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

Chapter 676: Chapter 676: Clichés_1

In the front hall, because Rongchuan didn’t like Shen Yang, he didn’t come over with the others; it was only Chang Lian alone.

Chang Lian found Shen Yang quite annoying, too. If they hadn’t both been Scholars, bound to work together in the future, he really wouldn’t have wanted to come. Annoyed inwardly, he was outwardly polite, ”Young Master Shen, it has been quite some days since we last met, is everything well with you?”

Shen Yang said, ”Everything is well with me. I was passing through Jinzhou City and made a special trip to visit. Tomorrow I will be heading to the capital ahead.”

Chang Lian remembered that Shen Yang didn’t have a house in the capital, ”Young Master Shen, are you planning to purchase a house upon arriving in the capital first?”

Shen Yang’s mouth curved into a smile, ”My family has already acquired a house. It just so happens that the house we acquired is quite close to the Zhou residence.”

Chang Lian squinted his eyes. In West City, aside from the properties belonging to the royal family, there were no vacant houses. It had only been a bit over a month since they last met, yet Shen Yang seemed to have changed a lot, ”Oh? How come I have not heard about any vacant houses in West City?”

Shen Yang’s tone carried a hint of pride, ”I only found out after returning home this time. It turns out that the Shen family has distant relatives among the officials in the capital; a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, to be precise. The house was my relatives’, and they sold it to the Shen family.”

Zhou Shuren had just come in and overheard this statement. Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel—if he wasn’t mistaken, that position was held by an official whose youngest son was a study companion of the Crown Prince. What a coincidence, a Deputy Minister was not a low-ranking position!

When Chang Lian saw his father, he promptly stood up, ”Father, you’ve arrived.”

Shen Yang also hurriedly stood up, ”I pay my respects to Minister Zhou.”

After Zhou Shuren sat down and gestured for everyone to be seated, he smiled at Shen Yang and said, ”I overheard just now at the entrance, is Young Master Shen’s distant relative from the maternal side of your family?”

Shen Yang’s heart swelled with pride. Minister Zhou, who previously ignored him, was now taking the initiative to ask about him, ”No, the distant relative is from my maternal family’s side.”

As for why we lost touch over the years, because I acquired my degree, that’s how we reconnected. That bit didn’t need to be mentioned.

Zhou Shuren took note, ”I heard that Young Master Shen is also a Scholar. In the future, you and Chang Lian will be working together. Chang Lian, you will need to look out for each other with Young Master Shen.”

Chang Lian was stunned for a moment. He really didn’t need Shen Yang looking after him. Shen Yang seemed like someone who had been pampered from a young age. Although he had some abilities and was entitled to a bit of arrogance, Chang Lian truly didn’t want to have much to do with him.

Shen Yang felt extremely comfortable after hearing this. Look, Zhou Changlian, who used to give him the cold shoulder, now needed his care, ”Rest assured, Minister, I will certainly lend a helping hand to Young Master Zhou.”

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

He really didn’t hold back. Shen Yang also didn’t seem to recognize his station. Shen Yang and Chang Lian were simply not on the same level. If Chang Lian wanted to trap Shen Yang, it would be all too easy.

Chang Lian watched Shen Yang, who was smug and full of self-confidence, and truly couldn’t bother to speak—where did Shen Yang get this confidence? He would remember Shen Yang, and would see once they were back in the capital.

Taking the opportunity, Zhou Shuren chatted a bit more. However, Shen Yang’s young servant was an eyesore—quite a few little maneuvers there. But Zhou Shuren was now more certain than ever; this person really didn’t know anything, everything had been arranged transparently for him.

It was a pity that, while he should have been a sensation at the imperial examination, he merely made it into the second tier, and that as the last name at that. Zhou Shuren had heard Chang Lian say that many people thought Shen Yang didn’t deserve to be in the second tier. His psychological quality really wasn’t up to par; he was spooked by just a casual visit from the Emperor. Indeed, his own teachings were effective—look at Chang Lian, look at Rongchuan, both had performed beyond expectations!

Zhou Shuren cleared his throat, ”The hour is getting late. Young Master Shen, why don’t you stay for a simple meal?”

