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

Chapter 1258: Chapter 1258 You’re Cold-blooded, You’re Heartless

Because Zhulan had specifically come to visit the second wife, Mrs. Zhao, who suddenly went into labor, there was no need to move her; she was directly transferred to the delivery room. The Zhou residence was truly experienced in handling childbirths; there was no need for Zhulan to arrange anything as the maids had already taken care of it.

Zhulan simply had to wait for the child to be born, sitting on a small heated brick bed, with refreshments laid out on a table on the bed.

After an hour, the doctor had been summoned to the residence.

Watching the snowflakes fall, Zhulan said, ”Ming Rui was also born on a snowy day, this child is just like him!”

Su Xuan laughed, ”Mother is right, they are both blessed children.”

Then thinking of her own son, Su Xuan sighed a bit. Her son was smart, indeed, but also impulsive; if only he could blend a bit of his sister’s temperament.

Mrs. Zhao’s childbirth went very smoothly. Chang Yi hadn’t even left the government office when the child was born. The midwife, carrying the child, announced, ”A big boy, over six pounds, congratulations, madam, on your new grandson.”

Zhulan took her grandson, ”Oh, this child is so well-grown, it’s the first time I’ve seen such a fair newborn.”

Su Xuan was equally amazed, ”Second sister-in-law and second brother really treasure this child, indeed the nourishment paid off.”

Zhulan knew the importance the second wife placed on this child. With the means at home, Mrs. Zhao had craved fruits during her pregnancy and was never without them, no matter the cost. Fortunately, she was measured and didn’t over-supplement, which could have made delivery difficult. ”Look, the child is smiling.”

Su Xuan saw it too, ”This child is really fortunate.”

Zhulan, delighted, gave a red envelope for luck, then let the maids take the child back. Once the room was tidy, Zhulan visited Mrs. Zhao, who was still energetic. The years of anticipation were realized, and Mrs. Zhao finally let go of her worries; the sense of relief was palpable to anyone.

Zhulan said, ”You should rest early too.”

Exhausted yet unwilling to sleep, Mrs. Zhao wanted to wait for her husband, ”I’ll rest after I see my husband.”

Zhulan exchanged a few more words then returned to the main courtyard. By then, the snowfall had intensified; without even entering the house, she heard Yu Yi teaching Yu Jiao to read.

Hearing the noise, Yu Yi put down the book, ”Grandma, did Second Aunt give birth?”

Warming her hands, Zhulan replied, ”She did, and you have a new little brother.”

Yu Yi said, ”Then I’ll visit Second Aunt and my little brother tomorrow.”

Yu Jiao also chimed in, ”Me too.”

Having raised many children, Zhulan responded with infinite patience, her voice gentle, ”Alright, alright.”

Once the two children went back to writing, Zhulan began thinking of a name for her grandson. She had named Chang Lian’s son Ming Ling, and finding names was always a challenge for her. After some thought, she decided on Ming Feng for Chang Yi’s youngest son.

As soon as Chang Yi left the government office, he urged the carriage to hurry home. Upon arrival, he dashed into the yard to see his little son, grinning broadly and repeatedly praising him. It wasn’t favoritism, but rather that both sons now fulfilled a safeguard. This child was born with all the expectations attached.

Experienced in handling children, Chang Yi said, ”We won’t have any more.”

Mrs. Zhao was taken aback, ”No more?”

Chang Yi nodded, ”No more. You’re getting older, and childbirth is too burdensome for you. Our family, with two sons and two daughters, and both good fortunes being quite enough, is already very blessed.”

Mrs. Zhao, feeling the toll this pregnancy had taken and seeing her husband’s seriousness, her eyes smiling, agreed, ”Alright.”

Chang Yi played with his youngest son, and after setting him down, turned to his wife, ”You’ve worked hard.”

His wife had been drinking medicinal soups for years to maintain her health, and he had seen all the hardships she had endured.

Zhao Shi didn’t find it hard at all; instead, she felt that marrying her husband was the greatest blessing of her life. Giving birth to children, or even sacrificing her life, wouldn’t have been too much.

