Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 994: Glory Garden

Chapter 994: Chapter 994: Glory Garden

The Crown Prince rarely saw Zhou Shuren distracted, "Hmm, we’re here."

Zhou Shuren, still dizzy from the carriage ride, then saw a stretch of ruins. He knew about this place; everyone in the capital did, yet few ever discussed it. He had once inquired of Minister Xiao, who refused to talk about it, even telling him to avoid prying into the matter. Consequently, Zhou suppressed his curiosity.

Of course, there were rumors—unreliable rumors from the capital—suggesting that this place was haunted, a forbidden zone, described with such detail as if the tellers had all come here for a day trip. In any case, over time, it became a topic rarely brought up.

Zhou Shuren gazed at the desolate ruins. The Crown Prince had already stepped ahead into them, and Zhou hurried to follow. He didn’t believe the rumors.

Inside, the site had been in disrepair for many years. Fortunately, with winter approaching, there was no need to worry about snakes emerging from the underbrush. A path had been cleared amidst the ruins.

Only when Zhou entered did he realize there were already numerous guards clearing away the weeds.

The Crown Prince walked slowly, occasionally reaching out to touch the colorless stone pillars, "Does Minister know what place this is?"

Zhou shook his head, "Your Highness, I do not. I only know there are stories about this place."

The Crown Prince smiled, "Indeed, there are stories. This place is huge—even my Prince Residence is not half its size."

"I deduced as much from the drawings earlier."

The size of the place was more than just large; it was immense, and the fact that it had lain waste all these years seemed such a waste.

The Crown Prince continued forward, "A great fire, many years ago, devoured everything and buried the Rong family lineage. Are you familiar with the Rong family?"

Zhou’s steps halted, "I do not know much."

So this was the Rong family’s place. What he did know was that the Rong family was one of the right-hand men of the Founding Emperor of the previous dynasty, a noble lineage that spanned hundreds of years. The Founding Emperor could not have established the nation without the significant contribution of the Rong family. Afterward, the Rong family withdrew, a graceful exit very much like the current Ning family, with one difference: the Rong family never had an Imperial Concubine, and none married into the imperial household.

Zhou voiced his thoughts but refrained from mentioning the Ning family.

Listeing to Zhou talk about the Rong family, the Crown Prince smiled, "I know a bit more than you. My imperial grandmother’s surname was Rong, a direct daughter of the Rong’s legitimate line."

Zhou fell silent because of the Emperor, everyone avoided the topic. Since his arrival in the capital, he had never heard anyone talk about it, dare not talk about it. That was the Emperor’s past, and for the Emperor’s mother, what everyone remembered were her posthumous honors, not her real surname. Those who knew wouldn’t speak of it.

Zhou, looking at the desolate ruins, felt a pang in his heart. What exactly had happened back then? The Emperor feigned ignorance, and the Rong family was obliterated.

The Crown Prince stopped, "The area ahead hasn’t been cleared yet. We need to get this cleared before the first snow falls."

Zhou thought to himself how massive this project was, his mind, used to managing finances, was already calculating the immense cost, drawing a sharp breath at the thought of the vast sum of Silver it would require.

The Crown Prince gestured for them to head back. Once outside, he looked back and said, "With the Rong family gone, this place will be converted into the imperial Rong Garden."

Zhou respectfully saw the Crown Prince off to his carriage, then couldn’t help but glance back at the Rong’s site once more. Rong Garden, another continuation of the Rong family legacy. Future generations, upon hearing of Rong Garden, would remember the Rong lineage—a more meaningful tribute than merely refurbishing tombs.

Zhou returned to the Ministry of Revenue and bumped into Zhang Jinghong rushing out in a flurry, almost colliding with him.

Zhang Jinghong, unable to stabilize himself, fell to the ground. Zhou helped him up, "What’s the rush?"

Zhang Jinghong was anxious, "I have asked for leave to return home. My wife is unwell, and I must go to check on her."

Zhou frowned, "Hurry back then."

"Thank you, sir."

