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

Chapter 1094: Chapter 1094: The Thing Beneath the Tombstone

Xue Han adjusted her sitting position; only when she felt more comfortable did she say, ”Grandmother was annoyed by Yushi’s fussing. Ever since Lady Du’s death, when my eldest sister-in-law returned and took control of the Duke Residence, Yushi has become somewhat paranoid. She would go to the main courtyard as soon as dawn breaks. If Grandmother didn’t see her, she would just wait there, and over time, Grandmother grew angry.”

Xue Han took the fruit passed to her by Nurse Song and continued, ”After discussing with Grandmother, Grandfather decided to completely split the household. Yushi and her husband will move out of the Duke Residence. The yard they’ll be moving to has been prepared a while ago, arranged by my father.”

Zhulan asked, ”What about the child?”

Xue Han, feeling content while nibbling on the fruit, which was brought back by her second brother and stored in the ice cellar, remarked how sweet and refreshingly cool it was, ”Ah, the child will be raised in the Duke Residence, but this time, my father will be the one educating them. He has already taken charge of teaching several of my nephews.”

Speaking to this point, Xue Han’s tone lowered a bit, depressed; the weather had turned hot, Grandmother lay bedridden, uncomfortable, and had to take medicine every day. Her spirits were particularly low, and Grandfather, though willing, no longer had the strength to educate the children.

Zhulan sensed her daughter’s mood, ”Don’t worry yourself; you’re still pregnant.”

Xue Han stroked her belly, ”Mother, I have a clear understanding in my mind.”

Issues at home were unending, and she wouldn’t add more to them.

Seeing that her daughter enjoyed the fruit, Zhulan commented, ”Wait a few days and take more back with you when you return to the Duke Residence.”

Xue Han shook her head, ”These fruits were brought back by my second brother for father and mother; I will just buy some outside.”

Zhulan insisted, ”We have plenty at home, enough for your father and me.”

Currently, fruit was incredibly expensive, especially the ones from overseas. Ah, there were disasters everywhere this year, crop yields of grain had decreased, not to mention fruit. The price of tea leaves they bought a few days ago had increased by twenty percent.

After eating the fruit, Xue Han felt some of the heat dissipate from her body, ”Mother, sometimes I think, if we were still in Zhou Village during these disastrous years, forget fruit, we would be lucky to have enough to eat.”

Zhulan had also thought about this; that’s why striving in ancient times was correct. When disasters came, the Zhou family was not affected, having such a solid foundation. Even if they didn’t earn silver for a year, it wouldn’t matter. Look at us now, in hot weather we still have ice, and we continue eating fine grains and all sorts of fruit.

Xue Han looked at the sky, ”Now the days are longer. It’s still so hot out, even at this time.”

”Indeed, didn’t your eldest sister-in-law plant vegetables in the yard? She has to cover them with straw mats every day for sun protection.”

Xue Han’s eyes curved with a smile, ”I’ll definitely have to pick some of that fresh vegetable she grows when I leave.”

Zhulan nodded, ”Alright.”

With two wells at home, they could afford to water the plants, and with a constructed greenhouse, the vegetables grown were succulent. Such large and juicy vegetables were hard to find in the market. Big families were eating produce from their estates, but the daily demand was so large that even the estates couldn’t keep up with the supply.

Vegetables from their own yard also weren’t an everyday indulgence.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor looked at the Zhezi submitted by the Ministry of Rites—more accurately, written by Zhou Changyi—with a complex expression, ”If the Ministry of Rites hadn’t vetted it first, I wouldn’t have been able to read it.”

The Crown Prince was highly curious, ”Father, what does the Zhezi submitted by the Ministry of Rites say?”

The Emperor handed it over, ”Take a look for yourself.”

The Crown Prince took it, his eyes widening; this was the ugliest handwriting he had seen in years. Of course, not every official had beautiful calligraphy, but as they were all products of the imperial examination, their handwriting was still tidy. In order to make a good impression on the Emperor, those who weren’t confident in their handwriting would have their advisors write on their behalf.

Thus, the handwriting on the Zhezi sent to the Emperor was always passable.

The Crown Prince patiently read on—it was all vernacular Chinese, ”Your son believes the ideas are good, very visionary.”

