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

Chapter 632: Chapter 632: Entering the Capital_1

Zhulan took the letter and read it over, ”It wasn’t a coincidence to share the carriage, was it?”

Zhou Shuren, ”What bothers me is the use of the Zhou family. This time I couldn’t even avoid it, but thankfully Chang Lian was wise to it and refused Shen Yang.”

Zhulan looked carefully at the letter again, ”Wasn’t Shen Yang already off to the capital early on? Why make use of Chang Lian again?”

Zhou Shuren harrumphed, ”The crucial point is that, despite having gone to the capital early, why did he leave again, and now he wants to go back accompanying the Zhou family?”

Zhulan realized, ”You mean, Shen Yang dares not return to the capital? So he made use of Chang Lian?”

While sipping his tea, Zhou Shuren thought that with Granny Song not around to talk back at home, things were indeed more convenient, ”Shen Yang probably doesn’t know. It must be someone behind the scenes pushing things, using Chang Lian as a shield.”

Zhulan set down the letter in her hands, frowning, ”We’re just about to enter the capital.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”I’ve already sent a message to Scholar Deng, asking him to keep a closer watch on Chang Lian and Rongchuan. Now, Chang Lian is using the excuse of being sick to keep his door shut!”

”That’s probably for the best.”

In the capital, at the Fifth Prince’s residence, Zhang Jinghong also received all the information. He had sent people to investigate in Jinzhou Province and, after reading it twice, confirmed that Zhou Shuren and Shen Yang had no connection, and that the encounter with the young master of the Zhou family on the way to the capital was a coincidence—just too coincidental.

Zhang Jinghong was dissatisfied with the information in his hands, ”Did you find out anything else?”

”Apart from the news on the Graduate Shen’s family, there’s nothing else.”

Zhang Jinghong pursed his lips. He had already read the news about Graduate Shen’s family. Graduate Shen’s father was also a graduate, residing in the county town of Jinzhou Province, and their family had quite some wealth. There were three sons in the family; Graduate Shen was the middle one. Their family background was clean and clear, without any problems.

Zhang Jinghong felt something was off, thinking it was too much of a coincidence. At the time he wanted to harm someone, that person was not in the capital, and now he’s returning alongside the young master of the Zhou family. Although he had the thought to intercept them, Uncle Ning San regained his status and had been keeping an eye on him. Alright, even without the surveillance, he dared not make a move for the moment.

But now it was even harder to act; during the investigation of the past two days, this Graduate Shen had not left the inn at all.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day for Wu Ning to return to her parents’ home. It was already discussed that Wu Ning would return to the Zhou residence, and Wu Yong and Wu Ting were there early as well.

Wu Ning and He Shu arrived, probably around nine in the morning.

Zhulan took Wu Ning’s hand, feeling overwhelmingly emotional. She was still a child in modern times, but now she was already married, ”You must have woken up early.”

Wu Ning’s eyes were filled with a smile, ”Auntie, we had breakfast before coming, so it wasn’t too early.”

Zhulan examined Wu Ning’s complexion, ”Seeing that you are doing well, I can rest assured.”

Wu Ning’s ears turned a little red. She was indeed doing well—without in-laws, she had easily settled in, managing her little household, and felt quite satisfied.

Lady Li smiled, ”Now that you are married, you carry the presence of the lady of a house.”

Wu Ning smiled lightly with her lips pursed. Now she represented the He family, ”Big sister is teasing me.”

Lady Li laughed and did not continue speaking, feeling quite relieved.

Zhao’s wife joined in, ”Big sister is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. She is just showing her concern for you.”

Wu Ning knew that Zhou family’s sisters-in-law were all quite nice, they had never given her the cold shoulder, and she had received much care from them, ”Wu Ning understands.”

Zhulan said, ”Your sister-in-law Su Xuan is heavy with child, so she couldn’t come.”

Wu Ning thought of the Magistrate’s belly and felt a twinge in her heart, ”I should be the one to visit her.”

Indeed, the bridal gifts from her sisters-in-law were all quite expensive; the eldest sister-in-law gave her a set of head ornaments, the second, a jade carved Guanyin for blessing with children, the third gave her jewelry, and Magistrate sister-in-law a box full of ink and brushes.

