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

Chapter 636: Chapter 636 Silence Equals Consent_1

Scholar Deng said, ”Go ahead.”

Zhulan took out the prepared silver note and handed it to Scholar Deng, ”I need to buy several decent shops, and I also need your help to look for any manors or fields for sale near the capital.”

Scholar Deng thought it was something serious, but this was a minor matter. He was still doing his previous job and was very familiar with these shops and fields, ”I will make sure it’s done well for you.”

Zhulan trusted Scholar Deng to get things done, ”It’s getting late, would you like to stay for a meal?”

Scholar Deng actually wanted to stay, but he had matters to deal with at home, and he was somewhat troubled, ”I need to go back home to handle some issues.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Then let’s wait for another time.”

With his mind on his family matters, Scholar Deng then took his leave.

Watching Scholar Deng leave, Chang Lian said, ”Mother, shall we ask what happened to Scholar Deng’s family?”

Zhulan originally did not want to interfere, but Scholar Deng was a reliable assistant to Zhou Shuren, and if there were unstable factors, it would be better to resolve them sooner rather than later, to prevent a small issue from becoming a big one, ”Send Shen Xing to find out.”

Shen Xing was rarely directly with Zhou Shuren, and comparatively, Shen Xing could move about more freely as Shen Xing’s recognition was somewhat higher.

Shen Xing returned quickly, while Zhulan was having her meal, dining together with Chang Lian and a few others that afternoon.

Chang Lian was somewhat surprised, ”You have returned quite fast.”

Shen Xing said, ”It was easy to inquire about Scholar Deng’s family issue, and it’s not a big deal. Scholar Deng’s daughter has returned home, and Ms. Deng Li’s mother has suggested a match for her. Scholar Deng doesn’t agree, and that’s what caused the disagreement, and now it’s unresolved due to an issue with silver.”

Zhulan asked, ”Was a match actually proposed, or is it a trap set for Scholar Deng on purpose?”

Shen Xing replied, ”I asked about it, and indeed a match was proposed, from an eighth-ranked military officer’s family in the capital. Apparently, the man is Ms. Deng’s brother’s superior officer.”

Zhulan understood, the young girl must have noticed last year, and with ambition, that led to last year’s drama, she really is clever, ”What’s the state of the military officer’s family’s finances?”

Shen Xing said, ”The salary of an Eighth-rank isn’t much, and the family lives in a small courtyard.”

Zhulan asked no further. With such a financial situation, it was not comparable to Scholar Deng’s current prosperity. Scholar Deng had returned to his old profession and had a considerable amount of silver, ”You go have your meal too.”

Shen Xing indeed felt hungry. Since arriving at the Zhou family, he had developed the habit of three meals a day. The Zhou household’s servants were indeed enviable; although they did not have the silver rewards from fighting and currying favor with different factions, their lives were stable without any headaches. The tranquility of the back house meant no threats to life or scheming, a pity that the Zhou household would not easily purchase servants.

Chang Lian asked, ”Mother, do we need to intervene?”

Zhulan was contemplative. She and Zhou Shuren observed from a somewhat detached perspective, so they saw more and had a broader view. Precisely for this reason, both were more cautious. Sometimes knowing too much is not good, but not knowing is even more dangerous. Life is indeed difficult.

Zhulan said, ”Send someone to check out this military officer. As for the marriage proposal, that’s Scholar Deng’s own business. Even though everyone knows that Scholar Deng is with the Zhou family, the Zhou family cannot intervene.”

Chang Lian mhmmed, looking at his little brother who was eating silently. This little fellow had a really good constitution. He was sick yesterday, which scared Chang Lian. That child was the lifeblood of their father, but thankfully he was alright after one night, ”Eat more.”

As he spoke, he put some fish balls, his little brother’s favorite, onto his plate.

Chang Zhong sweetly called out, ”Thank you, third brother.”

Rongchuan wanted to speak but then closed his mouth; Chang Zhong, this little rascal, said something shocking, and it was better for him to keep silent.

