Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 495: Want to Stay_1

Chapter 495: Chapter 495: Want to Stay_1

Zhulan saw that Lady Donglin seemed as if she was about to collapse, and then looked at the worried expression on Lady Dong’s face, "Mother-in-law should go and rest first; once you have rested, we will have time to chat."

Lady Donglin indeed couldn’t hold on anymore, the weather was a bit hot, and she seemed to have heatstroke. She stood up with the help of a maid, "Then I will go and rest, please excuse me."

"Mother-in-law, you are being too formal, please go rest. I will have someone request the doctor to come over," Zhulan reassured.

Lady Donglin expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for troubling yourself, mother-in-law."

Zhulan escorted Lady Donglin to the door, leaving Chang Lian to naturally take care of Dong family’s eldest grandson.

After the doctor’s visit, it turned out that due to the hot weather these past few days, Lady Donglin indeed had heatstroke. The doctor prescribed medicine, and after taking it, Lady Donglin felt much better.

When Zhulan came to visit, Lady Donglin had already gone to sleep, and Lady Dong was wiping tears beside her. She patted Lady Dong, "Let your mother rest well today, and don’t call her up tonight; ask the kitchen to stew some porridge, so she won’t be hungry if she wakes up in the middle of the night."

Lady Dong looked lovingly at her mother, blaming herself for her mother’s suffering. Her mother hadn’t even gone to see her sister yet, and the person she worried about most was her, "Mother, I’ve got it."

Because Lady Donglin came today, Zhulan instructed the kitchen to prepare many fine dishes, but unfortunately, Lady Donglin couldn’t eat them.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren came home, met with the Dong family’s eldest grandson, and then they went back together for dinner in the rear courtyard.

After dinner, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren returned to their room. While washing her hands, Zhulan remarked, "Dong family’s eldest grandson, my impression of him is still quite vivid. When I first saw him, no matter how well he concealed it, he had some aversion to the Zhou family. Today, his flattering manner, I almost didn’t recognize him."

Zhou Shuren waited for Zhulan to finish washing before he continued, "Not only has his status changed, but because he and Jiang Ming are different, the capital is full of officials. Jiang Ming doesn’t have any notable achievements, and his past favors have been used up, making it difficult for him to get promoted unless an opportunity arises, unlike me."

Zhulan had sent Nanny Song to take care of Lady Donglin today, so Zhou Shuren was more talkative, otherwise, on normal days, the couple would only talk before going to sleep.

Zhulan changed her clothes and, while wearing undergarments, played with her son, saying, "I heard Dong Liao’s intention seems to be to stay?"

Zhou Shuren saw his son looking at him. He had been tricked by the little guy too many times and didn’t dare make any sudden moves, fearing he would cry again. Thankfully, the rascal looked away after a moment, and Zhou Shuren then said, "It should be this youngster’s own idea."

"I think so too. Lady Donglin is too clever to do something foolish."

Zhou Shuren lay down; sitting all day had tired him. Now, he felt the happiest thing was to sleep holding his wife, and his greatest wish was to sleep until he naturally woke up. He let out a hiss and couldn’t help but rub his waist; he definitely needed to retire early!

Zhulan motioned for Zhou Shuren to lie face down, then began to massage him. The set of massage techniques she now used she had learned from Nanny Song; previously, her skills had been too rudimentary. Nanny Song was professional.

Zhou Shuren lay comfortably and fell asleep. Zhulan untied his hair and gave his head another rub. Hearing a grunt, she let go of him and turned to look at her son, who was lying obediently.

The little fellow was watching her with wide eyes, and Zhulan’s heart melted, "Mommy will lull you to sleep."

The little guy yawned gracefully, holding his little fists. Zhulan gently patted him, and soon the child fell asleep.

Zhulan carefully sat up and chuckled. Today, she had coaxed two, big and small, to sleep!

The next day during breakfast, Zhulan saw Lady Donglin, who looked much better. Lady Donglin was somewhat embarrassed, "Mother-in-law, I was disrespectful yesterday."

Zhulan asked, "Do you feel better, mother-in-law?"

Very embarrassed, Lady Donglin admitted, "Much better now."

