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

Chapter 977: Chapter 977: Pregnancy Makes You Dumb for Three Years

Outside the Palace, Ran Zheng left the Palace and climbed onto his carriage, where he slumped motionlessly. He was not resigned, not yet avenged his son, not resigned to being outwitted. Closing his eyes, he lay down in the carriage, as closing his eyes was the only way to hide the emotions in his eyes.

Zhou Shuren paid no attention to Ran Zheng after seeing him and didn’t involve himself further, as it was no longer his concern.

In the Academy, Ming Teng was listless. He truly missed Ran Xun, who hadn’t come to the Academy. The young servant had gone to the Ran Residence to inquire, and Ran Xun had only told him to take care of himself.

Ming Teng worried for the Ran family, anxiously ran was anxious, clutching at his hair. Ran Xun was his brother, and Ran Wan was his future sister-in-law. Although his elder brother appeared cold all day, he truly cared for his younger brother. Knowing his elder brother’s heart was not at peace, he therefore behaved very honestly, even Ming Hui became honest.

There was no need to mention his parents. His mother, who had the loudest voice, dared not even breathe heavily in front of his elder brother these past few days. ”Annoying.”

Jiang Zhu witnessed cruelty for the first time. The Ran family seemed very distant to him, yet the mighty Ran family seemed like a great tree about to fall, teetering on the brink of collapse. ”Cousin, can you stop sighing?”

Sighing, it made his heart irritable.

Ming Teng felt that his cousin’s temper had truly become larger, and didn’t once consider that it might be his fault.

Dong Zhan silently read his book. The Dong family had also changed overnight, but it was their own decision to step back. Moreover, Dong family still had the marriage alliance with the Zhou family. His little aunt was doing well in the Zhou family, which allowed him to come to the capital to study. Touching the book, all he grasped was his studies; he calmed his heart and continued reading.

In the Ran Residence, Ran Wan already knew her father was injured. After feeding her mother medicine, she shook off her maidservant and sat alone behind the rockery and cried. She wanted to be stronger, but she couldn’t hold back anymore.

When Ran Wan had cried enough, she lifted her head to see a handkerchief. ”Have you been here all along?”

Ran Xun sat down next to Ran Wan, ”Mhm, I was on the rockery just now. Go ahead and cry, it’s relieving to let it out.”

These past few days, he saw Ran Wan and felt pity; the young girl had to take care of her aunt and suppress her panic.

Ran Wan’s nose was red. ”My father will be fine, won’t he?”

Ran Xun nodded firmly, ”Yes, Uncle will definitely be fine. Grandfather must have a way. I overheard Grandfather and Grandmother talking. Mr. Zhou is helping too. Ming Teng says his grandfather is especially formidable. Grandfather has mentioned Mr. Zhou many times, so there must be a way.”

Ran Wan’s eyes widened. She didn’t know about this. She had to take care of her mother and grandmother, and Grandfather wouldn’t tell her much. So the Zhou family was helping too. ”The Zhou family is good.”

Ran Xun nodded, ”Mhm.”

Ran Wan intertwined her fingers, ”When do you think my father can come back?”

Ran Xun knew that Ran Wan was just seeking reassurance and said firmly, ”He will definitely come back, and very soon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ran Wan and Ran Xun’s maidservants ran over. ”Master has returned! He said Uncle will be back at the residence soon.”

Ran Wan stood up abruptly, then sat down hard on the ground as her legs had gone numb from crouching too long. In her excitement, she paid no mind to the pain and asked the maid helping her up, ”Is what you said true?”

The maidservant nodded vigorously, ”It’s true, the news came from the main courtyard.”

Ran Wan finally smiled, ”Quick, let’s go back to the courtyard.”

Ran Xun touched his mouth, ”My words turned out to be so prophetic?”

Inside the Palace, the Emperor, after learning Ran Zheng had seen Zhou Shuren before entering the Palace, said to Eunuch Liu, ”I told you, this old fox is the one who truly understands how to live, lives too wisely, in fact.”

Eunuch Liu cautiously replied, ”Mr. Zhou has no ambition; he’s just seeking a better life.”

The Emperor understood, ”If everyone lived as wisely as Zhou Shuren, I could relax a lot. They want too much.”