The Zhulan household was in harmony, and upon receiving response cards, there were all sorts of speculations. However, since the mistress of the Zhou household had come to the capital, those who originally harbored doubts now believed that Zhou Shuren was indeed sick.

As for consulting a doctor, no one would go that far. Pretending to be sick, as long as one has an accomplice who knows the ropes, it’s very easy to deceive others.

In the inn, Shen Yang angrily threw down the card in his hand, cursing under his breath, ”If he’s sick, then he better never get better, missing the exam would serve him right.”

The young servant picked up the card from the ground and respectfully said, ”Master, you shouldn’t be bothered by this matter. The examination is close at hand; you should focus more on your studies.”

Shen Yang fell silent; he didn’t know what was wrong with him lately, his heart was always restless. He hadn’t absorbed much of his readings. Slapping his face, he realized that he indeed needed to focus on his studies. Without dedication, it wouldn’t do—he had also been inquiring about a lot of news. Not to mention the distant places, a guesthouse nearby housed quite a few scholars from Jiangnan.

Seeing the young master had started studying, the servant breathed a sigh of relief; the old master had said he must take good care of the young master, who was the hope of the Shen family.

At the residence of the Fifth Prince, Zhang Jinghong cycled his breath a few times, then said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, ”What wind has blown all my brothers to me today?”

Since he found out he was an impostor, he had been avoiding his brothers. He was really afraid that if he agitated them, they might kill him without a major accusation.

The brothers had been ignoring him more or less. Why had they all come to his residence today?

The Second Prince fiddled with his prayer beads, ”Fifth brother, I’ve recently discovered you seem to be investigating something. You wouldn’t mind sharing with your brothers, would you?”

Zhang Jinghong thought, no, he minded very much, while a chill went down his spine. How careful had he been, yet he was still discovered.

The Third Prince felt deeply frustrated. To think that the fifth was a fake, he harbored complex emotions towards the people who had switched the princes. He was relieved to have gotten rid of a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince, yet, he was troubled that there was a force he didn’t know about, capable of switching princes. Was he supposed to feel fortunate that he was born so early?

Seeing that the fifth didn’t speak, the Third Prince remarked, ”You seem to be particularly interested in the students at the inn, aren’t you?”

Zhang Jinghong’s heart raced as he scrutinized his third brother. What did he know? But he probably didn’t know anything; if he did, he wouldn’t be in the mood to visit, and there was no doubt in his mind about the third brother’s ability to put two and two together. Thankfully, he had only ordered people to watch from outside the inn.

The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes, glancing at the second brother and then at the third, thinking to himself that it would be nice if these two were impostors too. Unfortunately, they were born too early to be switched out.

Zhang Jinghong was particularly conflicted. On one hand, he wanted to kill Shen Yang, but on the other hand, he had too many concerns, all due to too many coincidences that had led to the delay until now. Now things were getting worse, with several bothersome individuals uncovering some issues.

After exchanging glances, the Second Prince and his other brothers sensed that the Fifth Prince’s silence indicated he was hiding something. Very good, it seems their visit wasn’t in vain.

Two days later, Zhulan held the deeds to houses and land that Scholar Deng had sent her: three decently-sized shops, fifty acres of fertile land, and a deed to a small mountain, totaling three thousand and three hundred taels.

Scholar Deng said, ”At first, the fifty acres were scattered, so I went from house to house to find owners willing to trade for a subsidy of some silver. Although I didn’t acquire an entire manor, putting together fifty acres to build a residence is akin to a small manor itself. Right, the lands are adjacent to the small mountain. Remembering that the Zhou estate had orchards in Lizhou Province, I decided to purchase them as well.”

Zhulan was very satisfied; Scholar Deng had an agile mind, and Zhou Shuren had always held Scholar Deng in high regard, ”I am very satisfied, you have worked hard.”

Scholar Deng continued, ”The list you asked me to check, I have made some progress. The findings are all here.”

Zhulan took over the list, perused it, and narrowed her eyes slightly. Indeed, there were some problems.