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

Chapter 927: Chapter 927: So Angry I Could Stomp My Feet

Zhou Shuren appeared at the morning court session today, and the officials present stealthily observed him, uncertain whether Zhou Shuren had become desperate.

The Emperor, upon sitting down, noticed Zhou Shuren right away and was also somewhat surprised; he didn’t expect Zhou Shuren to end his rest early. It seemed that yesterday’s ’Zhezi’ had taken effect, and Zhou Shuren was also afraid to let things slide.

When the Emperor’s gaze fell on Zhou Shuren, all the officials in the court sensed it. Those who had recently made subtle moves to test the waters stood still, waiting for confirmation of whether the rumors were true.

When Zhou Shuren heard the Emperor call him, he stepped forward, ”Your humble official greets the Emperor.”

The Emperor asked with concern, ”Zhou, your health has been well?”

Zhou Shuren replied, ”Your official merely caught a slight cold, but is now well.”

”That’s good to hear. I have been quite concerned about you these past days, and it’s also strange of me.”

The Emperor, knowing that Zhou Shuren attended the court, realized the game of testing was over, and he no longer needed to hide anything regarding the events of that day.

A silent eye roll nearly escaped Zhou Shuren; not only had the Emperor teased the ministers throughout the court, but he was also about to thrust a knife into Zhou Shuren’s heart. After today, not just the entire court but the whole capital would know how terrible his chess skill was!

The ministers craned their necks, curious about the events of that day. None of them was foolish; the Emperor’s tone was clearly not that of a reprimand as the rumors suggested.

The Emperor, pleased with the ministers’ curiosity, said, ”My dear official lost a morning’s worth of chess games, broke out in sweat, and then left. I should have asked you to stay a while longer to cool down before you went.”

Zhou Shuren knew it would be like this. He was clearly overdressed, not losing from playing chess, but the Emperor, not satisfied with bragging to his own son, wanted the full court to know. Even if he proved his chess ability was fine, the history books wouldn’t write it!

Zhou Shuren kept a stern face; what could he do but accept it? ”Your official will certainly practice chess more.”

The Emperor was very satisfied watching the ministers’ changing expressions, and Zhou Shuren also found some comfort in the court officials’ faces!

Among the court ministers, many wanted to curse under their breath. Neither the monarch nor the minister was decent, playing them for fools these past days!

After the morning court, Zhou Shuren followed behind Grand Master of Writing Xiao Qing, who also found the situation baffling. He hadn’t expected Zhou Shuren to leave the palace in a daze just because he had lost terribly at chess, ”My chess skills are not bad; I’ll teach you a few moves another day.”

Zhou Shuren, with a rigid expression, replied, ”Your Excellency, would you believe me if I said my chess skills are also quite decent?”

Xiao Qing was skeptical. How could he have lost a whole morning’s games if his skills were not bad?

Afterward, anyone who passed by Zhou Shuren would ask about his chess skills.

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

At the Zhou family’s residence, Zhulan was checking Wu Ming’s engagement gifts. Wu Ming had already handed the list of gifts to Zhulan, and she had visited the Song family yesterday, choosing the auspicious day to bring the matchmaker to their door. This time there was no need for an intermediary; she could act as the go-between herself.

Wu Ming’s list of engagement gifts was still a bit meager, so Zhulan took Nanny Song to the storeroom and selected a few pairs of ornaments with good symbolism, making the list of gifts look much more impressive.

Xue Mei sat beside her mother, still feeling like the five hundred taels of silver burned her hands, ”Mother, are you sure there really won’t be any trouble accepting the five hundred taels of silver?”

Zhulan gestured for Nanny Song to put away the rewritten gift list before addressing her eldest daughter, ”Keep it. After today, the rumors about your father will cease.”

Xue Mei asked, ”Mother, his parents gave this silver to their daughter.”

Zhulan replied with a smile, ”Your in-laws actually didn’t keep any for themselves?”

”No, they gave it to their daughter the day they took it home, and they haven’t mentioned the silver since.”

Zhulan inquired, ”What do you think?”

Xue Mei shook her head, ”I can’t accept it. If it’s alright to keep the silver, I’d like to return it to my in-laws.”

