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

Chapter 1098: Chapter 1098: Temporary Residence in Zhou Family Village

Zhulan asked again after finishing her question, ”So, this child Yang Wen really plans to join the Navy, ’Once you’ve made up your mind, grandma won’t say anything more. Take good care of yourself during training.’”

Yang Wen smiled and assured her, ”Grandma, I am aware of what I’m getting into. Although it’s a few months early, it won’t make much difference.”

Zhulan was still worried. The seas were unpredictable, but there was no helping it; the Navy needed people, and this was an opportunity. ”As long as you’re aware of that, it’s fine.”

In the evening when Zhou Shuren returned, Zhulan couldn’t stop talking, ”This child Yang Wen is really determined.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t see it as a bad thing, ”He will need to uphold the Yang family in the future; I think it’s good.”

During the night, Zhulan prepared everything she could. Today Yang Wen came back to the capital on leave; he had only taken a few hours off and had already left the capital. In a few days, he would set off, and she couldn’t even see him off.

After sighing, Zhulan asked, ”How was the countryside during today’s visit with the Emperor?”

Zhou Shuren felt relieved, ”It’s still under control. The capital isn’t the worst hit; the Emperor wants to prioritize the most severe areas first.”

Zhulan raised an eyebrow, ”Why do I feel like the Emperor is getting addicted to these incognito visits?”

Zhou Shuren said, ”It’s quite good this way. He’s like the Crown Prince’s eyes; no one can hide anything from him.”

There’s a policy above and countermeasures below; fooling you isn’t messy at all. In ancient times, some clans in the localities were no different from local emperors, and the Lizheng wielded significant power in the countryside.

Moreover, some clans had their own rules to follow, which really harmed people. When he served as a prefect and Magistrate, he heard too many stories. But it’s genuinely difficult to guide people’s thoughts in ancient times; feudalism still exists in many places, and in the ancient environment, it’s as hard as scaling the heavens.

Time passed quickly, and soon it came to the day Zhou Changyi was to be dispatched. The positions for this mission were not high-ranking, the highest being only Sixth Rank. Although Zhou Changyi was only Seventh Rank, because he proposed it and had support from higher up, he could manage it.

When Chang Yi left the capital, Mrs. Zhao felt down for several days, lacking energy in everything she did. Zhulan was quite understanding. Everyone had their husbands to accompany them, only Mrs. Zhao couldn’t spend much time with her husband throughout the year.

Even when Chang Yi was at home, he seldom accompanied Mrs. Zhao; Chang Yi spent each day making up for his deficiencies, extremely busy.

Zhulan was used to it, her attention more on her little daughter. Her daughter’s belly, counting the days, wasn’t far from giving birth.

For this reason, Zhulan specifically went to the Duke Residence. When she arrived, Xue Han was sitting in the pavilion chatting with Madam Song.

Zhulan didn’t visit the old madam. The old lady was unwell and couldn’t see visitors.

Xue Han, heavily pregnant, stood up, ”Mother, your daughter has been looking forward to your visit!”

Since she had been brought back to the Duke Residence, she hadn’t left the residence, feeling very suffocated every day.

Seeing her daughter looking well, Zhulan smiled and said, ”I’ve been busy with your second brother’s matters recently. When your brother was leaving, he was still thinking of you, so he asked me to bring you some fruits.”

Xue Han eyed the fruits, ”Mother, you brought so many, do we still have any at home?”

Zhulan smiled, ”We still have some. The Xu family brought back some fruits from overseas, and they sent some over the other day.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Han unapologetically accepted the fruits, ”I’ve been craving them. Lately, nothing tastes right, but you always know what’s best, mother.”

Zhulan then asked Madam Song, ”I heard from Xue Han that the Duke Residence has also started growing vegetables in the garden.”

Madam Song nodded, ”Yes, we’ve planted some. Grandfather also opened up a small plot of land. Ever since he started gardening, his spirits have been much better.”

Having something to do meant less overthinking; being a bit tired every day actually led to better rest.

