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

Chapter 916: Chapter 916 Guessing

The arrival of Xue Mei’s family made the Zhou residence even more lively, and the twins hadn’t chosen an Academy yet. It wasn’t because Zhulan and her husband were not helping to choose, but because Jiang Sheng felt the twins were too unruly and wanted to grind them at home for another year.

This was a delight for the twins, who didn’t have to go to the Academy and naturally ran to their maternal grandfather’s house every day. Shen Xing went to pick up Xue Mei’s family, and the twins were familiar with Shen Xing. As soon as they came, they would cling to Shen Xing, asking him to teach them martial arts.

In the past, Xue Mei didn’t send Jiang Miu to the capital, even when Zhulan suggested it, Xue Mei didn’t agree. This time entering the capital, Jiang Miu was going to study with her cousins, Yushuang and Yu Lu.

It took less than seven days for the Jiang family to settle in, and the title deeds to the land were already in their hands. Xue Mei would come over to accompany Zhulan when she had nothing to do.

Xue Mei and Jiang Miu came together today, with Xue Mei helping her mother cut fabric, expressing her emotions, ”One can’t really plan out a person’s life. I planned Miumiu’s future, but it turned out that she entered the capital in another way. As a daughter, I’ve found that some things just can’t be stopped.”

Zhulan put the cut fabric aside, ”Everyone has their own fate, and you shouldn’t overthink it. Just let things take their natural course.”

Xue Mei smiled and nodded, she was already in the capital and naturally wasn’t going to dwell on it anymore, ”Mother, what are you cutting all this fabric for?”

Zhulan explained, ”The spring breeze chills to the bone. Your dad has been standing at the early court, so I want to make some more kneepads. Your dad’s not young anymore, it’s better to protect him now to avoid suffering later.”

Thinking of her father’s appearance, Xue Mei nodded—there wasn’t much of an appearance to speak of. She couldn’t help but take a second look at her younger brother in his official robes, but when it came to her dad, the distinctly skinny old man somehow managed to look chubby in his clothes, ”Mother, I don’t have much to do at home, let me make the kneepads.”

Zhulan replied, ”Your dad would be delighted.”

Xue Mei thought of her husband’s joy when he returned home from the Academy every day, and her heart soured with concern, ”Mother, is it safe to go out to sea?”

Zhulan knew the twins kept talking about going out to sea with Chang Yi, ”The twins are still young; you’re thinking too far ahead.”

Xue Mei folded the fabric, ”My husband and I gave it some thought, and we feel it would be good for the kids to go out to sea in the future. They are bold, and going out to experience life would be better than staying in the capital.”

Zhulan hadn’t discussed this with Zhou Shuren, mainly because the children were too young. Now hearing Xue Mei say this, she thought it would indeed be good for the twins to go out to sea when they grew up, ”It’s too early to talk about this now. What if the children grow up and don’t like it!”

Xue Mei also thought this was true. She was just too worried about the twins’ future. It would be so much better if the two children didn’t look so similar.

Zhulan had never asked Lady Jiangwang and thought to ask, ”How is your mother-in-law doing lately? Is she adapting well to life in the capital?”

Xue Mei replied, ”My mother-in-law is adapting quite well to life in the capital. She and my father-in-law go to the market every day, and after hearing about Yushuang and Yu Lu growing vegetables, they got interested too. There’s plenty of room in our house, so they’re planning to grow some vegetables to sell for some silver coins. They even asked me if it would bring shame to our family, but I told them it wouldn’t and to plant with peace of mind.”

Zhulan said, ”That’s good. Having something to do will keep them from having idle thoughts.”

Xue Mei felt the same. Not only was she unashamed, but she genuinely hoped her in-laws would have their own things to do.

At the Academy, Ran Xun had taken quite a few days off and only returned to the Academy today, ”Brother, I heard your little cousin came to the capital?”

Ming Teng was on guard, ”How do you know that?”

Ran Xun spread his hands, ”Did you forget Ran Wan just met your cousin a few days ago?”

Jiang Zhu put down his book. When it came to his own sister, he naturally wanted to listen intently, ”Mr. Ran, have you forgotten about me?”

Ran Xun was embarrassed indeed; he had forgotten. Wasn’t Ming Teng’s little cousin Jiang Zhu’s own sister?

Ming Teng clenched his fists, ”I think you’ve become too tight-skinned from not seeing me for many days.”

Ran Xun felt aggrieved. He did have restraint; he didn’t even mention her name, ”Are you all targeting me too much?”