Shen Yang was willing since he hadn’t flaunted enough yet, but he had barely spoken a word.

Suddenly, the young servant interjected, ”Young Master, you’ve forgotten that you have to go to the capital today, and you have a visit scheduled for tomorrow.”

Shen Yang paused, then stood up and said, ”The hour is indeed late, and I’ve inconvenienced Minister Zhou with my sudden visit. I must take my leave now.”

Zhou Shuren glanced at the young servant from the corner of his eye, his smile deepening slightly, ”Very well, Chang Lian, see Young Master Shen out.”

As soon as Shen Yang left the Zhou residence’s main gate, Shen Yang furrowed his brows, ”Why did you speak out of turn? And since when was I in a rush to reach the capital?” The young servant quickly bowed his head to admit fault, ”Please punish me, young master, I only wished for your good. Master Zhou is a smiling tiger with a deep and cunning mind. I was afraid you might be taken advantage of by his smooth talk.”

I feel like spitting blood now, I’ve already been tricked into saying quite a bit!

Reflecting on what he had said, Shen Yang realized he had indeed unwittingly said a lot, ”Good thing you reminded me. Let’s go, we’re heading to the capital.”

In the study, Chang Lian pushed the door open and entered, ”Father, why did you let Shen Yang take care of your son?”

Zhou Shuren, ”Your father just wanted to feign weakness to fish for some information.”

Chang Lian, ”....”

Zhou Shuren handed over what he had just written to Chang Lian, ”This is the list of names Shen Yang mentioned just now. Keep your distance from these people in the future, and when you’re in the capital, ignore anything you see related to Shen Yang.”

Chang Lian held it in his hand, hmm, these were all extracted by Father earlier, ”All these are the officials Shen Yang mentioned he would visit?”

Zhou Shuren, ”Yes, your father has a good memory and won’t get it wrong.”

Chang Lian swallowed, his father’s memory was indeed excellent; there were eight names there, and he’d only said them once, yet his father remembered several, ”Father, I truly admire you.”

Zhou Shuren said with a hint of amusement, ”Aren’t you going to ask me why I told you to stay away from Shen Yang?”

Chang Lian smiled, ”Father must be looking out for my best interest. Rest assured, Father, I will be cautious in the capital, and I await your arrival.”

Zhou Shuren spoke deep in thought, ”Previously, I estimated it would take a few more years before I could enter the capital. Now, it’s hard to say.”

Chang Lian felt a surge of excitement in his heart; he hoped his father would come to the capital sooner. With his father steadying the situation in the capital, he would feel more at ease. Heaven knows how uneasy he’s been these days, fearing that he might get implicated and bring trouble upon the entire Zhou household.

Now that his father had given him the list, he felt somewhat more reassured, ”Father, rest assured, I will take good care of myself and Rongchuan.”

Zhou Shuren’s lips twitched, Rongchuan was the last person who needed looking after, having the most formidable father and mother. You still need to bask in Rongchuan’s glory. He wasn’t worried about anything else regarding Chang Lian, just that he should avoid Shen Yang. But on the surface, he had to encourage his son, who knew nothing, and couldn’t dampen Chang Lian’s spirit, ”Yes, father trusts you to take good care of yourself and Rongchuan.”

With his father’s affirmation, Chang Lian’s unease completely dissipated.

Zhou Shuren stood up, feeling a touch of regret, ”Shen Yang left too quickly. If I had detained him for a meal and poured him some wine, I could certainly have extracted some information.”

Chang Lian, ”....”

This is the craftiness of a sly old fox.

Zhou Shuren walked to the door of the study, ”Right, and also keep your distance from Shen Yang’s young servant in the future.”

Chang Lian was very astute, and he voiced the question in his mind, ”Father, is there a problem with Shen Yang?”

”As long as you’re clear in your mind, that’s enough. Remember, work more, talk less, socialize less, and stay put whenever you can.”

Chang Lian swallowed, regretting that he had asked, ”Yes.”

Zhulan waited for Zhou Shuren to return, ”Why were you gone for so long?”