Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 787: Really Stingy_1

Chapter 787: Chapter 787: Really Stingy_1

Lady Li and Madame Zhao had not seen much of the world. Though Lady Li didn’t verbalize her amazement, her eyes and hands betrayed her, as she couldn’t help touching the tables and chairs. She had clearly heard that these would be left behind.

Madame Zhao was also incredibly fond of it, feeling as if it were all a dream.

Zhulan didn’t need to say anything else, she simply decided on the spot.

Scholar Deng whispered, "The renovations on this estate are extensive, five thousand taels is too low. Even at ten thousand taels it would be a loss, the materials alone cost more than the selling price. I think it’s best to investigate further."

He didn’t want any problems that might affect the Zhou family, upon which he now depended for a respectable livelihood.

Zhulan looked at the steward. Although the steward hadn’t said much and there were few maids and servants around, the way the maids moved didn’t deceive Madam Song. She had a hunch that this estate was built by the imperial family.

"There won’t be any problems."

Upon hearing this affirmative tone, Scholar Deng was puzzled. Could there be something he had overlooked? Considering how much Master Zhou doted on his wife, and having already given his warning, he said no more.

They then visited another estate. This one wasn’t as nicely renovated as the first, nor was it as large. Zhulan had an idea; this must be the Duke Ning’s property. She made the decision to proceed.

Lady Li pinched herself. It hurt, but she still felt as though she were dreaming. She said to her sister-in-law, "Will our family own two estates now?"

Madame Zhao was more lucid, "Mhm."

Lady Li and Madame Zhao hadn’t considered that both would be part of Zhulan’s dowry, so they thought the purchases would be for their own family.

Lady Li broke into a smile, "Next summer we can come to the estate to escape the heat."

Madame Zhao was also very excited; she loved this place.

As Zhulan approached, she overheard the conversation of the two daughters-in-law and fell silent. She did like the first estate, but regrettably, she had Scholar Deng inquired about it specifically for the purpose of a dowry. Now, with the estate being sold off cheaply by the Emperor and Duke Ning’s residence, she couldn’t contradict herself.

At the Palace, Zhou Shuren and the Crown Prince were at the government hall. Inside, the Emperor was discussing matters with a great scholar; Zhou Shuren and the Crown Prince could only wait.

The Crown Prince felt comfortable sitting and eating fruit, and even gestured, "Master Zhou, have some as well. These fruits are good."

Thinking of the fruit, the Crown Prince silently praised his uncle for being so considerate. Yesterday, while he was at the Ministry of Revenue, his uncle had delivered fruits there once, and the Crown Prince’s residence had also sent some over, lest he miss out.

Zhou Shuren looked at the Crown Prince, then at Eunuch Liu, and also began to eat the fruit.

Eunuch Liu was delighted. On days when the Crown Prince wasn’t there, he missed him. Without the Crown Prince, the Emperor’s anger in the government hall made him tremble.

After waiting for roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Emperor came over.

The Crown Prince greeted him, "This son pays respects to Father Emperor."

Zhou Shuren promptly stood up, "Your subject pays homage to the Emperor."

The Emperor raised his hand, signaling them to dispense with formalities, "No need for that, please sit."

The Crown Prince stood up straight, "Your son has urgent matters to report."

The Emperor knew very well that the Crown Prince wouldn’t come to the Palace unless it was something significant. His eyes had already noticed the account books, "Go ahead."

The Crown Prince relayed his findings and showed the figures to his father. Seeing the Emperor’s silence, the Crown Prince closed his mouth. He had said what needed to be said; the rest was up to his father.

Zhou Shuren felt that he must speak up for the Ministry of Revenue. Observing the Emperor’s attitude, he was evidently angry, and the Emperor did have a tendency to misplace his anger, "Emperor, the Ministry of Revenue is only responsible for keeping records, the problem lies with the Salt Transport Department and the Imperial Censor who delivered the account books."

The Ministry of Revenue only needed to keep records every year and genuinely did not review the figures from previous years. With too many tasks within the Ministry and numerous figures to record, it was truly difficult to remember them all.

