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

Chapter 1212: Chapter 1122: Resentment

Ming Rui nodded repeatedly, understanding better than when his father explained, ”Grandma, now that I am at home, may I come and consult with you often?”

”Of course, you may.”

It was a perfect opportunity to keep Chang Yi from finding out how formidable she truly was, using Ming Rui was just perfect.

At the residence of the fifth prince, Zhang Yang was about to leave when he was stopped by Gu Ren, ”At this time, you still have the mind to go to the theater?”

Zhang Yang, unconcerned, ”What does your affair have to do with me? All I need to do is obey in the end, whether I go to the theater or not seems irrelevant.”

Gu Ren was tense, the closer it got to the time, the more he wanted to control everything. He frowned, ”You are not allowed to go.”

Zhang Yang replied, ”As a complete theater enthusiast, it would be more suspicious if I did not go at a time like this. The whole capital knows that I, the fifth prince, am an absolute fan of the theater and never miss a new show.”

Gu Ren scrutinized Zhang Yang, wondering if he were a complete pawn, would he be content, would he not harbor resentment?

Zhang Yang asked, ”Why do you look at me like that? My wretched life is already like this; won’t you even allow me my enjoyment?”

Some of Gu Ren’s suspicions dissipated. Zhang Yang was quite pathetic, and even if he resented it, what of it? He collected himself, ”Go early and return early.”

Zhang Yang smiled and stretched out his hand, ”How about some silver?”

Gu Ren was quick to part with silver and handed a silver note to Zhang Yang.

Grasping the silver note, Zhang Yang put on a happy face and started to pack it away, but once he left The Prince Residence and boarded the carriage, his smile was gradually replaced by a somber expression.

That evening, in the second wife’s quarters, Ming Rui saw his father return from dinner and continued to work on the problems he couldn’t solve from the past two days, speaking up, ”Father, your son understands.”

Chang Yi was taken aback; he could have asked his own father about the problem, but with the continuous rumors lately, he didn’t want to bother him over such trifles, so he figured it out on his own. Now hearing his son’s words, he felt some disbelief, ”You learned everything I taught you, how could you understand?”

Ming Rui took the pen from his father’s hand and took out a fresh piece of paper, detailing the solution steps, ”Father, what do you think?”

Chang Yi had been watching all along, feeling very complex emotions inside, while internally cursing the foreigners for their lies. Where was the talent in him? His son was better than him. He said hoarsely, ”Not bad.”

Seeing his father disheartened, Ming Rui explained, ”Grandmother taught me. I asked grandmother about the problems you couldn’t understand these past two days, and she explained them to me.”

Chang Yi, ”Ah?”

”It’s really grandmother who taught me. She is incredibly formidable and self-taught.”

As for the part about grandfather teaching her some things, Ming Rui outright ignored it. His grandfather was so busy, he couldn’t have taught much, it was all grandmother’s self-learning.

The little fellow now had immense admiration for his grandmother!

Chang Yi was dumbfounded, taken aback completely, then deeply shocked. Even his mother was more capable than him. He then reacted with a laugh, ”Your father, I follow your grandmother’s lead, yes, the whole family should follow your grandfather and study well, ah, except for your eldest uncle. Now, only your father has a talent in mathematics like your grandmother.”

Ming Rui, ”...”

Alright then, if father said so, then it makes sense, indeed father liked Western languages and learned them faster.

But with father saying that, wouldn’t it mean that grandmother also didn’t like studying! It seemed he had stumbled upon something sensational!

Holding the notebook, Chang Yi almost wished he could ask his mother for guidance there and then. As for whether it would be beneath him to ask a woman for help, he had never thought of it like that. His mother had always been formidable in his heart, and he remembered with pride the several times she had corrected him; his mother was exceptional.

The next day, news spread that the Emperor had fainted, regained consciousness, and then fainted again, and all the ministers entered the palace.

Several princes also made their way to the palace, including Zhang Yang.

The Empress was frail and pale, coughing as she spoke, confirming the suspicions of poisoning.

