Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 963: Beyond the Plan

Chapter 963: Chapter 963: Beyond the Plan

Chang Lian made an agreeing noise, looking back three times with every step he took, while Zhulan rolled her eyes internally, throwing fruit at Chang Lian, "Hurry up and go."

Grasping the fruit, Chang Lian chuckled, only now did his mother seem familiar to him.

When they returned to the third room, Chang Lian occasionally let out sighs of amazement. As Lady Dong was putting the little girl to sleep, she asked, "What’s gotten into you?"

Chang Lian pulled his wife to sit down, "I only learned today that the mother I understand is just what she chooses to show. Our mother is really something!"

Lady Dong thought it was something serious, "Mother has always been remarkable."

In her eyes, her mother-in-law was truly formidable; so many people in the capital looked down on her, yet she faced difficulties with ease and even managed to earn an admirable reputation.

Chang Lian shook his head, "You don’t understand. The remarkable person you know is just her skills within the family. Let me tell you, if women could hold office, mother would be much stronger than me."

Lady Dong laughed dismissively, "It can’t be as extreme as you say."

In her eyes, her mother-in-law was formidable, but women were far behind men.

Chang Lian chuckled softly, "That’s why I say you don’t understand."

Lady Dong felt she understood her mother-in-law quite well; she married into the family early and had always been under her mother-in-law’s wing. Seeing that her husband preferred not to delve further, Lady Dong swallowed her retort.

That night, Zhulan was deeply anxious, "You said you’ve warned them, but can the Navy really win?"

Zhou Shuren objectively responded, "Having warned them, they should not be complacent. With the few ships built in the past half a year, if they all set out to encircle and suppress, even if the Navy has never fought at sea, the chances of winning are still great."

Zhulan said solemnly, "It’s not just about winning. Like you said, they have to be annihilated to serve as a deterrent."

Zhou Shuren hugged his wife, "Mmm, our family has a lot on our plate; we should have treated my elder and second brothers well, but they moved out ahead of schedule."

Zhulan felt somewhat unhappy; she tried to keep them, but her brothers-in-law were very decisive and moved out as soon as they packed, "They know we have a lot going on at home and don’t want to bother us too much."

Zhou Shuren said, "When I have a break, well, I don’t even know if I can take a break this time."

Zhulan was somewhat worried about Chang Yi, "If there’s going to be a naval battle, it will be tough for Chang Yi being abroad. Not just Chang Yi, but everyone who’s developed their interests overseas. It’s hard to say."

Zhulan left her next thoughts unsaid, but Zhou Shuren knew them: a massacre.

Zhou Shuren tightened his grip on his wife’s hand. She was not only worried but also feeling guilty, for they had both played a part in Chang Yi’s departure. "Chang Yi is very smart, and you shouldn’t be so pessimistic either," he reassured her.

Zhulan sighed; she too didn’t want to be pessimistic, "Rest now, you’ve had a long day too."

The couple stopped talking, as if they had fallen asleep, but in reality, neither was asleep. After raising him for so many years, in their hearts, Chang Yi was their son.

The next day, the Ministry of Revenue wasn’t too busy. Having silver in the national treasury was reassuring, and there hadn’t been any major disasters this year, making grain preparation effortless.

Zhou Shuren looked at the statistics sent by the Ministry of War, his mouth curving into a smile.

Qiu Yan took a look and frowned, "This many? Are all the ships setting out to sea?"

Zhou Shuren took it back, "Our Navy has just been established, and our ships can’t compare to the advanced ones of the island nations. It’s good for the Navy to be cautious and meticulous. Now that the national treasury is full, it’s also a good opportunity to train the Navy, which will be needed everywhere once sea trade develops."

Qiu Yan understood warfare; he was just a civil official, "It’s good that the national treasury is still fairly full."

Zhou Shuren, "Full it may be, it won’t last long."

This time, they would surely continue building ships to expand the Navy, as well as developing gunpowder weapons. He dared not even begin to calculate the cost; it was like a bottomless pit.

Qiu Yan patted Zhou Shuren on the back, thinking that having him as an assistant wasn’t too bad.

