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

Chapter 1018: Chapter 1018: The Nephew Resembles His Uncle

Zhou Residence, only after the servants from the Duke Residence had left did Zhulan come back to her senses, ”Did the visitor just now say that Xue Han is pregnant?”

Zhou Shuren was in a lot of pain from his toothache, ”Yes, you heard right.”

Zhulan felt a toothache coming on as well, counting the days since the marriage, it hadn’t been long, and Rongchuan couldn’t keep still, ”I regret letting my daughter marry so early.”

Zhou Shuren also felt his daughter was young, ”People in this era indeed reproduce frequently. Should we plan ahead? Our younger children are still young, especially Chang Lian and Chang Zhi. Without planning, our family will have even more children.”

Already having over ten children now, wouldn’t there be even more in the future? Having many children was good, but sometimes it was too overwhelming.

Zhulan said lightly, ”It’s easy for you to say. The eldest is not planning on having more children, but the second one still wants a son. Lady Zhao, once fully recovered, will definitely give birth. The third wife’s sore point is her son; the only one who might have fewer children is Chang Zhi. And even with planning, accidents happen.”

Zhou Shuren fell silent, ”Will you visit our daughter tomorrow?”

”Of course, I haven’t been to the Ning Duke Residence yet. This is a good opportunity to see it now that I’m going to be a grandmother.”

The feelings hadn’t been as strong when Xue Mei had her children; such affections developed slowly over time. Xue Han was the one she had raised, just like her own daughter, the young girl from those days was now going to be a mother.

At Ning Duke Residence, Xue Han received the highest treatment, the Duchess barely hiding her smile, then she ate some spicy dishes.

Ning Xu’s face was beaming with joy, knowing he could hold a grandson or granddaughter by the end of this year, thrilled to think there’d be an addition to the Hou Residence, his smile growing wider and wider.

Rongchuan was beyond words, about to be a father, senseless with excitement. If it wasn’t for the location, he would have spun around Xue Han endlessly; now, he could only hold himself back.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor and the Empress also received the news, the Emperor stunned for a moment, ”I was just mentioning it today.”

Eunuch Liu laughed, ”Miss Zhou is very fortunate.”

The Emperor smiled, ”I’ve heard sour for a son and spicy for a daughter.”

Eunuch Liu thought to himself, the Emperor really values this pregnancy, ”Yes, there is such a saying.”

The Emperor favored the Crown Prince’s daughter, although not born to the Crown Princess Consort. Once the Crown Prince succeeded, a concubine’s child would also have a lofty status, but he really wanted a direct granddaughter, especially from his youngest son.

The Empress longed to send a Female Officer to the Hou Residence to serve, but she couldn’t overdo it; she could only let a Female Officer visit tomorrow.

The next day, Zhulan went to the Ning Duke Residence early. The Ning Duke Residence was large; previously, without female family members, it was difficult to enter. She listened as her daughter explained that the Ning Duke Residence was twice as large as their own because of fewer masters; many courtyards stood empty.

Only half of the entire residence was lively, while the other half Marquis Ning planned to demolish to create a large garden. Upon hearing this, Zhulan had only one thought; to be wealthy was to be willful.

Zhulan hadn’t even reached her daughter’s courtyard when her daughter came to meet her, ”Why aren’t you waiting in the courtyard for me?”

”When mother comes, your daughter naturally has to greet you personally.”

Zhulan eyed Rongchuan behind her daughter, ”You didn’t go to the Hanlin Academy today?”

Rongchuan grinned foolishly, ”I already requested leave.”

He wished he could take leave until his wife gave birth, unfortunately, that wasn’t allowed, so he had only taken three days off.

Rongchuan added, ”It was better during the Song Dynasty; there really were more holidays.”

Zhulan was also aware of the numerous holidays during the Song Dynasty and asked her daughter, ”Is there anything uncomfortable that you’re experiencing?”

