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

Chapter 1085: Chapter 1085: As a Matter of Course

The Emperor shook his head, ”Shuren guessed wrong.”

Zhou Shuren forced a laugh, ”For my wife?”

The Emperor gave him a look that said he was very clever, ”Shuren’s love for his wife is deep, and I am truly touched. To prevent Shuren from dying of grief, I have brought four people; Shuren may choose two of them.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Aren’t they all for me?”

The Emperor let out a cold laugh, ”You certainly don’t stand on ceremony.”

Zhou Shuren truly coveted the Emperor’s men, they could be put to use without having to secretly guard against them and they would ensure the safety of his home. The Emperor had indeed been very generous, ”This subject thanks the Emperor on behalf of his wife for the grace.”

So, don’t ask to see his wife. She has injured her foot.

A faint smile appeared in the Emperor’s eyes. Zhou Shuren had placed Lady Yang at the top of his heart. After Zhou Shuren made his selection, the Emperor gestured for Eunuch Liu and the others to leave, ”Since you dared say earlier, you must have discovered Rongchuan’s origins by now.”

Zhou Shuren nodded, ”Yes, I have met Prince Qi. I was initially puzzled, but after Rongchuan occasionally shared some words with me, I came to understand. I was truly amazed.”

Indeed, the look of amazement was perfectly in place.

The Emperor curled his lips; he did not believe that Zhou Shuren had only recently discovered the truth. He would not believe this old fox’s act, no matter how convincing. Not being particularly kind to Zhang Yang, he changed the subject and asked, ”What exactly has Rongchuan told you?”

The young son seldom visited the palace. The Emperor, mindful of his youngest, had not forced him to come but still wanted to know the true thoughts deep in his heart.

Zhou Shuren paused before speaking, ”This child is very meticulous. He has told me quite a bit; when he figures things out, he will seek out the Emperor.”

Yet, when the time comes that he figures things out, that will be when Rongchuan has made up his mind.

The Emperor was human and had his emotions, although he kept them well under control, ”I owe him, and you have done well, raising him excellently.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Dragons beget dragons; I have not taught him much. This child has loved learning and has been sensible from a young age.”

The Emperor smiled, pleased as a father to hear these words, and after a moment of thought, he added, ”Your daughter is also doing well.”

Zhou Shuren was amused, this was an exchange between two fathers!

Another quarter of an hour passed, and the Emperor left the Zhou Residence. As he sat in the carriage on his way back to the palace, the Emperor said thoughtfully, ”To capture the members of the Zhang family who have escaped the capital, we will have to rely on Yao Wenqi. Yao Wenqi was able to decisively exterminate the Zhang family in the capital, those who fled must surely have their movements tracked by him.”

Eunuch Liu replied softly, ”This old servant will closely watch over the Yao Residence.”

”Don’t overlook the Zhang Residence either, and see that news from the capital is quickly transmitted to all provinces. The escapees will not overlook Zhang Yang as a pawn.”

Eunuch Liu inquired, ”How should we deal with the pregnant concubine in the Zhang Residence?”

The Emperor laughed, ”What do you think?”

Eunuch Liu understood, the Emperor wanted the woman to live.

In Prince Wu’s Residence, Zhang Yang was so angry he felt physical pain. It was quite the coincidence to capture a concubine wearing a Human Skin Mask; her pregnancy was advanced and his feelings towards the child were complex, so he had assigned many people to watch over her and indeed it had brought him a surprise.

Zhang Yang grinned without humor, ”Isn’t third brother meddlesome? As for my Residence’s concubine, can I not manage her?”

After the Human Skin Mask, his last illusion was shattered. All he wanted was to deal with it.

Prince Chu wore the look of a brother concerned for his sibling’s well-being, ”I’m worried you’ll act in haste. What if the child is yours?”

Prince Liang also hypocritically joined in, ”This matter concerns the royal lineage, so it’s best to thoroughly investigate. Moreover, my fifth brother, as long as there is someone alive wearing a human skin mask, they must be handed over to Prince Qi for interrogation. Handling it privately wouldn’t be appropriate!”

