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

Chapter 1252: Chapter 1252: Drunk

Zhou Shuren gazed at the Retired Emperor, who had poured himself a cup of tea. Representing the Emperor, he tacitly approved of Zhou’s reforms but didn’t want him to push ahead too quickly. The Emperor was using the Ministry of Revenue as a test case!

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and clicked his tongue. The Crown Prince had changed a lot after becoming the Emperor, balancing, always balancing.

After he had finished speaking, the Retired Emperor just went back to drinking his tea. Zhou Shuren was clever; that was the advantage of talking with a clever person—a mere hint and he understood everything.

It must be said, his days at the Qin Prince Residence had been somewhat awkward. Even though it was from the Palace to the Residence of his favorite youngest son, the feeling was different.

He had really taken a few days to adjust. This was his first time leaving the Qin Prince Residence since he had moved in. Besides the new Emperor, he hadn’t seen any of his sons, not even Prince Qin.

After the Retired Emperor had his tea, he looked at Zhou Shuren, who seemed to grow more spirited by the day, and clicked his tongue—why did he feel so uncomfortable?

Feeling the gaze upon him, Zhou Shuren’s hairs stood on end, and he widened his eyes, ”Why does the Retired Emperor look at your servant like this?”

The Retired Emperor diverted his gaze, ”Next year you are moving to a new mansion. Have you chosen the date?”

Zhou Shuren was very pleased with the new mansion; the Emperor had been exceptionally generous, ”Your servant plans to move after the spring begins next year.”

The Retired Emperor hummed, ”Shuren, are you aware that someone recently wrote a Zhezi proclaiming the Crown Prince as the foundation of the nation?”

Zhou Shuren feigned ignorance, ”Ah, your servant does not know. I have been preoccupied with the Ministry of Revenue lately, and the Emperor has not summoned me alone!”

The new Emperor was very busy and hadn’t summoned any ministers alone yet. The only one he had seen alone was his brother Rongchuan.

Clearly, the person the new Emperor trusted the most at the moment was his brother Rongchuan.

Zhou Shuren was able to know about this thanks to Rongchuan’s information, but he couldn’t say that!

The Retired Emperor hadn’t asked idly. Given how his youngest son treated Zhou Shuren like a father and how Zhou kept offering advice to him, he had reason to believe his son would have informed Zhou Shuren.

Thinking of this, the Retired Emperor looked at Zhou Shuren more kindly, all because Zhou sincerely had his youngest son’s future at heart!

Regardless of whether Zhou Shuren played dumb, the Retired Emperor said, ”You once enlightened me.”

Zhou Shuren felt like he might break into a sweat at the back, recalling his less than perfect act in the past. He really had been bold, ”Your servant acknowledges the mistake.”

The Retired Emperor laughed, ”Many old ministers miss me since I have abdicated!”

Zhou Shuren felt the conversation take quite a turn but understood the mindset of these old ministers. With a new emperor came new courtiers, and the new Emperor, wanting to build his own team, would inevitably upset the interests of these old ministers. As for them, the Retired Emperor they missed, it would have been strange had they not thought of him.

Zhou Shuren poured himself a cup of tea, ”Surely, the Retired Emperor has already devised a strategy?”

The Retired Emperor, ”Shuren indeed understands me best.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Your servant wouldn’t dare.”

The Retired Emperor put down his teacup, ”If I don’t bother with them, they will not rest easy.”

Zhou Shuren then realized the new Emperor wanted to touch their interests, so naturally, they would try to stir up trouble for the new Emperor, and establishing the Crown Prince was the perfect issue.

At Zhou Residence, Zhulan returned home to see Xue Mei, ”You’ve returned quite quickly.”

Xue Mei replied, ”I came back after escorting them out of the capital gates.”

While talking, Xue Mei helped her change her clothes; the decree robe was indeed heavy.

Zhulan, now in her regular clothes, asked, ”Have you also packed Jiang Sheng’s and your luggage?”

