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

Chapter 530: Chapter 530: Earned by Oneself_1

Yao Yao released her hand. She couldn’t help her older brother, all she could do was remain silent. She had already decided not to assist the fifth prince, her brother had returned for her. Yao Yao’s nose felt sour, but she still did not cry, as she had another tough battle ahead of her.

In the study, Marquis Yao’s face was overcast, and he coldly regarded his eldest son. He regretted it now; he should not have listened to his father’s advice to keep this child. Now that he was involved, he dared not to touch this son anymore. Oh, right, this lad had also interfered with the marriage arrangement with the Shen family, ”You have meddled in too many affairs.”

Yao Zheyu sneered in his heart. His father, without his disguise, truly had an ugly visage, ”I don’t understand what father is talking about.”

Marquis Yao’s gaze was sharp; he didn’t believe for a second that his son was unaware. The youngster knew that the genuine fifth prince wanted to return to the capital, and the Emperor must also know, his mind was in turmoil. Things might have gone smoothly with Yao Yao’s return, but that had been disrupted.

Yao Zheyu sneered internally. He was sure the Emperor knew, and his coming back was indeed partly to protect Yao Yao. On the other hand, he guessed that the Emperor did not wish the real fifth prince to return to the capital, ”Father, if there’s nothing else, I need to go to the Palace.”

Marquis Yao had a fit, ”Get out!”

At the Jinzhou Government Office, Zhou Shuren browsed through the Lin Residence’s records. The Lin family did not engage with merchants, yet their wealth was still substantial, inciting envy. According to the records, not counting the mansion, they owned hundreds of acres of land in Pinggang alone, and their number of shops was surprisingly large.

Although some were registered under other people’s names, they couldn’t escape his notice.

Mr. Lin’s father-in-law was indeed a person of influence, but he was not adept at managing his estate and had produced several profligate descendants. His reputation was hollow, offering no real financial assistance to Mr. Lin’s family matters.

Zhou Shuren was in good spirits; his male intuition had been correct. Indeed, there was a breakthrough; Mr. Lin had too much wealth.

Zhou Shuren ducked his head and quickly organized the data, the findings were too scattered. He needed to sort them out and present them well to the Emperor, who would surely be pleased.

Mr. Wong Ju sat aside, feeling terribly uncomfortable. He regretted coming to the office. Every time he saw Mr. Zhou reviewing messages, his curiosity was piqued, yet he could only watch without asking. Mr. Wong Ju felt deeply frustrated. If he could do it all over again, he would still... come here, he sighed, for it was safer this way.

In the past couple of days, the number of guards accompanying him home had increased, and he had excused himself from all social engagements at home on account of his wife’s ill health, practically sealing off his residence.

Zhou Shuren looked up to see Mr. Wong Ju daydreaming. He truly hoped Mr. Wong Ju would get more involved, but Wong Ju remained steadfast, preferring to endure his curiosity rather than step forward. It was a pity, as he would have made a wonderful assistant, ”What are you thinking about, Mr. Wong?”

Caught off guard, Mr. Wong Ju replied without thinking, ”Thinking about my wife.”

Zhou Shuren acknowledged with an ”Oh”, and lowered his head to continue his work.

Mr. Wong Ju snapped out of it, realizing he was merely missing his wife, not in the way Mr. Zhou’s gaze implied. He needed a chance to explain!

In the imperial palace’s political hall, the Emperor did not allow Yao Zhe, who was kneeling on the ground, to get up. He liked intelligent people, but not those of the Yao surname. The incident last night, he knew about it; Yao Zhe’s return to the capital had been somewhat unexpected.

Yao Zhe’s head was bowed, his palms already sweaty. He truly feared the exalted Emperor; his scholarly grace couldn’t mask the ferocity deep in his bones.

The Crown Prince’s feelings were complex; Yao Zhe was such an arrogant person, but now that arrogance had been depleted by their father.

The Emperor finally said, ”Rise.”

Yao Zhe, ”Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor turned to the Crown Prince, ”Since Elder Brother has returned, and you haven’t yet visited the fifth brother, and Zhe Yu has been looking after him for quite some time, you should both go see him together.”

