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

Chapter 688: Chapter 688 We’re Not Close_1

Zhulan said her piece and, without paying attention to her dumbfounded daughter or Rongchuan, quickly stepped out and left.

Xue Han snapped back to reality first, her eyes wide, ”Were those words just now spoken by Mother? I’m not hallucinating, right? It was really Mother speaking and not Third Sister-in-law?”

Rongchuan also regained his composure, clearly understanding that his aunt had seen right through his feelings, ”Just now, it was Aunt who spoke.”

Xue Han’s grip tightened on her chopsticks, ”Mother, Mother.”

After saying ’Mother’ twice, she didn’t know what else to say.

Seeing Rongchuan smiling at her, Xue Han glared, ”Still looking? Eat your meal.”

Rongchuan’s eyes curved into a smile, teasing the young girl who was now feeling shy, ”Yes, let’s eat.”

Now, with only Rongchuan and Xue Han at the table, neither was in a hurry to eat. Even without much interaction, the room was filled with a sweet air, sweet and tender.

Zhulan reached the garden within the residence and stood by the lakeside, spotting the fish in the lake right away, ”There really are fish.”

Lady Dong agreed, ”Indeed, there are quite a few fish!”

Zhulan looked at the carp in the lake, ”This spot is nice; we can go fishing here.”

Lady Dong took mental note, ”I could prepare more fishing rods for my daughter-in-law.”

”Sure.”

In the capital’s tea house, Chang Lian and two young masters from the Yuan family were not chatting in a private room; they sat on the second floor, where they could easily see the storyteller below.

Yuan Er guffawed, ”The good news keeps on coming, the morale of the people is high. Just listen to the crowd downstairs cheering; it’s quite deafening.”

Chang Lian replied, ”Yes, with the country strong and the people safe, the direct impact is evident on the people themselves.”

Yuan Da put down his teacup, ”What Zhou Shuren said...”

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

”What Zhou Shuren said is well put.”

Chang Lian and the others looked towards the source of the voice, which came from a private room. The door soon opened, and it was clear who it was—Second Prince and Fifth Prince. Fortunately, since they were sitting in the open area, they had only been discussing paintings and calligraphy.

Chang Lian hadn’t originally known the Second Prince. It was only after going out with Yuan Er one day, Yuan Er had told him. Later on, he also learned that the Second Prince was often accompanied by the Fifth Prince, and they were usually together.

The three men stood up to pay their respects, but the Second Prince, Zhang Jingyang, gestured with his hand, ”No need for so much formality when we are outside. The room in the private compartment is spacious—would the three gentlemen care to join us?”

Chang Lian and the others heard a question, but the Second Prince’s tone wasn’t really asking. They stood up and entered the private room.

Chang Lian was the last to enter; the door hadn’t closed yet when he heard someone behind him calling, ”Zhou Shuren, what a coincidence.”

Chang Lian recognized the voice even without looking back, and turned around, ”Master Shen.”

Chang Lian was slightly turned aside, giving the Second Prince a clear view of him. The Second Prince played with a teacup in his fingertips and laughed, ”Does Zhou Shuren know him?”

Chang Lian wanted to say he didn’t, but Shen Yang spoke up first, ”Ah, Duke Zhou entrusted me to look after Zhou Shuren. We’re quite familiar.”

Zhang Jinghong stifled a cough, having choked on his tea. He didn’t buy for a moment that Zhou Shuren would ask this man to look after Zhou Changlian.

Zhou Shuren’s son might not be a cunning old fox, but he was a young one all right. It would be a relief if he didn’t swindle others, let alone need looking after.

Chang Lian laughed dryly, thinking to himself how this person dared to say anything, ”Actually, we’re not that close.”

As Shen Yang was about to speak, the Second Prince interrupted him, ”Since you’re acquainted, why don’t you come in as well?”

Chang Lian felt Yuan Er looking at him and imperceptibly shook his head, indicating that he and Shen Yang were really not close.

Master Yuan chuckled behind his fan, ”Not familiar at all.”

As soon as Shen Yang entered, he set his eyes on the coughing man, fury filling his heart. It was this man who had tricked him. He had paid eight hundred silver taels for a fake antique and had lost face. It was fortunate that his distant relatives did not blame him.

