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

Chapter 1134: Chapter 1134: Discovery

Graduates participating in this year’s imperial examination in spring were lucky, for after the New Year, even the cold winds had abated, making it reportedly the least torturous session since the establishment of the dynasty.

It must be said, establishing the capital for the imperial examination every year truly was a hardship.

The Zhou family was highly experienced in the spring examination preparations; all necessities were prepared before the New Year, even supplies for the younger generation taking the exam were provided by the Zhou estate.

This is the advantage of having a family lineage, especially one with officials in the capital. Those taking the state exams had no need to scramble for poor accommodations at inns or worry about food. They could rest well, gain private experience, experience in answering the exam questions, predicting the questions, and experience in the exam hall itself—all of which distanced them from the average candidates.

For the Zhou family, which had produced a second-place scholar and a son-in-law who was a Tanhua, and a son with a degree, these were extraordinary advantages.

Thus, the younger generation of the Zhou clan entered the exam hall in good spirits and with full confidence, without a trace of trepidation or anxiety.

Zhou Shuren didn’t take a leave to accompany them; it was the start of the year, and everyone across the country needed silver. Everyone was trying to extract more silver from the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhou Shuren was very busy.

Zhulan did go to see them off; only after seeing her son and the younger relatives enter the exam hall did Zhulan feel relieved to return to the estate.

Su Xuan and her mother-in-law rode together in a carriage, with Su Xuan particularly worried about her husband, ”Mother, it’s so cold, I hope husband doesn’t catch a chill.”

Zhulan replied, ”Today’s weather is relatively mild. Your father suffered much worse during his spring examination; he fell quite ill after coming out from his exam. Don’t worry, Chang Zhi is strong.”

Zhulan was more concerned about some of the older candidates in the family. The older they were, the weaker their resistance, but at this point, it all came down to fate.

Sometimes, luck was simply unpredictable.

Su Xuan felt she would be eating and sleeping poorly, fidgeting with her handkerchief. Seeing her mother’s calm face, she held back and did not continue talking.

When Zhulan returned to the estate, she was surprised to see Yang Wen, ”You little rascal, you actually came back?”

Ever since he joined the Navy, he hadn’t returned home and seldom sent letters. If it wasn’t for the fact that someone received every package she sent, she would have sent someone to check on him.

Yang Wen, rubbing his head, said, ”I haven’t had any holidays. I just got one, so I rushed back to see you, great-aunt.”

Zhulan looked at Yang Wen with affection, ”You’ve become darker and thinner.”

It wasn’t a lie; Yang Wen had indeed darkened and lost weight, clearly having endured many hardships.

The spirited look in Yang Wen’s eyes was evident, ”Great-aunt, I’ve been aboard the ship. I sailed around nearby waters and even encountered pirates. Had they not fled swiftly, they would have surely been blasted by our cannons.”

Zhulan knew, no boy disliked weapons. Seeing his excited demeanor, she hummed, ”How many days can you rest?”

Yang Wen looked somewhat embarrassed. Even though his skin was dark, his blush was still noticeable, ”I have a month off.”

Zhulan expressed surprise, ”That much?”

As they walked, Yang Wen took a letter from his chest, his ears turning red, ”I’ve brought a letter from grandfather for you.”

Zhulan was puzzled, wondering why her brother didn’t directly write to her. She returned to the main courtyard to open the letter and upon reading it, understood, ”Did you read this letter?”

Yang Wen’s voice softened, ”Mm.”

Zhulan smiled, ”According to the days counted, your grandfather and his group should be arriving at the capital soon.”

Yang Wen blushed, ”Mm.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Your grandfather is truly worried about you. You’re at the age to be betrothed.”

Yang Wen’s ears turned red again, and Zhulan said no more, knowing the boy was shy and would wait for her brother to arrive.

Yang Wen asked, ”Today is the spring examination, cousin should have entered the capital yesterday, but was delayed by some matters.”

Zhulan replied, ”Your cousin will definitely be happy to know you’ve been thinking about him. You should rest well at home these days, and in a few days, you’ll be able to see your cousin.”

Yang Wen touched his roughened face, weathered by the sea winds, ”Alright.”

Inside the examination hall, Chang Zhi had already received the examination questions and had quickly glanced through them. However, his thoughts were elsewhere, thinking about the person sitting next to him, whom he had just learned was the younger brother of the Crown Prince’s concubine, clearly recommended by someone.

It was quite a coincidence indeed. After the New Year, many had sought to visit him, but all were turned away by his family, including invitation letters, which his father had also declined.

Chang Zhi pursed his lips; these people considered him a competitor. He was a popular choice in the capital. Having placed second last time, he did not want any mishaps this round.

At the Ministry of Revenue, as soon as Zhou Shuren saw Mr. Li, he felt a headache coming on. Mr. Li had been blocking him for days, holding a Zhezi, demanding more silver, ”Mr. Li, the Grand Master of Writing is in.”

So stop blocking him.

Li Zhao, touching the Zhezi, said, ”You think I like bothering you? The southwest border is unstable this year, and the stationed military needs new equipment, as well as provisions and medicine.”

Zhou Shuren interrupted, ”Stop, it’s impossible for me to produce that much silver all at once. You argue with me, I argue with you. Last year, the south suffered continuous heavy rains, destroying farmland, embankments, and roads. All these require silver, and there are many other constructions that need silver, not just the Ministry of War.”

Zhou Shuren looked at the Zhezi approved for silver, his head buzzing.

Li Zhao felt regret, ”Well, give me the silver approved by the Emperor first then.”

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes internally, this fellow just wanted to procure more silver, ”That I have, come fetch it early tomorrow.”

Sometimes Li Zhao really liked Zhou Shuren, and sometimes he really despised him. Back when Xiao Qing controlled the Ministry of Revenue, he could occasionally divert some silver, but since Zhou Shuren had changed many rules, everything had to be done by the book, and it was tough to extract silver from him.

Zhou Shuren saw Li Zhao off and took a deep breath, thinking about the silver counted by the Ministry of Works, his headache intensified. Last year’s small fortune was still not enough for the Ministry of Works, and yet it was beneficial for the people, so it must be given, the Southwest’s potential war also required provisions, the Navy too could not be spared, among many other needs, caused a headache.

In the afternoon, Shi Qing was at the Ministry of Commerce, occupying a minor position, busying himself with categorizing what merchants had registered progressively, a task he had been doing ever since he joined the Ministry of Commerce.

Shi Qing, always diligent, was today squinting, flipping through the register in his hands, then stood to retrieve another register recorded days before. Both were registered by him, clearly remembered. He scrutinized the records of two merchant households, touched the pages thoughtfully. He had worked for the Emperor for years, seen much, and was naturally cautious.

Holding the two registers, he intended to ask the head of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Zheng, for leave, then hesitated. Previously, when he was at Hanlin Academy, it was very common for scholars to enter the palace; now at the Ministry of Revenue, it was difficult to enter the palace without drawing suspicion, nor was the Emperor likely to summon him.

Shi Qing sat back down, holding the registers, sighed, and pursed his lips, resigned that he could only wait until nighttime.