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

Chapter 850: Chapter 850: Crying to the Emperor

The Duke Residence of the Ning Country, the Duke of Ning was enjoying his tea while listening to a little tune, when he saw his second son return with a pale face, ”What has upset you?”

Ning Hui, already in poor health, sat down while pressing on his forehead, ”Today at the residence of the fifth prince, neither the Crown Prince nor the other princes were there. I wanted to come back early, but Zhang Yang kept holding me back, incessantly talking into my ear, giving me such a headache now.”

The Duke of Ning didn’t care much for Zhang Yang, ”You should go back and rest early too!”

Ning Hui thought for a moment and said, ”Father, Zhang Yang kept asking if the investigation into Zhang Jinghong’s ancestry has been cleared up, and from the look on Zhang Yang’s face, he seems to hold a lot of hatred toward Zhang Jinghong.”

”Zhang Jinghong’s background coming to light is actually his safeguard, no matter how much Zhang Yang hates him, he wouldn’t dare to confront him openly.”

Ning Hui, ”Then I’ll go and rest.”

”Mm.”

As Ning Hui stood to leave, he added, ”Zhang Yang said he would visit little sister in the palace tomorrow, then come to see you afterwards.”

”I know.”

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan summoned Chang Yi, ”The weather has cooled, and I’ve frozen some fish in the ice cellar. The temperature is now such that they won’t spoil if taken out, so I’m thinking of asking you to take a trip there and arrange for the fish to be dealt with.”

Chang Yi replied, ”Mother, I’ll set out in a moment.”

Zhulan, ”There’s no need to hurry, the fish aren’t going anywhere.”

Chang Yi explained, ”Mother, the sky is overcast and I’m afraid it will snow, so I’d like to leave earlier just in case, lest a heavy snowfall causes a delay.”

Zhulan thought for a moment, ”Then alright, mother will listen to you.”

Eager to go back and pack, Chang Yi said, ”Mother, then I’ll go and prepare.”

”Sure, have more people accompany you on the trip.”

She still remembered the last time someone plotted against Chang Yi, and how lucky it was that Chang Yi had a quick response.

Feeling apprehensive, Chang Yi affirmed, ”Mother, I’ll definitely be extra careful.”

”Mm.”

Zhulan watched as Chang Yi left, then stood up and strolled around the courtyard, looking up at the sky, ”By the looks of it, there’s definitely a heavy snow coming.”

The old lady Song said, ”The light snow the other night didn’t stick, this time it might.”

A gust of wind blew by, and Zhulan shivered, turning back toward the warmth of inside the house.

As she walked, Zhulan remarked, ”This year’s snow has come earlier than previous years.”

Old lady Song replied, ”It’s not less heavy either.”

At the Hanlin Academy, Zhou Changlian, with his head down, noticed the sudden silence in the room and looked up to see Zhang Yang standing at the doorway, dressed in the attire of a prince. However, Zhou Changlian couldn’t help feeling that Zhang Yang couldn’t carry the dignity of a prince, as if he were surreptitiously wearing a prince’s clothes – no matter how he looked, it was awkward.

Lv Liang was the first to approach, ”Greetings to the fifth prince, having not seen you for many days, we have missed you greatly, please come in.”

Zhou Changlian silently diverted his gaze. He had always known Lv Liang to be somewhat opportunistic, and today it was fully on display, Zhou Changlian couldn’t stand to watch his obsequious behavior any longer.

Zhang Yang felt extremely pleased inside; the displeasure he felt in The Prince Residence seemed to fade away, ”Ah, Lv Liang, I haven’t seen you for many days, and your eyesight seems to have improved quite a bit.”

While speaking, Yuguang glanced at Zhou Changlian, very pleased with Lv Liang’s flattery – in the past, Lv Liang had always been fawning over Zhou Changlian.

Lv Liang understood and his lips twitched. After several days he hadn’t seen Zhang Yang, whose skills had improved significantly; he had even learned to make veiled criticisms, ”After taking two doses of the medicine, I indeed feel much better.”

