Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 817: Seeking Help

Chapter 817: Chapter 817: Seeking Help

Zhulan thought to call out for Granny Song, but immediately remembered that Granny Song was not at home. She signaled the maids to leave before she opened the letter. If it was an urgent matter, she would have to send someone to look for Zhou Shuren at the Ministry of Justice.

The letter from Zhao Bo was indeed a big deal. Zhao Bo’s letter got straight to the point, hoping that Zhou Shuren could help him, to be transferred away from the Jianghuai area. The letter didn’t dare mention the Fourth Prince, but between the lines, one could see that the situation in the Jianghuai area must not be good; otherwise, Zhao Bo wouldn’t be so anxious to seek Zhou Shuren’s help.

The positions held by the Zhao family were not high, especially since a few members of the Zhao family had retired a few years ago, leaving few remaining in the capital with a close relationship to Zhao Bo.

Zhulan tapped on the letter, pondering that she must offer assistance. Not only were there ties between the two families, but the Zhao family in Pingzhou had a profound foundation. Now that a disruption had appeared, who could say what the future held?

Especially since Zhao Bo was currently the one from the Zhao family with the most potential to rise. If the Zhou family helped, the Zhao clan would owe them a favor. Moreover, with grandchildren and children still young, she had to provide assistance for their future.

Zhulan called for a maid. It would be better to inform Zhou Shuren of this letter sooner rather than later. Once the maid called for Wang, the steward, Zhulan handed a handwritten note to the steward, "Give this to the master."

Wang, the assistant steward, didn’t dare delay, cautiously placing it in his chest pocket, "Yes, I will be very careful."

Zhulan blinked her eyes; there’s no need to pretend, you’ll definitely sneak a peek soon, she thought. Zhulan never intended to keep the letter a secret, knowing that the Emperor would eventually find out everything.

At the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Shuren was flipping through the promotion records, treating the Second Prince as if he were air, ignoring his presence no matter how many times the prince circled around him—he simply wouldn’t look up.

Zhang Jingshi watched for a long time. The documents Zhou Shuren was reviewing were presented openly for him to see. He couldn’t determine why Zhou Shuren wanted to look at the promotion records.

And he was also checking the prison guards’ leave and substitute records!

Zhou Shuren compared the names he had noted down, finding the promotion records interesting. Every time certain officials were due for promotion or transfer, something would go wrong and they would stay in the Ministry of Justice.

Zhou Shuren grabbed paper and pen. Bending over to carefully organize his findings, he had identified a pattern. Just as he was about to start writing, however, a large shadow loomed overhead, prompting him to look up, "Second Prince, you’re blocking the light."

Zhang Jingshi straightened up, standing behind Zhou Shuren, "I’m not blocking it now, please proceed, Master Zhou."

Zhou Shuren glanced at the Crown Prince from the corner of his eye. The prince surely heard the commotion but didn’t lift his head. After pondering for a moment and realizing, Zhou Shuren bent down and started recording his findings.

He wrote down the names of several officials in order of their ranks. For those he couldn’t remember offhand, he referred to the ready records and wrote them down as he looked.

He wrote down the names of five officials of small to moderate rank, the highest being only a Fifth Rank. Their positions were carefully judged, not significant enough to catch the eyes of the princes.

Zhou Shuren wrote six papers about five officials.

Zhang Jingshi deliberately did not leave; he wanted to see what Zhou Shuren was writing. It was a good opportunity to test him. Knowing that he stood behind, would Zhou Shuren dare to write down his discoveries? If he dared, it meant that Zhou Shuren remained more loyal to the Emperor than to the Crown Prince, who hadn’t fully won him over yet.

Zhang Jingshi didn’t expect Zhou Shuren to boldly write everything down. Frowning, he watched as Zhou Shuren composed his findings and even summarized them.

The interest lay in the evaluations: those who repeatedly missed promotions had to be up to something.

After finishing his writing, Zhou Shuren massaged his neck and looked at the scowling Second Prince. He no longer wanted to investigate the prison guards; the information he discovered was plentiful. The Crown Prince had been silent this whole time, using the Second Prince as a pawn. It was time for him to prepare to fall ill and recuperate.