Ming Teng spoke in a deep voice, ”If I remember correctly, your ambition is to have a virtuous wife, beautiful concubines, and be embraced by them on all sides!”

Jiang Zhu’s gaze was sharp as a knife, a throat-slitting gesture sending a clear message that he was ready to act should Ran Xun say one more word.

Ran Xun’s mouth twitched involuntarily; he really had no other intentions. It’s just that the number of his female cousins was so vast that one hand was insufficient to count them all, while Ming Teng had only one female cousin, who was especially favored by Mr. Zhou. It was only natural that he would inquire about her, yet now he was being guarded against as if he were a wolf!

At the Ministry of Revenue, Wong Ju, seeing that Mr. Qiu was not present, pulled over a chair and sat down, ”Our Fifth Prince is not focused on the Ministry of Revenue. He leaves as soon as he reports in these days, aren’t you curious?”

Zhou Shuren raised his head, ”Are you very free?”

”This official is busy to death every day!”

Zhou Shuren snorted, ”I see you’re quite free, since you even have time to observe the Fifth Prince.”

Wong Ju cursed Zhou Shuren inwardly. Ever since he arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren had been working him like a donkey. While he cursed in his heart, he made sure not to show it on his face, ”This official has ears even at the Ministry of Revenue. My father said that recently, a lot of people have been drawing close to the Fifth Prince.”

This was the main point. They really thought he was interested in the Fifth Prince, but this was a message his father wanted him to convey to Zhou Shuren.

Ever since he came to the Ministry of Revenue, the connection between his father and Zhou Shuren had increased. He was able to get some accurate information from Zhou Shuren’s mouth, which was the advantage of having a good in-law.

For instance, the last time the Emperor went to the Zhou residence with the Crown Prince, while everyone else was making wild guesses, he was able to obtain accurate information and then pass it on to his father, who would in turn keep the clan in line.

Indeed, the Wong family was neutral, but a family with too many people, especially a noble family like theirs, was difficult to control; every clan leader’s job was not easy, especially for the leaders of the great noble families.

Zhou Shuren didn’t realize that in the span of this conversation, Wong Ju’s mind had twisted and turned so much. Zhou Shuren did not pay much attention to Zhang Yang, but he knew too much. Some people, after being silent for so long, were finally unable to resist approaching Zhang Yang, and they had quite a sense of timing, coinciding with the princes stirring up trouble.

Approaching Zhang Yang during this period was really inconspicuous, but did the Emperor not know?

The Emperor knew everything. The Emperor had been dragging out conferring a noble title, and there was surely an element of continuing to bait the hook.

Zhou Shuren guessed that Qiu Yan would return soon, so he lowered his voice, ”Whether it’s conferring a kingdom or a title, it all depends only on the Emperor.”

Wong Ju was satisfied, as long as he knew Zhou Shuren’s stance. ”This official will take his leave first.”

At the Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi had a list in his hand. Those who had recently drawn close to Zhang Yang were not his men. He did not obstruct them this time, choosing instead to use these people to probe the Emperor.

Yao Wenqi still did not trust Shi Qing. If the people on this list were all ruined this time, Shi Qing would have a big problem.

Inside the Palace, the Scholar entering the Palace from the Hanlin Academy today was Shi Qing, who only entered the Palace to make reports.

The Emperor asked, ”You’ve visited the Hou Residence several times these days, have you found any suspicious individuals?”

Shi Qing bowed his head, ”Your Majesty, I am incompetent; I have found nothing these days.”

The Emperor wasn’t disappointed; Yao Wenqi, having had his wings clipped, was naturally more cautious, but no matter how cautious Yao Wenqi was, the Emperor still had a pawn within the Hou Residence. ”By my reckoning, Yao Zheyu’s leave should be ending, hasn’t the Ministry of War recalled him yet?”

Shi Qing shook his head, ”No, the Princely Heir is still in residence.”

The Emperor hummed affirmatively, ”Remember the people on this list; do not meddle with any of them.”

He held Shi Qing in high esteem as a vital piece on the chessboard. The others were not urgent to deal with; the most important thing now was for Shi Qing to gain Yao Wenqi’s trust. Who Yao Wenqi partnered with was always too mysterious, so mysterious that the Emperor had started to form his own suspicions.

And these suspicions had kept him restless at night.

Shi Qing’s heart trembled, the tone of the Emperor filling him with fear, ”Your servant obeys.”