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

Chapter 828: Chapter 828 Critical Illness

Zhulan asked the eldest, ”Are both estates taken care of now?”

Chang Li replied, ”The weather has been good these past few days, so we’re drying the grains. Once we’re done here, my second brother and I will go back to deal with the grains.”

Zhulan calculated in her mind, the grain from the three estates was not a small amount, a considerable sum of silver would be incoming, ”You’ve also worked hard.”

Chang Li shook his head, ”Mother, this isn’t hard work, not hard at all.”

Zhulan smiled, ”You’ve just arrived, there’s no rush to go to the fields. Have a walk around the estate first.”

Chang Li and Chang Yi indeed had this intention. The previous two estates were sister’s dowry, and they didn’t feel right about inspecting them closely, but this estate was their own, so they wanted to take a good look around.

Zhulan could no longer carry her son, so she put him down and, taking her son’s hand, walked towards the estate, ”There are many fun things to do in the estate, Mother will take you.”

Chang Zhong’s other hand was holding his father’s, hopping joyfully, ”Mhm, mhm.”

Chang Li picked up Ming Hui, and upon hearing from the steward that several rooms had arrived, he said cheerfully, ”Son, let’s go, we’ll find your mother and sister.”

Ming Hui had been having a great time at the estate these days, and upon hearing that his mother had also come, he clapped his hands, ”Father, let’s hurry.”

”Alright.”

Zhulan, leading her son, headed back to their courtyard first. Along the way, it was the little one who did all the talking.

Chang Zhong cheerfully said, ”Mother, Father, I also picked up rice ears, and now I understand the hardships of farming.”

He had picked rice ears for only a short time before he became too tired to continue. His elder brother had said that picking rice ears was the easiest task, and that farmers really had it tough.

Zhou Shuren patted his son’s head, pleased that his son was growing up, ”That’s why one must not be picky with food in the future; grains do not come by easily.”

Chang Zhong nodded, ”I will definitely treasure food in the future.”

He did not tell his parents that after picking rice ears, he couldn’t get up the next day and felt particularly unwell all over.

In the capital, at the Hanlin Academy, Chang Lian and Shi Qing were talking, ”You’ve seemed very preoccupied these past two days; has something significant happened?”

Shi Qing, with tiredness between his brows, said, ”My mother-in-law caught a chill the day before yesterday. She has taken soup and medicine for two days with no improvement. In fact, it has become more serious, and it has been weighing on my mind.”

He was not so worried as confused. His mother-in-law had always been in good health; how could she suddenly fall ill and not be able to get up?

Chang Lian asked, ”Has the Imperial Physician seen her illness?”

Shi Qing, ”Doctors from the capital, the Imperial Physician, they’ve all seen her, but they haven’t found anything.”

All of a sudden, Shi Qing let slip more than he meant to say, and by the time he realized it, Chang Lian was already deep in thought.

Shi Qing pressed his brow, feeling anxious exactly because they could not find anything wrong, ”I have more things to take care of and must go.”

”Alright.”

After Shi Qing left, Chang Lian stroked his chin, wondering what Shi Qing was hoping to uncover.

Chang Lian began to miss his father and hoped he would return to the capital soon. After the big clean-up at the Ministry of Justice, there was a very heavy air in the capital, and stormy weather had not lifted.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor was in a good mood. Taking the initiative was always more comforting than passively enduring. With his understanding of his adversaries growing clearer, over the years, he had always been on guard against Yao Wenqi, keeping a tight watch. Without absolute certainty, Yao Wenqi didn’t dare to make a move.

Indeed, Yao Wenqi’s plan was meticulous, but it fell apart right at the beginning. The Empress noticed the switch of her son in an instance. One misstep led to another, up till now, the two best moves, Zhang Jinghong and Shen Yang, had been wasted.

Moreover, because of Zhou Shuren’s accidental discovery, Yao Zheyu’s division of power, and several of Yao Wenqi’s attempts to cause trouble had failed, exposing much more. This made him even less daring to make a move.

The Emperor thought of Jianghuai, and with the Jianghuai cleanup completed, he, too, could finally be at ease. As for Yao Wenqi’s partner, a sly fox, it was only a matter of time until their true nature would be exposed.

