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

Chapter 1257: Chapter 1257 Suitable for Sleeping In All Year Long

Zhou Shuren wore an impassive face, ”Oh, right, the Retired Emperor now wakes up naturally. He still thinks his words are very correct: spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, summer naps, and the sleepless three months of winter—all year round is suitable for sleeping in. The Retired Emperor might still be asleep!”

He felt that the Retired Emperor, having too much idle time, took pleasure in teasing him every day, and he emotionally thought the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager truly deserved each other—one wiped tears from being tormented, while the other vexed him daily.

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan had just finished breakfast and was continuing to organize textbooks, preparing to send them back to her hometown as a New Year’s gift.

It was at this time that the Empress Dowager arrived, seeing the organized textbooks for the first time, ”May I take a look?”

Zhulan had never intended to hide them; she would have loved for the Empress Dowager to know. It would be even better if she could get her support, ”Of course, I combined them with Western studies. Please excuse my modest efforts.”

The Empress Dowager, being a smart woman herself, found the textbooks not too difficult. As she perused, she glanced up at Mrs. Yang. Although she did not fully understand everything, the arrangements made by Mrs. Yang were very detailed and the knowledge progressed in layers. The Empress Dowager closed the book, ”It’s a pity you weren’t born a man.”

Zhulan took the book the Empress Dowager handed to her, ”I don’t feel it’s a pity.”

The Empress Dowager asked, ”Is this for your grandchildren?”

Zhulan replied, ”Although I live in the inner palace, all my knowledge comes from what the master taught. But my second son learned a lot from it and found it very useful. Although I’m a woman, I also see its great utility, so I wanted to organize it and first send it back to our clan school.”

This time, the Empress Dowager viewed the book differently, ”Would you mind if I take it to look at in more detail?”

Zhulan certainly did not mind, ”Not at all, I am honored that you value it.”

The Empress Dowager spoke as she took a book out of a box, ”Take a look at this, too. I organized it.”

Filled with question marks, Zhulan picked it up, then froze, ”You actually organized the stories.”

And added dialogues and scenes!

The Empress Dowager’s eyes gleamed brightly, ”What do you think of my modifications?”

Zhulan scrutinized it carefully under the gaze of the Empress Dowager and then wanted to cry. Woo woo, she had learned quite a bit in ancient times too, but unfortunately, she was still a science student who rarely embellished her stories. Why could she tell a story a day? Because she kept it simple, which of course made it quick.

And the Empress Dowager’s various beautiful rhetorical embellishments, even composing several poems for the female protagonist!

Zhulan solemnly said, ”You are really amazing.”

To tease her several times a day and still have time to work on these, how could she not be amazing?

Satisfied with the acknowledgment from the story’s owner, the Empress Dowager humbly said, ”Your stories are better.”

Zhulan felt guilty, no, no, she just read a lot!

The Empress Dowager caressed the book, ”This is my favorite story. I plan to adapt it into a play.”

Zhulan responded, ”As long as you like it.”

The Empress Dowager, smiling gleefully, felt that her life now was good, without the boredom of daily tea-drinking and flower-viewing. This kind of life was truly exciting.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren, seeing the Retired Emperor in a good mood, smiled and said, ”Speaking of which, my eldest grandson is going to take the child prodigy exam next year, yes, and my grandson-in-law too.”

The Retired Emperor recalled Zhou’s eldest grandson, ”Time flies indeed.”

Zhou Shuren remarked, ”Yes, after he passes the Scholar exam, Mingyun should start preparing to marry.”

The Retired Emperor remembered, ”Your eldest grandson is betrothed to Ran Zheng’s legitimate granddaughter?”

Zhou Shuren nodded, ”Yes, the engagement has been a few years now, time really flies.”

The Retired Emperor was silent. He would not interfere in the struggles between the new Emperor and the old ministers; it was something the new Emperor would inevitably have to go through. Ascending to the throne was merely the beginning. Now without his protection, the old ministers did not seek him out, clearly understanding his intentions.

He remained detached from the imperial court, yet he saw the situation very clearly.

Zhou Shuren stayed out of the struggle, reducing a lot of entanglements. Initially, people approached the Zhou family, but as the situation escalated, they stopped dragging Zhou Shuren into it, feeling that it was better for him now.

The Retired Emperor thought of Consort Ran in the palace, a decision he had made himself. The Ran family and the Zhou family were related by marriage, something he had truly overlooked. After Ran Zheng retired, the Ran family became inconspicuous, and Consort Ran quieted down, slowly fading from his attention.

The Retired Emperor tossed a sweet potato into Zhou Shuren’s arms, ”You old fellow, your rambling was all for the Ran family.”

Zhou Shuren happily accepted it, ”Your servant did it for his own family. If the Ran family is not well, it troubles me as well.”

The Retired Emperor snorted, ”Wouldn’t changing the marriage alliance be better?”

Zhou Shuren was inwardly cautious. Whether it was the Retired Emperor or the Emperor, such men were not ones to make idle jokes. The Retired Emperor truly intended to sever the Zhou family’s ties with the harem. Peeling the sweet potato skin, Zhou Shuren said, ”Your servant is a man who keeps his promises. Once a promise is made, I must uphold it, regardless of the Zhou family’s current status or rank.”

The Retired Emperor’s gaze was profound, no longer projecting the earthy Retired Emperor, but the Emperor who had reigned for a long time.

Zhou Shuren calmly ate the sweet potato, feeling a bit uneasy inside.

The Retired Emperor withdrew his gaze, picking up another sweet potato, ”Remember your words.”

Zhou Shuren, ”Not only will I remember, but I will also leave a family rule after my death.”

As for ambitious descendants appearing, he had done what he could.

The Retired Emperor was satisfied; though Zhou Shuren was cunning, this crafty old fox indeed kept his promises.

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that Consort Ran’s future was just as Consort Ran. Having only one daughter in his lifetime, from the moment Ran Zheng approached him, the Ran family had understood their situation. To gain something, something must be lost. Ran Zheng sacrificed Consort Ran to protect his legitimate eldest son.

Two days later, in the empress chamber, the Empress had a private audience with Consort Ran, who sat nervously.

The Empress bore no animosity toward Consort Ran, but still took precautions. Now there was no need, ”Yesterday, the Emperor mentioned you to me.”

Consort Ran clutched her handkerchief, ”The Emperor has only visited my chamber to see the princess once.”

He only played with the princess for a while and spoke only two sentences to her in total.

The Empress smiled and said, ”Don’t be nervous. The Emperor mentioned that your writing is the best in the harem, so for the few months before the New Year, you are to copy scriptures and pray for blessings, as per the Emperor’s wishes. This is not a punishment but for your own good.”

Ran Yan understood; she no longer needed to take sides, ”Thank you, thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Empress had precise information about external affairs, knowing whom the Ran family had approached. Her maternal family also fully understood through this incident that the Zhou family and the Rong family were loyal only to the Emperor.

Days passed by, and Zhulan received a letter from her eldest daughter, who had traveled leisurely and took over a month to arrive in Xuzhou Province. Zhulan envied her, ”She’s really taking her sweet time.”

Su Xuan also felt envious; before she was married, she too traveled everywhere.

Mrs. Zhao’s belly was very big now, and she was close to giving birth. Chang Lian’s son was already two months old.

Mrs. Zhao had taken good care of her health over the past few years, making this pregnancy quite stable.

As Zhulan was counting the days, Mrs. Zhao suddenly stiffened, ”I, I’m going to give birth.”

Zhulan watched Mrs. Zhao’s belly; while she was still counting the days, this child was anxious to come out—a child in a hurry.