Duke Ning stepped forward, ”This humble official humbly requests that the Crown Prince be summoned to the palace to take charge of the affairs.”

Princess Qi’s father watched Prince Qi, and thinking of his daughter’s words from yesterday, realized that his reluctance was futile and, irritated, he closed his eyes, opting for ’out of sight, out of mind.’

The hall quieted down, and Prince Qi took a step forward, ”Your son requests that the Crown Prince be summoned to the palace to take charge of the affairs.”

Prince Chu hurried to follow suit, fearing that he would be too late and be held accountable by the Crown Prince, ”Your son seconds the notion, requesting that the Crown Prince enter the palace.”

Prince Liang, with everyone looking at him and his face expressionless, said, ”Your son seconds the notion.”

Finally, it was Zhang Yang’s turn; he knew the Crown Prince’s entrance to the palace was inevitable, but what of it? The palace had long prepared a grand ’gift’ for the Crown Prince, ”Your son seconds the notion.”

Well, that was it, every Prince had seconded the notion, and those with plans in mind could only hold their peace.

Duke Ning was somewhat stunned; things were going too smoothly, so much so that he hadn’t even processed it. He had spent much of the previous day planning various countermeasures, all for naught!

Duke Ning looked suspiciously at that old man Wu, who hadn’t made a peep, how odd!

And Prince Qi was very strange as well, yes, Prince Chu too, had he really grown so old that he could no longer read people?

Zhou Shuren’s gaze landed on Zhang Yang; his intuition told him that Zhang Yang had turned thoroughly villainous.

The Empress coughed and, once her breathing steadied, said, ”All the ministers’ intentions are clear to us. We shall leave first and wait for the Crown Prince to enter the palace and take charge.”

The sound of the Empress’s coughing was alarming, and Zhang Yang’s face fell stern, the poison from the secret remedy was truly domineering.

It wasn’t long before the ministers saw the Crown Prince walk into the hall, all eyes stealthily focusing on him.

The Crown Prince, a distinguished and spirited figure acting on behalf of the imperial government, had grown melancholy between his brows after being confined for many months, and seemed to have lost weight as well.

The ministers glanced at each other, some thinking that the Crown Prince was truly about to capsize, but unexpectedly, with the Emperor fainting, the Crown Prince’s position had stabilized again.

It was unknown what the Emperor would do upon regaining consciousness, but for the moment, having someone in charge of the government provided some reassurance.

Duke Ning blinked, pushed his glasses up, and squinted; he felt there was something off about the Crown Prince today.

After greeting the Crown Prince, he declared, ”If there is business, you may report; if not, I shall see to the Emperor myself.”

Zhou Shuren lifted his head, then quickly looked down again; he too felt something was amiss. According to his understanding, the Crown Prince would normally visit the Emperor first, rather than coming to the hall.

Moreover, the phrase he used could easily stir up speculation. The filial relationship between the Emperor and Crown Prince, the Emperor having raised the Crown Prince with his own hands, demanded by filial duty, that the Crown Prince should have first visited the Emperor upon entering the palace.

The ministers present today were all powerful and influential; cunning as old foxes, the hall was especially quiet for a time.

Duke Ning kept his head down, fearing that someone would scrutinize him and detect something strange.

Prince Chu could not resist stretching out a hand and tugging at Prince Qi who stood in front of him.

Prince Qi turned his wooden face around.

Prince Chu withdrew his hand, familiar with the action, having forgotten momentarily that the person in front of him was not his real second brother. Speaking of which, where had his second brother gone? At this hour, he still hadn’t returned.

Zhang Yang, meanwhile, kept his head bowed, his eyes filled with irony. ”Filial piety and a benevolent father,” he scoffed to himself. Only a few months of confinement, and the Crown Prince harbored resentment towards the Emperor. In the face of the imperial throne, what father-son affection was there to speak of? It was supremely ironic, but all the better if the Crown Prince felt more resentment.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t help but raise his head again, then went rigid with fear—the Duke had turned his head at some point. Catching sight of the Duke’s aged face was quite the shock.