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

Chapter 1261: Chapter 1261: Trapping the Grandson

Ming Teng then remembered his initial intention. ”Big Brother, I’ve made a new friend whom I’ve been waiting to introduce to you during your time off.”

Mingyun tapped his brother’s head with a book then stared blankly; despite being younger, his brother was nearly as tall as he was. Glancing over Ming Teng’s build, he really was robust.

Reclaiming his book, Mingyun said, ”I’m not going. I need to study with Grandma. Uncle told me she didn’t understand a few passages. Uncle hasn’t learned them and asked me to help.”

Ming Teng blinked, ”So Uncle bamboozled Big Brother into keeping Grandma company, just to go out with me?”

Mingyun stopped, ”Is Uncle coming with us today?”

Ming Teng nodded, ”Yes, I asked Uncle yesterday, and he agreed.”

Thinking back to what his Uncle had said the day before, Mingyun chuckled—what nonsense about Grandma encountering things she didn’t understand; Uncle had tricked him.

As they talked, Ming Teng no longer hurried off but followed his older brother to the main courtyard, chatting along the way: ”It’s the first time I’ve seen you so easily fooled, Big Brother. If Grandma didn’t understand something, she would surely ask Grandpa. How could there be anything she doesn’t understand?”

Mingyun went stone-cold, and Ming Teng discreetly stepped back a few paces, following cautiously while rubbing his arms—Big Brother with a stern face was really frightening.

Zhulan, aware of her grandsons’ intentions, chuckled, ”Go on and play. I have a sudden engagement today as well.”

Mingyun replied, ”Grandma, let me keep you company.”

With an odd look on her face, Zhulan asked, ”Do you really want to accompany me?”

Feeling it was his duty as the eldest grandson, Mingyun affirmed, ”Yes.”

Zhulan thought about it. Since her grandson was already betrothed, there were no taboos. She smiled, ”Alright, just don’t regret it.”

Mingyun wouldn’t regret it, feeling a sense of filial piety. He loved his grandfather the most in the family and, after that, his grandmother.

Seeing he couldn’t persuade his brother, Ming Teng said, ”Grandma, I’ll be off then.”

”Alright, go ahead.”

As Ming Teng was about to step out, Zhulan added, ”Behave yourself, okay? Your Grandfather hasn’t been in the best of moods these past two days.”

Ming Teng’s gesture of lifting his hand stiffened, fearing that his Grandfather and Great-Grandfather would line up more masters for him!

Zhulan also left with her grandson for their appointment, which was with the Empress Dowager to watch a play at Qi Prince Residence.

The invitation had been unexpected, arriving early that day. Nonetheless, it indicated that, no matter how approachable the Empress Dowager had become, she was still the Empress Dowager. Her impromptu whims paid little heed to whether Zhulan had other plans that day.

Meanwhile, Ming Teng and Uncle set out to meet their engagement. Chang Zhong got off the carriage and looked at the theater’s signboard, ”Are we going to watch a play today?”

Ming Teng nodded, ”Yes, my friend is very interested in operas and invited me to see one today.”

Without much thought, as many in the capital enjoyed watching plays and theaters were frequented by nobles, Chang Zhong curiously asked, ”Can you now reveal who this new friend is?”

Ming Teng smiled mischievously, ”Uncle will find out soon enough.”

”Still keeping it a mystery, I see. I’m curious to see what kind of friend you’ve made.”

As he spoke, Chang Zhong looked at his nephew Ming Teng as if he were a gold mine; the prestige that Ming Teng carried was hammered out by silver. The reason he came along was to see Ming Teng’s friend, but mainly, it was to dig for silver.

Once inside the theater’s private box, Chang Zhong spotted a foreigner and recognized him by his outfit and the servants behind him—it was Prince Qiaoyi, who had remained in the capital without leaving.

Qiao Yi could already speak a reasonable amount of Chinese, ”My friend, you actually brought your younger brother along, I appreciate your trust.”

Chang Zhong’s face darkened instantly; he was no younger brother.

Ming Teng felt his uncle’s gaze was somewhat piercing and hastened to explain, ”This is my uncle.”

