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

Chapter 952: Chapter 952 Too much Adulteration

Early the next morning, no one noticed anything amiss with the separate dinners Zhulan had arranged for each house in their own courtyards the previous evening.

As the main courtyard doors opened early today, Zhulan was met by her eldest and second brother, both of whom looked unrested, ”Eldest brother, did you not sleep last night?”

Yang Zhumu’s physique was strong, and with age, lying convincingly wasn’t his forte, so he openly admitted, ”Hmm, I kept dreaming last night and didn’t continue to sleep after the latter half.”

Zhulan turned to her second brother, who sipped his tea to clear his mind, ”It was much the same for me.”

The most grinding were the dreams, various nightmares that left one feeling exceptionally weary in heart.

Zhulan didn’t ask what sort of dreams her brothers had; she could guess. If it wasn’t the Zhou family facing calamity and ruin, then it was something happening to Chang Lian, that would see her, grey-haired, mourning the death of one younger.”

It wasn’t just her brothers who had nightmares; Zhulan hadn’t slept well either, her spirits low this morning. She truly wasn’t thick-skinned, or else she wouldn’t be so anxious and make arrangements for the descendants of the Zhou family.

With the tea in his cup finished, Yang Zhumu then asked, ”Why haven’t we seen Zhou Shuren?”

Zhulan replied, ”Today marks the start of a new month, and it was Zhou Shuren’s turn to attend the early court session. He went to the Palace not long after dawn.”

Yang Zhumu smacked his head, ”Right, right, officials in the capital all need to attend the early court.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Eldest brother is mistaken, not every official in the capital can attend the early court. The ones who get to go are few and far between, and there are only a handful of times a year when more people attend the court during the grand imperial assemblies.”

Yang Zhumu understood, his tone proud, ”My brother-in-law is impressive.”

Yang Zhulin inquired, ”Regarding Chang Lian’s matter, has Zhou Shuren said anything?”

Zhulan shook her head, ”The power structure in the capital is intricate to an extreme, and the Zhou family has only just arrived, their understanding of the various factions only surface deep. Zhou Shuren currently has no leads and must wait for news.”

A sense of helplessness grew within her; the Zhou family seemed so powerful, but in a real crisis, their weaknesses were too obvious. Zhulan comforted herself, relationships take years to build. For the Zhou family to establish their current influence in just one year since their arrival in the capital was already quite remarkable.

Yang Zhumu, who had not grown a long beard, tugged at it, ”Many officials have their own proteges. Does Zhou Shuren have any outstanding ones?”

Zhulan looked at her eldest brother, who also strived for the Yang family in Lizhou Province and was well-informed, ”Zhou Shuren believes in quality over quantity; he has his own plans. Moreover, the young generation of the Zhou clan is coming of age. Compared to individuals from other surnames, it is more prudent to rely on one’s clan. The Zhou family needs time, and so does the Zhou clan. Struggling together side by side is the best course for our family’s future.”

Only then did Yang Zhumu remember that the Zhou clan was a large, influential family back home, with their own clan school. Previously, there was no leader, but now that Zhou Shuren had stepped forward, who was foremost among the Zhou clan, with absolute influence, ”Indeed, everything takes time.”

Zhulan continued, ”Now is the time to lay the foundation. We cannot rush, nor do we have the luxury to do so.”

Upon hearing these words, Yang Zhumu felt reassured, ”Your plans are sound.”

Yang Zhulin looked at his sister, now a stranger to him, very unfamiliar, feeling almost as if he was facing his brother-in-law. On closer examination, she was still his sister, yet the sister he now saw had been Mrs. Guan for many years, far removed from the impression he once held in his memory.

The Court had already dismissed the morning assembly, and the Emperor had departed, yet no one in the court dared to move. Today’s assembly had been anticipative of the Emperor’s wrath, and the officials understood that his anger was not directed at the son of Mr. Hou—his fury was a reaction to the challenge against imperial power, thus the Emperor’s towering rage.

Throughout his years on the throne, the Emperor had seldom let his emotions show completely. This was a first, and it struck terror into the hearts of the ministers. It foreshadowed a bloody purge. Many ministers remembered the early years of the dynasty with unease, aware that the Emperor was seizing the opportunity to cleanse the court and solidify his authority.

Zhou Shuren raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the ministers before pausing on Li Zhao, Minister of War. The Minister’s birthday celebration would now be difficult to handle.

Prince Qi made the first move, followed by Prince Chu, and only then did the other ministers begin to leave. Everyone was in a hurry. Zhou Shuren saw Marquis Ning waiting for him and approached, ”Mr. Hou.”

Ning Xu had attended the court today because of Rongchuan. He nodded at Zhou Shuren and said as they walked, ”Now, it’s about more than just uncovering the true mastermind behind the scenes.”

Zhou Shuren frowned, ”Why are you telling me this, Mr. Hou?”

Ning Xu looked up at the sky, where a trace of melancholy flitted across his heart. The words of the Emperor today were mixed with too much, ”I just think you are a wise man, Counsellor Zhou. Our sons are the real victims, and yet they end up being mere foils.”

The game had already begun; Rongchuan and Chang Lian didn’t matter anymore!

Zhou Shuren, eyes downcast, knew that everyone was but a foil under imperial power; it all depended on one’s own weight, ”There will be an explanation.”

Ning Xu snorted, ”This entire land belongs to the Emperor, and the capital is under his complete control.”

He had always operated in the shadows within the capital; the Emperor could know anything he wanted to know—it was only a matter of time. Last night, the Emperor had already learned who had made their move. Today’s furious outburst, heh.

Having said his piece, Ning Xu left promptly. He knew Zhou Shuren was a clever man. He had given enough hints; if it weren’t for Zhou Shuren’s defensiveness, he wouldn’t have said what he did. Zhou Shuren’s daughter was to marry Rongchuan, and the wedding was only months away.

Zhou Shuren’s steps halted as he watched Ning Xu’s retreating figure. Wasn’t he aware of what was going on? He knew, maybe not as much as Ning Xu, but enough. Pretending to be the idle talk companion to the Emperor wasn’t for nothing; the greatest gain was not the Emperor’s trust, but understanding the Emperor himself.

The Emperor knew who the culprit was, and the person caught in the act was dear to him, which is why his anger was so abnormally fierce. He couldn’t direct his rage outward, so now he would use this incident as a pretext to purge and displace his anger onto others. Ah, the power of the throne!

Zhou Shuren didn’t rush or dawdle. Since Ning Xu had walked with him, it had become quiet. The wind blew his official robe. The wind was strong today, and Zhou Shuren looked up to see dark clouds moving in. It was going to rain soon.

Before he could leave the Palace, the rain began to fall. Officials ahead started to run. Zhou Shuren’s lips twitched. He might have fancied a walk in the rain but not in a downpour. He hurried to the carriage of the Ministry of Revenue, his official robe soaked through by the time he climbed aboard.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that it was fortunate that Lady Dong had taken a few days off. Then he considered that Lady Dong’s luck was indeed good.

Jinyan asked, ”My lord, your clothes are drenched. Shall we take a detour back to the residence to change?”

Zhou Shuren nodded, ”Indeed.”

The pounding rain on the carriage roof lacked any sense of poetry. This storm was ill-timed; it could wash away too many traces. Then again, he thought, the Emperor already knew who was behind it all. Unearthing them wouldn’t lead back to the mastermind, so traces mattered little now.

In the Zhou residence, the third chamber, Chang Lian was not in his official attire. Lady Dong asked, ”I’ve been meaning to ask since yesterday—where is your official robe?”