Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 780 Let’s Talk_1

Chapter 780: Chapter 780 Let’s Talk_1

Zhou Residence, Zhulan’s trip to the kitchen was fortuitous; Chang Zhong had a craving for meatballs, and she wanted to move around a bit, so she went to the kitchen to see what was being prepared for the midday meal. Upon smelling the scent of medicine wafting from the kitchen, Zhulan naturally asked. Nobody at home was ill, so why was medicine being brewed?

Only when she inquired did she learn that the medicine was being brewed by Chu Chu. Thinking that the third daughter-in-law must be feeling unwell, she went directly to the third residence to check on her.

Before she entered, she overheard a maid by Chu Chu’s side talking about a prescription for bearing children and mentioning that many people back home had taken this prescription to conceive sons, which was particularly effective.

Zhulan entered the room with a furrowed brow, her gaze landing on Lady Dong’s dowry maid; her look was so sharp that the maid didn’t dare to speak anymore.

When Lady Dong saw her mother-in-law, she asked, "Mother, did you come in person because you needed me for something?"

Zhulan gestured for the servants to leave and waited until they were alone in the room before speaking, "I saw the medicine being brewed in the kitchen and knew you requested it. I thought you were unwell, but after overhearing a few words just now, I realize it’s for conceiving a child."

Lady Dong’s cheeks turned red, "Mother, I just wanted to try it."

Zhulan patted Lady Dong’s hand, "Mother knows you want to have a son, but having children is a matter of fate. You gave birth to Yu Yi, which means there’s nothing wrong with your body, It’s just that the fate for having more children hasn’t arrived. You must not take medicine, for all medicine is somewhat poisonous. If it harms your body, the regret will come too late."

Lady Dong was startled, "Can a prescription for bearing children harm one’s body?"

Zhulan replied, "You mustn’t disbelieve. How about this, take the prescription to a doctor and see what they say."

Lady Dong was already convinced. Her mother-in-law had given birth to so many children and had her own experience. Coupled with her longstanding trust in her mother-in-law, she knew her mother-in-law’s words must be right, "Mother, I won’t take it."

"That’s right. Your body is your own, and you must cherish it. Alright, the midday meal should be ready soon, I will head back to the main residence."

"Your daughter-in-law will come by later."

As Zhulan and Nanny Song left, Zhulan said, "You have time to keep an eye on Lady Dong’s dowry maids. I never noticed anything off before, but today I feel this maid is not good."

Nanny Song replied, "Yes."

Ministry of Revenue, when the Crown Prince arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was surprised. The Crown Prince was visiting The Six Ministries, and he had thought that after the Ministry of Personnel, the Crown Prince would proceed to the Ministry of Rites. He didn’t expect him to come to the Ministry of Revenue.

Then he thought again about how the Second Prince and Third Prince’s affairs were all related to the Ministry of Revenue and no longer found it surprising. Your brother will always be your brother!

The Crown Prince said, "You two need not mind me. I will manage on my own; you may tend to your own matters."

Qiu Yan didn’t want to get involved with the princes. With the Crown Prince at the Ministry of Revenue, he would naturally prefer to avoid accompanying him, "This official takes his leave."

The Crown Prince acknowledged with a grunt, "Hmm."

Zhou Shuren had his own duties to attend to, "This official takes his leave."

The Crown Prince spoke up, "Mr. Zhou, please stay a moment."

Zhou Shuren felt a surge of frustration, "..."

Who was it just now that said to go about their business!

Qiu Yan glanced at Zhou Shuren, feeling that Zhou Shuren was very likely the Crown Prince’s person. In the future, it would be better not to have too close an association with Mr. Zhou.

Zhou Shuren understood Mr. Qiu’s look and felt speechless. He really wasn’t, truly wasn’t.

The Crown Prince gestured, "Mr. Zhou, please take a seat."

"Yes."

With a smile, the Crown Prince said, "I’ve always wanted to have a good conversation with Mr. Zhou, but never had the chance. Now that the opportunity has come, it’s rare. Mr. Zhou, please feel at ease."

Zhou Shuren was a man of great talent, esteemed by the Emperor. His recent appointment to The Six Ministries was at the Emperor’s behest, hoping he would spend more time at the Ministry of Revenue — not only to understand the economic situation of the provinces across the country but also to foster relationships with Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that he really didn’t want to have a good talk with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s temperament was just like the Emperor’s, and his abilities were a true reflection of the Emperor’s. He was always extremely cautious when he spoke, afraid that saying too much would doom himself.

