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

Chapter 1082: Chapter 1082: Under the Human Skin Mask, Is There a Beauty?

Rongchuan, the servant of the Zhou family, made a careful check to confirm there were no servants wearing human skin masks, before he returned to the main courtyard.

Zhulan took the potion, opened it, and looked without seeing anything noticeable. The green potion resembled a dye. She sighed and then carefully put it away.

Xue Han thought of the Hou Residence, ”When I return to the Hou Residence, I’ll have father try the potion.”

Rongchuan felt it wasn’t necessary, as father had done this before and must have experience. However, wanting to be cautious, he nodded and agreed, ”Alright, I will tell father when I get back.”

Zhou Shuren disapproved of his daughter and son-in-law, finding them annoying, ”It’s getting late, you should also head back.”

Xue Han blinked her eyes; her father’s eyes were full of disdain. The old man found them annoying. She smiled and said, ”Alright, alright, we will leave now. Father, Mother, please rest well.”

Zhou Shuren waved his hand, ”Mm, go on, be careful on the road.”

Rongchuan smiled too, supporting his wife as they stood up, ”Father, Mother, we are leaving.”

Zhulan pinched Zhou Shuren, startling him. Zhou Shuren found everyone annoying. Before Rongchuan had returned, Zhou Shuren had already sent away his daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

Once his daughter and son-in-law had left, Zhou Shuren no longer had to hold his pose and lay straight on the bed. ”I don’t have any energy at all now.”

Zhulan’s foot was immobile, she stretched out her hand to help massage but couldn’t reach, ”Come closer, and I’ll give you a massage.”

Zhou Shuren slowly moved closer, ”I feel empty inside.”

Zhulan felt the same, after the tension she became relaxed and felt uneasy everywhere, ”This time we’ve found human skin masks, I don’t know if the Emperor’s supply of potion will be enough, but if it is, it might expose quite a few people.”

Zhou Shuren, with his eyes closed, opened them, ”If not enough, there is still His Highness Prince Qi, he will conduct searches from house to house.”

Zhulan tugged Zhou Shuren’s hair, ”What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?”

Zhou Shuren hissed as his hair was tugged painfully, ”I was thinking about the Zhang family’s death last time. With the extensive searches this time, could those remaining in the city accidentally die?”

Zhulan let go of his hair, ”The Emperor is very pleased with the current situation.”

Zhou Shuren was tired, closed his eyes and hummed, now wanting to rest properly.

In the evening, they ate separately, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had a bit of rice porridge, then rested.

In the Zhou family village, Chang Zhi was looking at the correspondence from the Zhao family of Pingzhou, and after reading, he handed it to his wife, ”The Zhao family of Pingzhou has invited us to Pingzhou.”

Su Xuan knew her father-in-law had a friend from the Zhao family of Pingzhou, ”What do you think?”

Chang Zhi did not want to go, ”The Zhao family is a major family in Pingzhou. Going there means representing father, and it’s not just a few days trip—half a month back and forth. With the imperial exams drawing near, I can’t afford to waste a moment, so I’ll decline and write back in a while.”

Su Xuan set down the correspondence, ”As long as you have it figured out. Also, we have nowhere to stay in Pingzhou, and this time many from the Zhou family are attending the exams. I’m thinking of buying a property. We won’t sell it later, but leave it in Pingzhou for future Zhou family scholars to stay in. What do you think?”

Chang Zhi smiled, ”I think that’s a great idea, those who go to Pingzhou for the exams will appreciate it.”

Su Xuan’s mood was somewhat low, ”It has been a long time since we returned home, I miss the children a bit, I wonder if the two little ones miss us too.”

Chang Zhi also missed the children and was concerned about his parents. The correspondence never mentioned home affairs, ”In a few months, we can go back.”

Su Xuan nodded, ”Mm.”

In the capital, Zhou Shuren slept until he woke naturally. The Zhou household was quiet, but the outside had become bustling. Prince Qi, with the potion in hand, started the searches from the residences of the ministers, not mentioning Zhou Shuren, only stating the search was for those with human skin masks.

