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

Chapter 781: Chapter 781: Don’t Get Cocky, Your Brother’s Holding a Knife_1

The Empress pursed her lips, ”No need, I understand in my heart.”

She did not regret having the Ning Residence acknowledge her son. Thinking about her eldest son, although her younger son would eventually return to the imperial family, this experience was good for both of her sons. The eldest son could confidently make use of the younger son and protect him with all his heart.

The Emperor also did not have to avoid showing affection to the younger son, no need to worry that excessive love for the younger son would cause instability in the court.

She also did not have to endure not being able to overtly favor the younger son in the future. Truth be told, the Emperor indeed felt guilty towards the younger son and loved him dearly, but when compared to the eldest son, it had to be said that the eldest son was the Emperor’s entire focus, the continuation of his legacy. If there was a real conflict between the two sons, he would still side with the eldest.

The Empress held the Emperor’s hand, ”It’s quite good now.”

The Emperor clasped the Empress’s hand in response. His initial thought in having the Ning Residence recognize Rongchuan was indeed to protect the younger son, but after all, he was the Emperor, he had much to consider. After a while, he realized that Ning Residence’s acknowledgment of Rongchuan would be good for everyone, which led to today’s development.

The Emperor said, ”Mhm.”

At the Zhou residence, Zhou Shuren returned from his study and Zhulan put down the red gauze in her hands, ”Look at you, all smiles. Did the children perform well in their exams this time?”

When her grandsons came back, she also inquired about their scores, but the grandsons insisted on showing their grandfather first. In her grandsons’ hearts, she, as their grandmother, could not compare to Zhou Shuren. The thought soured her heart.

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, ”Mingyun came in first place this time. The examination paper was open-ended, and despite his young age, his insights are sharp. Ming Rui also did well, making it into the top five, while Ming Teng was a bit average. After all, his foundation is not as solid as Ming Rui’s, but all the children did well.”

Zhulan was happy for her grandsons, ”It seems like they have adapted quite well to the new academy.”

”They’ve adapted well. Once these children grow up, I really won’t have anything to worry about for the future of the Zhou family.”

Zhulan said, ”Time flies so fast, the grandsons have all grown up.”

Zhou Shuren also felt nostalgic. He and Zhulan were getting older each year. His gaze fell on the red gauze, ”What are you doing with that red gauze?”

Zhulan replied, ”I saw some nice red gauze in the fabric shop, so I thought of embroidering some patterns on it and making some decorative items.”

Zhou Shuren picked up the finished embroidery, ”Your needlework is getting better and better.”

”Practice makes perfect, and I do have some talent after all.”

Zhou Shuren put down the red gauze, ”Stop embroidering, it’ll tire your eyes.”

”Alright.”

The next day, at the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren had just left the court when the Second Prince and Third Prince came for the silver, and the Crown Prince had also arrived at the Ministry of Revenue early.

The Crown Prince sipped tea, flipping through the ledger, ”Second Brother, Third Brother, you’ve arrived.”

The Second Prince and Third Prince both held zhezi approved by the Emperor; they were there at the Ministry of Revenue to withdraw silver.

The Second Prince was not surprised to see the Crown Prince at the Ministry of Revenue as he had received news the day before. He handed his zhezi to the Crown Prince, ”Brother is here by imperial command to withdraw silver. I do not have the leisure of the Crown Prince; I’m in a rush, so I will not chat much.”

The Third Prince smiled, ”I’m busy too, really envious of the Crown Prince’s leisurely tea.”

Zhou Shuren silently watched the two cases by the Crown Prince’s side, which contained silver notes. These were what the Crown Prince had just received from Mr. Qiu. It was said that he would personally hand them to the Second Prince and Third Prince. Mr. Qiu, eager to wash his hands of the matter, provided the Silver Notes and scuttled away early.

The Crown Prince put down his teacup, ”So my brothers are so reluctant to be in my presence, how saddening.”

The Second Prince furrowed his brow, ”Mr. Zhou, where is the silver?”

Zhou Shuren smiled, ”On the table.”

The Second Prince and the Third Prince’s gaze fell upon the table, where everything had already ended up in the Crown Prince’s hands. Both princes, ”....”

