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

Chapter 562: Chapter 562 The Scapegoat_1

The next morning, Shi Qing left, and for the Zhou family, Shi Qing’s departure had no impact at all. The children still went to the Academy to study in the morning, and each branch of the family was busy with their own affairs.

Zhulan merely sighed for a day before letting go. Everyone has their own path to tread and their own life to continue.

The day after Shi Qing left, the only significant event was the conclusion of Mr. Lin’s case, with executions for some and exile for others.

The capital was permeated with the scent of blood, and Jinzhou Province was no different, with many prisoners in Jinzhou City’s jails also being beheaded as a public spectacle.

Zhulan was worried about Zhou Shuren, but it turned out Zhou Shuren was entirely unaffected. After all, Zhou Shuren had gone to witness the execution himself. Eventually, she couldn’t resist asking him, ”Aren’t you afraid?”

It was not just one or two people being killed. Even if one has seen beheadings in TV dramas, seeing it in person is completely different!

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand, ”Seeing it often, my heart has hardened. I am no longer who I was when I first arrived.”

Although somewhat unaccustomed, after one night, he didn’t feel too distressed. He didn’t even have nightmares, which surprised him. But on second thought, the road to power was destined to be bloody, and he had been mentally prepared for it all along.

Zhulan felt sorry for Zhou Shuren; it was he who had relied upon all along through this journey. In the age where gender inequality was most prominent, there was truly little she could do to help. ”I haven’t been much help, and you’ve had it tough.”

Zhou Shuren saw Zhulan’s look of dejection and kissed her hair, ”You’ve helped me a lot. With our home peaceful, I can fight without worry outside. Your merit is not small.”

Zhulan felt somewhat better and, thinking of the news she had received that day, leaned on Zhou Shuren’s shoulder, ”I didn’t expect Miss Lin to commit suicide at her wedding banquet.”

She had thought that Miss Lin would cling to the position of Concubine and continue to disgust the Fifth Prince.

Zhou Shuren said, ”Someone must have incited Miss Lin.”

Zhulan was stunned, ”Who would it be?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head, ”Aside from the princes, there’s no one else. Miss Lin’s suicide at her wedding has made finding a main wife for the Fifth Prince difficult.”

Zhulan sighed, ”Calculations at every turn.”

Yet another life had been sacrificed on the road to imperial power.

Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan, ”Let’s sleep, these aren’t things we should worry about.”

Zhulan closed her eyes but suddenly opened them, ”Right, I almost forgot. Xue Mei’s letter arrived today; we’re going to be grandparents again.”

Zhou Shuren twitched the corner of his mouth, ”Xue Mei already has four children.”

Zhulan rubbed her forehead, ”Yes, and if she continues at this rate, having seven or eight would be an understatement.”

She had hinted to her daughter that having children in quick succession is not good, but yet again, she was pregnant.

Zhou Shuren was silent for a long while, ”Still, hint subtly once more. After this one, five children are enough.”

Zhulan, ”Mm.”

Her daughter’s health was more important as continuous childbirth was damaging to a woman herself.

In the capital, the decorations of the Fifth Prince Residence had been taken down. Outside the study, the sound of things being smashed could be heard, and the guards and maids shrank their necks, fearing they would bear the brunt of his anger.

Zhang Jinghong’s eyes were bloodshot. The whole idea of using a wedding for auspiciousness was a joke, and the welcoming of the Concubine had not been grand. Despite his preparedness for being the subject of mockery, the number of onlookers that day was indeed vast. He had been ready to be laughed at, but before he could do anything to Miss Lin, she dared to commit suicide.

At the Second Prince Residence, the Second Prince was puzzled, he had clearly told Miss Lin that if she lived, he would protect her and use her in the future. Why had she committed suicide?

The Third Prince, looking at the information gathered, had not expected his second brother to have contacted Miss Lin. The second brother had made a good move; the Fifth Prince’s marriage problems were now even more difficult.

The Fourth Prince was in a good mood, drinking small wine. It didn’t matter to him who had done it; he didn’t care. He had learned patience in the last gambit; someone would lose their composure and act first, so why dirty his own hands?

At the Crown Prince’s residence, the Crown Prince was speechless. Nobody would believe if he told them that he or his father, the Emperor, had done it—the Second Prince had taken the blame!

Time flew by and before they knew it, the end of the year was near. People are forgetful creatures; not long ago, after the beheading, few people ventured out in Jinzhou. Now the streets were lively again, adorned with festive decorations everywhere.

Zhulan’s foot had completely healed. Having not left the residence for a long time, she decided to take Xue Han and Wu Ning for a walk on the street.

Zhulan walked slowly, while the two young girls moved ahead a bit faster, with maids and old women attending them, going from stall to stall.

Zhulan noticed that Wu Ning seemed to have genuinely stopped caring about Shi Qing’s departure. The smile on her face couldn’t lie. Zhulan felt good about this; it was for the best. In the future, she should find a suitable family for Wu Ning; the girl deserved a peaceful life.

Xue Han waved her hand, ”Mother, hurry up!”

Zhulan hurried her steps. Jinzhou City, being the closest prefecture city to the capital, was exceptionally bustling. It was also near Pinggang, and Zhulan even spotted some foreigners.

Zhulan only glanced at them before quickening her pace to catch up with the two girls.

There was a scream in front, a scream all too familiar to Zhulan—it was Wu Ning’s. Then came Xue Han’s voice, shouting, ”Liu Jin, catch him quick!”

Zhulan hurried over and saw the maids and old women protecting Xue Han and Wu Ning. Anxious, Zhulan asked, ”What happened?”

Xue Han said, ”Mother, someone snatched Wu Ning’s purse. I’ve already sent Liu Jin and the house servants after him.”

Zhulan breathed a sigh of relief—it was just a robbery, thankfully nothing serious. ”It’s the end of the year; there’s more people and more thieves and robbers.”

Wu Ning apologized regretfully, ”Aunt, it was my carelessness.”

Zhulan comforted the frightened Wu Ning, ”It’s not your fault. Your attire must have caught the thieves’ attention early on.”

Moreover, the accompanying house servants had stayed close to Xue Han, which was why Wu Ning had been an easy target.

This wasn’t the servants’ fault either; since Xue Han was the young miss of the Zhou family, their first reaction naturally was to protect their own young miss.

Soon, Liu Jin and his group were back. Liu Jin was followed by a young master. Liu Jin said, ”Madam, when I caught up, this young master had already captured the thief.”

Zhulan said, ”Thank you, young master, for your assistance.”

He Shu quickly replied, ”You’re welcome. Anyone would have helped.”

With that, he produced the purse from his hand.

Zhulan gestured for Liu Jin to take it. Feeling embarrassed, He Shu said, ”I didn’t follow for any other reason. I just wanted to confirm if you were the owner of the purse. Uh, I need to leave for another matter now.”

Before Zhulan could speak, the young master had already left quickly. Zhulan nodded to Mrs. Song beside her; Mrs. Song stepped back, and soon the house servants followed the young master.

Because of the unexpected incident, their shopping came to an end.

Back at the carriage, Xue Han said to Wu Ning, ”Quickly check if anything is missing.”

Wu Ning hurriedly opened the purse. All the silver coins were there, not a single coin missing. ”The silver is all here.”

Xue Han was relieved, ”Good that nothing’s lost.”

Wu Ning clutched the purse tightly; thankfully nothing was lost. There was a significant amount of silver in the purse, and it would have been upsetting if it had been lost.

Once back at the residence, Zhulan motioned for the two girls to go rest. After a while, the servant who had been sent to follow returned, and Zhulan inquired, ”Did you find out anything?”