Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 813 Skiving

Chapter 813: Chapter 813 Skiving

The Crown Prince, with a headache, looked over the case files. The Ministry of Justice had too many cases, let alone the backlog of them. He lifted his head, "Deputy Minister Zhou, are you feeling unwell?"

Zhou Shuren’s heart skipped a beat; with a feigned cough, he said, "It rained last night and the temperature has dropped significantly today. I am getting old, and it’s inevitable to feel some discomfort in this body."

The Crown Prince was still very anxious. Although the Emperor had tasked him with overseeing The Six Ministries, it wasn’t meant for him to lay permanent roots there. There was a time limit to his assignment. The Ministry of War, he planned to make a cursory inspection, but not the Ministry of Justice. "I will send for the Imperial Physician right away. Imperial Physician Liu is familiar with your family. Since Liu has retired, his son’s medical skills are even better than his. I’ll ask someone to call him."

Zhou Shuren, "...No, there’s no need, I just need to drink some hot water, no need to trouble the Imperial Physician."

He figured it out; even if he truly were ill, he couldn’t escape it. This Crown Prince—no, the Emperor and the Crown Prince—are squeezing him dry just like pressing oil!

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince understood, feeling speechless. So many people were eager to show their face more, to display their abilities, but Deputy Minister Zhou, on the other hand... Yet, his gaze fell on the desk of Deputy Minister Zhou, and for once, the Crown Prince felt a pang of guilt, alright, he had indeed overworked him.

The Crown Prince cleared his throat, "Deputy Minister Zhou has worked hard. After finishing the documents on the desk today, you should go back and rest."

If Zhou Shuren’s acting hadn’t always been so good, he would have shown a displeased expression by now. A desk full of case files, what does he think I am, a scanning machine? "Yes."

The Crown Prince thought, he would discuss with the Emperor later to reward Deputy Minister Zhou with some of the finest tonics such as ginseng.

Zhou Shuren felt depressed inside, picking up the files. His original intention was to slack off, no, to coast through.

He had accompanied the Crown Prince to The Six Ministries. No matter what the Emperor was thinking, whether he intended to establish Zhou’s support for the Crown Prince or merely believed Zhou capable of uncovering something, Zhou truly didn’t want to get involved with the Ministry of Justice.

Out of The Six Ministries, it was the Ministry of Justice where the waters were the muddiest. The Ministry of Personnel might also be corrupt, but not as murky as the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Rites, dominating alone, had clearer waters. The Ministry of Revenue was like a money bag—anyone who touched it would incur the Emperor’s wrath, as proven by the officials from the Ministry of Revenue who had been purged in recent years.

The Ministry of War was the sector the Emperor watched most closely. Apart from some ambitious figures, the waters weren’t so turbid there, especially after the Emperor’s covert clean-up.

As for the Ministry of Works, it’s better not mentioned at all. The only place left was the Ministry of Justice, which was rife with under-the-table income, a sieve-like presence.

Zhou Shuren, looking at the documents on the desk, wanted to delay his work. But the Crown Prince wouldn’t allow it. He trod carefully, the conspiracies never reached him, but he might end up digging his own grave, truly maddening enough to make him spit blood.

Zhou Shuren, staring at the case files as if he wished to see flowers emerge from them, finally gritted his teeth, putting down his pretense of being busy, "Crown Prince, I have something to say."

The Crown Prince raised his head, "Please speak, Deputy Minister Zhou."

Zhou Shuren took a deep breath, "I am not familiar with the Ministry of Justice. I only know a few officials such as the Minister of Justice and the Deputy Ministers, so I would like to get to know the officials of the Ministry of Justice, from the Minister down to the jailers."

The Crown Prince’s thoughts stirred, "Alright, they will be sent over shortly."

Zhou Shuren didn’t plan to look at the case files anymore. There wasn’t much use since all these documents had been processed and nothing could be gleaned from them. Of course, any fakes would certainly leave traces, but Zhou Shuren didn’t have the time to scrutinize them in detail. Looking through all these years’ documents, huh, he would probably die from exhaustion.

Zhou Shuren saw the Crown Prince also put down the case files and pondered before saying: "Crown Prince, perhaps you could look into the redemption office, the records of silver paid for redemptions."

As long as it’s directly related to silver, the issues are definitely not minor. This could be a breakthrough.

