Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 777: Who is smart, who is stupid_1

Chapter 777: Chapter 777: Who is smart, who is stupid_1

Zhou Shuren estimated the time, "Mr. Hou, this official must return to the Ministry of Revenue, there are many matters waiting for this official."

Marquis Ning said, "Very well."

Zhou Shuren left the tea house, coughing several times in a row, holding back laughter was too strenuous, but the matter of Rongchuan was finally settled, one less thing on his mind, he felt much lighter.

Back at the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren noted Mr. Qiu’s hesitation, "Does the official have something to say?"

Qiu Yan’s heart was in turmoil, Zhou Shuren might be part of the Crown Prince’s faction, and with the Crown Prince currently under house arrest and the Emperor favoring the Second Prince, no one could fathom the Emperor’s current intentions. He did not wish to be involved in the struggle for the throne; the Qiu family couldn’t afford the fight, "Does Mr. Zhou have a close relationship with Marquis Ning?"

Many sought favor from Marquis Ning since he returned to the capital, and today he had sought out Zhou Shuren all day long, which showed they knew each other for quite some time.

Zhou Shuren understood Qiu Yan’s dilemma, it was inevitable that the Zhou residence would have deeper dealings with the Ning Residence in the future. If Qiu Yan suspected him of being part of the Crown Prince’s faction, others would think the same in time to come, stroking his beard, there was no avoiding it, "My third son and my future son-in-law once helped Duke Ning, and that is why I am somewhat acquainted with Marquis Ning."

Qiu Yan vaguely remembered there was indeed such an incident, but he had not paid much attention to it before, "I see."

"Yes."

Li Family Village, Chang Li had arrived a while ago, having drunk quite a bit of tea, when his father-in-law and mother-in-law’s family finally returned home.

Chang Li hurriedly stood up to greet them, "Your son-in-law greets his father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Li Cong stopped in his steps, his son-in-law becoming increasingly formal troubled him, rubbing his hands and not daring to help him up, his own hands were caked with soil, he said dryly, "Get up, quick."

Lady Lixu was excited to see her son-in-law, "I guessed you would come when I heard the news yesterday. You didn’t come in the morning, and I thought you were busy and wouldn’t make it today, so we didn’t wait at home."

Chang Li explained, "I meant to come in the morning, but I was delayed because of Mr. Dong."

Lady Lixu didn’t like the Dong family; being in-laws with the Zhou family, the Dong family was too ostentatious because of Chang Lian and somewhat looked down upon the Li family. She didn’t want to talk about the Dong family and grinned, "Chang Zhi also came back, your aunt hasn’t seen you in some years, you’ve changed a lot, grown taller, and look more handsome."

Chang Zhi smiled, "You think so because you haven’t seen me for too long. My mother still says I’m getting uglier by the day, and she scolds me."

Lady Lixu laughed, "Your mother is just teasing you. In your aunt’s eyes, you’ve grown up the best."

Chang Li asked his father-in-law, "Is everything well at home recently?"

Li Cong rubbed his hands to suppress his excitement, "Yes, very good, as you can see, we’ve built a new house this year and added a lot of land. These past two years, thanks to the patronage and blessings of my in-laws, the family has been getting better and better."

Lady Lixu also said, "With your father becoming a Capital Official, we’ve enjoyed the reflected glory. In ten villages and eight towns, people are very polite to the Li family, no one dares to bully us, and you don’t need to worry about us."

Li Cong nodded repeatedly; even the County magistrate addressed him as Mr. Li when he left the house, which left him stunned. As someone who had lived a lifetime with muddy legs, he stumbled through the encounter, not knowing what to say.

Chang Li was relieved and took out a letter from his chest, "This is a letter from my wife to you, and in this chest are the gifts we present to you."

The wife had prepared jewelry for the mother-in-law and clothes for the father-in-law, while he had prepared medicinal ingredients, like ginseng and deer antler, to nourish their bodies.

Lady Lixu’s smile narrowed her eyes to slits, the daughter’s gifts never ceased on festive occasions, and each time her son-in-law came back, the daughter always brought things home. Raising this daughter was well worth it; the mother-in-law’s eye for good fortune was spot on. She saw that her daughter was destined for great luck, and now how many were envious of her.