She felt that ever since her daughter had traveled, it was as if she had opened the doors to a new world. Now that the autumn harvest was over, the old couple from the Jiang family had returned to their hometown, and this couple couldn’t sit still any longer, wanting to visit Xuzhou Province and return for the New Year.

Xue Mei smiled with her eyes curved, ”Ah, everything is packed, so I came to ask if mother has anything she wants to send to my sister-in-law and third brother; I can take it with me.”

Zhulan envied her eldest daughter’s lifestyle; now that the danger was gone, her eldest daughter and son-in-law had begun to gradually move further afield, ”There is indeed something. I’ll send it over to your house in a moment.”

Xue Mei’s smile was radiant, ”This time we’re bringing along the twins, Mother. I’ll trouble you to take care of Jiang Zhu and the others.”

Zhulan was experienced in raising children, ”Mmm.”

In the afternoon, still two hours short of Zhou Shuren leaving the government office, Jingyan came back to send a message, ”Madam, the Retired Emperor will come to dine here this evening.”

Zhulan, ”??”

Jingyan repeated it once more, and Zhulan’s face stiffened. Indeed, their home was the first stop. Actually, Zhulan had this kind of confidence that the Emperor would visit the Zhou family first—who made Zhou Shuren so natural in front of the Emperor!

The Zhou residence had entertained the Retired Emperor before and had some experience with his dietary preferences. Even without experience, there was no fear; she could ask her daughter for advice.

In the evening, the Retired Emperor dined in the front courtyard; today, none of the Zhou family members were seen, only the Retired Emperor and Zhou Shuren were dining together.

With winter approaching, the moonlight seemed much colder.

Zhou Shuren, looking at the Retired Emperor drinking alone, felt a wave of emotions in his heart. Becoming the Retired Emperor, only he himself could experience the taste of that. But indeed, the Retired Emperor trusted him very much, revealing quite a bit of emotion in his presence.

Zhou Shuren would not go up to persuade; with their different social statuses, he could only quietly accompany, certainly not daring to speak out rashly.

After reflecting for a while, Zhou Shuren’s expression changed, feeling like he had been trapped by the Retired Emperor—and it was a big trap.

The Retired Emperor was detached when facing his wife but seemed relaxed in front of Zhou Shuren, the old fox.

The Retired Emperor stopped feeling emotional as he put down his wine cup, then saw Zhou Shuren’s face, which looked as if saying ’you’ve tricked me’, ”?”

Zhou Shuren finished the wine in his hand, ”Tomorrow, I’ll be featured on the headline of the capital’s first page.”

The Retired Emperor and Minister Zhou’s inescapable bond of loyalty and so on.

In the end, those who wanted to use the establishment of the Crown Prince to stir up trouble were unable to see the Emperor but could seek him, the one able to see the Retired Emperor—after all, the first stop for the Retired Emperor was the Zhou residence.

The Retired Emperor could hide, but he could not!

The Retired Emperor asked, ”What’s a headline?”

Zhou Shuren, ”...”

Is now the time to focus on that?

In the end, Zhou Shuren still explained, and after understanding, the Retired Emperor laughed unscrupulously. Following that, he laughed out loud; no trace of any low spirits remained.

The next day, just as Zhou Shuren predicted, when attending the early court, he felt a faint attention directed at him.

The Retired Emperor had been happy the previous evening and then drank heavily. When he returned, he was genuinely drunk, and word of this didn’t stay hidden; indeed, everyone knew.

Zhou Shuren stood still, letting them gaze as they pleased!

The new Emperor also glanced at Zhou Shuren; he too was quite surprised—Father Emperor seemed to take Zhou Shuren as a friend. However, he was rather pleased; the fact that Father Emperor could get drunk indicated that he had completely let go.

Today’s early court started with a good atmosphere, but as soon as a minister requested to submit a proposal to establish the Crown Prince, the atmosphere worsened.

Listening to the lengthy arguments in favor of establishing the Crown Prince, Zhou Shuren clicked his tongue twice; those who could stand in the court were indeed skilled at verbal combat.