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

Chapter 655: Chapter 655: The Trap is Set_1

Ning Xu thought to himself, it was indeed the Emperor who reacted instantly, and he crisply responded, ”Yes, before the list was announced, I saw Zhang Rongchuan outside the tavern. Since Zhang Rongchuan resembles my elder brother greatly, I feared there might be trouble, so I had someone investigate. Later, I learned he was Zhou Shuren’s future son-in-law and dismissed the possibility of a conspiracy. However, since he was too much like a member of the Ning family, I discreetly sent someone to investigate Zhang Rongchuan in Zhou’s village.”

The Emperor wasn’t angry. Zhang Rongchuan did look too much like Ning Shao. Ning Xu’s reaction was also understandable, ”Looking at you, you must have uncovered something. Could he really be a child of the Ning Residence?”

One couldn’t blame him for thinking this way; the child looked like he belonged to the Ning Residence to anyone who saw him.

Ning Xu thought to himself, he did hope the child was from the Ning Residence—their sprouts were too few. Alas, he was not, ”Your Majesty, Zhang Rongchuan is seventeen this year. Don’t you have other thoughts?”

The Emperor’s pupils constricted slightly. At that age, he definitely was not from the Ning Residence, ”Tell me everything you’ve found in your investigation.”

Ning Xu recounted what he had uncovered in Zhou’s village. In the end, he said, ”Two days before the palace examination, I had just received the news. Since Rongchuan greatly resembles the Ning family and the results of the investigation didn’t prove anything, even with my suspicions, I dared not assert anything. I intended to continue the investigation. I ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

The Emperor clenched his fist. The capital, nearly dead, starving, beaten, and almost sold—how could the fury in his heart be suppressed? He stared at Ning Xu kneeling on the ground, ”I don’t blame you. Rise.”

Ning Xu was always cautious. Unless he was absolutely certain, he wouldn’t speak rashly. He didn’t have much to blame him for.

Ning Xu stood up, relieved that the Emperor didn’t blame him, ”Though there’s no evidence to prove it, I believe it’s too difficult to find two people who look almost exactly alike.”

The Emperor closed his eyes. The affection he showed today couldn’t deceive anyone. He loved his eldest son and was lenient towards his second, third, and fourth sons, because he was a father. But this child didn’t resemble him or the Empress at all. Even if it was proven, it might drag the Ning Residence into a vortex, destroy all the arrangements he had made, and turn this child into a target for attack, bringing him danger.

He and the Empress had set up a scheme long ago, which had been already positioned like an arrow notched and ready to be released, creating confusion. The scheme could not be changed now.

Ning Xu remained motionless. The Emperor’s reaction was off. Wasn’t this the time to continue the investigation, to seek out evidence?

He had been agitated a moment ago, but now he was unusually calm. What was this?

The Emperor opened his eyes, ”Today’s conversation is known only to the two of us. You may continue your investigation, and I shall not interfere. But, I want the truth.”

Ning Xu hadn’t seen the Emperor for many years, but he still understood him. The Emperor meant that the investigation was a matter for the Ning Residence alone. Indeed, wherever the child went, he would be seen as a member of the Ning Residence. Even if others found out, they would only think he was a child of the Ning Residence, not associating him with anyone else.

The Emperor let slip some information, suggesting that soon Ning Xu would also know, ”Among those who took the exam this session, there was a 17-year-old who looks somewhat similar to me.”

Ning Xu’s eyes widened a fraction. This was news to him. He clapped his hands, ”When I was in Jinzhou Province, I think I saw him. I even followed him to a tea house, and later, after leaving, I encountered Zhou Changlian.”

The Emperor, ”Oh? There’s more to it?”

”It was just an encounter at first, and afterwards, my mind was preoccupied with the poison, so it slipped my mind. But Your Majesty, what are you suspecting?”

Ning Xu trusted his own instincts. Although Rongchuan didn’t resemble the imperial family, he felt the child was the real deal. The connection of blood couldn’t deceive anyone. If Rongchuan didn’t give the Emperor a different feel, he wouldn’t care so much.

The Emperor spoke softly, ”Tell me, the one who replaced the Prince, did he already know that the fifth son wasn’t dead, so to prevent the loss of usefulness within the palace, he prepared a substitute?”

Ning Xu glanced at the Emperor and lowered his head, ”I believe that regardless of whether the current substitute has become useless, there would always be a backup.”

The Emperor chuckled softly, ”Being prepared is indicative of expert strategizing!”

If it hadn’t been for Yao Wenqi’s unusual actions towards the fifth son, who seemed to have been abandoned, he wouldn’t have kept someone on constant watch. Later, along with the Empress’s discovery and the subsequent findings about the fifth son’s movements, even if he had his suspicions, he wouldn’t have thought in this direction. If it hadn’t been too deliberate, even with his tendency to doubt, he would’ve believed it somewhat. Indeed, it was a clever move.

Unfortunately, while understanding his tendency to be suspicious, they failed to understand the Empress well enough, and they laid too much groundwork. When it’s excessive, it becomes unconvincing.

Reflecting on this, the Emperor mused that Zhou Shuren was indeed cautious. With a nature so carefully prudent, he managed not to give anything away, and this fox was becoming ever more cunning.

In Zhou Residence at Jinzhou Province, Zhou Shuren sneezed several times in succession.

Zhou Changlian grew anxious, ”Father, are you alright? Do we need to call a doctor?”

Zhou Shuren touched his nose, ”It must be your mother talking about me. She must be thinking about me every day.”

Zhou Changlian, ”....”

Knowing the affection between his parents was strong, hearing it put so bluntly still left him quite speechless.

Zhou Shuren’s second son quickly changed the subject, ”At this hour, Chang Lian and Rongchuan should be returning home.”

Zhou Shuren looked somewhat displeased at his second son. He hadn’t finished boasting yet. Holding up a book, he said, ”Don’t worry about them. Hurry up, if you don’t memorize this essay today, neither of you are going back.”

Zhou Changlian’s eyes immediately lost their sparkle. Lately, their father had been rather laid back, easing up on them significantly, but these past few days, not only had he regained his vigor, but he seemed even more spirited. It was quite overwhelming for him, ”Father, my memory isn’t that good.”

Zhou Shuren retorted, ”Even the worst memory will remember after writing it a hundred times. By the way, remember to pay for the paper.”

Zhou Changlian, ”...”

Is this really my father!

Zhou Shuren’s second son felt reassured. He wasn’t fond of studying, but he had a good memory. The only nuisance was the convoluted essays, but thankfully he had his elder brother to fall back on.

Chang Zhi continued to read his book. These past few days, his father had taken over supervising his elder brothers, granting him some relief. He hadn’t resisted taunting them, but unfortunately, after getting angry, his elder brother would intensely study for only a brief period, and his second brother had gotten used to his tactics, completely ignoring his words.

In the capital, at the Zhou residence, Zhulan checked on the three who had returned and then asked, ”How did you perform in the palace examination today?”

Chang Lian replied, ”It was reasonably well.”

Seeing that Rongchuan also seemed fine, Zhulan breathed a sigh of relief, ”It looks like you all did well. I was worried that the unique atmosphere of the palace examination would affect you!”

Chang Lian, having already washed up, joined his mother at the dining table, ”It was a bit distracting. His Majesty kept pacing below, and he often stood by my side and Rongchuan’s.”

The chopsticks in Zhulan’s hand tightened. That settled it; her suspicions were coming true. However, she remained puzzled—who did Rongchuan resemble? Certainly not the Emperor; Zhou Shuren had seen the Emperor plenty of times. Could it be he resembled the Empress?