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

Chapter 937: Chapter 937 This is Romantic

Zhou Shuren looked at Jiang Sheng. Although he had come to the capital, his son-in-law did not visit often. He had heard from his eldest daughter that all of Jiang Sheng’s attention was devoted to his studies and that Jiang Sheng would not speak up unless he encountered difficulties. After a moment of thought, he asked, ”Has someone been approaching you?”

Jiang Sheng nodded and looked at his father-in-law with admiration. Without him saying anything, his father-in-law had guessed it right, ”Someone has invited me to another Academy.”

He was very anxious; he had never experienced anything like this before.

Zhou Shuren had not given Jiang Sheng any cautions, waiting for Jiang Sheng to take the initiative. It was more impressive this way, ”Now that you’re in the capital, you will have to face these situations sooner or later. Even though your surname is Jiang, you cannot be separated from the Zhou family. You don’t need to think too much; just directly refuse.”

Jiang Sheng was no fool. The reason for his panic was that the person who approached him had mentioned Prince Chu. He was afraid it would cause trouble for his father-in-law, ”He mentioned Prince Chu. Will my refusal bring you any trouble?”

Zhou Shuren smiled, ”No, it would be trouble for me if you did not firmly decline. Just remember that the Zhou family is loyal only to the Emperor and will not take part in any factionalism. Don’t take too much upon yourself; just make sure you aren’t outwitted.”

Jiang Sheng sighed in relief. Listening to his father-in-law’s tone, it was clear he spoke from a position of confidence. Jiang Sheng did not envy him; the more one gains, the more one has to bear. His father-in-law was working too hard.

After his eldest daughter and her husband had left, Zhou Shuren turned to Zhulan and said, ”Sometimes, a person’s character determines their whole life.”

”Are you talking about Jiang Sheng?”

Zhou Shuren nodded, ”Don’t be fooled by Jiang Sheng’s ambition; his innate temperament has not changed.”

Zhulan was spreading the blankets, ”I think that’s quite good. If he really changed too much, I’d be worried.”

”You’re right; this is quite good.”

He could teach his grandson, and he could guide his grandsons-in-law, but when it came to adult sons-in-law with settled characters, he truly felt powerless. First, he did not have the time to teach Jiang Sheng gradually, and second, Jiang Sheng was not his son, reprimandable and obedient to his every word. If he got too involved, it would exhaust him, and if he died before Jiang Sheng achieved anything significant, he would not want to leave his sons and grandsons the burden of worrying about Jiang Sheng.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, Yu Jiao’s full-moon celebration had arrived. The Zhou family celebrated only the legitimate children, so whether it was a granddaughter or a grandson, the standards for the banquet were the same.

The Zhou family did not have many relatives, but Lady Dong’s natal family had sent gifts before the full-moon celebration. Although they were somewhat disappointed with a daughter from the Dong family, they still sent generous gifts.

Especially Lady Dong’s elder brother, because Dong Zhan was doing increasingly well in his studies and felt more at ease in the Zhou family, led by his affection for Lady Dong, he gave close to a hundred taels of silver as a full-moon gift.

The full-moon banquet was attended by colleagues from Chang Lian’s Hanlin Academy and many who came out of respect for Zhou Shuren. The Zhou family had not divided their family properties, so a joyous occasion for one branch was shared by the entire family.

The gifts for Yu Jiao’s full-moon celebration were bountiful; at a full-moon celebration in the capital, the attendees were indeed numerous and the prepared banquet seats were not enough.

After the event, Zhulan sent all the gifts to the second wife’s chambers and did not keep any for herself, instructing the stewardess to pass the word that everything was for Yu Jiao.

These full-moon gifts would be Yu Jiao’s first dowry.

The gifts for the full-moon celebration were not excessively valuable since such events were very common in the capital. Zhulan had attended too many and knew that if all gifts were expensive, they could lead to bankruptcy. It’s the thoughtfulness that counts, though there were the occasional valuable gifts with motives behind them.

Chang Lian looked over the list of gifts and said to his wife, ”Don’t be fooled by the number of gifts we received; we will have to give a lot in return. Just this month, we need to prepare two gifts.”

Lady Dong had recuperated well from childbirth and was in good spirits, not feeling too tired even on this busy day, ”I have already prepared them.”

