Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 941: Fond of the Current Zhao Clan

Chapter 941: Chapter 941: Fond of the Current Zhao Clan

Zhou Shuren just wanted to tease Li Zhao, who always used his height advantage to bully him. A few words, however, sparked a lot of speculation.

In the residence of Prince Five, Zhang Yang was lying on the bed, impatiently dismissing two concubines. He thought about what the Imperial Physician had said. Although the poisoning wasn’t deep, it affected his progeny. Thinking of progeny, Zhang Yang’s eyelids drooped. Since the concubines entered his residence, not a single child had been conceived.

Zhang Yang couldn’t help but wonder, who could be behind this? His fourth brother? Impossible, his fourth brother wasn’t stupid enough to act against him in his own residence. So who could it be? He ruled out the Crown Prince first, as they were brothers from the same mother. Even if they weren’t close, the Crown Prince wouldn’t harm him as long as he made no move against him. That left only his second and third brothers.

He felt that his third brother was more likely. Now that his third brother and fourth brother were fiercely contending, but when he thought about the impact on his offspring, he hammered the bed in frustration. Children were important; all his brothers had sons, several of them, yet he was the only one without any.

In the capital, government hall, the Emperor thought about the Imperial Physician’s words, then about Zhang Yang. The women in Zhang Yang’s courtyard had been continuously taking contraceptives. He had even instructed the Imperial Physician to medicate Zhang Yang. There was medicine in Zhang Yang’s body that had built up over time and, reaching a certain point, had reacted with the poison. That is why it erupted in the fourth brother’s residence, and it wasn’t that someone had poisoned him there.

The poison in Zhang Yang wasn’t life-threatening but affected his progeny. Zhang Yang had been consuming it for no short period, nearly half a year already. The Emperor didn’t want Zhang Yang to have offspring but hadn’t poisoned him; someone else was much more ruthless.

This sort of poison wasn’t a strong poison and initially was quite similar to contraceptives. After a year, it became virtually incurable. Now that it had erupted, the Emperor felt like he had helped Zhang Yang. It affected his progeny but wouldn’t completely cut off his lineage.

The Emperor also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as no one had poisoned his fourth son, he didn’t have to be anxious. Even if his son was a scoundrel, he was still his own flesh and blood; he might clip his son’s wings to preserve the lineage, but he would never wish for his son’s death.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was in a good mood. Wong Ju came to report, and Zhou Shuren suggested, "How about coming to my residence for fishing during your day off?"

In summer, he had stocked the lake with plenty of fish and had the steward refurbish the pavilion especially for fishing and tea-drinking.

Wong Ju naturally wouldn’t refuse, "I will bring my grandson along."

"Good."

The more the two children interacted from a young age, the better their relationship would be.

After Wong Ju left the room, he sighed. People say women can turn on you, but he felt Zhou Shuren could do the same. Today Zhou Shuren was smiling like a blooming flower, it was almost blinding!

Qiu Yan chuckled, "You and Wong Ju really have a great friendship."

Zhou Shuren sighed, "That’s why next year Wong Ju will leave the Ministry of Revenue. When he’s gone, what will I do?"

Wouldn’t he be facing a pile of work again? Wong Ju’s arrival at the Ministry of Revenue had truly taken a lot of work off his shoulders. His current leisure time was squeezed out of Wong Ju’s sweat.

Qiu Yan tugged at his mouth corner, beginning to feel sympathy for Wong Ju. Even though he had good relations with Zhou Shuren, for the sake of his own leisure, Zhou Shuren would exploit without mercy. Ever since Wong Ju joined the Ministry of Revenue, his hair had become as thin as Qiu Yan’s!

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan was a bit distracted. Today, there was still no news about Zhang Yang’s poisoning, and he hadn’t made any fuss about it either. There was not a whisper of it, indicating there was something suspicious about this poisoning incident.

Lady Zhao came holding a small wooden box, "Mother, I’ve made some jewelry these past few days. Would you like to see if there’s anything you fancy?"

Zhulan looked at the hairpins inside the small wooden box; they were all quite nice. She picked up one with a ruby, "I like this one."

Lady Zhao also felt the ruby was the best, "Mother, please choose a few more."

