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

Chapter 778: Chapter 778: It’s Like Marrying Off a Daughter_1

Ning Duke Residence, Ning Xu had just finished recounting the story in brief and was staring tensely at Rongchuan, deeply afraid Rongchuan would find some issue. Seeing Rongchuan’s calm expression, his heart was nervously unbearable, ”That’s how things were back then. Father didn’t protect you and your mother; it’s reasonable for you to blame Father. It’s all Father’s fault, Father is sorry.”

Rongchuan’s clenched fist relaxed, his heart filled with complex emotions. He had always had a premonition from how Mr. Hou had acted in the past, and now hearing it with his own ears, it was impossible not to be agitated. His throat felt somewhat dry, ”So, I was born amidst anticipation?”

Ning Xu’s tone this time was very certain, ”Yes, we were all anticipating your birth.”

There was no exaggeration in his words, Rongchuan was indeed the son the Emperor and Empress had most looked forward to.

With this, the last stone in Rongchuan’s heart vanished. He had worried before that he was an illegitimate child or born of a concubine. Afterward, he was happy with Marquis Hou’s behavior. Now that he had confirmed his origin, and realized he was born amid his parents’ anticipation, Rongchuan felt exceptionally aggrieved, and his eyes began to turn red.

Seeing this, Mr. Hou didn’t understand why he was shedding precious tears; this was his first time being a father, and his hands and feet went numb with panic. He stood up in a flurry, ”Don’t cry, stop crying.”

Other than that, he truly didn’t know how to console his son, being harsh wasn’t right, and he didn’t know what soft words to say. In the end, he could only embrace Rongchuan—who indeed was wronged—”Cry if you want to cry!”

Rongchuan truly cried, not much from happiness but more from feeling wronged. He felt exceptionally aggrieved and just wanted to cry.

Ning Xu, feeling the tears on his chest, was heartbroken. This child, who should have been the most honored, had suffered too much since childhood. He patted Rongchuan’s back, slowly comforting him.

Rongchuan cried for a while, then stopped. Once the grievance was vented, the depression that had been pent up in his heart completely dissipated. Somewhat embarrassed, he wiped away his tears, ”I didn’t want to cry.”

Ning Xu smiled, ”Father knows.”

Aiyo, that address of ’Father’, he said it so naturally, it felt especially good.

Rongchuan opened his mouth but still struggled to call him ’Father’, ”I, I was able to grow up, enter the Hanlin Academy, and be acknowledged by father, it’s all thanks to uncle and aunt who made no distinction between me and their own son.”

Ning Xu didn’t hear the call of ’Father’ and felt somewhat disappointed. He quickly adjusted his mood. Rongchuan needed time to adapt, and he wasn’t in a rush, ”Father knows it all, Father has already looked into it. The Zhou family has done us great favors.”

Indeed, it was us. They had done favors for the royal family and for Ning Residence!

Rongchuan didn’t pay attention to the wording and suddenly became nervous, ”I am betrothed, I only recognize Xue Han.”

Ning Xu, ”...I have no objections.”

Why does it feel like he is marrying off a daughter?

In the Zhou Residence after dinner, the Ning Duke Residence sent a message that Rongchuan wouldn’t be coming back that night, so there was no need to wait for him, and the doors could be locked.

Chang Lian had always paid attention to Rongchuan. Upon receiving the message, Chang Lian said in a low voice, ”In a few more days, I will have to go to the Hanlin Academy alone.”

Dong Chuchu didn’t hear clearly, ”Husband, what did you say?”

Chang Lian smiled, ”I didn’t say anything.”

Dong Chuchu said, ”Speaking of which, Marquis Ning has been truly good to Rongchuan.”

In his heart, Chang Lian thought, because Marquis Ning is Rongchuan’s biological father. Of course, he is good to Rongchuan. In the future, Rongchuan will be the Prince of Ning Duke Residence, the future Marquis, and also his brother-in-law. Chang Lian grinned, he would have a Marquis as a brother-in-law.

