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

Chapter 596: Chapter 596: Rushing Fire to the Heart_1

Zhulan received the letter and went back to the rear courtyard. Without changing her clothes, she tore open the envelope. Her hand, clutching the letter, clenched tightly; her heart felt heavy.

Zhou Shuren, the eldest son, quickly supported his mother, ”Mother, are you alright?”

Zhulan, sitting and pressing on her brow, replied, ”I’m fine.”

Zhou Shuren took the letter and swiftly read through it; his grandmother was seriously ill, ”Mother, I will go to Lizhou City.”

Zhulan gestured for her eldest to leave, and though Zhou Shuren opened his mouth to speak, he eventually withdrew; at this moment, mother needed peace.

Zhulan felt distressed. She had always regarded her original parents as her own, and she had always kept in contact with Lizhou. A throbbing headache ensued; her mother’s health had deteriorated severely after a major illness and had always been weak, even though she had consistently sent precious medicinal materials to nourish her. On the outside, her mother appeared well, but inside, she was like a funnel; no matter how much she supplemented, it was futile.

A premonition rose in Zhulan’s heart that this time, her mother would not pull through. If her mother had not fallen critically ill before, she might have had some confidence she could recover, but now, tears fell from Zhulan’s eyes without her noticing.

Mama Song opened her mouth, ”My lady, are you alright?”

Zhulan took her handkerchief and wiped her tears, her voice hoarse, ”I’m fine, I just need to lie down for a while.”

Mama Song busied herself fetching a change of clothes.

In the main house, Lady Li had just scolded her youngest son when she saw the family head return with a troubled look, ”Didn’t you accompany mother to the Min residence? Why do you look so upset, were you mistreated?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head, ”A letter came from Lizhou, grandmother is very ill and not likely to make it.”

Lady Li exclaimed, and a somber feeling overcame her heart. She had the most affection for her maternal family and was reminded of her deceased grandmother. Sitting down on a chair, she lamented, ”Why can’t good people live longer?”

Zhou Shuren said, ”After Wu Dong passed away, grandmother lost more than half her life.”

This made Lady Li feel even worse, ”Did mother say anything?”

”Mother didn’t say anything, and that’s what worries me.”

Zhou Shuren knew how well his grandmother had treated their family since he was a child; during the times of war, it was thanks to his maternal grandparents that their family remained safe.

Lady Li steeled her resolve, ”I’ll copy scriptures then. I’ll accompany mother to the temple a few times. I have copied numerous scriptures in hopes of keeping the family safe; I could try it.”

Zhou Shuren held Lady Li’s hand, ”Then copy as many as you can.”

Lady Li asked, ”How many... should I copy?”

Zhou Shuren didn’t understand these matters, ”I remember last time it was Chang Zhi who suggested it; should I ask Chang Zhi?”

Lady Li held onto her husband’s hand tightly, ”No, not necessary, I don’t think Chang Zhi understands; I will ask someone who often prays to Buddha.”

Zhou Shuren’s hand was a bit sore; Lady Li was still afraid of the fourth brother. After a moment of silence, he also felt quite afraid of the fourth brother.

In the afternoon, the Zhou family summoned a doctor as Zhulan woke up with a fever, too weak to even sit up. Hardly awake, she soon lost consciousness again. Zhulan’s constitution had always been frail since giving birth, and she never fully recovered, always fragile.

All her worries burst forth this time around.

Zhou Shuren waited anxiously for the doctor to diagnose the pulse, pacing around in distress. As the doctor stood up, he asked, ”Doctor, how is she?”

The doctor was the best in Jinzhou Province, long employed by the Zhou family, ”Her emotions are knotted in her heart, causing an acute onset of internal fire. She will need to be well taken care of in the future. I will write a prescription now; she must start taking the medicine immediately.”

Zhou Shuren looked at his mother, who had her eyes closed. Even after hearing the doctor’s words, he felt extremely anxious. His mother was fine this morning and now bedridden. He kept the doctor on hand, ready to help at a moment’s notice, and sent the second eldest to fetch the medicine personally.

Because she was pregnant, Su Xuan sat down and looked at the crowded room, her brows furrowed, ”Big brother, let’s keep eldest sister-in-law and little sister; everyone else should leave, there are too many people in the room.”

Zhou Shuren, seeing his younger sister’s stern expression, felt intimidated. She was truly fitting of a Magistrate with her serious demeanor and commanding presence, ”Everyone, please leave.”

