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

Chapter 431: Chapter 431 Mental Damages_1

Wu Chun was very fond of his uncle. His uncle was resourceful, cunning, and possessed exceptional abilities. Wu Chun was waiting for his uncle to rise to a powerful position in the capital so that he could lend a hand to his son or grandson. Unless there was a great war, Wu Chun could not hope to advance further in this life.

He was the head of the Yang family, and he could not let down the sacrifice of his own younger brother!

Upon seeing that his uncle was not worried in the least, Wu Chun took a sip of tea, ”It’s easy to find family guards who are skilled in martial arts, including those who have been on the battlefield and those from the Armed Escort Agencies. How many does uncle want?”

Zhou Shuren knew that there would be no peace in the days to come unless the Emperor cleaned up all the troublemakers, ”I trust the people you find, whether they have been on the battlefield or in the Armed Escort Agencies. I only want the ones with the best skills.”

Wu Chun had a clear idea in his mind, ”I will bring them as soon as possible.”

Seeing that Wu Chun was about to return, indeed, Wu Chun had been very busy lately, always patrolling the border. The winter was the busiest time of the year, and it was no easy feat for him to find time to support him, ”Let me see you out.”

Wu Chun, ”Uncle, please stay.”

Zhou Shuren paused for a moment and said, ”Don’t tell your aunt, she’s pregnant.”

Wu Chun smiled, ”Rest assured, uncle; I know what to do.”

His uncle really cared for his aunt. Even if his uncle hadn’t mentioned it, he wouldn’t dare tell her. His aunt was getting on in years, and what would they do if something were to happen? Thinking of his aunt, Wu Chun narrowed his eyes, determined to choose the best skilled individuals.

Yang Wuchun’s high-profile act allowed Lizhou Prefecture City to recognize once again the relationship between the military general stationed there and the Zhou family by marriage.

Zhou Shuren was fidgeting with his Jade Pendant; he truly had not intended to involve the Yang family, but Wu Chun’s bold moves had not only deterred others but had also bluntly shown him that the Yang family was with him.

Zhou Shuren scoffed at himself, forgetting that as long as the Yang family and the Zhou family were related by marriage, they were bound together. Even if he did not want to involve them, the Yang family was always in the game. It was only if he stepped out that the Yang family could step out, and Wu Chun saw things more clearly than he did.

Zhou Shuren thought of the generals and Mr. Hou in the capital who held military power. These people, with the Emperor present, were kept in check by the Emperor. Now that the Emperor was old, it was unknown how many of them had already taken sides. Holding military power and taking sides meant they were in too much of a hurry to meet their demise.

The Princes wouldn’t mind having too little military power, and they had become much more courteous to Zhou Shuren. At least they no longer threatened his life, and the gifts they sent were getting more and more valuable. Zhou Shuren did not decline and accepted them all without hesitation.

Zhou Shuren was well aware that he had alienated almost everyone this time by helping the Emperor fish for traitors, so he might as well accept some Silver Coins to comfort his emotional loss.

The bustling atmosphere of Lizhou Prefecture City was all seen by the Emperor, especially after hearing the words of Zhou Shuren as reported by a Spy, leaving the Emperor speechlessly asking, ”Repeat that?”

The Spy had observed many important figures and even he was impressed by Mr. Hu’s thinking, ”Mr. Hu said that the gifts he received were to soothe his startled heart, and so he accepted them with a clear conscience.”

The Emperor glanced at the list of gifts received by Zhou Shuren, jotted down by the Spy. Of his five sons, apart from the Crown Prince and the youngest, the three other sons were quite generous, especially the second son, who had first threatened and then sent valuable gifts to placate him. The Emperor sneered, ”Zhou Shuren is not afraid that I will settle accounts with him, and he even kept such obvious evidence.”

The Spy knelt on the ground, with a stiff courage saying, ”Mr. Hu said that he prefers silver over goods and has already sold them off.”

So there really was no evidence left, and everything had been sold to merchants from foreign clans. Now, who knew how many times they had changed hands and who outside the border was in possession of them.

The Emperor, ”....”

Indeed, Zhou Shuren was slick and left no trace. Reciting his intention for accepting the gifts in front of the coachman over and over was for the Emperor’s ears.

