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

Chapter 950: Chapter 950: Chang Lian is Incidental

Zhou Shuren called Shen Xing, ”You go take a look too.”

After Shen Xing had left, Yang Zhumu was on tenterhooks, ”Wu Chun always says that what the capital lacks the least is powerful nobility. Although Shuren holds power in his hands, the Zhou family is isolated in the capital, and must act with extreme caution. Shuren, Chang Lian won’t run into trouble, right?”

Zhulan had always known that her eldest nephew was the smartest of the Yang family, yet she never expected that even from afar in Lizhou Province, he could see the situation in the capital so clearly. With Wu Chun there, the Yang family didn’t have too much to worry about.

Zhou Shuren knew that the Zhou family attracted envy but truly believed that no one would target Chang Lian—not yet, at least. It wasn’t worth attacking the Zhou family for the time being. Moreover, he often entered the Palace, and currently, the Emperor trusted him. The various princes wouldn’t kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. If they truly wanted to move against him, they would wait for a pivotal moment. Right now, the princes were only being courteous to him because they were raising him for their purposes!

Zhou Shuren looked at his anxious uncle, realizing that dinner was out of the question now, ”He must have been delayed by something.”

Yang Zhumu’s heart thudded. The Zhou family might seem prosperous, but all he saw was superficiality. The younger generation had not yet risen. The Zhou family’s facade existed solely because of his brother-in-law’s support; if he fell, so would they. Chang Lian was very important, followed by Chang Zhi. As for his brother-in-law’s grandsons, they were still too young.

Mingyun was the eldest; even if he could take the government exams, passing them on the first try would take five or six years. If his learning was insufficient or his luck poor, it could take more than a decade, and by that time, no one could be sure if his brother-in-law would even be around. Even if he were, Mingyun would need many more years to take over the family. Not to mention Ming Teng and Ming Rui.

Therefore, Chang Lian was critically important to the Zhou family.

Zhulan wanted to comfort her brother, but seeing him so anxious, she knew it was useless to say anything now. He wouldn’t listen. They could only wait for news.

Shen Xing returned on horseback and brought back news, ”The Princely Heir of Rongchuan and the third elder left together. Someone attacked the carriage. The condition of the Princely Heir of Rongchuan and the third elder is unknown. They are now in the Palace, with Jingyan waiting outside.”

Zhulan accidentally knocked over her teacup, the cup falling to the ground, ”What did you just say?”

Shen Xing was sweaty, not expecting such a serious incident. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead as he repeated the news, continuing, ”The young servant accompanying the third elder is skilled in martial arts. The Princely Heir of Rongchuan’s young servant is also an expert. The fight was said to be intense. As to the specifics, I’m not sure.”

Zhou Shuren clenched his fists, an attack in the capital, indeed, remarkable. One was his son-in-law, the other his own son. Such a significant event had occurred, and the Palace hadn’t sent word. It showed that the Emperor was currently furious.

Zhou Shuren stood up, his demeanor cool, though he felt like he had been slapped in the face. Just earlier, he thought that no one would dare move against Chang Lian. He sat down again with a stern face and gestured for Shen Xing to also wait at the Palace gate.

Zhulan was worried about her son and the Princely Heir of Rongchuan, looking at Zhou Shuren, the more she understood him. She knew perfectly well that Zhou Shuren was seething with rage. Always protective of his own, this open attack had undoubtedly ignited a tremendous fury within him.

While the Yang brothers were filled with worry, they hardly dared to breathe. They had forgotten the image of their brother-in-law from the past. In this moment, they didn’t dare meet their brother-in-law’s eyes. Having held an official position for many years, his authoritative demeanor was so ingrained that it left them gasping for air.

Zhou Shuren took a deep breath. After calming down, he realized that today’s assassination targeted Rongchuan; Chang Lian was just caught up in it. Rongchuan’s visits to the Zhou family were regular, and today was precisely the day for his return. If Rongchuan met with disaster, the Zhou and Ning families would be left without marital ties. Plus, with Chang Lian involved, the Zhou family would suffer a severe blow. In another year and a half, Chang Lian would be eligible for an official position, giving the Zhou family a foundation to tide them over until it was time for Chang Zhi.

