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

Chapter 624: Chapter 624 Poisoned_1

Jinzhou Tavern was familiar territory to Chang Lian; these past couple of years there wasn’t a tavern he didn’t know, and he proactively chose one, ”This one is the most distinctive, and its reputation is the best.”

Ning Xu stepped down from the carriage. The tavern wasn’t particularly luxurious, but it felt comfortable to look at. ”Not bad.”

Chang Lian’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. With that tone and attitude, his identity surely wasn’t simple.

The shopkeeper came out to greet them, saying enthusiastically, ”Young Master Zhou is here, will it be room number two again?”

Chang Lian asked, ”Are there any private rooms available today? Don’t tell me you cleared one out just for me.”

The shopkeeper, smiling, replied, ”Recently, the tavern has reopened and there are plenty of vacant private rooms. Please, Young Master Zhou, your table awaits you upstairs.”

Chang Lian went upstairs with a smile, and once inside the private room, Ning Xu looked around and commented, ”It seems you’re a regular here.”

Chang Lian, taking a seat, said, ”Not regularly. Please sit.”

Meng Jie sat to one side, his eyes vigilant. Ever since he boarded the carriage, the man before him hadn’t toned down his imposing air at all. He was used to his master’s sly fox grins, but this sharp demeanor had the hair on his back standing on end.

Sitting down, Ning Xu asked, ”I remember the last time I was with you there was a young master. Who is he?”

Chang Lian squinted his eyes, ”Rongchuan, my brother-in-law.”

Ning Xu recalled for a moment. It had been a while and everything had happened so quickly, he forgot what he looked like, but he vaguely remembered him being very young. ”He married quite early.”

Thinking of this made Ning Xu frustrated. He was of age and yet, let alone children, he hadn’t even married!

Ning Xu was feeling twisted inside. There were women he had been with but didn’t dare acknowledge their offspring openly—children who would have to bear an identity that couldn’t stand the light of day for their whole lives. Moreover, the Ning family didn’t allow children born out of wedlock; he and his elder brother were the same, both sacrificed for the Zhang family.

Chang Lian didn’t explain; there was no need for an outsider to do so. ”You didn’t come to Jinzhou Province just passing by, did you?”

A hint of amusement appeared in Ning Xu’s eyes; this was a probe. ”I’ve heard a lot of people praising Magistrate Zhou; he took precautionary measures before the snow disaster. I also heard not a single person died in Jinzhou due to the snow, so I came to take a look.”

Meng Jie and Chang Lian both swelled with pride, sitting up exceptionally straight. Chang Lian thought to himself, That’s his father, his own father!

Ning Xu was amused again, looking at Zhou Changlian. This person also thrived thanks to having a good father. Otherwise, how could a Magistrate’s son have a title in front of the Crown Prince? Rubbing his chin beard, it seemed the Zhou family did have some fate with the royal family.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren had just returned home and had dinner when Chang Lian came over. Zhou Shuren was washing his hands. ”What brings you here at this hour?”

Chang Lian looked listless, lacking his usual vitality. ”Dad, I got tricked into saying too much.”

It was only after he returned home that he realized he didn’t manage to find out what he wanted, and instead, he had revealed too much.

Zhou Shuren raised an eyebrow. ”Since when did such a person come to Jinzhou City?”

Not to brag, but Chang Lian was pretty good among his peers. Even Wong Ju couldn’t claim to have completely outwitted Chang Lian. Seeing Chang Lian so downcast made Zhou Shuren very curious.

Chang Lian recounted pushing the cart on his way back and their chance meeting today. ”Ning San’s identity must be extraordinary.”

Zhulan was surprised after hearing this. ”The person I saw today must have been Ning San that Chang Lian mentioned.”

Zhou Shuren asked, ”How did you come across him?”

Zhulan recounted what she had seen, ”I thought with such a fierce and evil appearance, trouble was bound to happen, so I took a few extra looks.”