Zhang Jinghong was truly afraid. If it hadn’t been a serious matter, Yao Xin wouldn’t have sent someone to the Ministry of Revenue to call him. A chill ran through his heart. Could the child be gone? As this thought emerged, he appeared particularly despondent.

Zhou Shuren had also considered this possibility, counting the days. Zhang Yang’s leg should be almost healed by now.

At the Zhang residence, Yao Xin kept asking the doctor over and over, "The child is really okay? It was just some fetal distress?"

The doctor was somewhat reluctant to answer again, as it was already the tenth time, "Yes, the child is fine. The lady just experienced some fetal distress. Drink the fetus-preserving medicine a few times and take good care and all will be well."

Yao Xin gestured for the old woman to see the doctor out. This was already the fourth doctor she had consulted. She hadn’t believed the first one, but after hearing the same words from four doctors, whom she had found separately in the east, west, south, and north of the capital, she finally believed. Touching her stomach, she had been meticulous in nurturing the child. How could she have suffered fetal distress after just one outing?

Zhang Jinghong entered and saw Yao Xin touching her belly. Because she was looking down, her expression was unclear. Zhang Jinghong’s steps were heavy, and he sat down with a hoarse voice, "We can have more children."

Upon hearing this, Yao Xin knew her husband had misunderstood, "Quickly spit a few times, the good will charm, the bad will charm not. The child is fine; you must not curse him."

Zhang Jinghong snapped back to reality after his immense sorrow and joy rushed back, "The child is alright?"

"It’s fine, just some fetal distress. Hurry up and spit, spit."

Zhang Jinghong spat spat, "The good will charm, the bad will charm not, haha, the child is fine."

Yao Xin waited until her husband was happy before discussing the day’s events, "I’m lucky to have encountered Lady Yang. If it hadn’t been for Lady Yang’s help today, it might have been more than just fetal distress. I’ve been thinking, and it must have been the Fifth Prince’s Residence."

Zhang Jinghong snorted, "Such coincidences don’t just happen. It’s good that Lady Yang took you away."

Thinking about it, he was very frightened and then emotionally remarked, "I’ve seen all sorts of people, but Lord Zhou and his wife have always kept to their principles. Actually, they could have refrained from offering help, as we couldn’t help the Zhou family in any way."

Yao Xin held her husband’s hand tightly. She saw how hard her husband worked and recognized his abilities, but the road ahead was blocked with death, even the future of the child in her belly was visible, "We’re still alive, we will live even better in the future."

Zhang Jinghong smiled, "Right, we will live better."

Yao Xin smiled warmly, "The weather has been good for the crops this year, and the income in silver is higher. Look, we want to give gifts but there are hardly any who dare accept them. We’ve saved so much expense, and it can all be saved for the child."

Zhang Jinghong felt much lighter at heart, "Good, I’ll listen to you."

At the Zhou residence, old Madam Song had heard the news, "A concubine of the Fifth Prince had a miscarriage. The child couldn’t be saved."

Zhulan just couldn’t figure it out, which is why she had old Madam Song pay attention. The misfortune of the Fifth Prince’s concubine at the jewelry store couldn’t be concealed, the news was easy to inquire about. She hadn’t expected it, "She was really pregnant?"

Old Madam Song continued, "Lady Zhang also suffered fetal distress. It seems that the medicine smelled at the time was very harmful to the child."

Zhulan noticed old Madam Song hesitating to speak further, "Is there something else you want to say?"

Old Madam Song continued, "If it really was the medicine that caused it, the old woman stayed with the Fifth Prince’s concubine the whole time. Logically, that concubine should have had a miscarriage long ago, not in the jewelry store; the Fifth Prince’s Residence isn’t close to the store."

Zhulan grasped the implication in old Madam Song’s words, "You think that concubine wasn’t pregnant? Just took some medicine?"

Old Madam Song, "I’m not completely certain, I didn’t catch what the medicine was at the time, it’s just a guess."

Zhulan thought to herself, these medicines are indeed formidable; some are truly unexpected and indefensible.