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

Chapter 1180: Chapter 1180: Acting Up a Storm, I Can Do It

Eunuch Liu hastily looked up, or else he would have burst into laughter. Minister Zhou really was amusing!

The Emperor choked up and forgot what he was about to say after. Staring at the trembling Zhou Shuren who was still kneeling, he rubbed his forehead and accidentally tugged at his own beard, or else he too would have laughed.

Seeing Minister Zhou kneeling, Prince Qi realized just how annoyed his father the Emperor must be, with sweat dripping down his forehead.

The Emperor eyed the table; indeed, it was time to flip the table. With a lift of his hand, the table was overturned with a loud bang, promptly silencing the entire restaurant.

Zhou Shuren sneaked another glance at Prince Qi. Prince Qi’s clothes were a mess, splattered with a fair amount of soup. Luckily, he was kneeling next to the Emperor, and he quickly understood why the Emperor had asked if he had eaten well—it was a premeditated plot to flip the table.

Eunuch Liu also hastened to kneel down, then bowed his head low; only by doing so could he conceal the laughter in his eyes.

Prince Qi was dumbstruck and frightened, ”Your son knows his faults, I beg you Father Emperor to calm your anger.”

Zhou Shuren felt sympathy for Prince Qi; he was the only one unaware of what was happening—no, there was also a frightened beauty who had fainted.

The noise was also heard in Rong Enqing’s private room, and the door had opened. Naturally, the words of Prince Qi were heard. Rong Enqing frowned in confusion, ”Why would the Emperor be angry?”

Gu Ren was clear in his mind, the Emperor was quick to anger, unable to control his emotions, and his eyes were filled with excitement, ”Ah, perhaps Prince Qi made a mistake?”

Rong Enqing felt sympathy for Prince Qi and was impressed with Minister Zhou. Minister Zhou held such a high place in the Emperor’s heart that he didn’t need to coordinate.

The Emperor huffed at that moment, then shouted, ”Does Minister Zhou still wish to stay?”

Zhou Shuren briskly stood up, ”Your servant—”

Before the word behind ”Your servant” could come out, the Emperor had already descended the stairs, and Zhou Shuren briskly followed.

Once upon the carriage, the Emperor, raising his eyebrows, looked at Zhou Shuren who was getting on, ”How about that, I told you someone would pay the bill.”

Zhou Shuren, ”... Your servant is impressed.”

To set up his son like this without prior notice of the plot, Prince Qi was really outsmarted, and was probably still dumbfounded.

The Emperor fanned himself with his fan, ”The Qi Prince Residence can also make a fuss. Let him learn his lesson.”

Zhou Shuren was surprised; it seemed the Emperor also paid close attention to the conflicts between his son and daughter-in-law. Smiling, he said, ”You’re a good father. This time the Prince will definitely be traumatized.”

The Emperor didn’t understand, ”What trauma?”

When Zhou Shuren explained the psychological trauma, the Emperor laughed, ”That makes sense.”

In the restaurant, Prince Qi shakily stood up, his body staggering. The beauty had already fainted on the floor, and Prince Qi didn’t want to glance at her anymore. ”Indeed it’s not easy to go out; the third brother is more astute.”

The shopkeeper cautiously approached, ”Prince, what should we do now?”

Prince Qi himself needed to calm his emotions first, ”Tidy up.”

In the evening, Zhou Shuren narrated today’s drama to his wife, ”This time, the Zhang family will completely fall into the trap the Emperor has set.”

Zhulan said indifferently, ”Well done, you are quite capable of acting alongside the Emperor. How was it, did you enjoy acting opposite the Emperor?”

Zhou Shuren proudly raised an eyebrow, ”Fantastically well. The Emperor’s acting is not good, not as natural as mine. My trembling hands were so convincing that even Prince Qi believed it.”

Zhulan, ”Boasting while you’re still out of breath?”

Zhou Shuren chuckled, ”Everything today was a trap set by the Emperor. Just watch, there will be plenty more acting in the future!”

Far from just a little, the next morning, the Emperor, who had hardly attended court for nearly a year, did so. The Emperor’s complexion was still waxen yellow, his health seemed very poor, but his eyes were fierce, as sharp as knives, staring at the ministers below.

The Crown Prince stood silently to one side, motionless, his head looking down at the ground, as if his heart wasn’t in the morning court session.