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, ”He’s back from Dongbei, and just as the borders have had conflicts, this man can wander around; it shows he’s the Emperor’s man, and what’s more, he must have been a spy who went to the foreign clans years ago. I was wondering why the border defense generals seemed to be prepared in advance.”

Zhou Changlian felt more balanced mentally, it was no shame for him not to have outwitted such a character. The man faced life-threatening dangers every day, while he himself merely played it safe practicing Tai Chi, they weren’t on the same level, ”So the beard is a disguise.”

Zhou Shuren silently repeated the name, ”Ning San, Ning San, there are not many powerful families surnamed Ning in the capital.”

Zhulan softly said, ”The largest household belonging to the Empress’s maternal family happens to bear the surname Ning.”

Zhou Shuren’s mind whirred with thoughts, as for the Empress’s maternal family, a superficial knowledge was enough. The Ning family had three sons: the eldest died in battle, the second had a hidden illness, and the third also died in war, ”So, Ning San might be the Empress’s own brother, who faked his death that year?”

Zhou Changlian was astonished; he seemed to have heard an incredible secret and admired his father even more now. His father indeed dared to speculate wildly. He then looked at his mother, her reaction was so quick, figuring out it concerned the Empress’s maternal family in an instant. Zhou Changlian thought to himself that, although his mother hardly involved herself in the affairs of the residence anymore, she still knew everything that she ought to know.

Zhou Shuren hinted to Zhou Changlian, ”He’s not merely asking you to stroll around tomorrow, so you shouldn’t feel pressured. Since he dares to leave the capital, it is evident he is looking to resume his status. My boy, you do have some luck on your side. This is an opportunity, son.”

Zhou Changlian grew excited, indeed, it was an opportunity, ”Father, I understand.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”Alright, you should also go and rest.”

Zhou Changlian had arrived looking dejected but left with his head held high and his strides not small, clearly much excited.

After Zhou Changlian had left, Zhulan remarked, ”Chang Lian indeed has some good fortune.”

Zhou Shuren was also in a good mood, ”Yes, the Ning family is very stable. As long as the Crown Prince ascends the throne smoothly, the Ning family will continue to prosper, even without relying on the Crown Prince, based on their own merits.”

”Speaking of which, the Emperor’s staunch supporters should be the Ning family.”

Zhulan had a rather good impression of the Emperor. Although the Emperor was as scheming as the deep sea, he had never made a move against peaceful and meritorious officials, and not cutting down the grindstone to kill the donkey was already quite commendable.

Zhou Shuren said pensively, ”The Ning Residence has indeed given up too much; among the grandchildren, there are only two, both from the second wife’s family, and one of them is in poor health.”

”Now that Ning San has returned, the younger generation will have one more member.”

The next day, when Zhulan saw Zhou Changlian, ”You didn’t go out?”

Zhou Changlian was very dejected, ”Early this morning, a messenger from Lord Ning San came by, saying that Ning San had returned to the capital first thing in the morning.”

Zhulan frowned, ”It must have been some urgent matter!”

Zhou Changlian was still downcast. It was such a good opportunity to curry favor, and now it was gone, ”Mother, I’m going back to my courtyard.”

”Ah, didn’t you come here to talk to me about something?”

”No, I just wanted to talk to you for a bit.”

It had become his habit. His older and second brothers might not have official ranks, but they were genuinely busy, with the family business growing ever more substantial. Since his brothers often had to leave home, he had grown accustomed to chatting with his mother, often keeping her company when he had nothing else to do.

Inside a carriage in the capital, Ning Xu clenched his fist tightly, then opened his eyes that had been tightly shut. The night before he didn’t know what he had eaten wrong, but he fell ill at midnight and called for a doctor. The doctor was somewhat competent, suggesting that he might have been poisoned.

With eyes closed, Ning Xu reflected. The Crown Prince wouldn’t poison him, nor would the Emperor. Judging from what the doctor said, it had been a while, meaning it must have happened while he was outside the borders. So, he had been discovered after all?