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

Chapter 1242: Chapter 1242: An Unparalleled Great Dad

Zhou Shuren, ”Repeat what you just said.”

Steward Ding was excited inside, convinced that his master truly had the Emperor’s trust, and replied, ”Just now, a guard came with a message that the Emperor has moved into the Crown Prince’s manor, saying that he would like you to join him for fishing tomorrow!”

Zhou Shuren, ”....”

Was he unable to avoid the troublesome father and son?

The Emperor had already inspected the Hot Spring Manor of the Crown Prince and upon returning, he told the Empress, ”The Crown Prince’s Hot Spring Manor is indeed quite nice; every part of it is constructed to my liking.”

Especially a bamboo forest, which he was extraordinarily fond of.

The Empress remained silent. The Crown Prince was raised and taught by the Emperor himself, so of course, as father and son, their preferences would naturally be similar, ”So?”

The Emperor said wistfully, ”I have already divided my private treasury among the Crown Prince and Rongchuan, and this Royal manor will belong to the Crown Prince in the future. Now, apart from some property and deed titles, it seems I do not own any manor.”

The Emperor was a decisive man. He had already allocated the belongings for his sons long ago, and with his youngest son returning to the royal family, he didn’t want to fuss over it and promptly distributed them among his sons.

The Empress couldn’t help but smirk, ”You are the Emperor, and it’s only right for your sons to pay their respects to you.”

The Emperor pondered in his heart that in the future, as the Retired Emperor, the respect his sons paid him each year was no small amount. He felt that as long as he lived long enough, he could still save up a private fortune and whispered, ”I think I can still save up a sum for Rongchuan.”

In the future, he would be a father who openly favored his eldest son, with no need to disguise his partiality!

The Empress blinked, ”In that case, I can also save up a substantial dowry for Lin Xi.”

At the Zhou residence, dinner was eaten separately in each wife’s quarters. Lady Li picked at her food lethargically, ”Without mother at home, meals just don’t taste as good.”

Zhou’s eldest son glanced at her, ”Your lack of appetite isn’t because mother is gone. It’s because she didn’t take you with her.”

Lady Li’s motives were seen through, ”Even a meal can’t shut you up.”

”You started it first.”

Ming Hui said wistfully, ”Uncle didn’t take me either.”

Mingyun put down his chopsticks, ”Uncle was just thick-skinned enough to tag along.”

Implying that the uncle couldn’t have taken him along.

Mingyun still remembered how Grandfather looked at Uncle with sheer disdain. If Uncle hadn’t been holding onto Yu Yi and refusing to let go, Grandfather really would have thrown him off the carriage!

Ming Hui, ”I really envy my sister Yu Yi!”

Saying this, he looked toward his parents. With the third uncle not at home, their grandmother took Yu Yi and Yu Jiao, his two younger sisters, wherever she went. He longed to go to the manor too!

In the second wife’s quarters, Zhao’s belly was large and uncomfortable, so after just a couple of bites, she laid down her chopsticks. Seeing Yu Die downcast, she couldn’t help but chuckle, ”Didn’t little Yu Die say she wanted to take care of mother?”

When the mother-in-law left today, because of Yu Yi, she also asked Yu Die and Yu Wen. At that time, her daughter hesitated but refused, saying she wanted to take care of her; it touched her deeply.

Yu Die was still a child after all. Unable to manage the indolent Yu Wen, she still preferred to be with Yu Yi. Now that her playmate was gone, she felt lost.

Yu Die, noticing her father and sister looking at her, and even her brother putting down his chopsticks, clutched her chopsticks tightly, ”A gentleman’s word is as good as his bond. I don’t regret it, and I will take good care of mother.”

Yushuang, ”...”

Why is she starting to sound more like a boy!

Chang Yi adored his little girl immensely, ”Wait a few more days, and father will buy you a little horse.”

Yu Die’s eyes couldn’t have shone brighter. At this moment, having a playmate seemed unimportant, ”Father, you are really the best.”

In the fourth wife’s quarters, Ming Jia also ate his meal sulkily, staring at his sister. He really didn’t understand why she just wouldn’t budge.

Yu Wen ignored her brother, deliberately taking her time to eat her meal, with great appetite.

