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

Chapter 723: Chapter 723 Invitation to a Meal_1

The second wife, Lady Zhao, was pacing at the courtyard entrance. Seeing her husband return, she hurried over, ”Mother sent a maid to tell me that you drank too much and fell asleep in the main courtyard. She told me not to worry. I went to check on you and saw you were sound asleep, so I came back. Why did you drink so much? Did father come back? Did he not scold you?”

Chang Yi’s face was smiling, ”Father didn’t scold me, he even comforted me. I’m a bit hungry now, let’s go back to the room for dinner.”

Lady Zhao was surprised; her husband’s joy was written all over his face, and she saw it clearly. Then she was even more astonished: neither her father-in-law nor her mother-in-law had scolded her husband, they even comforted him? Had she worried for nothing?

Chang Yi didn’t hear footsteps behind him, he looked back and saw his wife spacing out, ”Don’t just stand there like a fool, hurry and follow.”

Lady Zhao snapped back to reality. She wasn’t dreaming, but she still felt somewhat dazed; her parents-in-law had truly not scolded her husband!

The dinner in the main courtyard was very light and simple. After Chang Zhong went to the front courtyard for his dinner, the evening meals here became even simpler – crisp vegetables, rice porridge, and a plate of steamed buns were enough.

Zhou Shuren drank a bowl of porridge and ate a bun, and at seven-tenths full, he stopped eating, ”As a person ages, eating too much makes it difficult to sleep at night.”

Zhulan also put down her chopsticks, ”Indeed, green vegetables and rice porridge are best.”

Zhou Shuren got up and sat in a chair nearby, ”Today, we finally had a good downpour, and a wind even picked up in the afternoon. Now that the wind has stopped, I don’t think we need to wait for tomorrow; the ground that got wet today will surely dry out overnight.”

Zhulan, having sweated from the hot porridge, took a fan and began to cool herself, ”I was hoping for another rain. Who would have expected it to get windy!”

Zhou Shuren moved closer to his wife and shared in the breeze from the fan, ”Fortunately, Jinzhou Province has a somewhat ample water supply, but still, I hope there won’t be a drought.”

Zhulan hummed in agreement, ”Chang Yi was set up. What do you think about it?”

After all the maids had left, Zhou Shuren got up and lay down on the small ”kang” bed, ”It’s quite normal. Those who want to plant someone in Zhou’s family won’t stop at just one attempt, just like I said before, just be more careful in the future.”

He truly wasn’t concerned; such schemes couldn’t make it to the surface, and with carefulness and attention, they could be avoided. His thoughts were all on the capital.

Zhulan, having cooled off, took the fan and began to fan Zhou Shuren, ”Mhm.”

The next day in the capital, Chang Lian and Rongchuan were leaving the Hanlin Academy when they paused in their tracks upon seeing a very familiar carriage.

Mr. Lv was behind them, hidden from view due to his shorter stature, ”Why have you stopped and aren’t moving?”

Ning Xu lifted the curtain of the carriage. Chang Lian and Rongchuan approached, ”Greetings to Marquis Ning.”

This time, Mr. Lv saw the situation and hurried to pay his respects as well, ”Marquis Ning.”

Ning Xu, upon seeing Rongchuan, felt different than before; Rongchuan would call him father. This joyful feeling was clearly expressed on his face, ”I have been waiting for the two of you. Get on the carriage first.”

Chang Lian felt Marquis Ning looked at Rongchuan with quite a warm gaze, ”Yes.”

Rongchuan also noticed it; having not seen Marquis Ning for a few days, he sensed a significant change in attitude. Marquis Ning had always been kind to him, but now his affection was even more apparent.

Mr. Lv watched as the carriage departed and remarked wistfully, ”Zhou’s young master and Zhang’s young master saved the Duke, and now both have caught the eye of Marquis Ning.”

Shen Yang had just stepped out the door when he heard this. Thinking of the opportunity he missed, his face darkened. Turning to Shi Qing beside him, he suggested, ”How about we go for a drink?”

Shi Qing felt the weather was hot and stifling. All he wanted was to return to his residence sooner, ”No thanks. The wedding is in a few days, and I need to return home early these upcoming days.”

Shen Yang had completely forgotten that Shi Qing was getting married soon, and that too, to a legitimate daughter of the Hou Residence. He forced a dry laugh; he still needed to prepare a gift, and his pockets were tight with silver. He had been spending quite a bit lately to court favor, ”When you get married, I’ll be sure to come.”

