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

Chapter 1237: Chapter 1237: Jealous of Him

The grand sacrificial ceremony left Zhou Shuren feeling nothing but exhaustion. He wanted to adjust his official hat multiple times but had to endure it, claiming it was a ”live version,” yet in reality it was rather pitiful—since it was a bit far and the sunlight somewhat glaring, the passage of time became an ordeal.

This ordeal wasn’t suffered by Zhou Shuren alone; practically all the ministers felt tormented, which is why the most detested events were those major ceremonies.

Zhou Shuren was also feeling thirsty, drinking too much made him need the bathroom, but without a drink, he would get thirsty over time.

The atmosphere was much better on the Emperor’s side, as Rongchuan had returned to the royal family and was subsequently named Prince Qin, with Xue Han now formally recorded in the royal Jade Decree as Princess Qin.

The title bestowed upon Rongchuan clearly showed the Emperor’s favoritism towards Prince Qin.

Rongchuan’s name was changed to Zhang Jingrong, styled Rongchuan, a decision the Emperor and Rongchuan had agreed upon long ago, with Rongchuan representing an extraordinary significance from the past.

They waited for the sacrificial ceremony to end before preparing to start the feast.

Before the feast commenced, Zhou Shuren noticed the empty spot beside him, hmm, everyone had gone to queue up for the bathroom.

Zhou Shuren had already been sitting in his spot, rapidly downing several cups of tea.

Xiao Qing returned with a relaxed face, followed by Li Zhao, who asked Zhou Shuren, ”Aren’t you going?”

Zhou Shuren, no longer thirsty, leisurely sipped his tea, ”I’m still young. You’re older and can’t hold back, which is quite normal for me.”

Feeling the gaze upon him, Li Zhao scowled, ”You say I have a sharp tongue, but yours is far worse.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Riled to anger?”

Li Zhao, tossing his official sleeve, walked away.

Zhou Shuren snorted. To think Li Zhao was concerned about him, pah, if he didn’t strike first, he would soon be the one drawing unwanted attention.

Xiao Qing cast a deep look at Zhou Shuren, dangling his legs as he sat, ”I’m getting old, old indeed; I can’t compare with Zhou Shuren anymore.”

Zhou Shuren, ”My lord, you are younger at heart than I am, in my humble opinion. Please never say that again.”

Xiao Qing, ”....”

Only Zhou Shuren could shamelessly lie with eyes wide open.

At the banquet, Rongchuan was the protagonist of the day, seated next to the Crown Prince, and even Xue Han sat beside the Crown Princess Consort.

Xue Han watched the Crown Prince chatting up a storm with Rongchuan and then glanced at the Crown Princess Consort’s slightly rigid smile. She had heard from Rongchuan that the Crown Prince hadn’t returned to the Crown Prince Residence for a long time.

Xue Han noticed the Crown Princess Consort occasionally glancing at the Crown Prince, picked up a wine cup, ”Sister-in-law, I toast to you, thank you for your care.”

The Crown Princess Consort shifted her gaze back, her smile becoming much more natural, ”It’s what a sister-in-law should do.”

The Empress, seated above, noticed a rift between her eldest son and daughter-in-law. She considered herself a decent mother-in-law; she had given advice to the Crown Princess Consort, but once the rift arose, given her eldest son’s temperament, it was difficult to smooth over, and the efforts of the Crown Princess Consort were insufficient, leaving her unable to intervene.

In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren returned home, changed his clothes, and lay on the heated brick bed, unwilling to move, ”Today was indeed too exhausting.”

Zhulan, smelling the scent of wine, commented, ”You didn’t drink sparingly either.”

Zhou Shuren, not drunk, retorted, ”As the father of Princess Qin, I’m somewhat of a protagonist myself.”

Zhulan washed a towel and handed it over, ”Wipe yourself.”

Zhou Shuren took the towel and covered his face with it. The coolness made his mind much clearer, ”Tomorrow Rongchuan will leave the Palace directly for his Qin Prince Residence.”

Zhulan, ”Ah, I thought he would stay in the palace for a few more days.”

Zhou Shuren, ”The Emperor has delayed seeing the foreigners for quite some time; it wouldn’t be good to put it off any longer.”