She didn’t want to hold on to it; while the amount was significant, it wasn’t worth the discomfort. She was currently getting along well with her in-laws and didn’t want any discord over the money.

”You have a good idea. Let your in-laws handle the silver on their own, don’t intervene.”

To avoid having now received five hundred taels, only to repay double in the future.

Xue Mei leaned against her mother, ”It’s still better to be close to mom and dad.”

If there was anything troubling her, she could discuss it with her mom rather than bear it alone, which made her days much more relaxed than before.

In the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren felt the warmth of Qiu Yan’s hospitality, as he kept asking if he would like some tea, or if the room was too hot and needed the charcoal fire removed.

Zhou Shuren tugged at the corner of his mouth, ”Mr. Qiu, I’m neither thirsty nor hot, you better sit down first.”

Qiu Yan, ”I’m just worried you might catch cold, your absence has really made things difficult for me.”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”I thought you’d be pleased.”

Qiu Yan waved his hand, ”Don’t put me in that spot, I definitely don’t like it.”

He’d been avoiding Prince Wu these past few days, deeply afraid that Grand Master Xiao Qing might take interest in him!

It was the afternoon by the time Zhou Shuren met Zhang Yang, who was trying to avoid him. Zhou Shuren called out to stop Zhang Yang, ”During my time away for recuperation, I heard Your Highness was thinking of me continuously.”

Zhang Yang turned around, harboring a heart full of desire to strangle Zhou Shuren, ”Ah, right, I was even planning to visit the grand official.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Your Highness’s concern for me is moving, I will definitely remember your kindness.”

Zhang Yang’s face changed color, what he heard in his ears was Zhou Shuren holding grudges, taking note of his little schemes. Damn it, he was a man with brains; he didn’t directly trouble Zhou Shuren, only stirred up Mr. Qiu, making it frustrating for him that Qiu Yan wouldn’t listen and was avoiding him!

Zhang Yang watched as Zhou Shuren turned to leave and thought of the times he had been outwitted by him. He felt he couldn’t continue to stay in the Ministry of Revenue!

Xiao Qing had a clear grasp of the goings-on in the Ministry of Revenue, and once he knew about the conversation between Zhou Shuren and Zhang Yang, he waited for Zhou Shuren, ”You weren’t quite yourself today.”

Zhou Shuren knew that the Chief of Staff was referring to Prince Wu and lowered his head, ”Prince Wu has been in the Ministry of Revenue for some time now.”

This time Zhang Yang dared to reach out to Qiu Yan, Zhou Shuren thought, Zhang Yang shouldn’t continue to stay in the Ministry of Revenue. Some lower-level officials had already been influenced by Zhang Yang, and it would be best for this troublemaker to leave quickly.

Xiao Qing was also troubled, as Prince Wu was no longer the fresh-faced prince who first arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. His little machinations had increased lately.

Zhou Shuren had duped Zhang Yang several times, and this time, instead of scheming in secret, he made his message clear to Zhang Yang. He hoped that Zhang Yang would leave on his own; he reckoned even the Emperor had given it some thought but just lacked a suitable reason.

In the Ministry of Rites, Wu Ming saw off Mr. Tao, feeling that tonight would be a good time for a serious talk with his godfather.

Gu Zhuomin was already informed about this morning’s imperial court incident and was speechless about Lord Zhou’s actions. He looked at Wu Ming, ”Did you know about this all along?”

Wu Ming, ”I really didn’t know.”

He was a bit bemused, since he wasn’t lying; he truly didn’t know his godfather had lost at a game of chess!

By now, Gu Zhuomin had no trust in Wu Ming. To him, Wu Ming, despite his young age, was deeply scheming.

Wu Ming spread his hands, ”I’m telling the truth; you really don’t believe me?”

Gu Zhuomin laughed, ”I believe you.”

Wu Ming, ”....”

His expression clearly showed disbelief!

In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren left the Ministry of Revenue, with Wong Ju chasing after him, ”Don’t you run away.”

For the first time, Zhou Shuren agilely boarded the carriage, urging the coachman to leave quickly. Wong Ju watched the carriage disappear in the distance, stomping his feet in anger. Zhou Shuren actually hadn’t approved his leave request!