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

Chapter 1099: Chapter 199: This Prince believes that this Prince’s luck has arrived

Chang Zhi, with a poker face, looked at the guards drinking tea outside. He had a splitting headache. A hundred-person entourage could only be accommodated in his family’s newly built mansion. His jaw ached as he gritted his teeth, ”My father has just finished building a new mansion back in our hometown, and it has been thoroughly tidied up these past few days. The furniture is all in place; we only need to prepare some bedding. Your Highness could stay in the new mansion.”

Prince Liang was very satisfied with how obliging Zhou Changzhi was, and he said with a smile, ”Then I shall impose, and as for the bedding, I will make arrangements myself.”

Chang Zhi forced a smile. ”...”

He didn’t really want to arrange for the bedding, and he was even less keen on Prince Liang staying in their new house, but there was no helping it. If he didn’t offer, Prince Liang would ask for it. Prince Liang wouldn’t be polite to him. If his father were here, he might be able to hold him off, but Chang Zhi had a premonition that Prince Liang’s visit would certainly lead to chaos.

After drinking some tea, Prince Liang felt much better, ”There’s no drought here?”

Chang Zhi responded, ”We had heavy rain a few days ago, which has eased the drought.”

Prince Liang asked no more and looked at the time, ”I have traveled here from the capital without stopping, enduring the fatigue of the journey. I plan to rest first. Please, Fourth Young Master Zhou, lead the way.”

Chang Zhi didn’t want everyone standing in the courtyard, so he stood up and said, ”Please, Your Highness Prince Liang.”

The Zhou family’s newly built mansion was vast, nestled against the mountains and by the water, with several wells dug within. Because of the drought, they had planted vegetables and crops in the gardens of the mansion, which was quite a sight.

Prince Liang looked around, even more pleased. All the furniture was new, and the place was extremely clean, ”Thank you for your hospitality.”

Chang Zhi said, ”Your Highness, you must be weary from your journey. I shall take my leave now. Should you need anything, please let me know at any time.”

Prince Liang hummed in acknowledgment. He was not here to cause trouble for the Zhou family village.

Back in the capital, Zhulan was in a carriage returning home. As she approached her house, she was stunned. At the entrance of her residence were several adults with children who looked like refugees, albeit slightly better off, ”What’s going on?”

A young servant jumped down from the carriage, and Zhulan followed suit. The gatekeeper opened the doors, and Steward Wang had been waiting at the entrance, hurrying over, ”Madam.”

Those blocking the doorway turned to look, and the children, timid, took a few steps back, fear visible on the adults’ faces.

Zhulan inquired, ”Who are these people, and why are they blocking the entrance?”

Steward Wang was at a loss for words and whispered, ”They claim to be relatives from the second wife’s family. The second wife has gone to Mr. Gu’s residence, and I didn’t dare to let them in. I remember, the second wife only has one brother.”

In an instant, Zhulan remembered who they were—the Zhao family. She recalled that the father of the Zhao family had died. The Zhao family had sought Zhao Qiuniang in the past and had been sent away. This time they had taken a significant step, actually coming to the capital.

Seeing the look on his madam’s face, Steward Wang guessed that their claims were likely true, ”Madam, what do you think?”

It didn’t look good for them to keep blocking the entrance. He’d told them the lady of the house was not in, yet they wouldn’t leave, seemingly determined to wait.

Zhulan didn’t want to deal with this headache. It was a matter for the second wife’s side of the family. If they had come a few days earlier, the second master would have been at home, and everything could have been properly resolved, ”Send someone to find the second wife.”

With that, Zhulan entered the courtyard, not out of cold-heartedness but because she didn’t want to get involved. Looking at the people, they didn’t seem to have suffered greatly. Once inside, she instructed the gatekeeper, ”Give them some water and biscuits. The children’s lips are all cracked.”

The gatekeeper complied, and Zhulan returned to the main courtyard.

Old Lady Song asked, ”Are you not going to take care of it?”

As Zhulan changed her clothes, she replied, ”No, Zhao Qiuniang will handle it.”

She wouldn’t interfere to avoid affecting how Zhao Qiuniang would manage the situation.

In the Zhou family village, Chang Zhi returned home to find the Clan Leader had already arrived. The Clan Leader asked in surprise, ”Is it really Prince Liang?”

He’s alive, the real Prince!

Zhulan nodded, ”Yes, Prince Liang will stay for a few days. The Clan Leader has notified the clansmen to try not to disturb him.”