In recent days, facing numbers every day gave him a headache, and even the figures he had verified were easily forgotten. Who could blame him? There were too many numbers, and humans were not computers.

The Emperor was indeed displacing his anger. Looking at Zhou Shuren, his irritation seemed to dissipate a bit, "Zhou, your loyalty aligns well with my heart. You have made a contribution this time, and it is natural to be rewarded for contributions. Do you have any requests?"

Zhou Shuren’s heart rose to his throat, as the Emperor still had a temper, "Emperor, fulfilling my duties is my responsibility, I dare not take credit for them."

Emperor, "Just say what you want to say."

Zhou Shuren wanted to curse internally, this was also a test from the Emperor. Ever since the incident with Sun Liao, he didn’t know what the Emperor had found out. Emperors are usually suspicious and since he was considered someone of importance, the Emperor tested him. He definitely needed to give an answer. Without an answer, who knows what the Emperor might think. His position was truly unenviable, "Then I shall boldly request a reward."

The Emperor picked up his teacup, "I am listening."

Zhou Shuren said, "I come from a scholarly background, and the journey here has not been easy. Thanks to my wise and capable wife managing our household, I have silver to spend. I am getting old and would like to enjoy a few years of tranquility."

Before he could finish, the Emperor interrupted. The Emperor’s mouth twitched, "Your age is not great, do not bring up retirement."

Zhou Shuren choked up, did he lay on the groundwork too thick?

Zhou Shuren coughed, "I am not asking to retire. I feel my wife has had a hard time following me, and it is not easy to purchase an estate in the capital. The land we just bought is not suitable for building an estate, so I boldly ask the Emperor to bestow an estate."

The Emperor almost choked on his tea. That very morning, the Empress had sold an estate to the Zhou family on the cheap. That estate, he had given to the Empress, but thinking it over, since Miss Zhou would bring the estate into the royal family through marriage, it wasn’t exactly selling to an outsider. The estate would eventually pass to his grandchildren, so the sale was acceptable.

The Emperor, thinking of the estates he owned, glanced at the Crown Prince. The estates he had to leave behind were all excessively large, not suitable for rewarding, "I have an estate in Jingnan, eighty mu in size, which I now bestow upon you."

Zhou Shuren had spun his tale to relax the Emperor’s nerves, without really hoping for an estate; he was surprised that the Emperor truly rewarded him with one, promptly kneeling down with a curl of his lips to express his gratitude, "Thank you, Emperor, for your grace."

The Crown Prince, with a wooden expression, heh... Upon hearing of the Jingnan estate, he didn’t think much of it, as the majority of his father’s estates were there. However, upon hearing "eighty mu," he looked incredulously at his father, "Is this really my father?" The Emperor usually had large estates, and the one of eighty mu was his – awarded to him years ago!

The Emperor felt uneasy under his son’s gaze and cleared his throat, "The deed is in the hands of the Crown Prince. Remember to pass it on to Master Zhou."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

So, the estate was the Crown Prince’s after all. Remembering the Crown Prince’s Jade Pendant, Zhou Shuren felt sympathy for the Crown Prince for a few seconds.

The Crown Prince felt a pang in his heart, "I will have it delivered to Master Zhou’s residence tomorrow."

He would send the deed over tomorrow; there were too many antiques in the estate that needed to be moved, he couldn’t let Master Zhou benefit from them cheaply.

The Emperor sensed the accusation in his son’s eyes, as if he could hear his son say, "Father, I have a whole family to support. There are not many estates to my name, and I am truly poor."

The Emperor knew exactly what he owned, especially the finest ones he kept, and coughed, "You also have merits, my son. I bestow upon you an estate in Jingnan of a hundred and thirty mu."

The Crown Prince’s eyes brightened, now feeling much more comfortable. He knew of this estate, as the Emperor had taken him there before, "I thank the Emperor, my father."

Zhou Shuren, "...."

Inwardly chuckling, he now understood, the Emperor was only stingy with outsiders. As an outsider himself, the Emperor was simply reluctant to give rewards!