Today, Wu Ning would stay overnight. Now that she was married, it wasn’t appropriate for her to stay in her old quarters, so Zhulan had arranged another place for her.

After the meal, Zhulan took hold of Wu Ning, ”You’re still young, you can think about having children in a couple of years.”

Wu Ning blushed furiously, ”My husband said the same, he told me that Grandmother had hurt herself due to her young age in the early years.”

Zhulan smiled, pleased that He Shu was so considerate, ”Then I can rest assured.”

Unable to resist, Wu Ning hugged her aunt around the waist, ”Auntie, I’ll take good care of myself, you don’t need to worry about me.”

Zhulan stroked Wu Ning’s hair, sensing that the girl thought of her like a mother, ”Mmm.”

The next day, Wu Ning and He Shu went to Lord Wang’s residence early and returned in the afternoon.

In the capital, within the Palace, the Emperor finished reviewing the zhezi and rubbed his shoulders, asking the Crown Prince, ”Is Zhou Shuren’s third son still hiding out at home?”

The Crown Prince set down his brush with a light tone, ”He’s been hiding all along!”

The Emperor chuckled, ”He really has learned a bit of his father’s trickery.”

The Crown Prince laughed, ”Father, are you talking about avoiding trouble?”

”That’s the only thing I’ve noticed. I haven’t seen anything else, but you seem quite concerned about him.”

Without hiding it, the Crown Prince said, ”I heard Uncle mention Zhou Changlian once, so I’ve been paying a bit more attention.”

He needed to cultivate his own people, and he had faith in the sons educated by Zhou Shuren.

The Emperor responded, ”I just hope he won’t disappoint your expectations, this competition is quite fierce.”

The Crown Prince was aware of this and changed the topic, ”Father, has Mother been dreaming again? It’s no small matter to have so many dreams. Has the Imperial Physician not found out anything?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, ”Your mother is missing your fifth brother. As one gets older, it’s the things they can’t let go of that they reminisce about most.”

The Crown Prince bowed his head, knowing a bit about his mother; even if she missed someone, she wouldn’t dwell on it incessantly. There must be something he was unaware of.

That evening in Jinzhou City, Zhou Shuren returned home with a letter from Chang Lian, ”Chang Lian’s feigned illness can’t go on forever, especially now that people are starting to send over invitation cards.”

Zhulan said, ”Once the illness is cured, some invitations will be impossible to avoid.”

Zhou Shuren set aside the letter. If it weren’t for the complication of Shen Yang hitching a ride, he wouldn’t have been so anxious; an invitation was just an invitation, and he had confidence in Chang Lian. However, with Shen Yang involved, he couldn’t trust anyone. He was afraid Chang Lian and Rongchuan would become stepping stones, and he certainly didn’t want them mixed up in this affair, ”So we have to play this charade to the end.”

Zhulan quickly grasped Zhou Shuren’s intentions, ”You mean to have Chang Lian continue pretending to be sick, and then have me go to the capital to take care of things?”

Only if she personally went, would it seem more credible.

Zhou Shuren didn’t want to be separated from Zhulan either, but he was genuinely uneasy. Zhulan knew quite a bit, and if she were there to keep an eye on things, he would feel somewhat at ease, ”The residence in the capital will be in your hands.”

Zhulan said, ”I wouldn’t mind going, but I’m also concerned about Su Xuan’s pregnancy. Twins are prone to preterm birth, and now everything’s happening at once.”

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand, ”Lady Li and Lady Zhao have changed a lot over the years; they know where to draw the line, and our daughter is there too. If you’re worried, I’ll find a knowledgeable midwife to watch over her.”

Zhulan said, ”I only hope the children won’t be in a rush to come out, and wait until I’ve finished my business in the capital and have returned.”

Zhou Shuren felt this was difficult as he couldn’t leave Jinzhou, and the capital needed Zhulan to hold the fort.

Zhulan rubbed her forehead, ”If not for Chang Lian’s ruse, I would think it preferable for Su Xuan to give birth in the capital. Yet, I worry she won’t be able to endure the hardships of travel.”

Zhou Shuren was speechless, ”I think the Magistrate’s condition won’t tolerate the journey.”

Zhulan, ”I’m just speaking hypothetically. I’ll have someone prepare the luggage.”