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

Chapter 585: Chapter 585 Too High-Profile_1

Zhou Shuren put down the fishing rod in his hand; he didn’t think Wong Ju was a busybody. In fact, Wong Ju was the last person to meddle in others’ affairs.

Leaning back in his chair, Wong Ju said, ”Mr. Zhou, it really isn’t that I’m paying too much attention. It’s just that people keep mentioning Young Master Shen to me, always hoping I could introduce him to you!”

He couldn’t even avoid them quickly enough, let alone go out of his way to comply.

Zhou Shuren uttered a sound of acknowledgment, ”Then next time someone mentions Young Master Shen in front of you, just flatly refuse and say that this official is no longer taking apprentices.”

Wong Ju’s fishing rod twitched, but alas, he lifted it too soon, and the fish shook free of the hook. Seeing that the bait was still intact, he threw it back into the lake, ”The lord may think I haven’t made myself clear, but unfortunately, I am me, and the lord is the lord. A rejection from the lord himself carries much more weight.”

Zhou Shuren watched the fishing rods in the lake; he truly didn’t want to get involved. However, he figured it was a good opportunity to go fishing and see just how many people would come forward for Shen Yang. The fishing rod moved, and Zhou Shuren patiently waited a moment before picking up the rod, ”Wow, this fish is not small.”

Wong Ju looked envious, as he hadn’t caught a single fish so far, ”Lord, the fish in your residence’s lake are raised quite well.”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”I just picked up a bargain is all.”

The fish in this lake were raised by the previous Magistrate, probably especially for fishing, with lots of carps and grass carps suitable for eating.

Wong Ju was also aware of the things done by the second son of the Hou Residence, the Shen. The Hou Residence really was generous; indeed, Mr. Zhou had picked up a bargain!

The following afternoon, Zhou Shuren met with the aforementioned Mr. Zhang, ”Please have a seat, Mr. Zhang.”

Mr. Zhang smiled, ”I wanted to visit the residence yesterday, but knowing that the lord was resting and didn’t like being disturbed, I had to wait until today to make time to see the lord.”

Zhou Shuren smiled faintly, ”Does Mr. Zhang have business with this official?”

This Mr. Zhang was a very low-key individual, a lover of calligraphy and paintings, and a frequent visitor to the book tower. Shen Yang probably managed to get acquainted with Mr. Zhang there.

Mr. Zhang let out a dry laugh, ”Well, it’s not any big issue. I just wanted to ask if the lord has any intention of taking a disciple.”

Zhou Shuren’s smile deepened slightly; Mr. Zhang clearly understood Shen Yang’s intentions, a person who grasped the way of understatement. He said to himself how one could easily like someone, ”Congratulations to Mr. Zhang on attaining beloved paintings and calligraphy.”

Mr. Zhang’s expression didn’t waver, ”All thanks to the good fortune brought by Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Shuren, ”This official has no intention of taking any disciples. Let alone a Scholar, even if one passed the imperial examinations, this official would not take him.”

Mr. Zhang didn’t linger long; he had just come to inquire, ”Thank you for the information, my lord. I shall take my leave now.”

Zhou Shuren found Mr. Zhang interesting. A man of obscurity, yet he saw right through people; there were truly no fools in the official circles.

In the following two days, Zhou Shuren met a total of four officials. Some he met with directly, others he happened upon at the Government Office, where they discussed Shen Yang, and some even outright suggested he should take on more disciples with potential for his own future benefit.

Zhou Shuren’s mental ledger silently noted these officials; he didn’t pursue an investigation but kept it in mind instead.

Three days later, Zhulan asked curiously, ”Did anyone come to sell you on Shen Yang today?”

Zhou Shuren, ”You’ve used the term ’sell’ quite aptly.”

Zhulan’s mouth twitched, ”Now the whole of Jinzhou Province knows only of Scholar Shen and has forgotten about government granary student He Shu. Scholar Shen’s reputation has gotten very big indeed!”

When the Qi Clan came to visit and chat, they mentioned wanting to find a Scholar with potential for their granddaughter and inquired about Scholar Shen from her!

Zhou Shuren’s tone paused, ”Too high-profile, far too high-profile.”

