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

Chapter 931: Chapter 931: Shameless

Eunuch Liu trembled, knowing that the Emperor was also very attentive to the Princes. With a sigh, he couldn’t help but think it was unfortunate that the Princes were close in age. There was only one imperial throne, and none were willing to give it up.

In the afternoon, Zhulan looked at the several boxes in front of her, which were already open. Each box had a secret compartment and she had taken the silver notes out. There was only one silver note in each box, with a value of five thousand Silver, adding up to five boxes—one for each of the Zhou family’s young men.

The young men of the Zhou family were terrified, having thought they were just ordinary tea boxes. If they hadn’t played around and dropped the boxes in the carriage today, they wouldn’t have known about the silver notes inside.

Zhulan signaled the young men to go back, as asking them was pointless—they did not recognize it. It was better to ask the old matron, ”What’s going on?”

The old matron said, ”A scholar from Jiangnan sent them, and we’ve already sent someone to investigate.”

Zhulan looked at the silver note in her hand and thought that even if the young men hadn’t discovered it, there was no need to worry. She was always so cautious; every time the young men brought something back, she would have Shen Xing secretly check everything. It was impossible to hide the secret compartments from Shen Xing and the others.

That evening, when Zhou Shuren returned home, Zhulan told him about the silver notes. ”The old matron went to investigate, but the scholar from Jiangnan has disappeared.”

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, ”They tried to set me up this time but failed to catch any fault of mine. Now they’re trying to fabricate one!”

Zhulan thought the same, ”If there’s one, there will be more. These aren’t enough to frame you, and it will continue. However, that’s before they are discovered. Now that we have found them, the young men are too inexperienced; they can’t put on an act.”

Zhou Shuren couldn’t help but laugh, ”Our kids wouldn’t even have the chance to be sent such things.”

Zhulan also laughed, their children had been raised to be cautious, and everything that was brought back to the residence was thoroughly checked.

Zhulan asked, ”What do you plan to do with these Silver?”

Zhou Shuren’s eyes shone brightly, ”Hand them over to the Emperor at the morning court session.”

If they dared to send them, he dared to hand them in. Of course, it would be even better if the Emperor decided to reward him with the silver.

The young men of the Zhou family were particularly nervous, having felt somewhat carried away by the praise they received these past few days. Now they were dumbfounded.

Zhulan did not concern herself with the anxious young men. A little scare would do them good, to prevent them from thinking the capital was such a wonderful place.

At the morning court session, Zhou Shuren stepped forward and presented the petition from within his robes, ”Your majesty, I have something to report.”

The Emperor looked at Zhou Shuren. He was aware of the Zhou family’s movements, but he didn’t expect Zhou Shuren to speak out directly at the morning court, which was quite a surprise. Taking the petition and opening it, the first thing he saw was the neatly folded silver notes. He picked up the five silver notes and set them aside before continuing to read the petition.

The ministers in the court were stunned to see the silver notes. Silver notes inside a petition?

Xiao Qing repeatedly glanced at Zhou Shuren, wondering what was going on.

Li Zhao almost choked, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Even Old Master Wang was taken aback. The court was unusually quiet for a time, and everyone was immensely curious about what the petition said.

Zhou Shuren, without blushing or out of breath, wrote only sycophantic words in the petition. He had approached it with the spirit of a high school student writing an exam essay, aiming to demonstrate his loyalty and unimpeachable character to the Emperor!

The Emperor’s face contorted slightly. He felt Zhou Shuren had improved. The Zhezi he had collected paled in comparison to this one. He really hadn’t expected Zhou Shuren to be so eloquent!

Seeing everyone stretching their necks in curiosity, the Emperor passed the petition to the Crown Prince, ”Take a look.”

The Crown Prince took it with curiosity and after reading, looked at Zhou Shuren with a complex expression. He hadn’t expected that Master Zhou would be such a person, not even praising his father the Emperor, but shamelessly boasting about himself. Noble character, pah, all he saw was an old fox, a shameless old fox, and a skinny one at that!

