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

Chapter 634: Chapter 634: Having Its Own Set of Principles_1

Zhulan hugged her son, preparing for the several hours’ journey by horse carriage. Thankfully, with blankets cushioning the ride, it wasn’t particularly bumpy. Having just left the city, Zhulan was already missing Zhou Shuren.

By noon, Zhulan arrived in the capital. Upon entering the capital, she couldn’t help but pull back the curtain of the carriage. It had been a few years since she’d been away, and the capital had changed quite a bit.

Over the past years, the Imperial court’s policies towards merchants had become progressively more lenient. Some of the previously serious restrictions no longer existed, leading to an increase in small traders. Even amidst the bitter winter, the streets bustled with activity.

Chang Zhong was awakened by the lively noise outside the carriage, his chubby hands rubbing his eyes, ”Mother, have we reached the capital?”

Zhulan pulled her son’s hands away, ”Don’t rub your eyes with your hands.”

With that, she took a cloth and wiped her son’s eyes.

Chang Zhong sat up, eager to look out the carriage window, but Zhulan stopped him, noticing he was sweating all over, ”There’s no hurry. In a few days, Mother will take you out to play.”

Chang Zhong pouted unhappily, then became even more despondent, ”Mother, I’m starting to miss Father.”

Zhulan held her son, realizing the little boy knew they were away from home, unlike when Zhou Shuren was absent during the day but would always return at night, ”In a few days, we’ll go back home.”

At the Jinzhou Residence Government Office, Zhou Shuren had little appetite for lunch. Knowing he wouldn’t see his wife or chubby son at home that evening made him lose all motivation.

Lord Wang, on the other hand, had an exceptionally good appetite, ”My lord, eat up, today’s dishes are quite good.”

Zhou Shuren put down his chopsticks, ”I’ve finished.”

Lord Wang had heard some news; he knew of the letter from the capital yesterday, ”Lord Zhou, surely the third son isn’t really sick, is he?”

Seeing Zhou Shuren’s distracted behavior today, he had always believed the illness was an excuse.

Zhou Shuren’s expression remained unchanged, clearly understanding in his heart that Chang Lian was feigning sickness. Fortunately, Zhulan was headed to the capital, giving Chang Lian’s lies some credibility and allowing the charade to continue, ”My wife left for the capital this morning to see Chang Lian. She should have arrived by now.”

Lord Wang was stunned, ”He’s actually sick? The examinations are upon us.”

It was the Emperor himself who had rescheduled the exams, delaying them, owing to last year’s snow disaster and this year’s particularly cold weather. Usually, by this time, exams would be underway, but even with the delay, they were only pushed to the end of the month.

Zhou Shuren sighed, ”Even if he recovers, he’ll need to recooperate. With this weather, I’m not sure if the boy’s constitution can hold up. Three major exams, you know. I remember when I participated, the weather was extremely cold, and many fell ill!”

Lord Wang had vivid memories of Zhou Shuren’s examination year, all thanks to the Emperor’s numerous changes, ”If he misses the exams this year, he’ll have to wait three years, missing his chance.”

Zhou Shuren drank his tea in silence, his mind wandering far away. He wondered if his son missed him at all, that ungrateful little thing. Just last night he’d said he’d accompany his father, but when Zhou went to the government office, his son hadn’t even paid him any attention!

Lord Wang stopped speaking as well, understanding that if Chang Lian missed these exams, it would significantly impact the Zhou family. He related to Zhou Shuren’s frustration, as his own son had missed an examination year, rendering the position his elder had arranged for him useless. Taking the exams again meant far lesser opportunities.

In the capital, when Zhulan arrived at the Zhou family’s gate, Rongchuan was already waiting. He effortlessly picked up Chang Zhong, ”Third Brother is in the courtyard; let me take you, Auntie.”

Zhulan looked somewhat haggard. Although she had recovered a bit, the journey by carriage, despite its smoothness, was still exhausting. Holding her son, plus the biting cold on her face, made her seem especially anxious, ”Did you wait long? At such a critical moment, you can’t afford to fall sick.”