Eunuch Liu felt that Mr. Zhou’s keen awareness of how to live was invaluable. Everyone has desires, including himself, but now that most of his life was behind him, he had let go of them.

But Mr. Zhou always knew what he wanted and what was off-limits.

Then, Eunuch Liu remembered something he had to report, ”Your Majesty, the Empress punished the Noble Consort again.”

The Emperor waved Eunuch Liu to leave; he wasn’t planning to interfere with the harem anymore. Let the Empress stir up whatever she wanted; it had been many years since she endured.

Eunuch Liu left, and although the Emperor no longer visited the harem, his favor towards the Empress remained constant in his heart.

After Ran Lei returned to the Ran Residence, news of Ran Zheng’s retirement spread.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Wong Ju reflected, ”Mr. Ran is truly decisive.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Mm.”

Wong Ju added, ”What a pity, what a pity.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t feel it was a pity. With Ran Zheng stepping down, both of his sons could look forward to a bright future. It’s quite possible that compensation would even extend to Ran Yan, considering that the Crown Prince’s ascension would mean hefty rewards for the harem.

He had learned much from Ran Zheng; sometimes, when one needs to make a decision, it’s critical not to hesitate.

Wong Ju asked, ”Aren’t you a bit too composed about this?”

”Am I supposed to excitedly clap my hands?”

Wong Ju shuddered, thinking it would be a sight too difficult to endure, ”Anyhow, the matter is resolved, and you must be relieved.”

Zhou Shuren pointed to the ground, ”In the domain of the capital, you expect to be at ease? Don’t dream.”

Wong Ju, ”....”

Upon learning the news, Prince Qi sat silently. They all wrangled, yet in the end it was the Emperor who emerged as the biggest winner. Recalling his grandfather’s words, Prince Qi thought to himself; his enemy had never been the Crown Prince—his father, the Emperor, was his most formidable adversary.

The Crown Prince’s security came from the Emperor’s backing; he and his brothers had always been under the Emperor’s control, never breaking free.

Prince Qi was unwilling to accept this even though he knew it was true; the Emperor was biased, favoring both the Crown Prince and the Empress. All of the Empress’s actions in the harem had the Emperor’s tacit approval. Both the Noble Consort and Consort Qi had sought the Emperor’s audience, only to be turned away!

Prince Chu’s countenance was the ugliest upon receiving the news. His only consolation was Ran Zheng’s retirement; at least that was a decent gain.

Prince Liang was also displeased. The situation could have been thrown into further chaos; he had been ready to take action that day, only for that detestable Ran Lei to be released, wasting a perfect opportunity.

Prince Liang pursed his lips. Ran Zheng had met with Zhou Shuren before entering the Palace; perhaps it was Zhou Shuren who proposed the idea to Ran Zheng. Such a nuisance. The chance they lost last time was regrettable. That old fellow was too cautious, even having the son of a civil official practice martial arts.

Zhang Yang took a while to react, eventually accepting that Ran Lei was safe. The evidence was conclusive; Ran Lei had been wronged. Had his own scheme been utterly foiled?

At the Zhulan residence, Zhulan also received the news, and Lady Li kept chanting Buddhist prayers, ”Mother, my covert scripture writing these past few days must have helped.”

Zhulan, ”You’ve been writing scripture for the past few days?”

Lady Li laughed nervously, ”Yes, I’ve been copying them all day.”

Zhulan rubbed her forehead, ”Are you sure you copied the scriptures correctly?”

Lady Li stiffened; she had only copied the ones she was accustomed to. Fearing to utter a word, she thought, ”It seems useless, fortunately.”

She dared not take credit this time.

Zhulan, feeling rather annoyed, said, ”I think pregnancy did make you foolish. People say that pregnancy brings three years of silliness, and it seems to be proven by you.”

Lady Li silently recounted her some foolish things she had done since becoming pregnant, with this time being the most evident. She then asked, ”Mother, who told you about the three years of silliness during pregnancy?”

Zhulan, ”.... Is that the point? The crucial thing is that you must never mention the scriptures in front of the Ran family.”

Lady Li hung her head in admission of her mistake, no longer heeding her mother-in-law’s words, ”Mother, I definitely won’t mention it.”