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

Chapter 466: Chapter 466 Miss Ran 3_1

Zhulan had registered all the gifts from her youngest son’s one-month celebration and sealed them away. There were truly a lot of gifts; after the washing-three and full-moon ceremonies, this little one had accumulated several boxes of items.

Zhulan really wished she could exchange them for silver, as silver could generate more silver, which would be better than keeping them stored indefinitely. Unfortunately, the Zhou family could no longer sell the gifts; it would be the reputation of the entire Zhou family that was lost.

Zhou Shuren helped Zhulan massage her shoulders, ”You’ve worked hard.”

”It’s not hard, but the storerooms at home aren’t enough anymore. The family wealth has grown particularly fast these past few years; it’s quite a pity to just leave it piled up.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”Xue Mei is returning, isn’t she? Select some to give her to take back, and pick out some for the clan as well.”

”Mm.”

Zhou Shuren pulled Zhulan up, ”You’ve been tired all day, rest now.”

Zhulan was indeed too tired to continue, ”Okay.”

The next morning, as soon as Zhulan had selected some items for her daughter to take back, Liu Ya came to report, ”Qi Shuren has arrived.”

Zhulan guessed she would come, ”Please invite her in, and just have the young lady come by herself today.”

Wu Ning aside, she did wish to have Wu Ning with her at all times to broaden her horizons, but given Wu Ning’s reputation, those high-rank officials’ wives would not respect her. She didn’t want Wu Ning to be scrutinized like merchandise again.

Liu Ya replied, ”Understood.”

Zhulan returned to the main hall. The Qi Clan had arrived with her daughter; Zhulan stood up to greet them, ”Lady, please come inside.”

With a smile, the Qi Clan lady said, ”I’ve always felt a close bond with you and have always wanted to visit. Unfortunately, you were in your postnatal confinement, but now that you’re out, I simply couldn’t resist coming to see you.”

Zhulan didn’t believe a word, clearly seeing that she had brought her daughter for inspection, and smiled, ”Please, inside.”

After siting down, the Qi Clan lady introduced, ”This is my daughter, Ran Yan, who is sixteen this year.”

Ran Yan barely perceptibly pinched her handkerchief. She knew her mother did this for her, but she was truly afraid, thinking how could anyone sincerely care for a woman who had a broken engagement? She wondered how much Mrs. Zhou knew and felt disheartened, ”Madam, greetings.”

Zhulan raised an eyebrow; she had a rather positive impression of the third Miss Ran, ”Miss Ran, please rise.”

Ran Yan forced a smile. She didn’t think the Zhou family was unaware of her situation—even if she was innocent, once the engagement was broken, the stain was on her, ”Thank you, Madam.”

Her heart aching, Qi Shuren thought of how wonderful her daughter was. Setting aside her talents, just her personality was incomparable to any young lady she had seen. She had only this one daughter, her beloved treasure, who she had personally raised to be outstanding in every respect. Before the broken engagement, her daughter was so outspoken, but now she became cautious and guarded whenever she went out, her face no longer bright with joy.

Zhulan sighed inwardly. Miss Ran bore a strong resemblance to Qi Shuren, both having striking features. Like mother, like daughter; Miss Ran should have been radiant too, but now her cautious indifference was truly ill-suited. Glancing at Qi Shuren, Zhulan recalled what she knew; Qi Shuren was at least a good mother.

It was said that Mr. Ran was famously afraid of his wife; Qi Shuren was his second wife. Mr. Ran’s first wife had left behind two daughters, and after remarrying Qi Shuren, she had driven out the concubines. Currently, the Ran Residence had no concubines, only two old maids that had been kept on.

Indeed, Qi Shuren had often used this fact to anger Madam Liu of Min’s residence, where concubines were not in short supply.

Xue Han entered and respectfully greeted, ”Lady, Miss Ran.”

With a smile, Qi Shuren said, ”Please rise.”

Thinking to herself, Qi Shuren thought that after only one meeting yesterday, she had become quite choosy. She still held some fondness for Mrs. Zhou’s daughter.

