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

Chapter 1031: Chapter 1031: A Wife is for a Lifetime, to Sleep Together Even After Death

Prince Qi felt a chill down his spine. If it weren’t the Emperor speaking, he would have felt like cursing. Indeed, too many people had died here. Since the construction of the Rong Garden began, he had been investigating the Rong family. A massive fire in the past had claimed too many lives, leaving behind numerous charred corpses.

The Emperor closed his eyes, filled with regret for having left this place vacant all this time. He had dreamt of the fire again last night, which was why he had come to Rong Garden.

After standing for a while, the Emperor departed, ”Since you are personally overseeing this, I am relieved. This place is now entrusted to you.”

Prince Qi, ”...Your son will obey the decree.”

Only God knew that after being scared by the Emperor, he had thought about leaving as soon as the Emperor left. But now he couldn’t and instead felt an eerie chill everywhere in the Rong Garden, shivering uncontrollably as the cold seemed to shoot up to his head.

The Emperor did not rush back to the palace. After leaving Rong Garden, his mood lifted slightly. He was just waiting for the Rong Garden to be completed for a ritual to appease the spirits. Once the spirits were at peace, he would then have the face to meet his mother.

Zhulan wasn’t in a hurry to return home either. She planned to buy some paper and painting dyes to take back with her.

Chang Zhong was restless, but with Shen Xing accompanying him, Zhulan wasn’t too worried. She selected paper with peace of mind. Once she had finished, she saw Shen Xing and the twins return, ”Where is Chang Zhong?”

Shen Xing tugged at the corner of his mouth, ”He just now encountered the Emperor. The Emperor took the little master with him and asked me to inform you, to put your mind at ease.”

Zhulan, ”...The Emperor took Chang Zhong away?”

Shen Xing nodded. He hadn’t expected to encounter the Emperor. It was quite the coincidence—no, it was no coincidence at all, as the Emperor rarely left the palace, ”Yes.”

Zhulan regretted not going directly home, ”Did you notice where the Emperor took Chang Zhong?”

Shen Xing shook his head, ”I don’t know.”

Zhulan was anxious about her son. Although her son now understood what an Emperor was, she feared her child’s boldness could land him in trouble. Gritting her teeth, she said, ”Let’s go home first. You go to the Ministry of Revenue and inform the master.”

On the Emperor’s carriage, the Emperor watched the little guy, ”You used to be quite bold, why aren’t you speaking now?”

Chang Zhong, with his hands behind his back and no familiar faces around, was also scared, ”Because I know who the Emperor is. Daddy says the Emperor is the Son of Heaven; the Emperor is the sky, the protector of the people. Hmm, and the person with the most power. I don’t dare to speak recklessly.”

The Emperor smiled. Those words were warmer to his heart than any flattery, though it would have been better to ignore the last part, ”What else has your father told you?”

Chang Zhong blinked, the Emperor’s look too reminiscent of his mother fishing for a confession, as she was fond of doing. After pondering, ”Daddy told me a lot—to respect my mother more for she is the greatest at home. He said if I get into trouble, he can’t save me, as his words don’t work in front of mother, and he’d get in trouble for helping me.”

The Emperor nearly choked on his tea, and Eunuch Liu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Chang Zhong was no fool. His father taught him to say what should be said and shift the conversation if he didn’t know what to say. He felt it was okay to share family matters, ”I’m telling the truth, why laugh? Daddy said to cherish mother, as she has it tough. My brothers all yield to their wives. Dad says that’s family harmony. When I grow up and get married, I’ll have to yield to my wife too.”

The Emperor wanted to laugh even more, ”You’re so young and you’re thinking about a wife already?”

Chang Zhong relaxed his hands quite a bit, ”Of course I know. A wife is someone who will accompany me for a lifetime. Mom said that a wife is the only one who can sleep alongside me after death.”

The Emperor’s laughter faded; after his death, he too would be buried with the Empress, ”Yes, only a wife will be by your side forever.”

Chang Zhong was adept at reading the room, ”Emperor, did I say anything wrong? If you need to punish someone, punish me. I am young and ignorant, it’s not related to my daddy.”

He was beginning to fear. What he knew came from his father, his mother, and his brother Wu Ming. Biting his lip, he regretted saying too much. He had failed to listen more and speak less.

The Emperor smiled, this child was quite clever, even knowing his own ignorance, ”You did nothing wrong. Your father has taught you well. At such a young age, you have your own thoughts and opinions. It’s just a pity you’re too young, otherwise...”

No, even if the child was old enough, he would not allow a Zhou family child to become a companion reader for the Crown Prince.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren received the news and felt irritated. Why wasn’t the Emperor staying in the palace? Why wander about unnecessarily? He outright ignored his son’s request to see the departing diplomatic mission. After all, it was the Emperor’s fault.

Zhou Shuren paced back and forth, carefully recalling that he never discussed political matters in front of his son. Mostly, it was all about family affairs, so there should be no issue.

But the thought of the Emperor extracting words from his son made him worry. How young was his son! The shameless Emperor actually fished for a child’s words.

When Prince Chu got wind of the news, he was first annoyed by Prince Qi’s luck, then sighed, the Emperor taking away Zhou Shuren’s son showed how much the Emperor valued Zhou Shuren, extending even to the offspring of the Zhou family.

Prince Liang clenched his teeth, unable to stop thinking about whether he could find any living members of the Rong family, considering how much the Emperor cared about them.

Zhang Yang felt depressed, regretting not having established a good relationship with the Zhou family from the start.

At the Zhou residence, it took Zhulan a while to settle down after returning home. She instructed the steward to wait at the entrance of the mansion. Back home, Zhulan was uneasy, deeply worried that her son might have been frightened.

In the time it took to brew a cup of tea, lost in frantic thoughts, she heard her son’s voice. Zhulan could hardly believe it, ”Chang Zhong?”

Chang Zhong ran in, ”Mother, I have returned. The Emperor sent me back.”

Zhulan was somewhat baffled by the timing of their return. Could it be that the Emperor personally escorted Chang Zhong just to send him back?

Before his mother could inquire, Chang Zhong already recounted the experience, and although not word for word, the gist was clear.

Zhulan looked at her son with complexity. The boy must have struck a nerve with the Emperor, leading to his son’s return, ”Were you scared?”

Chang Zhong, ”At first, yes, but then no longer. Mother, the Emperor even gave me a reward!”

Zhulan listened carefully again to her son’s words. His words had no issues, and she was relieved. She smiled, ”What did the Emperor reward you with?”

Chang Zhong untied his purse, ”The Emperor gave me a silver note from the eunuch’s purse.”

Zhulan, ”....”

This reward was truly unexpected.