Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 432: Return to Zhou Residence_1

Chapter 432: Chapter 432: Return to Zhou Residence_1

Several days later, Zhou Shuren received a letter delivered by express courier, handed to him by the coachman. Zhou Shuren raised an eyebrow; this was quite overt. The Emperor sent only a few words, indicating that he could start packing his bags and also warning him that profiting from accepting gifts and reselling was a one-time exception, never to be repeated.

Zhou Shuren curled the corner of his mouth. He indeed couldn’t fully fathom the Emperor’s thoughts, yet he could guess some of the bottom lines. These harmless actions, he knew, were of no consequence to do just once in the Emperor’s eyes.

The coachman bowed his head, "From now on, everything depends on the master’s decision."

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that having accepted benefits from these people, he would be able to deter those with ulterior motives. The downside was, once he took them home, all his future actions would be under the Emperor’s scrutiny. Fortunately, he could console himself with the thought that his household was bound to be surveilled sooner or later anyway. Bringing these people home now openly demonstrated to the Emperor that he harbored no hidden agenda.

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Exactly how many people are there? All of you are coming back to my residence today."

The coachman replied, "Five in total, two elderly maids, two young servants, and myself."

Zhou Shuren raised an eyebrow. Elderly maids from the government office... "Are the maids from the kitchen?"

The coachman kept his head low, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren didn’t believe for a second that the two maids were simply for cooking. The identities of these people were all false; each of them possessed some skill and would certainly adhere to the highest standard of conduct. Zhou Shuren’s eyes gleamed, "Good, very good."

The coachman was stunned; he had observed many officials but had never seen one willing to be surveilled. When Graduate Bai had obstructed them, the official had rebuked him, which frightened him, knowing he’d surely be punished upon returning. The last thing he expected was to be taken to Zhou Shuren’s residence.

He really couldn’t figure out Zhou Shuren. Why did the official seem so pleased?

That evening, Zhou Shuren brought everyone back home and said as he entered, "Haven’t you been constantly complaining about not finding a well-disciplined maid, lamenting that we can’t find any because we don’t know any nobles?"

Zhulan’s eyes curved, "From the sound in your voice, have you found one?"

Zhou Shuren shared the Emperor’s reply and information about the five spies. "Both elderly maids are top-notch, whether in martial skills or other abilities. They put those supposedly disciplined maids to shame."

Zhulan clapped her hands excitedly, "This is like stumbling upon a treasure."

Zhou Shuren lowered his voice, "As long as I live, these people won’t even think about leaving, regardless of whether I hold their indentures or not. They can only stay at the Zhou residence."

Zhulan stroked her chin, "I can have the two maids instruct our girls and teach the maids we’ve bought. In the future, we won’t need to go begging for retired maids."

Zhou Shuren replied, "Right. I’ve brought everyone back, so you should meet them."

Zhulan settled herself, "Good."

Zhou Shuren asked Wan Jiu to bring the people over. He was cautious about eavesdroppers; he didn’t allow anyone into the main courtyard. Caution was always best; from now on, he and Zhulan would need to be careful about their conversations, avoiding banter or speculative remarks.

Fortunately, the newcomers were only skilled in martial arts and not as exaggerated as the ones from novels.

Wan Jiu brought the five people in. They respectfully greeted, "Madam, Master."

Zhou Shuren sat next to Zhulan, "Please introduce yourselves."

The coachman, who appeared to be the leader, spoke first, "I am Ding Yi, forty-five years old. My martial skills are decent."

One of the elderly maids came forward, "I am Ding Er, thirty-eight years old. I know a bit of martial arts and am skilled in medicine."

The other maid added, "I am Ding Liu, thirty-nine years old. I specialize in embroidery and my cooking isn’t bad either."

The two young servants stepped forward, "Ding Ba, nineteen years old. My martial skills are decent."

"I am Ding Shi, twenty-one. My martial skills are decent."

Zhou Shuren understood; the maids weren’t just for show, they were there in case someone tried to poison him. These people all had things to hide, but he felt no need to delve further into it.

Ding Yi said, "Please, master, bestow a name."

With the naming, they would bid farewell to their past. They were happy at heart, hoping for a life of peace and stability, as none of them were young anymore.

Zhou Shuren looked at Zhulan, "You do it."

Zhulan knew that Zhou Shuren letting her choose the names was his way of making it clear to the others her status in the family, indirectly telling them to respect her as the mistress of the house and to treat her the same as they would him in the future.

Ding Yi was taken aback but quickly regained his composure. Having followed Master Zhou closely, he was also familiar with Master Zhou’s wife and understood what Master Zhou meant.

Zhulan genuinely found it troublesome. She didn’t want to pick names at all, "You do it, the names I pick are not good."

Zhou Shuren silently considered, not wanting to pick names either. He pondered, "Do you remember your original names?"

Ding Yi, "I do."

Zhou Shuren said, "Let’s hear them."

Ding Yi replied, "Song Xing."

Ding Er, "I only remember the surname Song. Master, just call me Old Lady Song."

Ding Liu, "Shui Dani, Old Lady Shui."

The two young servants exchanged glances, "We’re orphans, with no names."

Zhou Shuren said, "Ding Yi, Ding Er, Ding Liu, use your original names. You two, Ding Ba will be named Jing Yan, and Ding Shi, Shen Xing."

Zhou Shuren paused, "Song Xing will continue to drive the carriage. Jing Yan will work with me, and Shen Xing will stay at home to train the young service staff around the young masters."

Zhulan continued, "As for the two old ladies, Old Lady Song will be with me, Old Lady Shui will be with the young mistress."

The five people respectfully said, "Yes."

With everyone settled, Zhou Shuren told Steward Ding to go down and arrange their accommodations.

Zhulan asked, "What about Wan Jiu? Aren’t you using him anymore?"

Zhou Shuren, "No need. Let him stay at home. You decide how to arrange it."

Zhulan nodded, "Understood."

With several of the Emperor’s people added to her household, Zhulan felt much more at ease; the servants in the house thought they were bought by Zhou Shuren, unaware of the true background of the five individuals.

The next day, Liu Ya of the main courtyard felt the most uneasy. She noticed that the newly arrived Old Lady Song was greatly trusted by the mistress, who handed over all Silver Coin she managed to Old Lady Song.

Zhulan gestured for Old Lady Song to leave, and then addressed Liu Ya, "Old Lady Song was brought here on the request of the master; she understands medicine and social rules quite well. You should learn some rules and medical knowledge from her. Don’t worry too much, you will still stay by my side, and when the child is born, you will help me take care of the Babe."

Liu Ya immediately felt secure upon hearing this. Both master and mistress cared greatly for the unborn child. She had seen it herself. The mistress entrusting her to care for the Babe showed her trust, "Yes, I will definitely learn the rules and medicine well."

Zhulan paused, then said, "Ask Wan Jiu to go to the broker and buy two old ladies and two second daughters. The old ladies must be strict about rules, and the girls must be honest and well-behaved. Their appearance does not need to be exceptional, just ordinary."

Both Lady Dong and Lady Zhao needed people by their sides, and the old ladies who were strict about rules would be instructed by Old Lady Song for a few days before being placed with the daughters-in-law.

It had been almost a year since the previous year, and Zhulan was quite satisfied with Lady Dong. Lady Dong hadn’t complained or said a word about not having any girls to serve her; Zhulan admitted it was a test to temper Lady Dong’s character.

The test had long been passed, only there had been no suitable old ladies. Now that there were, with some of Song and Shui old ladies’ skills kept secret, she was well aware of it. With the two old ladies, Zhulan was the happiest.