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

Chapter 1033: Chapter 1333: He’s the One Who Can’t Leave

Nations with weak maritime power widened their eyes, while the faces of powerful seafaring nations showed changing colors. These upgraded ships, improved in such a short time, fully demonstrated the nation’s strength.

Chang Yi squinted his eyes, ”This must be the sense of pride my father talked about.”

Wu Ming watched the foreign merchant ships, ”It’s not enough, this can only deter the nearby countries.”

Chang Yi chuckled, ”You can’t become fat with just one bite, my father always said to take things step by step to avoid overextending.”

Ever since he joined the Ministry of Rites, his conversations with his father increased. Unlike before, when he dared not disturb him, and he envied Chang Lian, who could seek their father at any time. Now he could as well, and only then did he realize that many of his father’s seemingly simple words were actually profound statements.

Wu Ming gripped the railings, ”That’s why godfather must stay at the Ministry of Revenue.”

Chang Yi, ”....”

His father, in order to squeeze out more silver, counted every coin and even refined many of the Ministry of Revenue’s processes. Such a ruthless heart, he actually hoped his father would stay at the Ministry of Revenue forever!

Zhang Jinghong overheard this and twitched the corner of his mouth. He didn’t know what the future held for Minister Zhou, but he knew that he was tied to the Ministry of Revenue for life.

In the capital, Zhulan went to the Ning Duke Residence, bringing some pickled vegetables made by Lady Li for her daughter. Lady Li had craved these during her pregnancy, finding the kitchen maid’s work unsatisfactory, insisting on making them herself, and so she made some for Xue Han.

Greeting her mother with a sniff, Xue Han said, ”Hmm, this smell is from my big sister-in-law.”

”You can tell?”

Zhulan couldn’t tell the difference by smell, but she could by taste; Lady Li’s pickles were indeed delicious. However, since Lady Li was pregnant, Zhulan didn’t let her make too much. Just bringing extra for the pregnant Xue Han was already her indulgence; it was enough for the whole family, since the Zhou family had too many masters and not enough food no matter how much was made.

Xue Han giggled, ”Of course not by smell. Rongchuan met my older brother, then he came back and told me. I was just counting the days; if mother hadn’t come today, I would’ve sent someone back to get them.”

Zhulan chuckled, ”If you’re staying at the Hou Residence, Rongchuan won’t be going back either.”

Touching her still-flat belly, Xue Han complained, ”He worries about me. As soon as he returns, his eyes never leave me. He won’t let me do anything as if I were made of fragile glass, Mother, I have no freedom.”

Zhulan patted her daughter’s hand, ”I understand, mother has experienced it.”

Xue Han thought about when her mother was pregnant with her little brother and smiled. Her father loved her mother.

Upon entering, Zhulan saw some nicely made tiny clothes, ”Did you make these for the child?”

”Not me, these were sent by Lady Yu. She came to visit me yesterday.”

Zhulan picked up the clothes and examined the stitching, ”This needlework is quite outstanding. There isn’t a single flawed stitch.”

Xue Han signaled for the maids and old women to leave and whispered, ”After my father-in-law heard, he specifically sent a maid over. Actually, the water maid had already checked them, but Rongchuan and my father-in-law still weren’t reassured.”

Zhulan knew Lady Yu had her eye on a title, ”Is Mr. Hou worried that Lady Yu has ulterior motives?”

Taking the clothes from her mother’s hand and passing her some fruit, Xue Han said, ”Lady Yu is crafty but not foolish enough to act on it. My father-in-law is worried someone might use Lady Yu to create conflict. If the second and third wives of the Ning family split, it would be a strike against the Ning family.”

Listening to her daughter speak so freely, Zhulan said, ”Hearing you talk like this, mother has nothing to worry about.”

Xue Han playfully said, ”Mother, I still need my parents to support me.”

Zhulan thought to herself that she was still young, and in a few years, she would be too embarrassed to act so spoiled.

In the afternoon, Zhulan returned home and changed her clothes. ”Eldest brother, did you have something to discuss with me?”