He paused, then added quietly, ”My father has been put in a difficult position. I don’t know what task Prince Liang has undertaken this time, but we should still be cautious. Moreover, this is not an easy person to deal with; don’t end up losing your life while failing to curry favor.”

The Clan Leader’s eyes widened; he knew Zhulan wouldn’t exaggerate. Worriedly, he said, ”I’ll spread the word. If there are those with ulterior motives seeking to climb the social ladder, I won’t stop them. Everyone has their own fate.”

Zhulan said solemnly, ”Just make sure the whole clan isn’t implicated. My father doesn’t have the power to save everyone.”

The Clan Leader replied, ”...If anyone harbors crooked ideas, they will be expelled from the family.”

Zhulan was satisfied. It was necessary to lay down the law sometimes; not to think his father could do anything. Although there was unity within the clan, there were always those with their own agendas, ”Thank you, Clan Leader.”

The Clan Leader looked deeply at Zhulan, the boy who used to care about nothing now had his own ways, and he could be ruthless at times, ”Hmm.”

Prince Liang was already comfortably lying in a rocking chair, listening to the reports. Zhou village wasn’t big, Prince Liang’s mouth curled into a smirk, ”Tomorrow, it might be worth visiting the Zhou family’s clan school to take a look. Mr. Zhou has really dedicated himself to his family, sending back so many books.”

The Guard asked, ”The village is small and the Zhou family is quite united; do we need to continue to inquire?”

Prince Liang waved his hand, ”There’s nothing left to inquire about. I’m not here to dig into this small Zhou family; we still need to investigate the Rong family. This place is close to the burial grounds; send more people to look around tomorrow. I have a feeling that my luck is about to change.”

The Guard, ”...”

Truth be told, the luck of their own Prince was really nothing special.

At the Zhou family in the Capital, Zhao Qiuniang hurried back and as soon as she arrived at the gates of her home, she saw people. After getting off the carriage, she looked closely; the grown-up faces looked much older than her, but she knew rural labor could make people appear older than their actual age. There were no elders, but she recognized two people. Yes, these were relatives from two families, two cousins!

Zhao Qiuniang didn’t speak, and the two brothers from the Zhao family dared not utter a sound because the cousin in their memory was nothing like this. The cousin they remembered had always kept her head down, shrinking like a little mouse, but now she looked different. The material of her clothes was unfamiliar, the hairpins on her head were dazzling, and her silent demeanor was intimidating. They were afraid.

Zhao Qiuniang had never wanted any contact with the Zhao family. After being dismissed in the past, they now surprisingly found their way to the capital. Standing outside wasn’t proper, and if they got caught once the government office’s hours began, it would reflect poorly on the entire Zhou family.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Qiuniang said to the steward, ”Bring them in.”

Having said that, Zhao Qiuniang left first with her maid and nanny, intending to speak to her mother-in-law about it.

Upon seeing Zhao Qiuniang’s stern face, Zhulan knew what was going on, ”Are they really from the Zhao family?”

Zhao Qiuniang nodded, ”My two cousins, but I don’t know how they found out we were in the capital, much less managed to find us.”

Zhulan laughed, ”Zhou village can’t run away, and it’s not necessary to enter Zhou village to know that we are in the capital. As for them finding us, that’s easy; they spent Silver and someone showed them the way.”

Zhao Qiuniang felt a blockage in her heart, ”Mother, I don’t want to see them. I don’t owe them anything. The grain debt from the past was fully repaid. Why would they still come to find me?”

Zhulan took Zhao Qiuniang’s hand, ”Mother knows it’s hard for you to get past this, but you’re no longer the Zhao Qiuniang who used to be bullied and endure in silence. You are now the daughter-in-law of the Deputy Minister of Revenue’s house, the wife of a Seventh-rank official of the Ministry of Rites, and an Honored Lady recognized by the Imperial court. Sometimes, some people can’t be avoided no matter how much you want to. You’ve become the hope of the Zhao family. Go, go and deal with it.”

Zhao Qiuniang smiled, ”Mother, is it that nothing seems like a big deal in your eyes?”

”With a change of status, the things that mattered before truly don’t matter now. Dwelling in the past only tortures oneself. You see, there’s a better vista on the horizon, isn’t there?”

Zhao Qiuniang sincerely said, ”Sister-in-law is right, Mother, you’re the best mother-in-law.”

Which mother-in-law could be so enlightening and guide her daughter-in-law like this? None, only her own mother-in-law!