Just then, a government official from the Ministry of Justice relayed a message, and Zhou Shuren rose to his feet, "There is an emergency at home, I must step out to check it."

Only then did the Crown Prince raise his head, "Alright."

Once at the Ministry of Justice’s entrance, Zhou Shuren received the note brought by Wang, the steward. After reading it, he tore it up. When Zhou Shuren got back, he had no idea what the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had discussed, but the document he had written was now in the hands of the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince had left with a cold expression.

The Crown Prince seemed in a good mood, inquiring, "Is there a problem at home?"

Zhou Shuren was straightforward, "A friend sent a letter, and my wife was worried it would delay matters so she had the steward inform me."

The Crown Prince was in a good mood today. Not only had he found the items he sought, but Zhou Shuren had also not disappointed him; he indeed had ferreted out the hidden rat. "Lord Zhou does not have many friends, could it be a friend surnamed Zhao?"

Zhou Shuren’s face wore a smile, but inside, he was thinking that there truly were no secrets, "Yes, Zhao Bo has always kept to his duties. Recently, I don’t know what happened at his home, but he even borrowed silver from me."

The Crown Prince smiled faintly, "Indeed, he has kept to his duties."

Zhou Shuren had said what needed to be said, and didn’t speak more on the matter, focusing wholeheartedly on how to take leave for recuperation. He also pondered on how to help Zhao Bo, who this time was not only looking to be transferred but also seeking his protection. With the major purge about to happen in the Jianghuai area, Zhao Bo feared being implicated.

He could imagine how Zhao Bo must be living in fear every day. He wanted to help Zhao Bo and also needed to pull some strings at the Ministry of Personnel. Lord Zhong should be willing to do him a favor.

At the Zhou family estate, Chang Zhong got down from the carriage. At the entrance, an old woman was already waiting. After Chang Li inquired, he said to his younger brother and son, "You can play around the estate, but don’t wander off."

Chang Zhong had looked around from the carriage the whole way and didn’t want to play in the estate, "Big brother, are you going to find Second Brother?"

"Mhm,"

Chang Zhong raised his little chubby hand, "I want to go too. I want to go too."

He had seen many peasants harvesting crops, and he too wanted to join in the fun.

Chang Li’s face darkened; he knew his younger brother wouldn’t listen. Looking at Old Lady Song, he thought, You could at least say something.

Old Lady Song and Shen Xing exchanged glances before she said, "My lord, both Shen Xing and I will take good care of the young master."

Chang Li relented upon hearing this, "All right then."

Three-quarters of the fields at this estate had already been harvested. The remainder was paddy fields, meant as part of Xue Han’s dowry.

Chang Zhong, dragging his nephew along, spotted Second Brother by the field’s edge, talking to the steward. He ran over swiftly, "Second Brother, Second Brother, little brother has come to see you."

Chang Yi’s heart raced as he saw his little brother run, "Be careful and slow down; don’t fall."

After all, this was their parents’ darling; if he got hurt, his father would have his hide.

Chang Zhong grinned widely, "Second Brother, this place is so much fun."

Chang Yi picked up his little brother, "Why have you come as well?"

"I wanted to play at the estate. Mother agreed."

Chang Li, holding his son, asked his second brother, "How many more days until the harvest is complete?"

Chang Yi answered, "Today we hired some villagers, so it should be finished by the end of the day. Tomorrow we can head to another estate. Finally, we’ll harvest the fields gifted to us. Big brother, why don’t you rest a few more days?"

"I just can’t sit still."

Chang Zhong had already noticed the children in the fields. Some were about his age, following behind the adults, picking up fallen rice spikes, and so thin. Chang Zhong couldn’t help but stretch out his own chubby hand, white and plump. He had just scratched the back of his hand on some grass, and now it was as red as if it was about to bleed.

Tugging on his second brother’s clothes, Chang Zhong asked, "Second Brother, why are there children working?"