Rongchuan was confident in his health, ”Auntie, I’m very robust.”

”You still have to be careful.”

Rongchuan felt a warm feeling inside. He and his third brother had been eagerly anticipating their aunt’s arrival ever since they received the letter brought by swift horse. Having their aunt in the capital, which seemed ready to devour them at any moment, felt like acquiring a pillar of support.

Wrapped in a fuzzy scarf, with only his eyes peeking out, Chang Zhong remarked, ”My future brother-in-law, the residence here in the capital is so big.”

Rongchuan nearly choked on the wind, coughing several times, ”Why aren’t you calling me ’Brother Rongchuan’ anymore?”

Chang Xhong chuckled heartily, ”No, sis’s husband is my second sister’s husband, and you’re a brother-in-law too, a little brother-in-law for now.”

Rongchuan forgot to be shy and burst out laughing. ”You’re so young yet you have your own set of reasoning.”

Zhulan felt helpless about her son, wondering if she and Zhou Shuren had taught him too well. Despite his youth, he was very articulate and quite adept at assuming the airs of an elder. He was unashamed to call others his nieces and nephews.

Chang Xhong swung his fuzzy hat. ”Dad says I’m the smartest, and he likes me the best.”

Rongchuan fell silent. His uncle truly favored Chang Xhong the most. At first, he thought his uncle was a stern father, evidenced by his older brothers hardly daring to breathe. But once Chang Xhong started running and jumping, ha, no one was more indulgent than his uncle. Fortunately, his uncle never slackened in his educational duties, or else he feared the Zhou family would have a wastrel on their hands.

They hadn’t walked much further when Zhou Changlian and Lady Dong were already waiting ahead.

Zhou Changlian, ”Mother, it’s undutiful of your son to have brought you to the capital.”

Zhulan knew Changlian’s illness was a ruse, but she had still been a bit concerned; it was a relief to her that he was fine. ”Every event has its cause; you cannot take all of the responsibility upon yourself.”

Lady Dong stepped forward. ”Mother, you must have had a hard journey.”

”Not hard at all. Let’s go back to the room to talk.”

”Yes.”

The main room was very warm. Zhulan took off her heavy outer coat, still feeling quite clumsy. ”I might be wearing too much; it’s hard to get around.”

Zhou Changlian felt even more pained. His mother hadn’t fully recuperated and feared the cold. ”Mother, it was all my foolish idea.”

”I think your idea was quite good, avoiding a lot of trouble. All right, don’t think too much about it. Show me the invitations.”

Zhou Changlian had prepared them in advance. ”They’re all here.”

Zhulan checked each one. Some were from the sons of officials who would be taking this year’s examinations; others were from students from out of town wanting to pay their respects. She remembered Zhou Shuren’s words, ”Write down the names from these invitations again, and when you meet Scholar Deng tomorrow, have him check them thoroughly.”

They didn’t want to stir up trouble, and they definitely weren’t going to dig into the background of Shen Yang’s family; just having a general idea about the others was enough to be prepared.

Fortunately, none of the invitations were from the homes of the powerful and influential.

Zhou Changlian went off to take care of it. Zhulan asked, ”Where’s Yu Yi?”

Lady Dong smiled. ”She’s having her noon nap at this time.”

Zhulan, ”Right, right, look at my memory.”

Lady Dong picked up the clothes that Song’s old lady had found. ”Mother, let me help you change.”

Zhulan had never before enjoyed the service of Dong Chuchu helping her dress, and she felt a profound sense of the absolute authority of ancient in-laws. ”No need to trouble yourself; I can manage on my own.”

Lady Dong didn’t insist, knowing that her mother-in-law was not like other mothers-in-law who enjoyed their daughters-in-law waiting on them. ”Mother, then I’ll have the maids prepare the meal.”

Zhulan was truly hungry. ”Good.”

After changing, Zhulan still hadn’t seen Chang Xhong return, frowning. ”That boy must be playing madly with something new. Song’s old lady, have a doctor called in later.”

She was convinced her son must have caught a cold!