Chang Zhi was resigned to his daughter’s ways, asking, ”Would you like some soup, my dear?”

Yu Wen nodded, ”Yes.”

Chang Zhi personally took the bowl and served his daughter a portion, then placed it in front of her. What could he do with a daughter he’d brought up himself? He could only dote on her, and he was already worrying about finding a son-in-law for her!

Chang Zhi’s mindset had changed particularly quickly. When his daughter was just born, anyone who dared to have designs on her was the enemy. Now, as long as someone would treat his daughter well, he wouldn’t interfere, and he’d be an excellent father-in-law!

Su Xuan asked her son, ”Do you want some soup?”

Ming Jia, ”No.”

Yu Wen had already finished hers, ”Mother, I want some more.”

Su Xuan smiled, ”Alright.”

Ming Jia angrily put down his chopsticks, ”Sister, I’m angry.”

Yu Wen finally looked straight at her brother, ”If you’re not capable enough to accompany Grandma to the manor, why are you getting angry with me? If you don’t want to move, use your own ability to follow. Don’t blame me.”

Ming Jia, ”Grandma asked for you.”

Meaning Grandma didn’t ask for him!

Yu Wen, ”Don’t rely on me if you’re not capable, and don’t make excuses for your lack of ability. Grandma said that making excuses is a sign of the weak. You’re not only incompetent but also angry at your own sister, making you the weakest of the weak.”

Ming Jia, ”...”

It seemed like sister made a lot of sense!

Chang Zhi and Su Xuan, ”....”

Impressive, my daughter!

In the end, Yu Wen said, ”Stay away from me for a while; I don’t want to see a weak brother.”

After she said that, Yu Wen thought to herself that she’d be able to lazily enjoy a few days without having to endure her brother’s nagging.

Chang Zhi and Su Xuan, being parents and having brought up their daughter, understood their child quite well. As soon as their daughter finished speaking, they couldn’t help but laugh!

Zhulan, unaware of the hustle at home, was already blissfully soaking in the hot springs and lying on a lounge chair, listening to Zhou Shuren read from a travel diary, utterly relaxed.

Zhou Shuren also felt that these were tranquil times.

Unfortunately, their pleasant mood lasted only until they met the Emperor. The Crown Prince’s manor wasn’t too far from here.

Upon Zhou Shuren’s arrival, the Emperor immediately dragged him to the lakeside to fish, and Zhulan had gone to the orchard with the Empress.

At the manor, the Emperor and Empress dressed in casual clothes, without the garb that denoted their status, and seemed just like any ordinary couple.

By the lake, the Emperor was the first to catch a fish and was quite smug, ”Shuren, you need to work harder.”

Zhou Shuren forced a smile. He’d rather spend time with his wife at his own manor, ”Emperor, are you sure it’s okay to come here, leaving the Palace behind?”

Emperor, ”I’ve not dealt with state affairs for a very long while. The Crown Prince has been managing them rather well; there’s nothing to worry about.”

Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes inwardly. The Emperor knew what he wanted to say. Was it really a good idea for the Emperor to leave the Palace at this time, so close to the Crown Prince’s ascension?

Stroking his beard, the Emperor said, ”Next year, I plan to take a trip.”

Zhou Shuren, ”A trip?”

Emperor, ”Yes, I want to see the lands I’ve governed for myself.”

Zhou Shuren blinked, thinking whether taking a trip next year might be too soon since the Crown Prince still needed the Emperor’s support. But then he reconsidered. The Crown Prince had been handling the administration alone for quite some time and didn’t need to worry. Moreover, the Emperor’s absence would give the Crown Prince a chance to deal with lingering problems and prevent ministers from begging for favors in front of the Emperor once he became the Retired Emperor.

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, unable to help but express his admiration, ”Emperor, you truly are an outstanding father to the Crown Prince.”

The Emperor was taken aback, and then burst into laughter, ”Now that Shuren mentions it, I do think so.”

Even as he faced becoming the Retired Emperor, he didn’t cling to power. In the annals of history, he really would be regarded as an outstanding father to the Crown Prince.

Zhou Shuren hummed, reflecting that he, too, was a representative of a good father!