If something were to happen to Chang Lian, the Zhou family would lose that foundation, and raising Chang Zhi would again take many years, leaving the Zhou family merely an empty shell.

These thoughts were from the perspective of the Zhou family.

Of course, from different angles, there would naturally be different considerations. However, it was certain that if something happened to Rongchuan, it would be a blow to the Crown Prince, especially considering the series of reactions following Rongchuan’s incident.

The most critical matter at hand, Zhou Shuren wanted to know whether Rongchuan and Chang Lian were injured at all!

Zhou Shuren’s voice carried a ghostly tone, ”The storm has arrived, no one can endure it any longer.”

Whether it be the several princes or various forces, the calm before the storm has passed, it was just unexpected that Rongchuan would be the one they started with. However, it was indeed swift, accurate, and ruthless—targeting Rongchuan to drag the Ning family into the fray. The Ning family’s low profile could no longer serve as camouflage.

Zhulan, upon hearing her husband’s words, remained silent. She and Zhou Shuren fiercely tried to steer the Zhou family’s ship through the tempest, but they could not avoid the storm.

Yang Zhumu and his brothers sat opposite each other. They did not understand their brother-in-law’s words, yet they felt a sense of unease.

Within the Palace, in the government hall, the Emperor’s fingers swiftly moved his prayer beads, an indication of his agitation, as shattered porcelain littered the floor.

The Crown Prince stood motionless, a deep sullenness palpable in the depths of his eyes upon closer inspection.

Eunuch Liu walked in on tiptoes, careful not to make any loud noises, heart laden with dread at facing the Emperor now, ”Emperor, Prince Qi, Prince Chu, Prince Liang, the fifth prince have all arrived at the palace gates.”

The Emperor swept the teapot beside him to the floor, ”Do not admit them, tell them to go back, I will see no one,” he said.

He didn’t want to see anyone at the moment, save for the Crown Prince. He harbored suspicion towards everyone else; no one should have laid a finger on Rongchuan, and especially not with such ferocity. His son, whom he had lost and reclaimed, had been attacked again!

Eunuch Liu quickly retreated towards the door of the government hall, only for the Emperor’s voice to call out, ”If the captured assassin dies, I will hold you accountable.”

Eunuch Liu swallowed hard, eyes fierce and determined; he would not let the person die, ”Understood.”

The Emperor continued to fiddle with his prayer beads, suddenly lifting his head to look at the Crown Prince, ”Who do you think it was?”

The Crown Prince thought of a few distressing brothers, suppressed the anger in his heart, and tried to remain calm, ”Your son cannot tell who it was.”

The Emperor gazed intently at his eldest son. Did the Crown Prince harbor rage in his heart? He did. The Emperor understood him, having raised him with his own hands. To be able to calmly and impartially point out the culprit, the Emperor should be pleased, yet something in his heart didn’t feel quite right. A man who could be a qualified ruler, but not a good brother— the Emperor scoffed at himself. Indeed, he was getting old, flooded by increasingly futile sentiments.

The Crown Prince did not wait for his father’s response. He looked candidly at the Emperor, wanting to pin down Zhang Jingyang himself, but he could not afford such personal whims at the moment, ”Your son believes that someone attacked Rongchuan intending to muddy the waters, it may not necessarily be Jingyang and the others’ doing. Murky waters are ideal for fishing. Of course, it could also be that your favor towards Rongchuan has caused my brothers to become envious, using an attack on Rongchuan as an excuse to implicate the Ning family.”

The Emperor changed the subject, ”The young servants from the Zhou Shuren residence are not lacking in martial skills, and those that Ning Xu sent to protect Rongchuan are also skilled. My arranged men didn’t need to act; the situation was half resolved on its own.”

The sounds of a scuffle had already drawn the patrolling soldiers. His own men had not yet been exposed.

The Crown Prince said, ”Today, Zhou Changlian made a contribution.”

The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment; today, Zhou Changlian was just an addition, someone meant to target Rongchuan but inadvertently helped him a great deal instead.