Zhulan waved her hand, "One is enough, I have too many pieces of jewelry."

As she spoke, she continued to play with the hairpin in her hand. Zhao’s and Lady Hu got along well, and after Chang Yi went to sea, Zhao’s enjoyed chatting with Lady Hu. Lady Hu liked making jewelry and had given some to Zhao’s, who also got some and found it interesting enough to learn.

Recently, Chang Yi not only sent back letters but also some unpolished gemstones. Zhulan received a few, and each household got some, with the second wife naturally receiving the most.

Zhao’s had more gemstones in her hand and, since not all were of particularly good quality, polished quite a few to make into jewelry.

Zhulan thought this was quite good, Zhao’s had found an interest and hobby, so she wouldn’t be fixating on Ming Rui and Yushuang all the time, and instead, she became more spirited.

Zhao’s saw that her mother-in-law was pleased and was overjoyed. Ever since the family had more embroiderers, she seldom embroidered. Not only because she wanted to enjoy comforts, but she also wanted to protect her eyes. Now that she had a new hobby, she felt her days were more fulfilling, which lessened the resentment of her husband not coming home.

Zhao’s, seeing that her mother-in-law truly wasn’t picky, closed the wooden box, "Husband said he could come back during the New Year and will bring back some high-quality gemstones. Mother, I will make you a set of head ornaments by then."

Zhulan could hear the sincerity, and she liked the current Zhao’s, "Good, when I go out then I will definitely wear the head ornaments you make. However, I can’t say they were made by you."

Although Zhao’s could gain a good reputation for filial piety, it still wouldn’t be good for her. Even Lady Hu wouldn’t boast about making hairpins, let alone Zhao’s, the daughter-in-law of the Zhou family.

Over the years, Zhao’s had come to understand a lot. Knowing her mother-in-law meant well, she was already very grateful that her mother-in-law hadn’t stopped her from making hairpins, "Mother, you are truly kind."

Zhulan felt proud, she indeed could be voted the best mother-in-law in the capital. Cough cough, she had also drawn quite a bit of enmity. Sometimes, when she attended banquets, there were many who made passive-aggressive remarks, not a few pointing out how she was too good to her daughters-in-law.

She had heard that many in the capital with daughters had their eyes on Chang Zhong, and of course some tried to fish for words from her. She made it clear that Chang Zhong would not be betrothed early, and it was too soon for anyone wanting to be her future daughter-in-law.

In the Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi was wrestling with his thoughts, unable to understand why Zhang Yang had been poisoned. The Emperor had hushed up the matter, but he still managed to get accurate information, which said the poisoning occurred in the Prince Residence, but no one had poisoned him, that’s right, no one had poisoned him. The Emperor had people investigate, and so did he.

Yao Wenqi felt that his partner was foolish but not foolish enough to poison someone at this time, which would only make the Emperor more wary.

Now he felt like spitting blood, for poisoning in the future would be even more difficult!

In Prince Liang’s residence, Zhang Jingxi scowled, lacking the mood to perform his duties. He was frustrated and even more so because there were no traces of poisoning to be found. His suspicions shifted from the third brother to the fifth, believing that the fifth was playing the victim!

The more Zhang Jingxi thought about it, the more likely it seemed, fueling his anger. He had no clue what poison had afflicted the fifth, and now the third brother must be extremely pleased!

Prince Chu, Zhang Jingshi, was also puzzled. Could this be the work of Prince Qi? No, Zhang Jingyang wouldn’t be so foolish. The more he thought about it, the more he became wary of the younger brother, suspecting self-sabotage despite taking pleasure in the misfortune of the fourth brother, who had been thoroughly trapped.

In the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren summoned Zhang Jinghong, "Starting tomorrow, you shall assist Mr. Wong in his duties."

Zhang Jinghong was a diligent man. Mr. Wong was definitely leaving next year, and even Hu Xia was going to depart. Recently, Hu Xia had been busy accruing merit in preparation for leaving. Excitement welled up within him, believing his superior intended to favor him, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, Zhang Jinghong was not his first choice; Mr. Lei was. Next year, he definitely had to get Mr. Lei transferred over.