Chang Lian suddenly laughed and cursed, ”These people even want to take the opportunity to get me drunk and betroth our child, pah, they wish.”

Dong Chuchu laughed, ”You wouldn’t dare even if you wanted to.”

Both her parents would join forces to deal with her husband.

Chang Lian touched his nose, ”Still, I feel a lot of pressure. Dowries for two daughters. In fact, some colleagues have already mentioned Yu Yi, but I have turned them all away.”

Zhulan’s father felt both sad and pressured that someone had already inquired about her when she was so young; and those who dared to speak up all came from decent families.

Dong Chuchu understood that it was because the main wife had given birth to the eldest grandson, and her sons were the most numerous. Among her children, Ming Hui was smarter than Ming Teng, and she envied her sister-in-law’s fertility. The second wife was of humble origin; Ming Rui was too young to claim the position of either the eldest or the second. In the fourth wife’s family, Chang Zhi was preparing for the imperial examination, and the progress he had made in the past year was evident to the entire household. But without having passed the imperial examination, and with the fraternal twins being too young,

Therefore, the only ones currently being watched were from the third wife’s home, even though her two daughters were still young, one a little girl, and one just born.

In the main courtyard, Zhulan said to Zhou Shuren, ”Yao Xin came today and she mentioned that Shi Qing’s son has been frail since birth and has always been on medication.”

”I’ve also heard from Chang Lian that the child had been trapped in his mother’s womb for a bit too long at birth and ended up being a weaker child.”

Zhulan did want to send a gift, but considering the close relationship between Shi Qing and Zhang Yang, she dismissed the idea and said, ”It hasn’t been easy for Shi Qing.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Who in the capital has it easy?”

Zhulan lowered her voice. ”I’ve been wanting to ask, could someone have harmed the child?”

Zhou Shuren chuckled. ”No one has meddled; the Emperor would not.”

The child was born at an opportune time when Shi Qing was being favorably employed; since the Emperor was favoring him, he would not have interfered with the child.

Zhulan then said, ”Actually, after thinking about it, it’s not a big deal if the child is weak. As long as he can be raised well, it’s fine.”

Zhou Shuren’s mouth curved into a smile. ”If the child can be raised well, then Shi Qing wouldn’t go around saying that there’s nothing wrong with the child.”

Zhulan sighed. ”You’re right, no one in the capital has it easy.”

Zhou Shuren had his wife sit down and stretched out his hand to massage her shoulders. ”You’ve been exhausted these days, dealing with Wu Ming’s marital affairs, then Wu Yong’s, and now the full-month celebration. You’ve worked hard during this period.”

”I haven’t had it too tough. Mostly it’s been the steward and Madame Song taking care of things. The only worry has been the guest invitations.”

Zhou Shuren, ”We’ve had continuous celebrations since early this spring—the start of the year has been good.”

”Now, the biggest event at home is your birthday.”

Zhou Shuren sighed. He didn’t want to have a lavish birthday celebration, but unfortunately, birthdays were social events, and he must celebrate. ”There is still some time before that; don’t think about it now.”

The next day, at the Ministry of Revenue, Jin Yan returned from the carving shop with something, a rather large wooden box, which particularly caught the eye.

Wong Ju, while reporting on matters, found it hard not to notice, and after glancing at it several times, couldn’t resist asking at lunch, ”What did you buy?”

Thinking of what his wife said about the Tao family’s envy, Zhou Shuren opened it with a smile, ”It’s a surprise I’ve prepared for my lady.”

Wong Ju watched the bamboo carving inside the box with a stoic face. Ever since arriving in the capital, his wife and Mrs. Yang had become friends. They met often and talked a lot. Then he learned that Zhou Shuren loved to give surprises. His wife was particularly envious every time she spoke, always hinting at wanting a gift.

Wong Ju gritted his teeth, ”You’re already at such an age, and you’re a grandfather eleven times over, yet you’re still into surprises!”

Zhou Shuren pouted, ”This is romance; a person who doesn’t understand romance wouldn’t understand.”

Wong Ju looked at Zhou Shuren as if he had been struck by lightning, ”....”

No wonder Zhou Shuren could spout so much flattering talk; it must have been practice from pampering his wife!!