At night, Zhou Shuren returned home and brought back some news. Zhou Shuren said, ”The textbooks you organized have already been completed by the Retired Emperor, and he found them quite remarkable.”

Since Zhulan was taken away by the Empress Dowager and returned after a few days, she had harbored some expectations, but there had been no news and it wasn’t appropriate to ask the Empress Dowager about it. As time passed, she stopped paying attention to it. Unexpectedly, ”The Retired Emperor studied them?”

Zhou Shuren nodded. ”The Retired Emperor has been studying the textbooks you organized recently and didn’t allow me to tell you until he finished. Now he’s asking if there are more profound ones available.”

Zhulan naturally had some, but, ”What is the Retired Emperor’s attitude towards the textbooks I organized?”

Zhou Shuren said, ”The Retired Emperor praised the textbooks and complimented your abilities, but he didn’t say much else.”

Primarily, it was because the wife was a woman; in an era dominated by men’s education, it was easy for the wife to place her organized work in private schools or public schools, but achieving recognition was difficult.

Thus, he couldn’t fully discern what the Retired Emperor was thinking.

Zhulan wasn’t disappointed. ”Times change, and the thoughts transmitted from ancient times can’t be changed overnight. Now that the Retired Emperor’s attitude isn’t clear, it’s apparent that my textbooks aren’t yet impactful enough. There’s no rush; we can take our time.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t want anyone else to take credit for his wife’s work, not even their dear son. Both he and his wife had come to this era together; she was his beloved and his comrade-in-arms. He owed his success today to what his wife had taught him.

His wife’s abilities should not be hidden; she had her own brilliance.

Holding his wife’s hand, Zhou Shuren said, ”Hmm.”

Zhulan was full of enthusiasm, which was unlike her initial passivity. Now, she wanted to pass on what she knew.

The next day, Zhou Shuren took another textbook that his wife had organized.

Zhulan was also invited to Qin Prince Residence. Today, the residence was bustling with activity; the other consorts were there too. The Noble Consort was Prince Liang’s mother, a formerly flamboyant woman who had since become more subdued.

Today, they all came to see the play arranged by the Empress Dowager.

The Qin Prince Residence was truly luxurious. Despite the bitter cold outside, the residence featured a large glass greenhouse that was warm inside. It housed flowers and some small vegetables; a stage was set up in the space that had been cleared.

Zhulan was the only outsider from the royal family; if not for her stories, she wouldn’t have been invited.

Xue Han whispered to her mother, ”Mother, I helped too. I suggested some melodies; listen to them later.”

Zhulan remained expressionless. Now, not only had the Empress Dowager found a retirement hobby, but her daughter had found one too.

The Empress Dowager was chatting with a few consorts. Clearly, the colorful life she led made them quite envious.

The story was actually very simple: clichéd missed opportunities leading to a series of tragedies. Even when there was a chance for the protagonists to reunite, their initial purity was lost, culminating in a tragic ending.

While Zhulan narrated somewhat dispassionately, the accompaniment of various melodies during the performance made it feel more immediate. Watching it up close, well, it wasn’t too bad.

For Zhulan, who had seen too many melodramatic and formulaic plots, the experience was quite enjoyable, despite her critiques.

The consorts, who had never seen anything like it, used to have to sneak peeks at the Story-telling Lady’s scripts during their younger years. Considering their youthful dreams of beauty, this heart-wrenching tragedy was unbearable.

Zhulan had run out of sunflower seeds; her tea had been replaced once, and now she was eating an apple. Even though the apple was sliced, biting into it made some noise.

The Empress Dowager was once again brought to tears by her own modified story, and the consorts were the same. Every time the music started, they cried, and they had to change their handkerchiefs several times.

Now hearing the sound of the apple being eaten, they all turned their heads towards Zhulan.

Zhulan faced them, met with tearful eyes and accusatory gazes as if she were cold-blooded, she thought, ”??”