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

Chapter 1213: Chapter 1213: Too Hasty

Ministers exited the palace in twos and threes, their steps not brisk but somewhat heavy instead.

Zhou Shuren walked alongside Old Master Wang, who sighed as they walked, ”I always feel like a storm is coming; you should be extra careful too!”

Zhou Shuren had great respect for the elder, who had given him many pointers over the years. ”You too, sir.”

Old Master Wang felt a heavy heart. Today’s words from the Crown Prince and whether the Emperor could awaken, the struggle for the throne—ah, old age, old age.

After leaving the palace, Zhou Shuren boarded his carriage. Several Chief of Staff remained inside. Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, feeling today’s Crown Prince had spoken deliberately to mislead, yet still found the Crown Prince very strange.

With the Crown Prince overseeing state affairs and taking charge, he settled the anxieties of the officials in the capital. Upon returning to the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren immediately sensed a difference; the spirit of the entire Ministry had improved.

Less than half an hour later, at the palace gates, Prince Qi was left behind alone while Prince Chu was about to leave when Zhang Yang said, ”The Crown Prince has just replaced several ministers.”

Prince Chu’s gaze grew deeper, ”What do you mean by that?”

Zhang Yang smiled, ”What could I mean? I just feel that our big brother Crown Prince lacks confidence and is too hasty.”

Prince Chu observed the suddenly slow-paced stewards and other ministers, narrowing his eyes. Zhang Yang deliberately expressed what was on everyone’s mind, ”With that statement, I’d almost think you’re not the Crown Prince’s full brother, but rather an enemy of his—more so than myself!”

Zhang Yang was taken aback. Prince Chu was more low-key than Prince Qi, so low-key that he’d forgotten—he’s never been polite to anyone, ”Third Brother jests.”

Prince Chu stared intensely at Zhang Yang, ”I never jest. Put away your hostility, or you’ll make me suspect that you’re not truly the Crown Prince’s brother.”

Zhang Yang shut his mouth, his heart skipping a beat. Prince Chu truly dared to speak his mind, and sensing the gazes on him, he wanted to leave.

But how could Prince Chu let him go so easily? He said darkly, ”Your son was raised with the Empress Dowager’s help. When you went to the palace today, did you visit the Empress Dowager?”

Zhang Yang’s scalp was tingling, ”The Empress Dowager does not wish to see me; I have shamed her.”

Prince Liang’s eyes reflected disdain, what a fool! Even slightly deranged, he still seemed stupid. Without capability, one shouldn’t provoke the third brother. Did he really think that just because the third brother wasn’t causing trouble, he would be easy to speak with? The third brother is ruthless. To tear down past power, he’s sacrificed many.

The drama at the palace gates spread out. The wise focused on the Crown Prince’s hasty lifting of restrictions, harboring resentment towards the Emperor.

In the afternoon, the Crown Prince ordered the interrogation of Rong Enqing, investigating his crimes. Rumors were becoming fact, indirectly informing everyone that the Emperor had been poisoned, his health failing, no longer able to control state affairs.

From the reassignment of ministers to interrogating Rong Enqing, every step taken by the Crown Prince appeared rushed today.

Qiu Yan, upon hearing the news, was stunned and whispered, ”Why is my heart so anxious?”

The Crown Prince’s actions were nothing like the one in his memory. The Crown Prince of the past, standing beside the Emperor in court, couldn’t be overshadowed by the Emperor’s presence, his confidence carved into his bones. Now, he felt that the Crown Prince lacked confidence.

Zhou Shuren looked sideways at Qiu Yan, who had a particularly sharp intuition, ”We just need to do our jobs well and not make mistakes.”

Qiu Yan, fearful, worried about being replaced, admired Zhou Shuren, ”You can still stay so steady at a time like this.”

Zhou Shuren, ”If I panic, what will become of my whole family?”

