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

Chapter 473: Chapter 473 An He_1

Chang Lian hissed in pain; the child pinching his back really hurt. Just as he was about to yank the kid out, he saw not far ahead, led by old lady Liu, and behind her was someone Chang Lian recognized: Mrs. Tao, the wife of Magistrate Wang.

The other one, he didn’t recognize. He didn’t believe Chang Zhi, who was missing a screw, would be scared of Mrs. Tao; thus, the kid must be afraid of the young lady.

Chang Zhi hunched over and asked quietly, ”Third brother, have they left yet?”

Chang Lian gritted his teeth, his mouth curled into a wicked smile, ”No, they’re heading this way.”

Chang Zhi freaked out, let go of his third brother, and ran for it. After running a few steps and hearing laughter, he turned back to realize he’d been tricked. With a black face, Chang Zhi said, ”Third brother, I will remember this today.”

Chang Lian, ”...”

No, don’t remember, it’s a disaster to be remembered by the single-minded.

In the main courtyard, Zhulan looked at Mrs. Tao and Miss Su. They had met just yesterday, and here they were meeting again today; Zhulan could tell that Miss Su was clearly the driving force.

With a blush on her face, Su Xuan said, ”Greetings, Madam Yang.”

Zhulan looked at Mrs. Tao; Su Xuan’s identity must be more than just a relative of the Tao family, right? She hadn’t even performed the proper greetings! With some frustration, Mrs. Tao laughed dryly, ”Look at my memory; I forgot to introduce her. Su Xuan is the Magistrate Anhe.”

Zhulan, ”....”

The Magistrate, ah, someone of the second rank, a Magistrate with a title.

Zhulan stood up to pay her respects, ”My greetings to Magistrate Anhe.”

Su Xuan quickly stepped forward to support her, ”You are too formal. There’s no Magistrate here today, just Miss Su.”

Mrs. Tao was almost rolling her eyes. The differential treatment was quite substantial. Not even a hint of dismissal, and here she was, brown-nosing. Where was the domineering attitude from before?

Certain in her mind, Zhulan looked amusedly at Su Xuan blushing. This Magistrate knew Chang Zhi, or else why would a fully-fed Magistrate visit the Zhou residence for no good reason? Smiling, Zhulan said, ”The customs must not be discarded, Magistrate, please, have a seat.”

Su Xuan’s heart was in turmoil. Madam Yang must have guessed it; she was unsure of Madam Yang’s attitude now. Su Xuan was anxious; after all her trouble to fancy the dim-witted scholar, she was about to secure him through marriage, but then his identity changed, catching her off guard.

After so many years, she finally found someone she liked to tease. He was clearly just a dim-witted scholar, so how on earth did he become the son of a Magistrate? It was really depressing!

Her path to matrimony really hadn’t been easy; without parents but with a family inheritance, she was like a meat bun, having seen all kinds of demons. Some people even came begging for her hand as if bestowing alms. Pah, she’d rather not marry. But as she got older, the sleazier those around her became. Just as she was determined to request the imperial court for permission to remain unmarried forever to pray for its well-being and take her revenge, the dim-witted scholar appeared.

Zhulan looked at Su Xuan, who for some reason blushed, then glanced at Mrs. Tao with her stony face, chuckled inwardly, interesting. It seemed that Miss Su had taken a liking to Chang Zhi. Given her bold character, she was very likely the girl who had made an impression in Chang Zhi’s heart.

Liu Ya quickly entered again, ”Mrs. Ran and Mrs. Min have arrived together.”

Zhulan, ”....Please show them in.”

Today was indeed bustling; the Liu Clan and the Qi Clan actually arrived together.

Mrs. Tao, upon hearing this, looked at Su Xuan beside her, then at Su Xuan cooling her expression, ready to be entertained.

When Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Qi arrived together, they hadn’t brought their daughters, who had gone to the temple for blessing yesterday. They both knew with whom Madam Yang had visited.

The two entered and, upon seeing Su Xuan, exchanged a glance, the realization clear in their eyes. Yesterday was just speculation, but seeing the person in the flesh today confirmed it.