But just as Shen Yang was about to show his displeasure, he noticed the man’s attire and froze. This time the accessories indicating rank were there, a prince!

Zhang Jinghong caught his breath, ”Ah, it’s you! You were competing with me for the antiques last time.”

Shen Yang’s legs turned to jelly, ”I didn’t know you were a prince at the time. I have offended you gravely. Please forgive me.”

Second Prince, Zhang Jingyang, smiled warmly, ”Fifth brother, you know him?”

Zhang Jinghong replied, ”Ah, we’ve met once before. This gentleman is quite generous with his silver. He didn’t hesitate to spend eight hundred taels; meanwhile, my purse hardly contains a few taels of silver, so I’m left to freeload on Second Brother’s tea and pastries.”

Second Prince, ”....”

Zhang Jinghong wasn’t lying; there really were only a few silver taels in his purse. Initially disbelieving, he inspected the purse himself and, once convinced, became even stingier. He missed the good old days when Fifth Brother was recklessly extravagant and delightfully naive!

After all, it used to be him who freeloaded off Fifth Brother’s things!

Shen Yang, bowing deeply, didn’t dare move. His calves shook after just bending for a short while.

Chang Lian sipped his tea, watching the two princes’ sharp-tongued bickering with relish. It was quite the spectacle. However, they had completely ignored Shen Yang!

Master Yuan signaled with his eyes for Chang Lian to take a closer look.

Chang Lian gazed at Shen Yang, about to topple over, and was speechless. This one won’t last, will he? In less than the time taken to drink a cup of tea, he is already unsteady? Back in the day, he had trained for this. He looked at the two young Masters of the Yuan household: they too were trained, their greetings smooth and the posture perfectly standard.

Chang Lian felt a sense of admiration. This was the foundation of a grand family, apparent from their behavior and lineage.

The Second Prince didn’t want to see anyone collapse, that would just ruin the mood, ”Stop the formalities, rise and have a seat.”

Zhang Jinghong sneered inwardly; he played the villain while the other played the good Samaritan. ”Now that the Second Prince has spoken, please, stand up,” he said.

Zhang Jingyang continued with a smile, ”Let’s continue with what we were discussing. How did Magistrate Zhou get you to look after Duke Zhou’s son?”

Sweat formed on Shen Yang’s forehead, and he dared not wipe it away. His tone rough, he tried to avoid taking deep breaths while he recounted what Magistrate Zhou had said.

Second Prince Zhang Jingyang found it hard to parse Shen Yang’s words. It was clearly a set-up. Observing Shen Yang before him, he wondered if they really shared the same father?

He and Third Brother used to think Fifth Brother was foolish, but now here was someone even more foolish. Could they have been wrong in their suspicion?

Could it be that their Emperor father had no other intentions for Shen Yang? But that made no sense, for if there were no other intentions, Shen Yang wouldn’t have ranked in the second tier of scholars, let alone stay in the capital!

Zhang Jinghong couldn’t be bothered to watch anymore. Turning to Chang Lian, who was sitting beside him, he asked, ”Why did only the third son of the Zhou family come today? Where is young Master Zhang from your residence?”

Speaking candidly, Chang Lian replied, ”I came only to honour the appointment.”

Zhang Jinghong, understanding the situation as he looked at the Yuan brothers, noted that even though Zhang Rongchuan was a Tanhua, he still relied on the Zhou family, so currently, the young masters of the Zhou household were the ones the Yuan family should contact.

Zhang Jinghong suggested with a smile, ”Try the tea. This is the famous spring tea from this teahouse.”

Chang Lian took up the teacup. The Fifth Prince shifted the topic—a change of subject.

Zhang Jinghong was polite to Chang Lian partly because of Ning Xu, who had invited Chang Lian to the Hou Residence.

The Second Prince smirked slightly, ”Speaking of which, I’m filled with nostalgia. Third Brother and I have dined and chatted with Magistrate Zhou before. It was quite a pleasant time!”

Chang Lian, ”....”

He knew about it. Indeed, his father was the person he admired the most. Extraordinarily impressive!