The Emperor squinted his eyes appreciatively; he liked smart people, even more, those who knew when to advance or retreat and cooperate with his plans. Unlike some who rebelled against him, seeing that he was getting old, their ambitions grew. Heh, what he desired was a continuance of the Zhang family legacy, not for a generation or two of Emperors to create wealth for others!

Feeling the pressure, the Spy bowed his head even lower, not daring to utter a sound, and his back was drenched in cold sweat.

The Emperor smiled and, picking up a pen, he wrote a few sentences and handed them to the Spy, ”Since you’ve been exposed in front of Zhou Shuren, send everything that’s been exposed in Lizhou City to Zhou’s residence. Give this to Zhou Shuren.”

The Spy’s heart trembled. He had been with the Emperor since he feigned madness and peddled folly, and though he couldn’t claim to fully understand his master, he could still discern whether the Emperor planned to reuse someone or not. The Emperor was sending the trained Spies to Zhou’s residence, which meant that Mr. Zhou had passed the Emperor’s final test.

”Yes.”

”You may leave.”

The Spy left, clutching the letter and squinting his eyes. Everyone said the Emperor was ruthless, but that wasn’t necessarily the case. If one knew when to advance or retreat, devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the Emperor, and understood when to hand back the power that had been reclaimed, one could have a good ending. Take Mr. Hu, for instance, who was now enjoying his twilight years, and his descendants’ careers were also going well. It’s a pity that there are too few who understand, as people’s hearts are never easily satisfied.

In Lizhou City, Zhulan foolishly looked at the gold and Silver Notes Zhou Shuren brought back, counting them, ”How come there’s so much Silver?”

After arriving in the ancient era, what she loved most was counting Silver Coins. It was her first time counting so much Silver after being in the ancient era for so long, a whole twenty-six thousand taels of it.

And that was not even counting the box of gold in front of her. Together with the gold, it was almost thirty thousand taels.

Zhou Shuren closed the box, ”I was afraid you’d be worried these past days, so I kept it a secret. These Silvers are all from gifts I received, which I merely exchanged for Silver to bring back.”

Zhulan, ”...That’s way too much, didn’t you say there are people from the Emperor around? Won’t the Emperor overthink it, assuming you’ve sided with someone else?”

Zhou Shuren smiled with curved eyes, ”Not at all. Whenever I accept gifts, I always mutter that it’s for ’emotional damages’. The Emperor understands.”

Zhulan, ”....”

She was convinced by Zhou Shuren’s maneuver.

Afterward, Zhulan became happy. It seemed that Zhou Shuren was saying she could keep the Silver Coins, ”This is the first time I’ve had so much Silver. But speaking of which, by blatantly selling the gifts, you must have offended everyone, right?”

Zhulan joyfully said, ”But we were bound to offend them sooner or later. It’s better to be straightforward and clarify our stance. As a loyal official, the Emperor will be pleased.”

Zhou Shuren gave Zhulan a peck, ”My wife is so clever.”

Zhulan’s face had plumped up, and Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”It looks like you’re nibbling on a bun.”

Zhulan frowned. Before, she only thought Lady Li resembled a bun, but now she did too. She pinched her waist, ”I’ve been gaining weight too quickly due to the pregnancy. I’ve put on two layers already, and it’s a good thing I’m not particularly short, or I would turn into a ball.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t think Zhulan was turning into a ball, but rather her belly had become the shape of one, ”The baby has been growing rapidly recently, there’s even been fetal movement.”

Zhulan smiled, ”It’s a pity the little one is too lazy, hardly willing to move.”

Zhou Shuren helped Zhulan sit down, ”It’s better for the baby to be a bit lazy, so you don’t suffer too much.”

Zhulan was still holding the Money Box, which was full of Silver Notes. She was very excited but thought that she better not go out recently to avoid causing Zhou Shuren any trouble, ”What do you say we should do with all this Silver?”

”It’s up to you, however you want to spend it.”

Zhulan tapped on the Money Box, ”Still, estates and shops, and we’ll use the rest of the Silver to buy properties. It’s more comfortable to be a landlady.”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”Right, I agree.”