Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 500 Time is a Butcher’s Knife _1

Chapter 500: Chapter 500 Time is a Butcher’s Knife _1

In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned, and Zhulan asked, "Did you find out anything?"

Zhou Shuren actually did uncover some information, "Recently, there have been no major fluctuations in the Xu family’s business, the only issue being that the Xu family has been inquiring about large fishing vessels."

Zhulan said, "Today, Lady Li found out that the Xu family hopes that Lady Li will invest in the fishing vessels."

Zhou Shuren handed Zhulan a handkerchief to wipe her hands, then said, "I always feel like there’s something going on behind the scenes, but I can’t quite get to the bottom of it."

In the world of conspiracies, his hunches were seldom wrong; it could only mean that whoever was behind this was very well-hidden.

Zhulan’s heart had also been on edge, "Yes, it’s like an invisible net has been cast, just waiting for the Zhou family to be ensnared!"

Zhou Shuren, looking at his youngest son trying to roll over, had a coldness in his eyes; no matter who it was that wanted to disrupt his and Zhulan’s life, he would not let them get away with it.

Zhulan couldn’t fathom or make sense of it; she certainly wouldn’t foolishly use Lady Li as bait. She preferred to nip dangers in the bud before anything started, "It seems, then, that there’s no need for any further contact with the Li or Xu families."

Zhou Shuren felt the same way, "Mm."

They were not gods, just ordinary people. Even gods have their errors, and Zhou Shuren was not arrogant enough to believe he could manipulate everyone with ease; he was not an arrogant man.

The next day, Zhulan told Lady Li there was no need for further contact. Lady Li breathed a sigh of relief, as she had not slept the previous night, spending it discussing with the head of the family. Sadly, their minds were not sharp enough to think of anything, and the more elusive the answer was, the more fearful she became.

Zhulan, seeing Lady Li’s relaxed appearance, knew she had been afraid, "You look like you haven’t had good rest; go back and take a break."

Lady Li, her mind heavy, nodded, "Mother, I’m going back."

She was going back to catch up on sleep, just hoping her son wouldn’t disturb her.

Lady Li had just exited the courtyard when she saw her youngest sister, yawning as she greeted, "Younger sister-in-law."

Lady Dong was taken aback for a moment. Did her sister-in-law not sleep well? But that wasn’t right, wasn’t Ming Hui living by himself? Suddenly, Lady Dong’s face turned red, "Older sister-in-law."

Lady Li looked up confused at the sky, "It’s just morning, and it’s not hot today, why is your face so red, younger sister-in-law?"

Lady Dong, "....I’m going to find Mother."

Lady Li blinked, "The thoughts of a pregnant woman are really hard to guess."

Just now she had glared at her, but after thinking it over, she hadn’t offended Lady Dong recently!

When Zhulan saw Lady Dong come in, she motioned for Lady Dong to take a seat, "What brings you here?"

Lady Dong sighed in relief that her mother-in-law wasn’t angry with her, "Mother, my eldest sister knew that my mother was coming over, so she wrote a letter wanting to bring the kids over, but now my mother is leaving. She intends to stop by the capital first to see my elder sister, so I was thinking of joining her for a few days in the capital."

Zhulan thought it was some trivial matter, "Let Chang Lian accompany you, after all, he received a lot of care from your brother-in-law back in Pingzhou. This could be a good opportunity to visit and stay a bit longer."

Lady Dong’s eyes were filled with joy, an unexpected delight. She had not dared to hope Chang Lian would accompany her, not even daring to mention it to him, "Thank you, Mother."

Zhulan said, "I’ll have Steward Ding arrange the carriage later, and you should go back and pack your things."

Lady Dong indeed needed to prepare well, since this trip to the capital was different. She and Chang Lian didn’t need protection. They were visiting relatives openly, so gifts had to be carefully chosen, as they couldn’t disgrace the Zhou family, "Yes."

The next morning, Zhulan saw off Lady Donglin. She didn’t spare Dong Liao a glance. Despite Dong Liao staying in her chamber, she knew everything that needed to be known, cursing the Zhou family often enough within her room.

Zhulan returned to her courtyard, and the departure of two members of the Zhou household did not lessen the liveliness.

With no guests to entertain, Zhulan devoted all her attention to preparing Chang Zhi’s wedding banquet. Invitations and other arrangements needed to be readied. She had gold exchanged and made into auspicious peanut, jujube, and other figures, as well as many silver peanuts, which were for rewarding people.

Over at the borderland Wu family, Wu Ning had been back for some days. She returned with great fanfare, and many invited her to their banquets. The young ladies of the county treated her not only with courtesy but also fawned over her.

Those young ladies who used to mock her looked at her with fear in their eyes. She did not feel joy, only annoyance.

Wu Ming found time to come back and saw his sister sitting on the veranda, staring at the pond, "What’s on your mind, you’re so lost in thought?"

Wu Ning jumped with a start, nearly falling in, as she had just been thinking about Young Master Shi. She had received marriage proposals upon returning, no longer humiliating ones, and though she had rejected them, she couldn’t help but think of Young Master Shi, who was probably about to be betrothed.

Wu Ming was naive about matters of men and women, and at present, he didn’t want to understand them. So thinking his sister was too young, he did not consider it from that angle and just thought she was not accustomed to being there, "Do you want to go back to the Zhou family?"

Wu Ning really did feel some longing. As for whom she longed for, only her heart knew. She felt incredibly sad as if the more she suppressed it, the less she could control it, "Brother, I don’t want to go back."

What could going back change for them, when there was no possibility?

Wu Ming lifted his hand to pat his sister’s head but withdrew it as she had grown up. This girl’s words did not match her feelings, it seemed it would be better to go back sooner. It would also prevent some people from focusing too much attention on her.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, four days had passed. Chang Lian and Lady Dong returned. Zhulan asked, "Why didn’t you stay longer?"

Lady Dong, looking down with a pale face, replied, "Mother, I still have luggage to unpack; I will go back first."

Zhulan, "Oh."

Chang Lian did not leave, and seeing his mother looking at him, he felt somewhat awkward. Coughing once, he said, "We went to watch a play."

Zhulan, "Hmm?"

Chang Lian felt frustrated. If he did not explain, his mother would not let it go. He said awkwardly, "Well, my brother-in-law’s concubine is pregnant, and he has been somewhat favoring her. My sister felt wronged."

Zhulan understood. So Lady Dong’s sister was not just coming over for Lady Donglin’s visit, but also to distract herself from her trouble. Zhulan thought over the ages of Mr. Jiang and Lady Dadong, and sneered, thinking Mr. Jiang believed the love for his second wife, Lady Dadong, was deep. She had even claimed it was true love, yet it could not withstand the relentless onslaught of time.

Zhulan looked at Chang Lian still there, "Aren’t you going to accompany Lady Dong? What are you doing staying here?"

At this time, Lady Dong must have been scared, which explained why she looked so unwell.

Chang Lian lowered his voice, "Mother, I saw the fifth Prince; we entered the city together."

Zhulan was startled, "How do you know the fifth Prince?"