As the Crown Prince toyed with the chest in his hand, he said, ”Originally, I wanted to personally hand this over to my younger brothers, but alas, before this Crown Prince could be deposed, my younger brothers have already shown disrespect towards me. I need to go to the palace and ask Father Emperor if I have indeed been officially deposed as the Crown Prince!”

The Second Prince, Zhang Jingyang, felt a knot of tension in his heart. The Crown Prince was still the Crown Prince, and if he really went to the palace, they would all be guilty of disrespecting the Crown Prince. Worse, they might even lose their official positions; they couldn’t let the fourth brother benefit from this.

The Third Prince, Zhang Jingshi, thought the Crown Prince was still as crafty as ever, deliberately drawing their attention with his tea drinking. They really hadn’t noticed the chest on the table when they entered, and now it was a trap waiting for them!

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, how else to put it, your elder brother will always be your elder brother. Don’t get cocky, your brother always has a knife in his hand. He didn’t think the Crown Prince was trying to knock the two princes down a peg; he believed the Crown Prince was purely toying with them for his amusement!

The Crown Prince leisurely stood up, ”I am going to the palace to see Father Emperor right now. As for these silver notes, I will personally deliver them to Father Emperor. If you want to request silver, go ask Father Emperor!”

The Second Prince hurriedly interceded, ”Brother, elder brother, I was out of line just now. In my eagerness, I misspoke. Please don’t take it to heart.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes glinted with a playful malice, ”What if I held it against you?”

The Second Prince was speechless, wanting to curse in his heart. Steeling himself and smiling on the surface, he said, ”Whatever elder brother says must be done to forgive me, I will certainly comply.”

The Crown Prince looked towards the Third Prince, and the Third Prince’s heart skipped a beat. That expression was all too familiar, ”I also will certainly comply.”

The Crown Prince felt at ease in his heart, fondling the chest, ”This silver really is a wonderful thing. Your elder brother here, despite being confined and demoted to the Six Ministries, still has a large family to provide for. Life has been very difficult.”

The Second Prince, ”...”

The Third Prince, ”...”

Zhou Shuren, ”...”

Zhou Shuren felt he had lost, realizing that not only was the Crown Prince toying with the two princes, he was blatantly extorting them!

The Second Prince took a deep breath, opened his purse, and placed it in front of the Crown Prince, ”What I have brought today is all here.”

The Third Prince looked towards the heavens in speechless frustration. He had brought more silver today, planning to treat others and buy favors. Despite his purse looking deflated, it was filled with high-denomination silver notes. With a heavy heart, he opened the purse, glaring at the second brother for his generosity. He really wanted to count out those silver notes.

The Crown Prince still cared about face, of course, if Zhou Shuren were not present, he would certainly have checked the purses. Now he took the purses and handed over the two chests, ”We’re brothers, everything just now is in the past. You’re busy, so be on your way!”

After his brothers had left, grinding their teeth, the Crown Prince said to Zhou Shuren: ”The Ministry of Revenue truly is a great place.”

Zhou Shuren, ”...”

He felt certain that the Second Prince and the Third Prince would never personally visit the Ministry of Revenue ever again!

Once Zhou Shuren left, the Crown Prince opened the purses. He knew the Second Prince always liked to carry extra silver when he went out, and surely enough, there was quite a bit, a little one thousand taels. He, the Crown Prince, had won!

The Third Prince probably didn’t have much silver, having recently been ensnared by Father Emperor. But to his surprise, there were five one thousand taels silver notes and several hundred taels notes. This was telling; amongst his brothers, the Third Prince must have the deepest pockets. Thinking of the Qi family clan, they indeed had silver.

When Zhou Shuren returned home, Mr. Qiu asked, ”Have the two princes left?”

”Yes, they’ve left.”

Qiu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that they left without incident. Despite handing over the silver to the Crown Prince, he couldn’t help but feel anxious, afraid that the Crown Prince and the two princes would cause a commotion at the Ministry of Revenue. Thankfully, they left.

At the Duke Ning Residence, Zhulan arrived at the entrance of the Duke Residence with her daughter and granddaughter. The Duke Residence truly had an imposing presence. No matter how modest, the Duke Residence remained the Duke Residence.