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

Chapter 1130: Chapter 1130: Passing Away

Evening came, and Zhulan finally got to taste the exquisite desserts from the palace. The Imperial Chef is indeed something special, far surpassing the chefs in our residence. While enjoying the treats, she listened to Zhou Shuren talk about the affairs of the palace and brushed the pastry crumbs off her hands. ”Turns out I’ve gained an unexpected uncle.”

Zhou Shuren touched his own face. ”Wouldn’t it be great if I looked like mother?”

He was actually quite dissatisfied with his own appearance.

Zhulan studied him closely. ”You can say that again!”

Zhou Shuren, ”.....”

It’s one thing for him to dislike his appearance; it’s another for his wife to feel the same, he glared.

Zhulan smiled cheerfully, ”Dislike it all you want, but there’s no leaving. Guess we’ll just have to make do!”

Zhou Shuren grunted, ”Talking about falling out again, huh?”

Zhulan wasn’t afraid. ”Go ahead, if you want to sleep separately.”

Clingy, getting clingier by the day. In the past, even when it was hot, they would complain about each other and sleep apart. But over the last two years, even the heat wouldn’t keep them from cuddling close.

Zhou Shuren’s eyes widened even more. He wanted to say if she wanted separation, they would separate, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down. ”A gentleman doesn’t stoop to argue with women.”

”Heh.”

The next morning, just as Zhulan and Zhou Shuren had woken up, the old maid Song entered and said, ”Last night, the wife of Duke Ning passed away.”

Zhulan paused while dressing. ”When?”

”At the hour of Zi, and this morning the Duke Residence already sent over the message.”

Zhulan finished dressing and sighed. ”At least she’s free from suffering now.”

Bedridden and ill, each day had been an agony. Her early departure was a release.

The old maid Song continued, ”A heavy snow has fallen outside.”

Zhulan opened the curtains and saw that the snowfall was indeed significant. Looking through the glass, the snowflakes were quite large. ”This is not a good day.”

Zhou Shuren had also dressed. ”Good or not, it won’t affect the Duke Residence.”

Zhulan thought the same. Privileged classes with plenty of servants would still manage a grand funeral.

As they had breakfast, the eldest Zhou seemed to be in a daze. Yesterday Chang Yi found out, and in the end, Zhulan couldn’t leave the eldest Zhou out. After all, he was the firstborn. So they called over Chang Li and told him everything.

The eldest Zhou couldn’t discuss it with his wife, so he had to brood over it alone. He pondered a lot overnight.

Chang Yi and Chang Zhi were also in a daze. They had thought she was just a woman from the countryside, never expecting to have such prestigious relatives. Practically speaking, that made them somewhat related to the Emperor.

Chang Zhi finally realized why Prince Liang always looked like he wanted to hit him yet restrained himself.

After breakfast, Zhulan dropped a bombshell. ”The wife of Duke Ning is gone.”

Chang Yi was stunned. ”There really has been a lot happening this year.”

Chang Li asked, ”Mother, shall I go with you?”

Zhulan nodded, ”Mm.”

After breakfast, Zhou Shuren took a carriage with Chang Yi, first to the Ministry of Revenue and then to drop off Chang Yi at the Ministry of Rites.

In the carriage, Chang Yi clutched a hand warmer. ”Father, you really have no ambitions?”

Zhou Shuren snorted. ”Your father doesn’t want to work himself to death.”

Chang Yi fell silent, understanding. The old man truly didn’t want to bask in the glory of the Rong family, and he thought it made sense. The old man was impressive enough on his own; without the Rongs, the Zhou family wouldn’t suffer.

Zhou Shuren spoke seriously, ”Don’t you start getting any wild ideas. If you dare, I’ll break your legs.”

Having not wielded a knife for many years, don’t think he’s incapable of striking down.

Zhulan arrived at the Duke Ning Residence, not particularly early, and again it was a sea of white, with carriages coming and going; stepping out of her carriage, she found the snow already half a foot thick, her dress hem heavy with snow.

The Duke Residence was efficient, having prepared everything the night before. Reaching the grand hall where the coffin had been placed, Marquis Ning and the Princely Heir were kneeling and burning paper effigies, with Ning Zhiqi and several other grandsons and granddaughters-in-law behind them.