Xue Han was very careful with herself, ”There’s nothing else uncomfortable; I just can’t seem to avoid spicy food.”

Rongchuan grinned, ”Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl, this must be a daughter.”

Every time he thought about having a daughter like Xue Han, his heart went utterly soft.

Zhulan was already tired of seeing Rongchuan’s silly dad demeanor, too foolish, yes, just like Zhou Shuren in the beginning.

It wasn’t until Zhulan had just sat down and instructed her daughter on what to pay attention to, that the Female Officer arrived, carefully inquired, and then departed.

Xue Han mumbled, ”The Empress treats me so well, rewarding me with plenty of things after marriage, and now she even personally inquires about my pregnancy, truly like a mother-in-law.”

Xue Han was just expressing her feelings, but Rongchuan took it seriously, his brow furrowed, then relaxed.

Rongchuan said, ”Mother, this child must be a daughter, a daughter who looks like Xue Han.”

Xue Han cleared her throat, ”Your wish is beautiful, but you should have heard that a nephew resembles his uncle, what if she resembles my older brothers?”

Rongchuan couldn’t help but his pupils shrank, and afterward, his frown deepened even more.

Zhulan, ”....”

These two phrases spoken by her daughter are crucial, especially the last one. Rongchuan often went to the Palace and might feel something off, now his daughter’s words were truly enlightening!

Zhulan changed the topic, ”You eating so much spicy food isn’t good either, what did the Imperial Physician say after the examination?”

Hearing this, Rongchuan quickly dismissed any dangerous thoughts, only left with concerns for his wife, ”The Imperial Physician didn’t really say anything, just mentioned that a pregnant woman’s tastes can be strange, perhaps it will pass after some days.”

Xue Han touched her belly, ”The Imperial Physician felt the pulse and said the child is quite well.”

”That’s good.”

In the Prince Residence, Zhang Yang couldn’t bear hearing about someone having a child. It hadn’t been long since Rongchuan got married and he already had a child, while he himself had taken several concubines but none were pregnant. He could almost see the scorn and sarcasm in his brothers’ eyes each time he met them.

Because of the pressure of having a child, Zhang Yang grew more and more irritable, the child, the child, angrily smashing things in the study.

At the Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi listened to reports on Zhang Yang’s situation, knowing clearly that a child was necessary. Otherwise, Zhang Yang would be difficult to control, and might start doubting those around him, somewhat regretting the extreme steps taken earlier, now complicating his own situation, he instructed softly.

Yao Zheyu was just about to leave the residence, nowhere near his former spirited self, with the idle position at the Ministry of War and unable to leave the capital, his ambitions frustrated, feeling suffocated within. As he got into the carriage, he saw someone leaving the residence, squinting, he recognized the person.

Yao Zheyu got off the carriage, the carriage of the Hou Residence was too conspicuous, told the young servant beside him to follow the man while he walked.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren knew that the delegation would enter the capital tomorrow, he had heard that before the delegation even disembarked at Pinggang, the Emperor had shown his strength. Ships were aligned and cannons aimed at the passing ships, causing the delegation to repair at Pinggang for some days.

Said to be repairs, but in reality, it was to gather intelligence, wary of the Navy.

Qiu Yan came in, ”Take a look at this.”

Zhou Shuren took it, ”I don’t want to see any application from the Ministry of Works right now.”

Qiu Yan sighed, ”Also don’t know if this year will be smooth.”

Zhou Shuren, watching the snow falling at the beginning of the year, felt uneasy, how could every year be smooth, ”Ministry of Works has become clever.”

Taking advantage of the delegation’s arrival in the capital, it wanted to apply for more funds, he thought, once he had more authority in the future, he would restrict the Ministry of Works’ funding, they burned too much money.

Qiu Yan didn’t want to talk more about money, the Ministry of Revenue facing money every day, it gave him a headache, ”Tomorrow your second son will meet the delegation, congratulations.”