Being overly high-profile is just abnormal!

Zhulan patted her drowsy son, who was ready to sleep, and replied, ”I guess he hit a wall with you and it threw off his plans for a moment.”

Zhou Shuren, resting his head on his hands, said, ”Today, no one mentioned Shen Yang. I reckon he must have left Jinzhou by now.”

Zhulan exhaled, ”He’d better hurry up and leave.”

The next day, as soon as Zhou Shuren got to the Government Office, he unexpectedly ran into Mr. Zhang—a rare occurrence indeed, and it looked like the gentleman was waiting for him?

Mr. Zhang greeted him, ”Good morning, Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Shuren returned the greeting, ”Good morning, Mr. Zhang.”

Then, Zhou Shuren quickened his pace, and Mr. Zhang hurried to keep up. After a few steps, Mr. Zhang departed, and Zhou Shuren continued walking without stopping, his mind mulling over Mr. Zhang’s words—Shen Yang was leaving today!

Zhou Shuren tapped his fingers on his palm. Mr. Zhang had made a special effort to tell him. Interesting. He thought he had a good understanding of the workings of the Jinzhou Residence’s Government Office, but it seemed his knowledge wasn’t as thorough as he thought.

In the capital, at the government hall, the Crown Prince’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at the memorial. The Emperor glanced at his son several times, finding him composed, which made him involuntarily recollect the scene when the Crown Princess Consort was giving birth. The Crown Prince at that time was nothing but an inexperienced youth.

Eunuch Liu hurriedly ran inside, ”Great joy, congratulations to the Emperor, you have a granddaughter.”

The Crown Prince was delighted. Consort Ran had a fondness for spicy food, and many indications had suggested it would be a girl, but until the child was born, his heart had been in suspense. Now that she was born, ”A daughter is wonderful.”

He was now the father of a daughter as well.

The Emperor was also quite happy. The daughter of the Crown Prince was of a different significance. It didn’t matter whether she was born to a concubine or the Crown Princess Consort; she was precious, ”Good, good.”

The Crown Prince asked, ”Is the child all well?”

Eunuch Liu quickly replied, ”The Imperial Physician has examined her, and everything is fine.”

The Emperor inquired, ”Has the empress been informed?”

Eunuch Liu said, ”A Female Officer from the empress sleeping quarters was present and has already returned to the harem.”

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince, ”I will name this child.”

The Crown Prince felt no discomfort at this; it was an honor for the monarch to name the child, ”Yes.”

Eunuch Liu was also happy. These days, the Emperor had one way of dealing with the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince had another when the Emperor was not around. It scared him witless, but now that the Emperor was pleased, he could finally relax a bit.

The Third Prince also received the news and scoffed, ”I thought it would be a son. Didn’t expect it to be a daughter. If I had known it was a daughter, why would he care so much? But, the proud Mr. Ran must be disappointed now!”

The Second Prince and the Fourth Prince were not very pleased. Only if the Ran family produced a son could they better divide the Qi family clan. Now, it had all been for nothing—they had secretly protected them for nothing, only to end up with a daughter!

The following day, Zhulan met Qi Clan, ”I thought you would have gone to the capital yesterday.”

Qi Clan sighed, ”I wanted to, but I can’t simply enter the Crown Prince’s Residence, and Yan Yan is, after all, only a Concubine.”

Moreover, the Crown Prince’s Residence had many rules. The Crown Prince would not break the rules set by the Crown Princess Consort for a concubine. It had already been difficult enough to see her daughter last time. From her daughter’s words, she understood that the Crown Prince was merely not bad towards her daughter. It was not out of affection, and knowing this clearly, she did not wish to trouble her daughter further.

Zhulan said, ”I haven’t congratulated you yet. Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter.”

The smile on Qi Clan’s face became sincere. She knew that when her daughter gave birth to a girl, there was a touch of disappointment. A son was essential for establishing a powerful legacy. However, her husband did not think so; he felt it was better to have a daughter, as she would not threaten anyone, ensuring that both the daughter and the child would be safe. If it were a son, not only would her daughter be in danger, but the child would be in even greater peril.