With this announcement, everyone cooperated, everyone wished for tranquility in their own courtyards.

The production of human skin masks was not cheap, so they could not be owned in large quantities, making it highly likely they were to be found in the dwellings of important ministers.

Prince Qi was thorough in his tasks. Every residence he searched was sealed off, and after the search, no one was allowed to leave the premises, under penalty of death, significantly reducing the possibility of message transmission.

Zhou Shuren and Zhulan had breakfast and then sat in the courtyard drinking tea and enjoying the cool air.

Wong Ju was not so at ease. Upon returning from the government office, he was met by his wife who found her backbone, ”Dad is in the palace, so you can only return home.”

Wong Ju came all the way back unaware of what had happened, only knowing that soldiers had sent a message for his return. ”What happened?”

His wife gnashed her teeth audibly, ”A human skin mask was found in our residence. Guess whom?”

Wong Ju really couldn’t guess, anxiety consuming him, ”Hurry and tell me.”

His wife clutched her chest, ”The steward responsible for purchases.”

Wong Ju felt a chill down his spine, his legs weakening. The steward responsible for purchases oversaw all the food for the entire Wong residence. All these key positions were held by trusted insiders, and their whole family had always been walking on a knife-edge, ”Damn it, this is too audacious.”

His wife lowered her voice, ”This shows they plan to drug our entire household if need be, to seize control.”

Wong Ju’s sweat poured down as he thought of rebellion. If his family was really drugged, dad would have to comply. This plan was laid too deep, ”You calm everyone down in the residence. I... never mind. I’ll stay here, as I can’t go out anyway.”

When he arrived, the guards at the gate had told him he could enter the residence but not leave.

His wife pressed on her temples and agreed it was indeed necessary to calm everyone, ”I plan to replace all the servants in the kitchen.”

”Just do as you think best.”

At the Li Residence, Li Zhao’s wife stared intently at her personal maid. Although not a confidante brought from her parental home, the maid was trusted. Shockingly, she never noticed the maid had been switched.

Li Zhao’s wife was perspiring profusely, fortunate that her husband never discussed official business with her, even more grateful now that they had caught the person, ”Your Highness Prince Qi, this old body thanks Your Highness.”

Had today not been Prince Qi, a real disaster might have ensued before she would have noticed.

As Prince Qi continued his investigation, the list he held grew alarmingly thick. Not only were ministers terrified to discover what lay in their hearts, but even he felt a chill, as those apprehended belonged to the households of important ministers, either trusted by their masters or stationed in crucial positions. Without the discovery of human skin masks by the Zhou family, a catastrophic loss to the Imperial court would have occurred should anything have happened.

This was a gamble of gaining control over the ministers with the risk of utter destruction should it fail!

Upon leaving the Li Residence, Prince Qi encountered Prince Chu and Prince Liang, both of whom looked especially upset, particularly Prince Liang.

Prince Qi closed the list, ”Did you also find them in your residences?”

Prince Chu’s expression darkened, ”It was the maid responsible for my heir’s meals, right by his side.”

It was supposed to be difficult to get close to his side, but they went directly for his heir.

Prince Liang, realizing everyone’s eyes on him, felt his heart constrict, somewhat unwilling to speak.

Prince Qi raised his eyebrows, ”Didn’t find anything? Or is it just hard to say?”

Prince Chu’s eyes widened, ”It couldn’t be from your backyard, could it? A new addition? Or an old acquaintance?”

Prince Liang’s face darkened, damned, the change in his expression said it all. Prince Qi looked him up and down, ”Judging by your reaction, she must still have your favor. You’re impressive, Fourth Brother!”

Sleeping with someone wearing a human skin mask nightly, Fourth Brother had quite the stomach for it, impressive indeed!

Moved by curiosity, Prince Chu finally gave in, ”After lifting the human skin mask, was she still a beauty?”