Eldest Brother Zhou helped their mother to sit down, ”Mother, during lunch, I had a meal with Rongchuan, and he told me something about Shi Qing.”

Zhulan was surprised. ”How did you run into Rongchuan?”

Wasn’t Rongchuan supposed to be at the Hanlin Academy? Why had he left at noon?

Eldest Brother Zhou couldn’t help but laugh, ”Rongchuan took advantage of the midday break to buy a gift for his sister, saying it was some kind of surprise he learned from father.”

Zhulan had a thick skin; hearing what her elder brother said, she wouldn’t blush, ”And then you had lunch together?”

”Mm, during the conversation, Rongchuan said he found out that Shi Qing was drinking health-reviving herbal medicine.”

Zhulan was not surprised that Rongchuan had found out; Shi Qing was following Zhang Yang, so it was natural to look into Shi Qing. ”Is Shi Qing sick?”

Eldest Brother Zhou replied, ”At first, Rongchuan thought it was for Shi Qing’s son Anan, but then he discovered that Shi Qing himself was drinking it. However, Shi Qing doesn’t look like he’s unwell.”

Zhulan suddenly thought that Shi Qing was a person trusted by Zhang Yang, and they had eaten together quite often. Could it be that Shi Qing was also poisoned? The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed, but something wasn’t right. At that time, Zhang Yang was poisoned at the residence of Prince Liang; Shi Qing hadn’t gone with them. Zhulan couldn’t help but hypothesize. If Shi Qing was also poisoned, then it would mean that Zhang Yang had been poisoned again!

Therefore, as long as she found out whether Shi Qing had been poisoned, she could verify her guess!

Eldest Brother Zhou saw his mother’s expression change, ”Mother, what did you think of?”

Zhulan didn’t keep it from her eldest brother. Over the years, he had shown he could shoulder responsibilities. Sooner or later, they would have to divide the household, especially with the changes in the Zhou family’s status; the instructions given to the eldest needed altering to prevent him from panicking during critical situations. She deliberately let her eldest cultivate his mindset.

Eldest Brother Zhou’s mouth dropped open, stuttering, ”Mother, if what you are guessing is true, does that mean Shi Qing also has difficulties with offspring?”

Zhulan hummed in affirmation.

Eldest Brother Zhou realized something, ”Didn’t the fifth Prince say the poison had been cured? Why didn’t Shi Qing ask the fifth Prince for help and instead secretly drank the tonic? If Rongchuan hadn’t discovered it, nobody would have known.”

Zhulan stroked her chin, ”It can only mean that there is no antidote for this poison after all, and the damage caused is difficult to recover from, which is why he didn’t seek help from the fifth Prince.”

This guess was the most rational one. No matter if Shi Qing was the Emperor’s tool, for the sake of his offspring, Shi Qing would also ask Zhang Yang for help, and Zhang Yang, out of loyalty, certainly wouldn’t refuse.

Zhulan felt that her guess was the truth; Zhang Yang’s poison had not only remained uncured but also struck again. If before there was a struggle to have offspring, there still lay some hope. But now, having been poisoned a second time, this time it was probably a certainty of having no descendants at all.

Eldest Brother Zhou took a long time to recover from the shock; the news was too startling. ”Mother, this is just speculation, isn’t it?”

”The truth is known only to those involved. Enough, you must bury this in your heart, and not a word of it should be spoken aloud to anyone else.”

Eldest Brother Zhou trembled with fear, of course, he wouldn’t dare speak of it – he was probably the most timid in their household. He couldn’t help but look at his mother, whose expression remained unchanged as if the discussion had been nothing of consequence. Eldest Brother Zhou knew that ever since his second sibling joined the Ministry of Rites, the mother had been instructing him in detail on many matters, training him.

Eldest Brother Zhou slapped his face to focus, reminding himself quietly several times that he was the eldest brother, and gradually, the panic in his heart subsided.

Zhulan observed her eldest closely, feeling quite satisfied with how quickly he had recovered. Seeing Granny Song return, Zhulan was aware that Granny Song had intentionally taken the girls away, which was also an established tacit understanding. Granny Song would listen when appropriate, and when it wasn’t, she was very good at managing the balance.