Zhulan said, "Shall we have breakfast first and then chat afterwards?"

Otherwise, everyone was just watching them talk and didn’t dare to pick up their chopsticks!

Lady Donglin replied, "Alright."

After breakfast, Zhou Shuren left, and everyone returned to their own quarters. Zhulan and Lady Donglin sat down to chat. Lady Donglin asked, "Why haven’t I seen Chang Zhong?"

Zhulan paused for a moment—she never called her son by his name, and still felt somewhat blocked in her heart. She explained, "This lad loves to sleep; he hasn’t woken up yet."

Lady Donglin wasn’t truly interested in seeing him; she was just making conversation, "I heard from Chu Chu that Chang Zhong is a child who is tender towards his mother. You’re fortunate, mother-in-law."

To give birth at such an advanced age without suffering seems to indicate a good recovery. Mother-in-law, you have great fortune ahead of you!

Zhulan’s eyes were filled with warmth, "He indeed is a child who cherishes his mother."

Lady Donglin looked at Madam Yang and felt emotional. She didn’t know what Madam Yang’s first impression of her had been; all she knew was her deep fear of misspeaking. Even though she heard from her daughter that Madam Yang treated her well, she dared not be careless, "I’ve been a bother these days."

"This is also your daughter’s home, mother-in-law."

Lady Donglin felt reassured upon hearing that and once again admired the elder’s foresight. Even though there were annual gifts exchanged, it was not as comforting as seeing with one’s own eyes.

Zhulan and Lady Donglin talked about their hometown matters. Lady Donglin was still feeling somewhat ill and, forced to endure, sat for a while before going back to rest.

In the third room, lady Donglin, after drinking her medicine, lay down to rest. Her grandson came in with an unhappy face, and Lady Donglin’s heart sank. She hoped the Zhou family had not given her grandson a hard time, "What’s the matter?"

Dong Liao, sitting on a chair, said, "Grandma, Uncle won’t help me."

Lady Donglin was somewhat confused, "What did you ask your uncle to help you with?"

Dipping his head, Dong Liao quickly looked up again, his face full of longing as he said, "Grandma, I want to stay in Jinzhou Province. I want to be like Ming Qing and stay behind too."

He knew Zhou Mingqing and was aware that Zhou Mingqing had stayed behind, which spurred him into action. Having tentatively brought it up the night before at dinner, his uncle had told him that very day it wouldn’t be possible. How could he be content?

Lady Donglin understood. She thought it would be the eldest son accompanying her, but at the last minute, he fell ill, and the task fell to her eldest grandson instead. It turned out everything had been calculated in advance. Lady Donglin’s complexion, already not good, looked even worse now, "Are you even scheming against your grandmother?"

Dong Liao hurriedly said, "Grandma, I wasn’t scheming, I wasn’t!"

Wearily waving her hand, Lady Donglin said, "Go out for now."

It seemed she wouldn’t be able to stay in the Zhou family for much longer. She wanted to remain until her son-in-law’s fourth son got married, wanted to spend more time with her daughter. Lady Donglin felt sad—her sons’ ambitions were great, and those of her daughters-in-law were even greater. They were already trying to bypass her and the elder while they were still alive. How much worse would it get after their deaths?

Lady Dong, upon entering, saw her mother lying and staring straight at the ceiling, which gave her a start, "Mother, what’s wrong?"

Lady Donglin came to her senses and, seeing her daughter with a normal expression, knew her son-in-law hadn’t told her what had happened. But knowing Dong Liao’s temperament, he wouldn’t consider his sister’s pregnancy and keep it to himself; if pushed to desperation, he would surely appeal to her. Lady Donglin recounted what had happened and ended with "Your brothers may turn to you in the future, but don’t let it trouble your husband."

Lady Dong felt saddened. She understood her mother—it was certain her mother would leave early. Lady Dong felt sorry for her mother, but as a married woman, it wasn’t proper for her to judge her brothers. With teary eyes, she said, "Mother, you’ve suffered."

Meanwhile, Zhulan held an invitation in her hand, one addressed to Lady Li. It was an individual invitation for Lady Li, looking at the signature at the bottom, the Xu family!