Zhou Shuren’s face did not turn red; he was unflappable because he knew that most of the Zhezi were now reviewed by the Crown Prince; it was normal for the Crown Prince to see them!

However, Zhou Shuren’s complexion quickly changed when the Emperor actually let the Crown Prince show the Zhezi to the court ministers.

Zhou Shuren looked up at the Emperor in disbelief, an expression of deep sorrow, as if to say how could you do this to your servant?

The Emperor pinched the silver note, nearly tearing it apart, what a sore sight for eyes, he averted his gaze from Zhou Shuren, only remembering the last sentence on the Zhezi, suggesting some silver reward for ”your servant’s loyal character.”

After reading the Zhezi, Xiao Qing felt he really was getting old; he could not write such shameless words.

Zhou Shuren’s old face blushed, cursing inwardly. He shouldn’t have thought the Emperor to have any decency, he was just another old shameless man. He could already imagine how history books would record him now, his reputation as a famous minister for generations was utterly ruined.

Those allowed to read the Zhezi were at least of second rank. Although not everyone had seen it, there were quite a few above the second rank, all looking at Zhou Shuren with complex expressions, thoroughly impressed.

The Zhezi returned to the Emperor’s hands, and the Emperor coughed once, ”Minister Zhou is indeed incorruptible, a worthy example for all your other servants.”

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes inwardly, if you hadn’t let the ministers see the Zhezi, he would have taken your words as per usual, but now all he had left was a sarcastic laugh.

The Emperor continued, ”This amount of twenty-five thousand taels of silver, in view of Minister Zhou’s noble character, the silver...”

Zhou Shuren’s ears perked up, his gaze full of hopeful expectation at the Emperor.

The Emperor had no intention of bestowing any reward; this was not a precedent to set, for if everyone began doing this, one could only imagine how much bribed silver would be blatantly requested, ”Minister Zhou submitted a Zhezi the day before yesterday, on which you wrote about disaster preparedness silver.”

Zhou Shuren knew he had no chance but still held onto hope; with these words, he knew for sure there was no hope at all. Stepping forward, he said, ”Your servant believes that disasters are unpredictable, hence the recommendation to set aside silver in advance, to avoid being unprepared in case it really happens.”

The Emperor nodded, ”I approve, these twenty-five thousand taels will also act as disaster preparedness silver.”

Zhou Shuren was inwardly delighted. He knew all too well that although the coffers of the Ministry of Revenue might seem abundant, there were too many places throughout the country that needed silver. Using it at his discretion would deplete the Ministry’s reserves, but by setting aside the silver in advance, he could save himself some worries, lest an actual disaster happen and all eyes turn to him.

Zhou Shuren was mentally exhausted. He had solidified his position through his competence, but the pressure was immense. If nothing went wrong, all was well, but if something did happen, everyone would depend on him. If he could solve the problem, he would receive praise and reward, but if he couldn’t, he would be in a pit. The higher he stood, the harder he would fall, so he had to anticipate everything in order not to be the architect of his demise.

In ancient times, natural disasters were the most lethal; he had to think ahead of them.

The ministers now saw Zhou Shuren in a different light; he had thought so far ahead. Disasters were always happening, and no one had ever mentioned setting aside silver in anticipation. It was always a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul after the disaster struck.

The Emperor was truly pleased with Zhou Shuren, and the Crown Prince’s gaze softened. The princes had complex expressions; how could they not win him over!

After the court session, Zhou Shuren held the silver note in his hand, recalling the Emperor’s words as he passed by, about how the Zhezi would be written into his own memoirs, his reputation, his reputation!

Old Master Wang smiled and stroked his beard, patting Zhou Shuren’s shoulder; all was said without words.

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

Old Master, listen to me, I’m really not a sycophant!