The Emperor’s face was stern, ”What, are you all so surprised to see me?”

Zhou Shuren lifted his head and quickly bowed again. This movement, clearly seen by the Emperor seated in his high position, silently shifted his gaze away to avoid being misled by Zhou Shuren. Then, glancing at the Crown Prince through the corner of his eye, he noted that was also unacceptable; the performance wasn’t convincing.

The hearts of the ministers in the imperial court sank. Yesterday’s events weren’t a secret—the Emperor had been angry with Prince Qi, who returned to the Qi Prince Residence with a pale face. They thought Prince Qi had angered the Emperor, but today’s Emperor seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Xiao Qing furrowed his brows, his peripheral vision scanning Zhou Shuren. Seeing Zhou Shuren’s subtle movements, he felt a sudden relief. He was exceedingly grateful for Zhou Shuren’s small actions. Now, he felt he had some understanding—the events of yesterday were not simple, and he remembered Zhou Shuren leaving with the Emperor.

The Emperor stood up, ”What, do you not recognize me anymore? Or do you only recognize the Crown Prince and have completely forgotten about me?”

At this point, the reactions were especially quick, and in an instant a great many knelt down, shouting in unison, ”We dare not, long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”

The Crown Prince also knelt, trembling, and called out loudly, ”This son is terrified, please Father Emperor punish me.”

Zhou Shuren kept his head down—the Crown Prince’s acting was lacking, the trembling in his voice was not enough.

The Emperor frowned, ”Good, good, I see how terrified you are.”

The Crown Prince lifted his head and then quickly lowered it again, ”Father Emperor, this son...”

”Silence! The Crown Prince is confined to his residence for one month, starting today.”

The ministers in the full court bowed their heads, some fearful, while others mustered the courage to speak cautiously, ”Emperor, please reconsider, the Crown Prince is not at fault!”

The Crown Prince, ”...”

Although he had always known that Official Ye was straightforward, speaking out now would only dig a deeper hole for him. If it were not for knowing Official Ye’s loyalty to the nation, he would suspect that he was being kicked while he was down.

Zhou Shuren was silent; he had seen a lot and was used to it. There were plenty in ancient times who met their end in the imperial court, and Official Ye was indeed bold.

The Emperor could not avert his gaze; he watched Official Ye with a dark look, ”You mean to say, you no longer need me? Just the Crown Prince will do?”

Official Ye was dumbstruck, ”No, that’s not what your servant means.”

Li Zhao wanted to cover Old Ye’s mouth; he’d better shut up, because Li Zhao did not want to be visiting a stubborn old man’s grave next year!

The Emperor looked at the kneeling ministers, fiddled with the String of Pearls in his hand, and those wanting to explode held back. Those who made noise couldn’t explode, and he looked at Zhou Shuren, who definitely could not explode. Today’s anger was directed at the Crown Prince who was to go arrange the roundup. Zhou Shuren, the man now taking Xiao Qing’s place, had to stabilize the Ministry of Revenue; it couldn’t be allowed to fall into chaos.

Searching the room, the Emperor slightly tugged the corner of his mouth, ”Tomorrow, if Prince Qi and a few others don’t wish to attend court, there’s no need for them to remain Princes either.”

It was still his own son, yes, there was no burden in making his own son explode.

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

The Emperor had just glanced over him; he truly did not mind showing off his acting skills, and incidentally wouldn’t mind being confined either. Not asking for a month, but half a month would do. What a pity, he raised his head to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor, ”....”

Why did Zhou Shuren look as if he was ready to cooperate? Pah, wishful thinking—that old fox just wants to be lazy.

The Emperor moved his lips but decided against it; Zhou Shuren’s position as Chief of Staff was reserved for the Crown Prince when he ascended the throne. He glared fiercely at Zhou Shuren, then, flinging his sleeve, ”Since there is no major issue, court is dismissed.”

Zhou Shuren waited for the Emperor to leave before standing up, feeling immensely regretful inside—he truly could have done it!

The Crown Prince, ”....”

He really didn’t want to watch the whole thing secretly; his Father Emperor was right, given the chance, Zhou Shuren would want to be lazy. He can’t be given that opportunity!

Zhou Shuren inexplicably felt a chill down his spine as he raised his head to look at the Crown Prince and saw the latter smiling at him. He fell silent—he didn’t want to see the Crown Prince’s smile!!