Shi Qing, ”Okay.”

Inside the carriage, Ning Xu spoke up, ”Every year around this time, the prestigious restaurant holds a Full Fish Feast. I reserved early especially to invite you two for the fish.”

Zhou Changlian felt an uncontrollable urge to swallow, thinking of the restaurant. Ah, the famous restaurant of the capital, he had only heard of it but never tasted its food himself. It was too expensive, far too expensive. The restaurant had existed since the former dynasty and boasted a heritage of over two hundred years. Many dishes there were exclusive secret recipes, particularly their fish dishes which were unparalleled.

Rongchuan felt a little uneasy. Ever since he got on the carriage, Marquis Ning had been watching him, making him feel uncomfortable. With a dry tone, he said, ”It should have been us inviting you, Marquis. How can we let you spend your money?”

Ning Xu waved his hand grandly, ”The one thing I have the most of is silver coin.”

Rongchuan, ”...”

He no longer had any interest in responding; he felt jealous.

Zhou Changlian, ”....”

The Marquis looked like someone who only had silver left to his name, and Zhou Changlian’s hands began to itch. Yes, his hands were getting ideas; they were developing resentment towards the wealthy.

Zhou Changlian and Rongchuan exchanged a glance, understanding each other’s thoughts. Today, they definitely had to eat more!

The restaurant was bustling with people, all of whom had made their reservations early.

Zhou Changlian followed Marquis Ning out of the carriage, but before they even entered the restaurant, they paused.

The Second Prince and the Fifth Prince were just about to go in when Ning Xu felt his luck was poor. Why did they have to run into the Second Prince?

Ning Xu stepped forward, ”Second Prince, Fifth Prince, are you here for the Full Fish Feast as well?”

Zhang Jingyang eyed Zhou Changlian, who had come directly from the Hanlin Academy. Narrowing his eyes, he surmised that Zhou Changlian must have been personally fetched by Marquis Ning. The Ning Residence sure is attentive to Zhou Changlian and Zhang Rongchuan.

Zhang Jingyang toyed with his fan, ”What a coincidence today. Marquis Ning, you are the Fifth Prince’s maternal uncle, so surely you would have invited him to the feast. I’m sure you won’t mind accommodating one more prince.”

Ning Xu was speechless; he had not intended to invite Zhang Jinghong for the meal. But with the Second Prince putting it that way, he had no choice but to accept, ”Please, Second Prince, come inside.”

Zhang Jingyang felt pleased with himself. The Fifth Prince had done him a favor. He himself would not have been willing to reserve the Full Fish Feast, but now, he could enjoy the event. His luck had been good recently. A Full Fish Feast, indeed! Marquis Ning was truly extravagant!

Ning Xu wasn’t in the best of moods. He had hoped to use the opportunity of today’s feast to foster a closer relationship with Rongchuan. The old man said, this was the groundwork for a relationship, to avoid a sudden recognition being too awkward. But he always felt the old man had ulterior motives. The old man often dragged him aside to teach him how to be a father. During these lessons, the old man’s eyes shone particularly bright!

Once they reached the private room, the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince quickly made themselves comfortable at the table.

Zhou Changlian and Rongchuan felt out of place. With two additional princes present, they suddenly found that even the most delectable food seemed hard to swallow. They sat down, prim and proper.

Ning Xu, seeing this, felt a tightness in his chest and signaled the shopkeeper to serve the dishes.

Zhang Jingyang was just looking for a free meal and a chance to figure out how close the Ning Residence and Zhou family really were. He didn’t plan to speak out and offend anyone, knowing he couldn’t match Marquis Ning’s standing in the Emperor’s heart.

The dishes quickly filled the table, both hot and cold, and the most attractive dish of all was the thinly sliced fish, which resembled the delicate wings of cicadas, with little quantity on the plate.

Ning Xu, using the communal chopsticks, deftly served Rongchuan some of the fish. With one helping, half the dish was gone. ”This fish is only available during this season. The fish aren’t large, and from a whole fish, only a few slices can be made. They’re also particularly difficult to catch. Have plenty,” he urged.

Zhang Jingyang and Zhang Jinghong paused with their chopsticks mid-air, both of their gazes focused intently on Zhang Rongchuan.