The pair greeted her with forced smiles, ”We have seen the Magistrate.”

Su Xuan replied indifferently, ”Please rise.”

Qi Clan truly didn’t take the Magistrate to heart, she was just an orphan after all. Qi Clan was very angry, Magistrate An He was already eighteen, why would she join in the hustle, ”I heard earlier that the Magistrate was returning to her ancestral land before the New Year and thought she would stay for a few years. I didn’t expect her to return so soon.”

Su Xuan was feeling uncomfortable inside. Why should she hide? It was because of their commotion, using her marriage prospects to create stories. She offered a smile that did not reach her eyes, ”I came back especially upon hearing that Third Miss Ran can now leave the house, intending to invite her.”

Zhulan, ”...”

That combat strength, impressive indeed.

Madam Liu pressed her lips with a handkerchief, thinking Qi Clan was really impulsive. Come to think of it, she herself was afraid of Su Xuan’s tongue, which was as sharp as a knife. They all knew very well why Su Xuan had left, this one was always tough, and she was clearly holding a grudge!

Qi Clan was so angry her teeth itched, that wretched girl still had such a sharp tongue, ”Thank you for the Magistrate’s concern.”

Su Xuan responded with a beaming smile, ”I had no choice. You all worry about me, this is what is called courtesy.”

Zhulan almost let out a laugh and quickly suppressed it. Seeing the tea arriving, she cleared her throat, ”This is the newly acquired tea, please have a taste.”

Madam Liu was contemplating and with a smile said, ”Then I must taste it properly.”

Qi Clan also took a sip and then said, ”How come we haven’t seen Miss Zhou today? Speaking of which, my daughter gets along very well with Miss Zhou, she has been talking about her.”

Zhulan, with a smile, replied, ”That girl has gone to class.”

Zhulan didn’t mention anything else. All this talk about getting along was plain and simple—the wish to use Xue Han as a stepping-stone.

Qi Clan squinted her eyes, not believing that Madam Yang could not understand the hidden meaning in her words. Indeed, Master was right, the Zhou family did not want to get entangled with any power. But she had her eye on the prize, and looking at Su Xuan, considering the way the Zhou family conducted their affairs, she was the best candidate for the Magistrate!

Madam Tao sipped her tea and watched the scene unfold—such a grand show. But it was better to stay on guard, both Madam Liu and Qi Clan were not easy to deal with.

Zhulan was watching the back and forth below, thinking that Chang Zhi really should settle things sooner rather than later. Otherwise, she could forget about having peace, not to mention warding off these people’s schemes. Zhulan narrowed her eyes; using such despicable methods on Chang Zhi was not okay.

An hour later, Su Xuan was so frustrated her teeth itched, but there was nothing she could do. Qi Clan and Madam Liu were dragging their feet with her; she wouldn’t leave, neither would they, so she had no choice but to stand up, ”I have matters at home, I must excuse myself first.”

Zhulan’s bottom was sore from sitting, ”I’ll see the Magistrate out.”

Qi Clan and Madam Liu also stood up, ”The hour is getting late, we too should head back.”

Once the guests were sent off, Zhulan rubbed her waist, exhausted. She didn’t drink tea but had a lot of water, and her belly felt swollen. Zhulan truly admired these people; they drank plenty of tea, did they not want to go to the toilet? She had been wanting to go for quite some time, thinking about them still having to take a carriage back to their residences, she truly admired them—she couldn’t compare at all.

Zhulan turned to Nanny Song, ”Ask the Fourth Master to come over.”

Since she had guessed with almost certainty, there was no point in waiting anymore.

Nanny Song chuckled, ”Yes.”

Zhulan, after addressing her son’s call of nature, saw Chang Zhi arriving as well. Looking at Chang Zhi with a visibly tense face, it was rare to see him like this, and then looked outside, ”Chang Lian, if you want to listen, just come in, no need to hide.”

He was not very committed to his hiding spot, with most of his body outside the pillar.

Chang Lian laughed awkwardly, ”Mother.”

He was just there to enjoy the spectacle, honestly.

Chang Zhi’s face flushed red, glaring at his older brother, good, he would remember this!