Time slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, the day to return to the capital had arrived. Not only Zhulan found it hard to leave but also Lady Li and others who had come to the estate. Here, they enjoyed the freedom from grand banquets and endless probing.

Zhulan stroked her son’s head, ”When winter comes, Mother will bring you back here.”

Chang Zhong clutched his mother’s hand, ”Mother, you must keep your promise.”

”Mother always keeps her promises.”

Upon arriving home, Lady Dong was waiting at the door. Zhulan dismounted from the carriage and said, ”You’re with child, why are you waiting outside?”

Lady Dong smiled, ”Welcoming father and mother is the duty of a daughter-in-law. Mother, I feel that you look much healthier than before you left. It seems the days at the estate have been very comfortable for you.”

Zhulan touched her face, ”I’ve been soaking in the hot springs, and the good care has really improved my skin.”

She had also put on quite a bit of weight, and as she touched her own skin, the texture felt particularly pleasant. She had come to terms with it; if she was to gain weight, so be it.

Lady Dong supported her, ”Then after I give birth, I’ll also go stay at the estate for a while.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Good.”

Each family soon returned to their quarters. Once back in her room, Lady Li took out the chest containing the land deeds and put away the new deeds for the land they had purchased. ”Although we didn’t buy a shop, with these lands, we will have more income next year.”

Zhou Shuren looked at the deeds in the chest, ”We don’t need to buy more land now. Once the autumn crops are sold and the income is accounted for, we’ll go buy a shop in Jinzhou Province.”

Lady Li blinked, ”I’ve heard from mother that the land in Pinggang will be worth even more silver in the future. What about buying a shop in Pinggang?”

Zhou Shuren furrowed his brows, ”The shops in Pinggang are mostly controlled by the powerful elites in the capital, it will be difficult for us to buy.”

His understanding had grown along with his father’s changing status, and the more he interacted with the world, the more he realized there were places beyond his reach. Ever since the opening of sea trade, land in Pinggang was worth its weight in gold. Not to mention shops, even the nearby fields were under the control of those elites.

Upon hearing this, Lady Li dropped the idea; she had no desire to court trouble, ”Then we’ll go to Jinzhou Province as you suggested.”

In the main courtyard, Zhulan had just returned and without having had any rest, visitors had already arrived. She looked at the calling card and saw it was from the Wu family. Rubbing her forehead, she said, ”Please, let them in.”

Zhou Shuren stood up, ”I’ll go to the study.”

”Alright.”

Zhulan recognized the visitor, Mrs. Wu Yun, the sister-in-law of the Second Prince’s Consort’s maternal family. She was not alone; however, the other lady was unfamiliar to Zhulan, who smiled and asked, ”Lady Wu, who is this with you?”

Yun quickly introduced, ”This is my elder brother’s wife, Lady Liu. My brother is the Minister of Rites.”

Zhulan acknowledged them, ”Lady Wu, Lady Liu, please have a seat.”

As an official of the third rank, this Lady Liu kept a low profile. Zhulan had not seen her at any social gatherings in the capital until today).

Lady Liu sat down with a smile, ”I’ve always wanted to visit Lady Yang, but never had the chance. Today, I was finally able to come, thanks to my sister’s hospitality.”

Mrs. Wu hadn’t brought her sister-in-law simply to chat; with a cough, she interjected, ”Sister-in-law, I’ve told you, Lady Yang is excellent at raising children; the Zhou family’s young ladies are all quite commendable.”

Lady Liu really didn’t want to play matchmaker for her little sister-in-law. When she married into the Wu family, it was certainly not because her father sought an advantageous match. How her sister-in-law and Wu’s son became acquainted, leading to a direct proposal, was still a mystery.

Over the years, Yun’s family hadn’t had much contact with her little sister-in-law. Now that she had made her first request, Liu couldn’t possibly decline and had to agree reluctantly.

Lady Liu followed her sister-in-law’s lead, ”I’ve also heard that the young ladies of the Zhou family are all outstanding, especially the eldest granddaughter. I rarely go out, but I’ve heard plenty of her good reputation.”