Qiao Yi knew who he was now and felt a bit embarrassed. He knew about the people in Zhou’s household but had not met them in person. Then he brightened up again, ”I’ve heard about your uncle. He is said to be a genius with a Top scorer as his mentor.”

Chang Zhong smiled, ”The Prince seems to know a lot about our family.”

Even knowing about his mentor, the Prince was indeed well-informed.

Qiao Yi was very enthusiastic, ”I admire Mr. Zhou greatly. In my heart, Mr. Zhou will lead me out of darkness and touch the light.”

Chang Zhong’s face was expressionless; this foreigner was strange, one moment talking about darkness, the next about light.

At the Qi Prince Residence, the Prince Qi was there today, and Lady Chen, his mother, was surprised to see Zhulan visiting. She had only invited the Empress Dowager today for some advice, as it was her solo attempt and she hadn’t planned on showing it to others.

Now that Lady Yang had come, Lady Chen was also kind to her, given that the Empress Dowager did not consider Lady Yang an outsider.

Prince Qi’s attention was on Zhou Mingyun. As they walked, he posed several questions, to which Mingyun responded fluently and with his own thoughts. With hands clasped behind his back, Prince Qi said, ”You truly are the eldest grandson personally raised by Mr. Zhou.”

Mingyun was not going to let the mention of his grandfather overshadow his own abilities. He graciously admitted, ”I haven’t let my grandfather’s teaching go to waste.”

Growing up by his grandfather’s side, his achievements today were indeed due to his grandfather’s nurturing.

Prince Qi smiled, ”You are not bad.”

But then Prince Qi’s expression became odd, ”Did your grandmother bring you?”

Mingyun pondered for a moment before replying, ”I am on leave today, so I thought to spend more time with my grandmother and followed her here.”

Prince Qi wore a smile, it seemed that Mr. Zhou’s wife planned to trick her grandson. This mischievous taste was very much like Mr. Zhou’s.

When Mingyun reached the erected stage, he still didn’t sense anything amiss, thinking he was at the Qi Prince Residence to watch a play, admiring how influential his grandmother was to have entered the consort’s circle.

However, as the musical play began and the plot unfolded, Mingyun’s expression grew increasingly cold, finally understanding the odd look in his grandmother’s and Prince Qi’s eyes.

What was more important was that his grandmother hadn’t told him, and in her, he saw his grandfather’s shadow—she was tricking him!

Zhulan, watching the play halfway through, criticized the story’s abrupt turns and lack of coherence. The sole bright spot was the sorrowful music, which patched together the disjointed tale, so by the end, the fruits on his table were all gone.

The Empress Dowager had thought that Lady Chen’s own creation would stand out, but she was now somewhat disappointed, able to pick out a host of problems.

Princess Qi was already hiding her laughter behind her fan. Her mother-in-law was indeed talented in the inner chambers, but not everyone had the skill to craft stories, especially tragedies. The outcome now was greatly helped by Prince Qi.

Princess Qi thought of this and glanced somberly at Prince Qi. Tragedies were not his forte, but when it came to taking concubines, the Prince was highly experienced.

Prince Qi felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He had his own tragedies; the shadow cast upon him was substantial. Ever since the Emperor had blocked him, he had not taken any concubines. His tragedy, if played out truthfully, would turn into a comedy.

At the Palace, Zhou Shuren stayed within after the court had adjourned, waiting for the Emperor’s policies that needed to be implemented. The decrees had been drafted in the study, and Zhou Shuren, along with the other officials, finally could leave.

Indeed, ever since Zhou Shuren became the Chief of Staff and entered the power center, he no longer had to keep a constant eye on the Ministry of Revenue. Instead, his responsibilities in the Imperial court had increased.

Zhou Shuren thought today’s efficiency was not bad. Looking at Rongchuan, this Prince was gaining more and more prestige, and the strategy for next year’s policy promotion, which Rongchuan had drafted, was quite exceptional.

As Zhou Shuren was about to follow out the door, Eunuch Zhang said, ”Mr. Zhou, please stay a moment.”