Zhulan thought the same, realizing that diplomacy between nations was profoundly complex. She wasn’t concerned about that, but rather, ”I haven’t visited the Qin Prince Residence yet. Once my daughter moves there, I want to have a good look around the prince’s estate.”

When she used to visit the prince’s estate as a guest, her movements were restricted. But this was her daughter’s future home, and she wanted to see it properly.

Zhou Shuren was tempted, ”Let’s go together when I have my days of rest.”

Now that the Crown Prince hadn’t yet ascended the throne, he didn’t need to be so cautious. However, after the Crown Prince had been in power for some time, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to visit the Qin Prince Residence personally.

Zhulan smiled, ”There’s also the celebration for the house move. Last time, it was three hundred thousand taels, and Rongchuan didn’t ask for a single coin. You have accepted a lot of Rongchuan’s filial gifts over the years, so we cannot be stingy this time. It represents our daughter’s face.”

Zhou Shuren blinked, ”I may be thrifty, but I wouldn’t pinch pennies at the expense of my daughter’s face. I know what to do.”

Zhulan knew Zhou Shuren wouldn’t be cheap, but she couldn’t help nagging. Growing old made her more prone to nattering, and once she started, she couldn’t stop, babbling about her son, grandsons, and granddaughters.

Zhou Shuren wasn’t bothered by the fuss and lay there quietly listening, chiming in with a few words from time to time, adding a particularly warm atmosphere to the room.

Chang Zhong stood at the doorway for a while, then left with a smile.

As Chang Zhong came out, he saw Yu Yi, who was small in stature, engrossed in reading a book. Chang Zhong raised his eyebrows and walked over, ”Do you recognize all of these?”

Yu Yi jumped in surprise, but seeing it was her little uncle, she promptly stood up to greet him, ”I recognize them.”

Chang Zhong frowned slightly, ”Didn’t go out to play?”

Yu Yi, ”I did go out and played for a while before coming back.”

Yu Yi was already conscious of her role as the eldest daughter of her family; even though she had become more open and relaxed, she still held herself to strict standards.

Chang Zhong tapped his little niece’s forehead, ”You’re still so young; don’t act like such a grown-up. Come on, let your little uncle take you out to have some fun.”

Yu Yi was taken along, feeling helpless. Her little uncle was not much older than her; he was the one truly playing the grown-up.

After Zhou Shuren fell asleep, Zhulan came out and listened to Qing Xue’s words. She was relieved; her youngest son knew how to handle things with the right measure.

It wasn’t until dinner time that Chang Zhong returned to the residence with his nephew and niece. This was possible only because times were peaceful; otherwise, Chang Zhong would not have dared to bring them back so late.

The next day, Rongchuan and Xue Han returned directly to the Qin Prince Residence from the Palace, while Lin Xi stayed behind in the palace. Xue Han needed to familiarize herself with managing the vast prince’s estate, which was not difficult due to the presence of well-assigned female officers and clerks, as well as government officials from the prince’s estate. Since Xue Han was the only lady of the house and power was centralized, it was simple for her to get to grips with it.

Moreover, the Empress, worried that Xue Han would not be able to command respect in managing the prince’s estate for the first time, even sent her personal female officer to the estate to assist.

Two days later, the Emperor finally hosted a banquet for the princes and ambassadors from various nations.

Zhou Shuren, as the future Minister of Revenue, also attended the banquet. Today, Xiao Qing did not come, so he took his place next to the Minister of Personnel.

Zhou Shuren tugged at the corner of his mouth, knowing that he was expected to rise to the position of chief minister, but this time it seemed too ostentatious; he thought his seat would have been further back.

Li Zhao sat by his side, ”How do you feel sitting in this place?”

Zhou Shuren, ”I have very complex feelings.”

Li Zhao, ”??”

Zhou Shuren sincerely replied, ”I’m somewhat bewildered; I truly never thought I would rise to the chief minister’s position so soon.”

Li Zhao and the nearby ministers listened, each with their own convoluted thoughts.

Then Zhou Shuren realized that no one was drinking with him, not even Li Zhao who ignored him. He pursed his lips; they were jealous of him.

Today’s banquet was quite interesting; not the usual full palace dances, but performances brought by the foreign delegations too. The music and dance from The West had their own unique flavor.