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

Chapter 1071: Chapter 1071: Feeling Anxious, Please Don’t Be So Good to Him

Prince Qi smiled, stood up, and retrieved the tea box he had just given away. ”Since you don’t appreciate tea, I shall take it back.”

Zhou Shuren was a step too slow. He might not understand tea, but he knew it was valuable. He could use it to entertain guests. ”Your Highness must have plenty of treasures. Surely you won’t miss gifting me this little item.”

Prince Qi hugged the box to his chest. ”No, I actually do need this small amount. I have to start living frugally now.”

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

The lavish Prince Qi of the past and the Prince Qi of now seemed quite different!

Prince Qi clutched the box tightly and turned to leave. He had reformed; he couldn’t have his former shady income anymore, and some of his properties needed managing. His father was the Emperor, his flesh and blood; but once the Crown Prince became Emperor, he wouldn’t tolerate him accumulating wealth. It was different, very different. It was better to cut ties cleanly now than to have trouble later.

Prince Qi also thought of his maternal grandfather, who genuinely considered his future, preparing his way out. Compared with the grandfathers of Prince Chu and Prince Liang, the importance of a good grandfather became clear.

Zhou Shuren watched Prince Qi leave, dumbfounded. Had Prince Qi truly come without any ulterior motive, just to talk about his good fortune?

In Xuzhou Province, on Chang Lian’s day off, he rarely took his wife and daughter for a stroll along the seaside. Now that the temperature was rising, the beach felt quite pleasant.

Chang Lian watched as his daughters played. The younger girl was held by a maid, touching the sand, ”Look at that harbor over there; it’s almost finished.”

Dong Chuchu remarked, ”You’ll be even busier in the future.”

Chang Lian took an umbrella from a young servant and shielded his wife from the sun, ”Mhm, did you send someone to look at the estate the Emperor gifted?”

Dong Chuchu’s smile brightened. Her husband had received an estate from the south, a significant gift. ”I’ve sent someone there already. Counting the days, they should return soon. With an extra estate, our family’s income will surely increase. Speaking of which, for father’s birthday this year, should we change the gifts?”

Chang Lian had the same thought, ”I was going to mention it too. You know how I earned my merits, it was all thanks to father. But it’s hard to choose the right gift. We’ll have to think carefully.”

Dong Chuchu nodded and kept it in mind. Hearing a child’s cry, she quickly ran over; the maid was in a panic.

When the couple arrived, they were startled – the younger daughter’s palm had been pinched by the crabs she held. Thankfully, the crabs were tiny and didn’t cause much harm.

Dong Chuchu picked up her younger daughter, ”It’s okay, don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Yu Yi, frightened, clung to her father’s hand. ”We didn’t see the little crabs in the sand when sister was playing.”

Chang Lian lifted Yu Yi, ”Daddy knows. Next time, we’ll be more cautious.”

Yu Yi nodded, leaning in to blow on her sister’s hand. ”Sister, don’t cry. It won’t hurt if you blow on it.”

Chang Lian wanted to say more when a young servant came running, ”The family of Official Zhao has arrived.”

Chang Lian saw Zhao Ji arriving with his family and inwardly rolled his eyes. Before, Lv Liang was annoying, but at least when Chang Lian gave cold responses, Lv Liang didn’t dare come over. Zhao Ji was different; if you insinuated something, he pretended not to understand. If you were blunt, he played deaf.

In essence, he was determined to impose on you, especially after you received a reward!

Back in the capital that evening, Zhou Shuren discussed Prince Qi’s visit, leaving Zhulan perplexed. ”What does Prince Qi want?”

Zhou Shuren, ”I have no idea.”

Zhulan, speechless, ”Isn’t he supposed to be investigating the Zhang family? Shouldn’t he be busy?”

”It’s probably not easy to investigate.”

Zhulan didn’t want to analyze Prince Qi, but related the day’s matters at the Duke Residence, ”Today’s affairs inside and out were managed by Ning Zhiqi and his wife, it seems the Old Duke intends to pass everything directly to Ning Zhiqi.”

