ll prescribe some medicine for her to take for now, and I’ll come back for a follow-up in a few days."

Zhulan frowned, Wu Ning’s condition was more serious than she had thought. She thanked the doctor, "Thank you for your troubles."

The doctor was very polite. The development of Lizhou City owed much to Master Zhou’s efforts, and the citizens were grateful to him. "You are too kind, madam."

After the doctor left, Zhulan summoned the maid, "Wu Ming has instructed you all, hasn’t he?"

The maid replied respectfully, "Madam, the Master has given his orders, and all three of us are at your disposal."

She and the two maids, to be precise, had been warned by the Master, who forbid them from uttering a single unnecessary word. Having followed the young miss to the Zhou family, their own families were still in the Wu estate. If they disobeyed, the Master wouldn’t be lenient with their families.

Zhulan instructed, "The Zhou family does not like being waited on during meals. You may join Granny Liu for the three daily meals. The rest of the time, you only need to serve your miss. If Wu Ning has any needs she’s reluctant to express, feel free to bring them to my attention."

The maid replied, "Yes."

Originally, the maid had been fearful that the Family Head’s mother would be difficult to speak with. Throughout the day, she had been carefully observing, only to be relieved that the Family Head’s mother was kind, and truly cared for the young miss. The young miss had had a hard life, and just after the old lady passed away, someone came knocking with a marriage proposal, speaking rudely. That night, the young miss cried the entire evening, and she kept her company all night long.

She had been worried about the Zhou family’s taboos, but once the Family Head’s mother personally welcomed them, her heart settled. She hoped the young miss would find a good match; if the young miss’s marriage went well, her own days following her in marriage would be easier.

Zhulan asked Juan Hua to take care of Wu Ning and then returned to her own courtyard.

Lady Dong hurried to catch up and said, "Mother, when Wu Ning became a disciple of your second sister-in-law, afterward Father made the second sister-in-law take her in as a sworn sister. Now that Wu Ning is here, should she pay a visit to the second sister-in-law’s mother?"

Zhulan paused. If Lady Dong hadn’t mentioned it, she would have forgotten entirely. By all rights, a visit was due. She looked at Lady Dong who, having grown up in a different environment, thought of everything, "Go and tell Steward Ding to send a young servant there."

Lady Dong complied, "I will go now."

Watching Lady Dong leave, Zhulan said to Liu Ya, "The house is short on maids. I remember you mentioned before... never mind, let’s not buy any maids for now."

She did, however, wish to find a few knowledgeable and reliable old women, preferably those released from official households, as their perspective was very important.

Lady Dong was young and needed someone by her side. With Juan Hua getting older, she needed someone as well.

Lady Li did not need one by her side; the eldest room would later follow her and Zhou Shuren. Juan Hua following Lady Li was sufficient.

Yes, and Lady Zhao also needed one by her side, but the old woman to be found for Lady Zhao needed to be less scheming and more disciplined.

Zhulan had good intentions, but finding such people was not easy.

Zhulan was playing with Ming Hui when Steward Ding arrived, "Family Head’s mother, the second wife has replied that Miss Wu, being in mourning, need not come over."

Zhulan was speechless; Lady Fang was not considering Wu Ning’s welfare, but rather was probably intimidated by Wu Ning’s staunch character.

Steward Ding bowed his head, clearly disdainful of the second master’s mother-in-law for her short-sightedness.

Zhulan signaled for Steward Ding to leave. As she stroked her chin, she had already planned how to keep Lady Fang in Lizhou City. She intended to send Qian Keqi to live and study at an academy in Lizhou City. Not only would this provide Qian Keqi with a good education, but it would also keep him away from Lady Fang’s influence, serving two purposes at once.

Moreover, she wanted Zhou Shuren to change Lady Fang’s household registration, transferring it to Lizhou City. Henceforth, Qian Keqi could only take part in the imperial examination in Lizhou, and Lady Fang would not easily leave because of her son.

Even if Lady Fang cared for Lady Zhao, after returning the silver to the Qian family, Lady Fang knew that the Zhou family held her in low regard. In the future, her only hope lay with her son.

Although Zhulan had a plan ready, she was not in a hurry to execute it. She was not known for being good-tempered; she also harbored a grudge and was waiting for Lady Fang to become desperate enough. Only then would she act.

Now, Lady Fang didn’t dare to use the Zhou family’s connections under their watchful eyes. Over the past couple of months, Lady Fang had sought admission to several academies, but alas, none would accept him. She really thought academies were easy to enter!

Lady Fang was also very ambitious – even the schools run by Scholars looked down upon her lot!

In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned, and Zhulan had him change into a light-colored casual outfit, fearing that Zhou Shuren, in darker attire, would be too severe and scare Wu Ning. Wu Ning had become much more timid upon their meeting this time.

Zhou Shuren obediently changed clothes, but Zhulan was still not satisfied, "Smile a bit, don’t be so stern."

Zhou Shuren managed a smile, though it was somewhat stiff, "This is difficult for me. I’ve been striving not to smile for a long time to accumulate a sense of authority, and now I feel uncomfortable laughing."

Zhulan rubbed Zhou Shuren’s face, which was quite ordinary to begin with and had aged quickly over the last few years. Coupled with a beard, it was even less presentable. Now with his forced smile, not only did Zhou Shuren feel awkward, she also found it off-putting.