Dong Chuchu felt that her husband had something on his mind he didn’t tell her. Thinking of how her husband had gone straight to the main courtyard upon returning, she didn’t ask, as she would learn in time. She was more concerned about her own belly; her daughter could already walk and run, yet her belly was still quiet.

Dong Chuchu thought about the letter from her mother, asking if she was pregnant yet, urging her to have a son. She wanted a son too, but despite her efforts, she hadn’t conceived. She thought about the fertility recipe her mother had given her and pursed her lips.

Chang Lian saw that his wife hadn’t spoken for a long time, ”What’s wrong?”

Dong Chuchu, ”It’s nothing.”

Chang Lian didn’t think much of it, ”I’m going to take a bath first.”

”Okay.”

In the main courtyard, Zhulan was somewhat distracted, ”You know, we have always been aware that Rongchuan would eventually move out, but suddenly, with Rongchuan not coming home, I feel quite upset.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”Not just you, I feel the same way. People are emotional creatures. We raised Rongchuan all these years, and he’s truly no different from Chang Li and the others.”

Zhulan smiled. Indeed, there was no difference. They had not been in the ancient world for long, and they didn’t have much affection for Chang Li and the others. Rongchuan also came to the Zhou family around that time.

At the tavern in the capital, Shen Yang had drunk a bit too much and said to the Fifth Prince, ”The Zhou family and the Ning Residence really are close. The Crown Prince is confined, *hic*, and yet, the Zhou family is still so close to the Ning family. Foolish.”

Zhang Jinghong looked at the drunken Shen Yang with an expression that was hard to describe. This here was foolishness. Had Shen Yang forgotten that he was the Fifth Prince’s blood brother through the same mother as the Crown Prince, and that the Ning Residence was also his maternal home? ”The Empress is also my mother.”

After saying that, Zhang Jinghong stood up and left. He couldn’t stay, fearing he might catch the foolishness. He couldn’t afford to be foolish—it would be the death of him!

Upon hearing this, Shen Yang sobered up instantly. Right, the Fifth Prince was the Crown Prince’s own brother. How could he forget? However, it really wasn’t his fault. He’d known the Fifth Prince for so long, and the Fifth Prince had never mentioned the Crown Prince. Moreover, when it came to Minister Sun’s case, the Fifth Prince had insisted on justice. With the Fifth Prince always following the Second Prince, Shen Yang had overlooked this.

Shen Yang stumbled to his feet, wanting to find the Fifth Prince to explain. By the time he went downstairs, the carriage was long gone. In his heart, he thought, this was bad.

The next day at the Hanlin Academy, Chang Lian arrived to find Rongchuan, who had just arrived in a carriage from the Hou Residence, with swollen, red eyes—it was clear he had been crying. Chang Lian averted his gaze, ”You’re here.”

With some embarrassment, Rongchuan, whose eyes were treated but still swollen, replied, ”Yeah.”

Chang Lian patted Rongchuan’s shoulder, ”We are still brothers.”

Rongchuan smiled, ”Yes, we’ve always been brothers.”

The Zhou family had given him a home when he needed warmth the most. To him, the Zhou family would always be the most important.

Chang Lian arrived at the scholars’ quarters to see Shen Yang sprawled over the desk. The man who had been so brazen the day before now had dark circles under his eyes and looked extremely haggard. Chang Lian frowned and didn’t care to look again.

Deep inside, Shen Yang was extremely nervous. He feared that he had angered the Fifth Prince. He had been in dread all night. His head ached from too much drink, and he was still confused.

In the palace, within the government hall, Zhou Shuren and the Minister of Works remained, as well as the Third Prince who had been assigned a duty—the planning of the capital’s layout had fallen upon him.

Although the Second Prince had not been given the capital’s project, he had another task—overseeing the port expansion in Pinggang.

Both princes had been assigned duties, and both were good assignments. Today, the Emperor had brought forth the Third Prince. Yesterday’s restless court had calmed down by today. The Emperor’s thoughts were too difficult to guess, and the ministers became increasingly cautious.

The Third Prince, Zhang Jingshi, was excited inside. He hadn’t planned for it, but the duty had fallen to him, and it seemed the Emperor valued him more.