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

Chapter 1305: Chapter 1350 Deadlock

Zhulan continued to read the letter in her hand; Chang Yi was doing well, now that the Countess had secured power, which greatly facilitated the work of envoys like Chang Yi.

The cooperation had started since the Countess returned with him, and in this year, as she developed her fief, the lives of the people had improved, and she gained loyal soldiers in her hands. Of course, these were not the main points. The main point was the Countess’s engagement to a Duke without an heir. The Duke was already middle-aged, so clearly, this marriage was one of convenience.

Zhulan read without much emotion, knowing from the Countess’s daring to travel across the ocean, that this would be the outcome.

Mrs. Wang arrived promptly, and without beating around the bush, Zhulan said, ”Ming Shan is not suited for foreign lands, having fallen ill several times. This time, Chang Yi has requested a decree, and once the Emperor agrees to send it, Ming Shan can return home next year.”

Mrs. Wang did not seem pleased by the news. This year had been the most liberating time of her life; her husband could not enter the Count Residence, but she could; she managed the household affairs without needing to deal with her husband. As for her health, it had improved, but it was a pity her daughter was not well.

She harbored no resentment towards the concubines or the Illigetimate Daughter, knowing the root of the issue lay with her husband, and thus she took good care of the concubines and the Illigetimate Daughter. This was not merely out of blind kindness.

Knowing her husband well and being very cautious, she would not look more at a concubine who betrayed him, let alone an Illigetimate Daughter.

Seeing Mrs. Wang’s silence, Zhulan tapped on the letter, indicating that Chang Yi wouldn’t exaggerate in his letters, and it was evident from them that Ming Shan’s illness was severe. The journey back was long, and with the toil of sea travel, it was uncertain whether Ming Shan would make it back alive.

Moreover, Zhulan’s gaze was profound; the Emperor clearly despised Ming Shan’s actions from years ago. Would an Imperial Physician truly take care to treat someone the Emperor despised?

Mrs. Wang snapped back to reality, ”This year, my husband only sent back one letter. Thank you, Madam, for informing me.”

”Uh-huh,” Zhulan acknowledged.

After Mrs. Wang left, Zhulan stood up to look at the items Chang Yi had sent back, gifts for herself and Zhou Shuren, while other households had gotten their share.

Zhulan took a particular liking to a set of silver drinking vessels inlaid with emeralds, catching her eye instantly. Chang Yi mentioned in his letter that these were gifts from the king to the ambassador, which Chang Yi had passed on to her.

The other items were all exquisite objects with some unique features. Zhulan selected a few, then went to the storeroom to choose jewelry from a box that kept a full set.

Qing Xue, seeing that she had selected a set of Ruby headwear, asked, ”Is this for the eldest Miss?”

Turning to look for the Jade Pendant, Zhulan replied, ”This time Xue Mei and her husband are returning for their formal engagement, and I, as her grandmother, must present a gift for the occasion.”

Qing Xue extended her hand to help carry it, watching as her mistress chose two pairs of matching Jade Pendants, finally satisfied.

”Send someone to deliver these,” Zhulan instructed Qing Xue.

”Yes, ma’am.”

In the evening, when Zhou Shuren came back and read the letter, he said after a moment of silence, ”Ming Shan won’t make it back alive.”

Putting down her pen, Zhulan said, ”I think so, too.”

Zhou Shuren picked up the pen that his wife had been holding and added some words next to the Butterfly painting she had drawn, and after finishing, continued, ”Leaving aside that our son and grandson stand out, the Zhou family on its own trains its descendants well, something the Emperor is aware of. The imperial court requires balance, and that predetermines the number of people who enter the court.”

Zhou Shuren enjoyed the advantage conferred by bloodline, and since the Zhou family was just getting started, the Emperor rather hoped for the Zhou family to hold some sway in the court. This sway represented the power of the royal family, so the Emperor supported Chang Yi and the others, or else Chang Yi wouldn’t have been promoted before his departure.

Ming Shan had squandered good opportunities, being the first of the Zhou family to stay in the capital, supposedly to consolidate Zhou family power and support the family, but his mismanagement worsened the situation.

Now, the Zhou family had better and more suitable candidates; there was no need for Ming Shan, who was only occupying a position, to exist.

Zhulan waited for the ink on the painting to dry as she said, ”In fact, the moment Ming Shan was dispatched as an ambassador, it already meant there was no chance for him to survive.”

This also meant that Ming Shan’s illness was very peculiar. It was impossible for him to fall ill so many times without someone tampering with it.

Zhou Shuren replied, ”Hmm, since the Wang family often visits, take care of her when you have time.”

Within the capital, all the major families were in balance. There were those who fell, and naturally those who rose. From beginning to end, no single family would dominate, as the Emperor always controlled the balance.

The couple worked together to put away the painting. This was a butterfly painting drawn by Zhulan herself. Although beautiful, it was superficial – it had no value until Zhou Shuren added the poetry.

This was the state of mind. Zhulan couldn’t achieve the carefree attitude of the eldest son-in-law; she was just an ordinary person.

The next day, Chang Zhong accompanied his mother in pruning flowers, looking at the clipped branches he remarked, ”Fortunately, our garden is big enough, and there are plenty of flower beds. Otherwise, with the rate at which mother prunes them every few days, they would end up bald sooner or later.”

Zhulan glared at her son. ”I always prune with a routine. It’s not as serious as you say.”

Chang Zhong spread his hands, not arguing. The mother’s word was law in the family; she was always right. He reached out to take the flower basket from the maid’s hands and moved closer to his mother. ”Mingyun has returned to the Ran family?”

Zhulan placed flowers into her son’s hands. ”Yes, he and Ran Wan are going back to participate in the provincial examination. They will leave in a few days to visit and prepare.”

Chang Zhong responded with an ”oh.”

Zhulan looked at her son with confusion, ”What’s with that tone?”

Chang Zhong laughed. ”I just never expected our stern-faced nephew would be so attentive towards his wife.”

Zhulan replied, ”A wife is someone you accompany for a lifetime. You’ll understand once you’re married.”

Chang Zhong said, ”Mother, I’m still young. I will not marry before I’m twenty.”

Zhulan hoped her son would marry late too, but she was not getting any younger. Whether she could wait until he was twenty was uncertain, and her good mood evaporated. ”We have enough flowers. Let’s go back.”

Chang Zhong sensed his mother was unhappy. ”Mother, what’s wrong? Did I say something inappropriate?”

Zhulan replied, ”It’s nothing you said. I just wish I were ten years younger.”

The other four sons in the household had their futures planned; only the youngest son was still too young. Although she planned a lot for her youngest son, she couldn’t help worrying without seeing it for herself.

Chang Zhong encircled his mother’s arm. ”Mother and father will live a long life, and see your children and grandchildren fill the house.”

Zhulan tapped her youngest son’s forehead. ”Then your father and I would turn into old demons.”

Chang Zhong was inwardly panicking. He hadn’t thought about it before, but the sudden realization of what he would do without his parents made him involuntarily tighten his embrace around his mother’s arm.

Zhulan let her son embrace her, knowing she had frightened her youngest.

At the Ran family, Ran Wan and Lady Qi went to the back yard, while Ran Zheng took his son-in-law to the study. Ran Zheng wanted to test him.

Lady Qi and her granddaughter entered the main courtyard. As Lady Qi looked at her granddaughter’s rosy complexion and the happiness in her eyes, the curve of her lips grew even wider. ”I’ve been busy these past few days. After the rush, I realized there were things I had neglected.”