After Zhou Shuren finished the accounting, he handed it over to the Grand Master of Writing, Xiao Qing stamped it, and the Ministry of War could come to collect the silver.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor stared at Zhang Yang with a stern face, "You’re saying Prince Qi is the mastermind behind the assassination attempt?"

Zhang Yang’s gaze shifted uneasily, steadying his mind before he spoke with conviction, "Father Emperor, this is the evidence I have found."

The Emperor gestured for Eunuch Liu to bring it over. The Emperor was very careful, especially with items handed to him by Zhang Yang, and didn’t examine them himself. Eunuch Liu flipped through the evidence, which included letters and a Jade Pendant.

Eunuch Liu’s hands trembled slightly as he held the Jade Pendant. Indeed, it was Prince Qi’s and not a fake. The handwriting on the letters was also Prince Qi’s, and they were written to Mr. Chen.

The Emperor’s eyes fell on the Jade Pendant, a gift he had given to his son; he could tell at a glance whether it was real or fake, "Very clever."

Zhang Yang bowed his head, "Your son only did what a son ought to do."

The Emperor uttered a double entendre. To get hold of Prince Qi’s Jade Pendant would require being very close to Prince Qi, indeed very clever. He had made such a bold move right from the start. However, the Emperor, glancing at the letters, believed they were written by Jingyang to his maternal grandfather.

The Chen family clan had always been cautious and meticulous; he had never caught them red-handed, and yet now, to have gotten a letter from the Chen family, the Emperor laughed.

Zhang Yang was filled with excitement, "Father Emperor, if second brother dared to target my cousin today, tomorrow he could dare..."

The rest of the sentence went unsaid, but the message was clear.

The Crown Prince hadn’t read the content of the letters, but he understood his Father Emperor. Zhang Yang had given the Emperor an opportunity to act against the Chen family clan—an opportunity that could not be refused—and he became even more wary of the power behind Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang awaited his Father Emperor’s praise, but when no word of appreciation came, he couldn’t help but look up at the Emperor, only to be stunned. He thought he saw a murderous intent in his Father Emperor’s eyes, but on a second look, the Emperor was smiling at him. He must have been mistaken.

The Emperor said to Zhang Yang, "We will investigate thoroughly. I am pleased to see you have grown quite a bit. It seems the fourth has taught you well. Continue to stay by Prince Liang’s side."

Zhang Yang wasn’t content. He wanted to be independent. Zhang Jingxi had always guarded against him, hardly teaching him anything, "Father Emperor, your son..."

The Emperor interrupted, "That’s enough, you may leave as well."

Zhang Yang, looking at the evidence, clenched his fists tightly. He was frustrated, extremely frustrated, but there was one consolation—the Emperor must harbor doubts about Prince Qi.

Back in the Zhou family residence, Zhulan was in the main courtyard, listening to the doctor’s words—Lady Li was actually pregnant!

Lady Li didn’t believe it, "Doctor, could you have diagnosed the pulse wrong?"

The doctor replied, "There’s no mistake. Eldest Lady, your dizziness today is also due to the pregnancy. You must avoid excessive emotional agitation going forward."

Lady Li had always thought her dizziness was caused by anger towards Ming Teng. Previously, Ming Teng spent his days at the Academy, and after returning home, he had his studies, ate his meal, and went to the study to read. She had been truly at ease.

These last few days, with Ming Teng at home, she found his presence annoying in every way, and her temper even more irritable. With their youngest son adding fuel to the fire, she had been feeling chest tightness every day out of frustration. To think it was due to the emotional instability of pregnancy!

Zhulan instructed Mama Song to send the doctor off. With many children at home, they no longer needed any advice from the doctor.

Lady Li was somewhat stunned, "Mother, am I pregnant again?"

Zhulan hadn’t expected this either. The eldest and Lady Li had been determined not to have more children. Modern contraception wasn’t 100% effective, and even less so in ancient times. Zhulan came to terms with it. Lady Li wasn’t that old, so she needn’t worry too much.

Zhulan instructed, "You’re now carrying two lives inside you. You mustn’t drive Ming Teng to fight."

As she said this, Zhulan’s heart clenched. The couple had just fought and beaten Ming Teng. Fortunately, Lady Li had stretched out to break it up.