In the afternoon, at the entrance of Hanlin Academy, Ning Xu came early to wait for Rongchuan. The Headmaster of the Academy just happened to return and approached, asking, "Marquis Ning, did you come to the Hanlin Academy for a reason?"

Ning Xu replied, "This marquis has come to wait for Zhang Rongchuan."

The Headmaster had heard some talk and was puzzled, thinking about how sincerely Marquis Ning seemed to care for Zhang Rongchuan, "Marquis, please come inside to wait."

Ning Xu waved his hand, "No need, this marquis will wait outside the gate. Headmaster, if you have matters to attend to, please go ahead and don’t mind me."

The Headmaster indeed had things to attend to and entered the Hanlin Academy after exchanging pleasantries.

Ning Xu felt the coachman of the Hanlin Academy watching him and turned his head to see the coachman cover his mouth with his hand. He was full of question marks, not understanding what he saw.

Soon after, Rongchuan and Chang Lian came out of the Hanlin Academy. Seeing the carriage of the Hou Residence, Chang Lian asked Rongchuan, "Are you not going home today either?"

Rongchuan smiled, "I am going home today, just to have dinner with Mr. Hou."

"Alright, then I’ll head back first."

It wasn’t until Chang Lian was aboard the carriage that he realized Rongchuan hadn’t yet called him father!

Rongchuan got into the carriage, and after it had been driving for a while, Rongchuan said, "I’ve been thinking a lot today. Does my mother still have relatives alive? Is there anyone left in my maternal family?"

Ning Xu was very composed, "Your mother was an orphan, and these years your father has searched to no avail."

Rongchuan felt it was a pity, but quickly let it go, "Then when can I pay respects to my mother?"

Ning Xu smiled, "After you return home."

Rongchuan thought about returning to the Ning family and still felt nervous, "I’ll listen to you."

Ning Xu still hadn’t heard the word ’father’ from him, but it didn’t matter. He would continue to build goodwill, convinced that Rongchuan would eventually call him father. Thinking about the Emperor getting jealous made him feel particularly good.

In Zhou family village, choosing a date for ancestral rituals required a few days. At the dinner table, Jiang Sheng said, "Chang Zhi, how about you teach at the clan school for a few days?"

Chang Zhi was no longer the one-track minded individual he used to be, "But did the Clan Leader say anything to my brother-in-law?"

Jiang Sheng sighed inwardly; the higher his father-in-law’s office, the more Chang Zhi had changed, "Mm, the Clan Leader wants you to check on the teaching progress at the clan school and see what the school is lacking."

In the past, it was always his eldest brother and Chang Yi who returned together. Neither of them were suited for academic pursuits, and though the Clan Leader was eager, he had nowhere to channel his efforts. Now that Chang Zhi was back with them, carrying the guidance of a renowned teacher and his father-in-law, he couldn’t just stay idle at the clan school, or the Clan Leader would lose sleep over it.

Chang Zhi smiled, "Alright, I’ve been wanting to take a look at the clan school, anyway."

The Zhou family village clan school had been expanded the previous year, and it had many students. Families from within eight or ten miles were willing to send their children there. Every morning during the school’s reading time, households near the clan school could hear it. Those studious children were the foundation of the Zhou clan, their future pillars.

Jiang Zhu looked at his fourth uncle, "Uncle, which class are you planning to teach?"

There were four classes—Class A, B, C, and D, and he was in Class A.

Chang Zhi understood the Clan Leader’s intentions, "I’ll spend a day with each class."

Jiang Zhu said with a smile, "Tomorrow, I’ll go with you, Uncle."

Jiang Sheng chuckled; his son was acting as if he didn’t need him. However, it was fitting for his son to admire his father-in-law and Chang Zhi. His father-in-law’s stature was beyond reproach, and Chang Zhi, who had become a Scholar at a young age, was indeed his son’s idol.

In the capital, within the empress sleeping quarters, the Empress felt extremely frustrated after hearing the Emperor’s words. Just a few days ago, she had watched the Emperor become jealous and had even urged him to be more magnanimous. Now, when it was her turn, the taste was by no means pleasant.

Seeing the Empress’s frustrated demeanor, the Emperor felt significantly better, "Do you need me to console you?"