The Emperor nodded, ”Hmm, Zhou Shuren’s second son is somewhat strategic. His thoughts coincide with yours.”

The Crown Prince smiled, Zhou Changyi was defensive, while he played both offense and defense, ”Hmm, it’s already quite commendable.”

The Emperor, smiling, ”This Zhou Changyi is rather interesting.”

The Crown Prince nodded, ”Hmm.”

The next day, Zhou Shuren attended the early court and realized that Prince Liang was missing. As for the happenings in the palace the day before, they hadn’t spread throughout the capital. Zhou Shuren craned his neck, looking around.

Upon hearing a cough, he immediately lowered his head.

Xiao Qing was almost at his wit’s end and when he turned around, he saw Zhou Shuren’s curious expression. This man still loved to watch the excitement.

The Crown Prince presided over the early morning court session, and after it was over, Zhou Shuren stayed behind, along with the Minister of Rites and other officials. Wong Ju was also there.

The Crown Prince referred to the Zhezi from the Ministry of Rites, ”This is a Zhezi written by Zhou Changyi. I have reviewed it with the Emperor and approved it. The Ministry of Rites will select officials to be envoys to various countries, and they will set out in half a month.”

The Minister of Rites was overjoyed inside. The Ministry had never been this busy before. This diplomatic mission had significantly raised the prestige of the Ministry, and now they had been given this assignment, ”This official receives the decree.”

Wong Ju was delighted. He was in charge of this, which meant merit for him.

The Emperor came out, dressed in his everyday clothes. Zhou Shuren and the others didn’t dare to raise their heads to look, but Zhou Shuren glanced at the Jade Pendant the Emperor was wearing. However, the Emperor walked quickly, and he only saw the white color, the pattern wasn’t clear.

The Crown Prince delegated some more tasks and Zhou Shuren and the others left.

Walking alongside Zhou Shuren, Wong Ju said with a sour tone, ”It’s good to have many sons.”

One might turn out poorly, but there would be another, unlike him, who only had two sons.

Zhou Shuren, ”Having many sons also brings its own set of troubles. Ah, with more sons come more grandsons, and with more grandsons comes the need for gifts for betrothal and dowries for granddaughters. Truly, sweet troubles.”

Wong Ju, ”...I seem to detect some boasting in your tone.”

Zhou Shuren smiled, ”Is it that obvious?”

The Minister of Rites had been eavesdropping on the conversation and now was like, ”!!!”

Trying to mask his irritation, Wong Ju said, ”Sometimes, I really want to beat you up.”

Zhou Shuren flicked his official robe, his tone very cheeky, ”You wouldn’t dare.”

Minister of Rites, ”...”

That tone was infuriating. If he were Wong Ju, he would definitely throw a punch!

Wong Ju hummed, ”You’re just banking on the good relations between our two families.”

”No, even without our families’ relations, you wouldn’t dare to hit me. Believe it or not, if you dare to touch me, old Master Wong would definitely give you a good thrashing.”

Wong Ju, ”...”

He regretted speaking with Zhou Shuren. This man always jabbed at his heart.

Taking quicker steps, the Minister of Rites thought to himself that Lord Zhou indeed had many faces. Being able to cry at the Palace gate and speaking in such an insolent tone wasn’t surprising after all.

In Zhou family village, the sky had cleared. There had been no further landslides on the mountain last night, and Chang Zhi, accompanied by the steward and young servants, had already reached the foot of the mountain.

The previous path up the mountain had collapsed, and now they had to find a new route.

A young servant in the lead was cutting the grass with a sickle to clear a path, and Chang Zhi followed behind with Steward Ding at a slower pace.

The path was treacherous, slick with mud after the rain. Chang Zhi nearly slid down several times.

Steward Ding was also in a sorry state, his clothes spattered with mud, as he supported Fourth Master, ”We’re almost there.”

Chang Zhi hummed in response. His shoes were soaked through and exceedingly uncomfortable, but he persisted until they arrived. Chang Zhi sharply inhaled; the heavy rain had channeled the mountain water, carving out a trench. Much of the newly added soil had been washed away.

Quickly, Chang Zhi walked up to his grandparents’ grave. His eyes fixated on the base of Grandfather’s tombstone.

Steward Ding also saw it and was very surprised. ”Fourth Master, there seems to be something buried under the tombstone.”