Zhulan didn’t ask Ning Hui. In the Duke Residence, Ning Hui had become like a hermit; once recovered, he spent every day in his study, no longer teaching his grandson, writing unknown things every day.

Ning Zhixiang and his wife had also moved out of the Duke Residence; it took them a whole week to finish moving. Zhulan didn’t go; instead, their representative Mrs. Zhao went once. The residence they moved into was a large three-section estate, even bigger than the Zhou family’s.

When dividing the family property, the Duke Residence wasn’t overly biased.

In Zhou Village, Chang Zhi ​​had walked around the newly built residence. All the furniture had already been delivered, and the residence was neatly arranged. It took more than twenty people just to clean the residence, busying themselves inside and out for a whole day before finishing.

Steward Ding said, ”Master wants to select a few people from the clan to guard the residence.”

Chang Zhi knew that many clansmen wanted to become their family’s retainers rather directly, not just fellow clansmen. Since his return, he had heard quite a few probes, ”I don’t know the clan as well as you do, you’ve investigated thoroughly, you arrange it.”

Steward Ding understood; his return wasn’t just to oversee the construction of the residence but also to scout the Zhou clan members, as the master had requested, ”Yes.”

Chang Zhi left the residence. From his new residence, which sat on higher ground, he saw a procession of carriages and guards raising quite a bit of dust in the distance.

Chang Zhi paused; they were clearly heading for Zhou Village, ”I’ll head back first; you go and inform the Clan Leader.”

Steward Ding quickly headed towards the Clan Leader’s house.

At the entrance of Zhou Village, Prince Liang alighted from his carriage. Leaving the capital, he brought many people with him. Some stayed to investigate the area where they found the coffins, while most accompanied him to Zhou Village.

Prince Liang mounted his horse, ”Is this the hometown of Magistrate Zhou? Along the way, the seedlings did not seem thriving, suffering from lack of water despite not being a severe drought. Yet, upon entering this area, the seedlings are lush and thriving, with no signs of drought at all.”

The guard, equally surprised, suggested, ”Perhaps the geomancy is favorable?”

Prince Liang raised an eyebrow, ”Indeed, the geomancy must be good, or how could it have produced a person like Magistrate Zhou? Let’s go, we shall enter the village.”

The procession of over a hundred people disrupted the tranquil Zhou Village, terrifying the residents who quickly closed their doors tightly.

Chang Zhi had just reached his doorstep when the procession reached him, eyes widening, ”I’ve seen His Highness Prince Liang.”

Yet internally, he wondered, why had the Prince Liang come out of the capital, and to Zhou Village?

Prince Liang dismounted, ”Magistrate Zhou’s fourth son, no need for formalities. His Highness has an assignment; pondering over it, I thought of staying in a familiar place. I recalled Magistrate Zhou’s hometown, eager to see what kind of remarkable land nurtures a man like Magistrate Zhou. So, here I am.”

His men had already scouted Zhou Village in advance, knowing that Magistrate Zhou had built a new residence. Seeing it from afar upon entering the village and considering no signs of drought here, he was even more pleased, finding it a suitable place for a temporary stay.

Chang Zhi kept composed and extended his hand, ”Please, Your Highness.”

As for what assignment, he wasn’t about to ask; Prince Liang wasn’t easy to deal with, and it was prudent to be careful.

Prince Liang strode inside, and Su Xuan had already come out, quickly bowing, ”I’ve seen His Highness Prince Liang.”

Prince Liang paused, thought for a moment, knowing that Chang Zhi’s wife was a Magistrate, ”Magistrate, no need for formalities.”

Su Xuan stood and led her people to the kitchen. The journey had been long, and they needed rest, yet internally she cursed Prince Liang, thinking of all places, he had to come to Zhou Village.

Prince Liang looked around, unimpressed, and only after being served tea did he say, ”His Highness intends to stay here temporarily. Please take care of our accommodation, Magistrate Zhou’s fourth son.”