Being a Magistrate, Su Xuan’s authority prevented Zhao’s family from staying. They had no choice but to leave with their daughter first.

Wu Ning also left with Yu Lu.

Now the room was less crowded, and the windows were open, allowing air to flow and making it much more comfortable inside.

Su Xuan turned to her eldest brother and said, ”Big brother, have you sent someone to inform dad?”

Zhou Eldest, ”...”

He felt like he was finished. Caught up in his worry and agitation, he completely forgot to tell dad.

Su Xuan watched her eldest brother find a young servant to send the message and stayed silent. The Zhou household couldn’t function without grandmother; indeed, when faced with serious matters, the eldest sister-in-law was inadequate, but the eldest brother at least had some responsibility, even though his civilian status was a major detriment. The second brother was the same as the eldest. The third brother could do better at home, but unfortunately, the third brother wasn’t there.

The eldest sister-in-law and the second sister-in-law couldn’t uphold the entire Zhou household. The eldest sister-in-law wasn’t cunning enough, and the second sister-in-law was too shortsighted.

Luckily, they had the youngest sister to support the Zhou household. But now, as Su Xuan touched her stomach, with grandmother sick, she would have to attend some banquets in her place.

At the Government Office, Zhou Shuren knocked over the inkstone after hearing the young servant’s message and got up in a fluster, ”Return home.”

Fortunately, it was just behind the Government Office. Zhou Shuren hurried home and, upon entering the room, saw Zhulan lying there. His mind went blank, his eyes fixated only on Zhulan.

Zhou Shuren rushed out of the Government Office; it didn’t take long for the entire office to find out that Magistrate Zhou’s wife was ill.

Official Wang sighed, ”I’ve worked with Magistrate Zhou for so long, and this is the first time I’ve seen him so flustered.”

It was as if the sky had fallen. He had witnessed firsthand Magistrate Zhou’s affection for Lady Yang.

Official Wang, ”Yes, this is the first time I’ve seen it too.”

Back at the Zhou household, Zhou Shuren didn’t hear what the eldest had said. He just kept calling Zhulan’s name over and over, holding her hands in his. Only when he felt her warmth did he feel somewhat reassured. Heaven only knows what went through his mind when he heard Zhulan had fainted.

Lady Li was tugging at the head of the family. ”Would you please keep quiet? Father can’t listen to anything right now, so don’t make father angry later.”

Eventually, Zhou Eldest became quiet, his eyes on dad. Over the years, except for when mother gave birth to Chang Zhong, he had never seen dad lose his composure like this. Dad’s normally meticulous hair had become disheveled from the rush.

Dad kept calling for mom. Zhou Eldest felt a twinge of emotion. Dad and mom’s love was too profound. Thankfully, mom wasn’t seriously ill.

Su Xuan stared blankly at her father-in-law, thinking to herself that he was a remarkable man. His ambition to rise in rank and grow wealthy had never wavered, and despite Grandmother Yang not being a peerless beauty, he remained devoted solely to her. Having married into the family for over a year, she often witnessed their interactions. Their tacit understanding went without saying; they were as close as one person.

Su Xuan curved her lips slightly, with the example set by her father-in-law and grandmother, the men of Zhou family were indeed commendable.

Zhou Second brought in the medicine, which Xue Han took from him, ”Dad, mom needs to take her medicine now. I’ll feed it to her.”

Hearing about the medicine, Zhou Shuren finally came back to his senses. Not afraid of burning himself, he took it, ”I’ll do it.”

Turning to look at the sons and daughters-in-law in the room, he then realized his own son was missing, ”Where’s Chang Zhong?”

Zhou Eldest hesitated, ”Chang Zhong was scared and crying. Granny Song is consoling him!”

The little fellow had been terrified, crying incessantly.

Zhou Shuren reassured himself and turned to Zhou Eldest, ”Alright, you all go back.”

Chang Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth, dad was only attentive to mom and the little brother, no, the eldest brother too. He had been completely ignored!

Zhou Shuren carefully fed Zhulan the medicine. Awoken by the bitterness, Zhulan weakly opened her eyes, ”Water, give me water quickly. It’s too bitter.”

Her stomach churned; the medicine was genuinely bitter, enough to make her want to vomit.

Seeing Zhulan wake and strong enough to ask for water, Zhou Shuren breathed a sigh of relief, then sampled the medicine himself. Ptui! He spat it out, it was indeed bitter. How much heat-reducing gunpowder was in this?