Zhang Yang was on the verge of spitting blood. These two had been the most vocal in the past, almost suggesting daily that the child wasn’t his. Now they were meddling in his affairs again and even stationed someone to keep watch, ”Brothers, you’re going too far, this is The Prince Residence.”

Prince Chu mocked with a sneer, ”The whole world belongs to our father, the Emperor. Besides, even The Prince Residence... are you greater or is our father?”

Zhang Yang calmed himself. Naturally, the Emperor was greater, ”I will hand over the matter to Prince Qi.”

Just as Prince Chu was about to speak, Eunuch Liu arrived. Accompanying him was the Imperial Physician, who said, ”Your Highness, the Emperor is deeply concerned by the rumors about your health and has today decreed that the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital will take your pulse.”

Zhang Yang did not want his pulse taken. He doubted his own doctor, but for the sake of saving face and holding onto hope, he dared not seek the truth. He pursed his lips, ”There’s no need, I am quite well.”

Eunuch Liu said with a smile, ”Fifth Prince, this is the Emperor’s decree.”

Zhang Yang’s face turned a shade paler. He could only extend his hand for the Imperial Physician to take his pulse, then waited anxiously for the result. The Imperial Physician, stroking his mustache, said, ”Your Highness does have a fundamental injury, but you have been well taken care of. There is still hope for you to father offspring.”

Zhang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart skipped a beat— the concubine in his household who was pregnant.

Eunuch Liu said, ”The Emperor decrees that if the Fifth Prince is still capable of fathering heirs, the pregnant concubine shall remain in the residence to nurture the fetus until the child is born for interrogation.”

Prince Liang and Prince Chu left. Prince Liang said, ”Third brother, doesn’t this situation seem rather sinister?”

When Zhou Shuren received the news, he signaled for the maids to leave, ”The Emperor has made a shrewd move.”

Zhulan was somewhat unable to keep up with her husband’s line of thinking. It took her a moment to catch on, ”You mean, the child the pregnant concubine is carrying is from Zhang family’s bloodline?”

Zhou Shuren nodded in approval, ”Correct. When I learned that the concubine was wearing a human skin mask, that was what I suspected. Since they are delivering a child to Zhang Yang, naturally, there’s nothing better than one of Zhang family’s own blood, and it all adds up, doesn’t it?”

Zhulan said, ”The Emperor is using Zhang Yang and the child as bait; indeed, a clever move.”

Zhou Shuren seemed somewhat displeased, ”Having rested for only a few days, the Emperor’s intentions today suggest that I return to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow. My leave has ended.”

Zhulan could understand somewhat, ”The Emperor is also anxious about the abnormal weather. Having you in charge of the Ministry of Revenue will set his mind at ease a bit more.”

Zhou Shuren truly didn’t wish to take control of the Ministry of Revenue so soon, but he couldn’t help having a Chief of Staff who increasingly resembled a mere figurehead. The Chief of Staff was becoming more like a mascot day by day, and there were many matters Zhou Shuren no longer needed to report.

The next day, Zhou Shuren still concerned about the weather, went to the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhulan also visited her eldest daughter.

Xue Mei had darkened a lot, and her hands had become rough. Zhulan felt distressed, ”With so many people at home, why must you insist on doing the work yourself?”

Xue Mei smiled, ”Mother, it’s quite good to work with my hands. I feel much sturdier.”

Zhulan didn’t believe her. Back in ancient times, the fields were mostly worked by manual labor, which was slow and exhausting. Her eldest daughter had lost a lot of weight, ”Are all the fields planted?”

Xue Mei nodded, ”All planted, and we also bought some drought-resistant seeds.”

Zhulan counted the days; it had been a while since the last rain. But she worried—what if there was a torrential downpour? Drought and floods were both unpredictable, ”You should stock up on more grain. Keep the supplies in a dry place.”

Xue Mei nodded, ”Mother, you should stock up as well.”

Zhulan replied, ”Yes.”

When Xue Mei saw her mother’s covered leg, ”Mother, it’s hot these days, why is your leg covered?”

Zhulan covered it up to keep her eldest daughter from worrying. These past days, she had managed to conceal it well; her daughter was unaware.