Qiu Yan thought that made sense, ”Still, it’s over for Marquis Rong.”

Zhou Shuren hummed an acknowledgment, feeling tense. He planned to take more young servants out with him from now on; one has only one life and must be careful.

At The Prince Residence, Gu Ren spoke to his father, ”The Emperor fomented rebellion with the aid of the Rong family and is now harmed by the same family. Father, what do you think of this move of mine?”

Zhang Wuxi stroked his beard, ”Good! My son, this move is brilliant. Endangering the Emperor is a grave crime. Rong Enqing has no chance of survival. The Emperor once appreciated the Rong family, and now that has turned to hatred.”

Gu Ren then said, ”I just don’t know if Rong Yushang will be dealt with alongside.”

Zhang Wuxi chuckled coldly, ”No hurry. It’s only a matter of time before they’re exterminated. Slowly cutting away at them is quite satisfying.”

Zhang Yang couldn’t be bothered to listen to the father and son anymore and stood up, quickly walking out.

Gu Ren watched Zhang Yang, ”At the palace gates today, Zhang Yang was scolded away by Prince Chu. He’s really useless.”

”Useless is good.”

Too smart would not do.

At the Zhou family, Zhulan had also heard the news and then instructed that Yao Yao must not be told. Just as she had arranged for this, news came from Marquis Rong’s Residence: Rong Enqing’s legitimate mother had died.

Zhulan frowned, ”How did she die?”

The steward bowed his head, ”Recently, the old master has been worried about Mr. Hou, and since the wife is not at the residence, there has been no one to manage the back house.”

Zhulan understood. Rong Enqing’s legitimate mother had starved to death, possibly days ago, but it had only been discovered today.

Zhulan pressed her brow, ”You came to find me for the regulations?”

The steward trembled, ”Today, Mr. Hou was summoned for an inquiry, and now the Hou Residence is in chaos. The old master sent me to ask how to handle the situation.”

Zhulan, ”...”

It wasn’t to blame Rong Enqing’s father. At this time, he indeed couldn’t cope. It would be best to have a burial; with the current heat, the corpse must have already started to decompose and smell.

Zhulan instructed Steward Ding, ”You go.”

Before she could finish, her fourth uncle came in, asking, ”I heard that someone from Hu Residence came over. Has something happened?”

Zhulan repeated what she had just learned.

Yu Dang’s face turned dark, then he said, ”I will preside over the Hou Residence for a few days.”

Zhulan exhaled with relief, she indeed wasn’t suited to involve herself in the matters of Marquis Rong’s Residence. If it weren’t necessary, she truly didn’t want to interfere. Now that her fourth uncle was taking over, she was naturally willing, ”Thank you, Fourth Uncle.”

The steward from the Hou Residence was pleased. The residence now lacked a pillar of strength.

After Zhulan and the rest had left, she sent people to keep an eye on the news, wanting to know the outcome.

The result was slow in coming since Gu Ren hadn’t been caught, but everyone knew that Rong Enqing was finished.

At night, Zhou Shuren and his wife had a bellyful of words and could only whisper to each other when it was deep into the night and all was quiet.

Zhulan, ”The Crown Prince is deliberately leaving a handle for others.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Hmm, I pondered over it carefully, and the Crown Prince today must have been an impostor.”

Zhulan, ”Hmm?”

”The Crown Prince’s acting isn’t good, and the real Crown Prince could not act out the agitation of house arrest.”

He thought hard for a long time and concluded that the real Crown Prince must have been very busy and had never been under house arrest, so he couldn’t act out the appearance of someone who had been.

Zhulan twitched the corner of her mouth, ”The Zhang family must never have imagined that the mask from before would help the Emperor.”

Zhou Shuren, ”These recent days, pay more attention to the children in our residence, and be more careful.”

Zhulan took note, then said, ”The result for Rong Enqing should come out tomorrow, right?”

Zhou Shuren, ”Hmm.”