Those of the great-grandchildren generation were also kneeling; Duke Ning was nowhere to be seen.

People were flowing in and out, and it wasn’t Zhulan’s turn yet when the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort arrived. Those who were kneeling rose to pay their respects.

After offering incense, the Crown Prince said, ”Mother will be leaving the palace shortly.”

Had it not been for last night’s news, Mother would have fainted, and I would’ve had to leave the palace with her just a moment ago.

Marquis Ning hesitated before replying, ”Grandmother passed away quite peacefully last night.”

It’s better this way. Living was suffering for Mother, and as her son, watching her illness was agonizing. Grandmother weakened so much; in fact, it’s better that she’s gone—no need for further suffering.

The Crown Prince completely disregarded his uncle. As for his maternal grandparents, he wasn’t very close to them. As the securely positioned Crown Prince, being overly close to his mother’s family wasn’t good, so he had always maintained a distance. His maternal grandparents did the same, so there weren’t many deep feelings involved.

Primarily, he didn’t rely on the Ning clan’s people. Later, due to his younger brother’s connection, he paid more attention to the Duke Ning Residence. Plus, he was genuinely busy, making these feelings even scarcer.

But lack of affection didn’t mean he couldn’t direct his anger elsewhere. And indeed, he directed his anger at his second uncle.

After the Crown Princess Consort finished speaking with the Song family, the Crown Prince said, ”I’m going to see grandfather; I’ll return to the palace shortly.”

Ning Xu replied, ”Alright.”

Zhulan was also ready to leave. Accompanied by Xue Han and Rongchuan on either side, Zhulan said, ”No need to escort me; your elder brother is here.”

Xue Han said, ”Grandmother’s passing was so sudden yesterday; things were chaotic, and I didn’t manage to send Lin Xi back. Mother, could you go to the Hou Residence later to bring Lin Xi back? Rongchuan and I need to stay at the Duke Residence.”

Upon hearing this, Zhulan agreed, ”Alright, I’ll pick up Lin Xi from the Hou Residence. Don’t worry about her; I’ll take good care of her.”

Xue Han exhaled with relief. It had indeed been so sudden last night; she and Rongchuan hadn’t had the time to make arrangements for their daughter. She had been waiting for Mother to come!

Having reached the gate of the Duke Residence, Zhulan said to Xue Han and her husband, ”It’s freezing out here; take good care of yourselves.”

Rongchuan said, ”Mother, I’ll take good care of Xue Han. You don’t have to worry.”

”Mhm.”

Zhulan boarded the carriage, heading directly to the Marquis Ning Residence. Upon arrival, the steward led her straight to Xue Han’s chambers. Presumably, Xue Han must have instructed the packing of the luggage yesterday, for it was all ready when she arrived.

Holding the awoken Lin Xi, Zhulan asked the wet nurse, ”She hasn’t been crying or fussing, has she?”

The wet nurse carefully replied, ”No, Miss has been very well-behaved.”

She had never seen a child more well-behaved than Miss; only hungry or uncomfortable would she whimper.

Zhulan kissed her granddaughter, then wrapped her up, making sure her head was covered, before picking her up. ”Let’s go,” she said.

At the Duke Residence, Zhang Yang arrived late; the Crown Prince had already left. When Zhang Yang arrived, he happened to encounter the Empress.

At such a time, the Empress hardly noticed Zhang Yang. Just a faux son, the Empress’ mind was now wholly focused on her deceased mother, completely ignoring Zhang Yang as she passed by.

The neglect of the fifth Prince by the Empress left the arriving officials and their families stunned. To ignore one’s son was indeed strange.

Zhang Yang didn’t mind. Had he not known his true identity, he would have been upset, but now he truly didn’t care. He no longer even targeted Zhang Jinghong. It was all false, a cuckoo occupying the nest; he had no standing for resentment.

Princess Qi, watching intently, tugged at Prince Qi, ”Doesn’t something seem off to you?”

Prince Qi didn’t see anything amiss but instead watched the kneeling, weeping Empress. How formidable his official mother was—knowing they were all faux children, she could still endure; no wonder she never got the better of his birth mother over the years.

Princess Qi was itching with curiosity; now with some downtime, she loved gossip. The secrets evidently in the know by her bedfellow, yet not shared with her, left her countenance sour, ”Hmph.”