As a result, her granddaughters also married well, sure that the Li family girls were blessed.

In the capital, in the afternoon at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy, Chang Lian and Rongchuan came out together, with Marquis Ning waiting for a while.

Rongchuan walked over quite naturally, "Mr. Hou."

Ning Xu nodded and then said to Chang Lian, "I have something to discuss with Rongchuan, you go back first."

Zhou Changlian paused, not expecting to be left behind today, "Alright."

Rongchuan followed onto the carriage, and soon the carriage was far away, Zhou Changlian only then walked towards his own carriage.

Shen Yang quickly took a few steps, "With the Crown Prince under house arrest, it seems like Marquis Ning isn’t worried. After all, the Crown Prince is Marquis Ning’s own nephew."

Zhou Changlian stopped in his tracks, "What are you trying to say?"

Shen Yang, "I mean nothing by it."

Zhou Changlian didn’t believe him and stared deeply at Shen Yang. Recently, Shen Yang and the Fifth Prince had become very close, Shen Yang was on the rise again.

Seeing the Zhou family’s carriage leave, Shen Yang thought to himself that if the Crown Prince were to fall, which prince would be the most likely successor? The Zhou family was not far from the Ning Residence and had grown quite close, and he had thought Zhou Changlian was very clever, but he was actually a fool.

As Shen Yang thought of the Fifth Prince, he fiddled with the Jade Pendant on his waist, a gift from the Fifth Prince. He wondered whether the Fifth Prince had a chance, especially since the Emperor had favored him greatly not too long ago.

At the Zhou Residence, Zhou Shuren had returned first, and Zhulan, having heard about the midday events, held back a laugh, "It seems your acting skills are better than Mr. Hou’s."

While changing clothes, Zhou Shuren said, "Because I’m fully aware of everything, I’m stable."

"It looks like Duke Ning’s Residence has sent an invitation because they want to acknowledge Rongchuan."

After changing his clothes and feeling much more comfortable, Zhou Shuren said, "Hmm."

Zhulan spoke softly, "Acknowledging kinship, and then comes marriage. Marquis Ning mentioned it to you, they’re probably hoping Rongchuan will get married soon."

Zhou Shuren gritted his teeth and lowered his voice, "Rongchuan is showing his affections too obviously, just look at him, today a hairpin, tomorrow a painting. With people from the Emperor in our house, how could the Emperor not be aware?"

Every father cares for his own son, and Rongchuan’s affections were too obvious; everyone knew Rongchuan wanted to get married.

Zhulan burst into laughter, "Rongchuan had been thinking about buying a mansion every day for a while, but he hasn’t mentioned it lately. He must have some guesses, too bad it’s a misdirection."

Zhou Shuren hummed, "Our daughter’s dowry isn’t ready yet. He’s eager to get married, huh? Let’s add to the dowry."

Zhulan spoke softly, "You think the Ning family won’t?"

Zhou Shuren fell silent; indeed, the Ning family would, and not only them—the Emperor would also.

When Zhou Changlian came back and said Rongchuan had left with Marquis Ning, Zhou Shuren and his wife exchanged a look, signaling they understood, and then they did not speak further.

Zhou Changlian felt that his parents weren’t surprised at all that Rongchuan had left with Marquis Ning, "Father, did you know what matter Marquis Ning needed Rongchuan for?"

Zhou Shuren had nothing to hide and Zhou Changlian had his suspicions anyway. Marquis Ning had taken Rongchuan away, probably to deceive him, but that couldn’t be said outright, "Marquis Ning is Rongchuan’s biological father; he took Rongchuan to tell him the truth."

Zhou Changlian thought to himself that Rongchuan was indeed Marquis Ning’s son, but his father was quite generous to reveal this, "Father, did Marquis Ning tell you this?"

Zhou Shuren, "At noon, Marquis Ning came looking for me first. Keep this to yourself for now; we still have to see the Ning family’s arrangements."

Zhou Changlian took a sip of tea to calm his excitement; this meant recognizing Rongchuan back into the family. If Marquis Ning was Rongchuan’s father, and Marquis Ning only had Rongchuan as a son, wouldn’t Rongchuan be the future Marquis? But then he worried, "Then, what about the marriage between our sister and Rongchuan?"

"No effect."

"That’s good, that’s good."