The Crown Prince felt his thought process had been constrained. He was a supreme ruler who liked to see the results and tended to overlook many aspects. He looked at Zhou Shuren meaningfully, "Deputy Minister Zhou, is your health still holding up?"

Zhou Shuren knew he had been caught slacking, and with his head lowered, "I have been considering where to start."

Anyway, he would never admit to wanting an easy ride—that was for sure.

The Crown Prince didn’t dwell on it, "Now that Master Zhou has mentioned it, I feel that we also need to carefully look into the prison administration."

Zhou Shuren felt impressed in his heart, the Crown Prince’s response was indeed quick, truly befitting of His Highness the Crown Prince. The prison administration, in charge of prison guards, the distribution of prison uniforms, food, medicine, and other details, was indeed an excellent starting point for scrutiny.

In the Duke Ning Residence, Ning Zhixiang came back from the newly built study, and Yu’s wife brought over tea, "My lord has returned."

Ning Zhixiang felt happy, and his smile relaxed, "I just looked at the newly built study. Father has placed five bookshelves in there, and together with the books from the Duke Residence, while we can’t claim to have the most complete collection, it’s certainly enough for the children to use."

Yu’s wife pursed her lips, "Grandfather didn’t do it for our son; it’s for his cousin."

Ning Zhixiang frowned, "Don’t talk nonsense, what does the third uncle’s Hou Residence lack? This study was built by grandfather and father for Ning Zhao and Ning Ming."

He was clear-headed, with the third uncle having only Rongchuan as a son, someone he would give stars to if asked, he surely wouldn’t covet the Duke Residence’s study.

This study was purely grandfather and father following the Zhou Residence’s example for their own sons.

Yu’s wife felt discontented and her heart ached when she thought about the dowry, "Yes, third uncle’s Hou Residence has everything, but from what I see, grandmother and grandfather seem eager to give all their savings to cousin Rongchuan."

Upon Rongchuan’s return to the family, he truly became the treasured darling of the old mistress and the old master.

Ning Zhixiang would lie if he said he didn’t mind. Without Rongchuan, because of his own health, grandmother would have doted on him even more. Thinking of Rongchuan volunteering to tutor his son eased some of the resentment in his heart. They were family, Rongchuan understood, and so did he as the elder brother.

Ning Zhixiang said coldly, "From now on, don’t say such mixed-up things. We all belong to the Ning family and must be united as one."

Yu’s wife was at a loss for words. Indeed, they were all Ning descendants, but why should only the elder brother inherit the Duke Residence and the cousin receive a marquisate, while their second wife’s branch got nothing?

In the Zhou Residence, Zhou Shuren’s eldest son and Chang Zhi finally arrived home and headed straight to the main courtyard as soon as they got off the horse-drawn carriage.

Zhulan was discussing the recent household expenses with Zhao’s family and Qiu Niang when she heard her eldest son shouting for ’mother’. She put down the ledger and stood up, stepping outside just in time to see her two sons, "Mother thought she heard wrong. Good, good, mother has been worried about you these past days. Now you two have finally returned home safely."

After Chang Yi was schemed against, Zhou Shuren had also sent someone to investigate but nothing was found, so the matter had to be dropped.

Thus, her heart was particularly worried about the eldest son and Chang Zhi, fearing some plot might be waiting for them on their travels. Now seeing both sons safely home, she felt reassured.

The eldest son helped his mother into the house, "Mother, your son has been unfilial, causing mother to worry."

Zhulan patted her eldest son’s hand, "I don’t like hearing such words. A mother’s worry stretches a thousand miles when her child is away. How can your concern be unfilial? In our family, all of you are filial."

Chang Zhi said with a smile, "Mother, how have you and father been recently? Is your health good?"

Zhulan replied, "Your father and I have been very well."

It was precisely because they were so well that Zhou Shuren often complained, finding it impossible to be lazy at all.

Chang Zhi looked at his mother and thought she seemed to have gained some weight since his departure, so he blurted out, "Mother, you seem to have gained some weight."

Zhulan felt the urge to pinch her own belly. She had indeed gained weight, and couldn’t seem to shed it. Ever since she put on weight, she’d been thinking about controlling it, yet to little effect. Zhulan knew that her body had been well-nourished, and now, with good health, she was beginning to get prosperous.

But she truly wanted to slim down, now quite envious of Zhou Shuren’s weight.