Smiling, Xue Han stood up and moved to her mother’s side, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward Miss Ran. She hadn’t been in the hall the previous day, but she had heard some news and now, seeing Miss Ran again, she understood.

Zhulan saw that Miss Ran was uncomfortable and said to Xue Han, ”It looks like summer is coming. The scenery in the garden is quite nice. Why don’t you and Miss Ran go for a walk there?”

Xue Han replied, ”Yes.”

Miss Ran let out a sigh of relief. She did not want to stay in the hall either. Seeing her mother nod, she quickly followed suit.

After the young lady had left, Qi Clan did not come on her own accord today. She had discussed it with the master of the house, who also supported her. With this in mind, Qi Clan felt even more confident. ”Next year, the Fourth Young Master Zhou will be taking the provincial examination, right?”

Zhulan smiled and nodded, ”This child is not in a rush. He’s still too young and indecisive.”

This was not only her and Zhou Shuren’s intention but also the scholar Wu’s. Chang Zhi was too young and too pure-hearted. He still needed tempering.

Moreover, Zhou Shuren did not plan to let Chang Lian and Chang Zhi take the exam in the same year.

Qi Clan was stunned for a moment but quickly understood. There was another Third Young Master Zhou in the Zhou family. Among the two young masters, the father seemed to favor the third one more. Qi Clan opened her mouth, thought of her daughter’s dejected appearance, and decided not to say anything more. She didn’t want to embarrass her daughter. This matter was not urgent—she just smiled and remained silent.

Zhulan thought Qi Clan would continue the topic and sighed internally when she saw Qi Clan lower her head to drink tea. Qi Clan was being considerate of her daughter. This was the real Qi Clan, deeply reserved and not impulsive, and of course, a good mother.

In the garden, Xue Han and Ran Yan sat in the pavilion. Xue Han politely offered, ”This is the newly obtained flower tea. Please have a taste, Sister Ran.”

Ran Yan smiled and took a sip, ”Delicious.”

Xue Han replied, ”If Sister likes it, please drink more.”

Ran Yan looked into Miss Zhou’s eyes and felt a bit more at ease. Over the past six months, she had dared not go out. Gradually, she had attended a few gatherings and heard too much backbiting. She was wary of everyone. Miss Zhou’s non-probing gaze brought a sliver of joy to her heart, ”Thank you.”

Xue Han’s eyes curved in a smile. She always thought Miss Ran’s smile was too forced. Now it seemed much more pleasing to her. Xue Han turned to look at the scenery in the garden and quickly paused, blinking before she stood up, ”Sister Ran, we’ve been out for a while now. Let’s head back.”

Ran Yan felt the time had indeed been long enough, but the rare ease she had felt now tightened again. She had no idea what her mother might have said and whether Miss Zhou would look at her differently the next time they met.

Xue Han said, ”Sister Ran likes the flower tea. I have quite a lot. I will send some to you.”

Ran Yan responded with a light smile, ”Thank you.”

Xue Han, ”....”

That false smile had returned, and it truly made her feel uncomfortable.

The conversation with Zhulan also ended. Qi Clan didn’t bring up anything else; they simply talked about some gossip. Seemingly trivial, the gossip revealed quite a bit of information. At least Zhulan learned that an Eighth-rank Official at the Jinzhou City Government Office was a distant relative of Liu Clan.

After seeing off Qi Clan and her daughter, Zhulan asked her own daughter, ”How come you returned so quickly?”

Xue Han felt it would be better not to say, and replied with a smile, ”Mother, I just noticed Miss Ran wasn’t in the mood to chat, so we came back.”

Zhulan heard the cry of a child and didn’t have time to inquire further, ”Mother is going to see your little brother. Do you want to come along?”

Xue Han was preoccupied with other matters, ”No, I still have some accounts to settle.”

Zhulan stroked Xue Han’s hair, ”You’ve worked hard.”

Without this girl, she would have her hands full.

Xue Han’s eyes curved, ”It’s not hard at