Zhou Shuren sighed, ”One false move has ruined the Old Duke’s plans, he must be regretting it to the core now.”

Zhulan thought for a bit, ”Rongchuan once asked Xue Han how things were at the Hou Residence. Rongchuan has intentions to stay at the Hou Residence, and if he really does, he could provide some protection for the Duke Residence.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”If he really stays, the Duke Residence might not necessarily remain the Duke Residence.”

Zhulan had the same thought; after all, Rongchuan was a Prince, even if he didn’t return to the royal family, the Emperor would compensate Rongchuan, and changes would certainly occur at the Hou Residence. With that in mind, the likelihood of the Duke Residence passing to the grandson seemed even greater.

Zhulan then spoke of her own matters, ”These past few days I’ve investigated the servants at home and surprisingly haven’t found a single suspect.”

Zhou Shuren raised an eyebrow, ”Really?”

Zhulan nodded, ”I checked several times and found nothing, other than suspecting the Emperor’s people, the other servants all seem normal.”

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, ”It would be strange if there were no problems.”

Zhulan thought the same, her house had enough enemies, yet there wasn’t even one who had been bribed; this was too much, ”So I’m thinking of checking periodically, and keeping strict records for those who leave the estate. If I weren’t worried about upsetting the servants, I would want them to keep an eye on each other!”

Zhou Shuren said, ”In the future, do not allow anyone to leave the estate alone, and also restrict the servants’ outings, control it as much as possible.”

”Yes.”

Seven days later, Lady Du was buried, and Xue Han also returned to the Zhou Residence from the Duke Residence. Zhulan felt helpless, ”You don’t return to the Hou Residence, but come back to your maternal home?”

Xue Han spread her hands, ”My father-in-law won’t allow it. He’s cleaning out the Hou Residence, and these days, he’s staying at the Duke Residence. I had no choice but to return to my maternal home.”

Zhulan inquired, ”Is the old madam feeling any better?”

Xue Han sighed, ”Her spirits have improved a bit, but her body hasn’t recovered much. She was never robust to begin with, and this time her health has been thoroughly ruined. The poison was exceptionally potent; grandmother has really suffered a huge ordeal this time.”

”What about the Old Duke? Has his health improved some?”

”He’s better. Grandfather has been by grandmother’s side ever since he recovered, he didn’t need me, so I left the estate.”

Zhulan saw her daughter had also lost a lot of weight, ”You’ve had a hard time these days.”

Xue Han said, ”Mother, it’s not hard for me, I just kept grandmother company and chatted with her. Most of the time, grandmother is asleep, it’s just a bit boring. Mother, no one is allowed to enter the main courtyard, even Ning Ting and the younger generation are not permitted, and ever since grandfather recovered, he’s been unwilling to see his second brother.”

Zhulan thought to herself that the Old Master was truly furious this time, ”Is Lady Song in charge now?”

Xue Han nodded, ”Yes, my eldest brother is now taking over the clan matters, and my sister-in-law is in complete control of the Duke Residence. Oh, and Lady Yu Yi rarely leaves her courtyard now.”

In the palace, Prince Qi exited the government hall and upon seeing Rongchuan, quickly walked over, ”I have some fruit coming up from below later, I’ll bring some over to you.”

Rongchuan’s heart fluttered with unease, very much so. These days, Prince Qi treated him as if he were his own brother, as though they were born from the same mother, thinking of him whenever there was anything good, showing warm concern, ”No, there’s no need.”

Prince Qi thought to himself, he had always been bullied by the Crown Prince before, and now he especially enjoyed seeing Rongchuan’s bewildered look. Of course, he also wanted to make a good impression as Rongchuan was the Crown Prince’s own brother, ”No matter, we’re all brothers here, don’t be so formal with me.”

Prince Chu and Prince Liang were both stunned as they watched Prince Qi’s bizarre behavior, Prince Qi didn’t even refer to himself as ’this Prince’ anymore!

Zhang Yang looked up at the sky, the weather today was very good. Was this really Prince Qi?