The Crown Prince was speechless internally; the fake fifth brother had already been so frightened by the third prince and others the day before, ”Yes.”

Yao Zhe didn’t dare guess the Emperor’s thoughts, obediently following behind the Crown Prince. As they were about to exit, the Emperor’s voice reached them, ”Tell your father that I will take charge of Miss Yao’s second daughter’s marriage.”

Yao Zhe’s pupils constricted, yet he didn’t hesitate for a moment, ”Yes.”

He then quickly followed the Crown Prince out. Exiting the grand hall, his back drenched with sweat, Yao Zhe looked up to the sky. How was he better off than his sister? Both were just pawns, after all.

The Crown Prince hesitated momentarily before reassuring Yao Zheyu, ”Rest assured, Father won’t treat Miss Yao harshly.”

Yao Zheyu was startled. He realized that upon his return, he found the Crown Prince somewhat unrecognizable. The Crown Prince had become more amiable, and even more like the Emperor. At the same time, the Crown Prince’s ability to see through the Emperor revealed the Emperor’s partiality towards him, ”Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince walked on, ”No need to thank me. This is all due to your sister’s own efforts.”

Indeed, Miss Yao was impressive, courageous. But getting married was the greatest leniency the Emperor would allow. She shouldn’t hope for a child.

The Crown Prince looked at the tall walls surrounding them. Some considered this place a cage, others hell, but to him, this was where he loved to be — power!

At the Zhou Residence in Jinzhou Province, Zhulan had just risen when Lady Li and Su Xuan came together, ”How come you both are here at the same time?”

Lady Li looked at her younger sister-in-law, ”You tell her, sister.”

Facing her younger sister-in-law, she had none of the presence of a senior sister-in-law, for her sister-in-law was the formidable Magistrate Anhe, with a title to her name.

With affection, Su Xuan sat beside her mother-in-law, ”Mother, you’re aware I manage not a few businesses myself.”

Zhulan, ”Yes, I know.”

Su Xuan said somewhat coquettishly, ”That’s why, you see, I’ve had my eye on my elder sister-in-law’s pastries for some time now. Mother, I’d like for elder sister-in-law to invest her recipes so I can earn some extra pocket money.”

Zhulan patted Su Xuan’s hand. The girl had plenty of shops in her name. Like many other families, while the business was hers, it was registered under someone else’s name. Su Xuan said she wanted to earn pocket money, but in reality, she was supporting the main family.

Zhulan smiled, ”This is a matter for you guys to decide on your own. You don’t need to run it by me.”

She really didn’t want to micromanage. When the Zhou family was free from crisis, she was happy to relax. It was only when the family faced a crisis that she would become anxious.

Su Xuan grinned at her elder sister-in-law, ”Didn’t I say? Mother won’t meddle. Elder sister-in-law still insisted on discussing it with mother.”

Lady Li gave an embarrassed smile. Having followed her mother-in-law’s lead for so many years, she had only grasped the superficial aspects. She could put on a show, but when it came to using her brain, she still wanted to hear her mother-in-law’s opinion, ”I’ll be troubling you in the future, sister-in-law.”

She knew in her heart that her mother-in-law’s non-interference was a form of agreement. Moreover, her mother-in-law trusted her sister-in-law deeply. If her mother-in-law gave her trust, she naturally would as well.

Lady Li felt happy inside; the main family would have more income in the future.

Su Xuan’s eyes twinkled, ”Once we earn some silver, I’ll help my elder sister-in-law to prepare a dowry.”

Lady Li’s smile froze for a moment. Right, the silver she got was used by the mother-in-law to prepare her dowry. Having seen her sister-in-law’s dowry, she understood the importance of one. She too must save more for the dowry, to provide well for her son and daughter in the future, ”Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Zhulan saw the two getting along and chose not to interject, quietly watching their conversation.

That night, Zhou Shuren returned with a spring in his step. Zhulan asked, ”Is there a joyous occasion?”

”Yes, a breakthrough has been found.”

Indeed, it was great news.

Zhulan too hoped for an early conclusion, ”It certainly is good news.”

As Zhou Shuren changed his clothes, he said, ”Tomorrow, they’ll probably arrange a marriage for the fifth prince.”

Zhulan took his official robes, ”How do you know?”