Zhang Yang waited until everyone had paid their respects to him. Looking for a fault in Zhou Changlian, but finding none, Zhou Changlian’s posture in paying respects was particularly standard. He opened his mouth but then closed it, remembering the Crown Prince’s warning.

Chang Lian had prepared himself to be nitpicked, but when he was let go, he thought it better to avoid trouble than to seek it. It was good.

Rongchuan entered the room at that moment, ”Greetings to the Fifth Prince.”

Zhang Yang smiled, ”Cousin, I was actually planning to visit you later!”

Rongchuan stood up and walked over to his third brother, saying as he walked, ”I appreciate the Fifth Prince’s concern.”

But in his heart, he was thinking, the two of them seemed to share the same birthday, so who was older or younger was still unknown!

Zhang Yang pursed his lips, watching with a stifled heart as Rongchuan stood beside Zhou Changlian with a face full of concern. They shared blood ties, yet Rongchuan always defended Zhou Changlian.

Chang Lian felt a warm feeling inside and slightly shook his head to indicate he was fine.

Rongchuan, reassured, turned his head, ”I visited the palace yesterday and heard that they had already chosen government officials for the Fifth Prince. They say there is much to learn. Fifth Prince, you haven’t studied in The Prince Residence, so why are you here at the Hanlin Academy?”

Zhang Yang’s expression froze. Those damned government officials—four officials allocated to fill his days to the brim, and he had insisted on coming out today. He replied dryly, ”Cousin, you seem to know quite a bit.”

Rongchuan indicated that he really did know a lot. These days, he went to the palace almost every day. Sometimes the Emperor would even play chess with him. The Emperor enjoyed chatting about family matters and had mentioned many things to him, repeatedly telling him not to worry about Zhang Yang causing trouble.

At that moment, his first reaction was to wonder if Zhang Yang really was his own flesh and blood. Then he thought it might be because of his face. When he went home, he had talked to his father about it. His father had comforted him by saying he should do as he pleased. He was speechless for half a day. If not for the disposition fostered in the Zhou family, he would have been easily spoiled.

The room grew somewhat quiet. Lv Liang’s face turned two shades paler. He felt he was in trouble. Rongchuan was not polite to the Fifth Prince and openly protected Zhou Changlian. Even when the Fifth Prince was rebuffed, he wasn’t indignant!

Zhang Yang felt the scrutinizing glances and his complexion shifted, ”I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

Chang Lian pulled Rongchuan out, ”You don’t have to confront the Fifth Prince on my behalf, I can take care of myself.”

Rongchuan smiled widely, ”We won’t bring up Xue Han, but you’re still my third brother. You used to protect me, and now it’s only right for me to protect you. Besides, Xue Han has repeatedly instructed me not to let you be bullied. Don’t worry, third brother. My father and grandfather said that if Zhang Yang bullies me, they will have me cry to the Emperor.”

Chang Lian, ”.... What?”

What exactly had Duke Ning and Marquis Ning taught Rongchuan?

Zhang Yang got into the carriage and slammed his hand on the table. The guard asked, ”Your Highness, shall we return to The Prince Residence?”

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes, ”No, let’s wait a little longer before we go back.”

In the Academy, Mingyun and Liufeng were looking at a book with highlights marked by Zhou Shuren. When Zhou Shuren was at home, he would mark key points in books and even provide examples for extrapolation.

Ever since Gu Liufeng got engaged, Mingyun, with his grandfather’s permission, had shared the information with him.

Although Mingyun was not thrilled that his friend had become his brother-in-law, it was important that his brother-in-law be a good person so that his future sister could be happy.

The teacher did not come in alone, but respectfully invited someone in.

Mingyun looked up and saw Zhang Yang, whom he had met before, the current Fifth Prince. Hooking his fingertips, he knew why Yushuang had been so quickly betrothed; his grandfather had told him because he was the eldest grandson, his grandfather had high hopes for him. He knew things that his father and his second uncle did not.

Mingyun pulled on Gu Liufeng and stepped forward, standing in front of him with confidence in his heart, remembering all that his grandfather had painstakingly explained to him.

The teacher said, ”Today, the Fifth Prince was passing by the Academy and made a special visit to Class A. The Fifth Prince was also named at the top of the list in his time.”