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

Chapter 1313: Chapter 1313: A Big Wave

The situation in the south was not quick to unfold; in ancient times, long distances meant slow information dissemination, and adding the time for handling, by the time it broke out, Mingyun’s caravan heading back to his hometown was just a day or two away from Zhou family village.

Prince Chu, plus Prince Rongchuan, with Rongchuan carrying the military tally, quickly and ruthlessly concluded the matter in one fell swoop, and news reached the capital first. To stabilize the south, Rongchuan personally escorted the prisoners back to the capital, while Prince Chu continued to remain stationed in the south.

The news reached the capital before anything else, sending tremors through the Imperial court. While the Retired Emperor was in power, only the noble families involved in the salt policy were purged, but there was no significant movement against the influential noble families of the south.

Yet the new Emperor took the throne and set off a wildfire with irresistible momentum, scorching the noble families of the south. What is a noble family? It is the accumulation of generations of heritage, deeply entrenched and complex influence, some of which controlled entire provinces, like true kings of their soil.

Especially in the information-scarce ancient times, it was too easy to deceive the Imperial court.

When the Retired Emperor was in power, even as the Imperial court gradually grew stronger, due to the residual threats such as the Zhang family’s remnants, the Retired Emperor was unable to act against some noble families that stuck in his throat like a fishbone.

But the new Emperor was different. The Retired Emperor left behind an excellent Imperial governance for the new Emperor. Once the new Emperor firmly established his rule, and with the Retired Emperor personally investigating, the Emperor’s decisive actions were a great wave when they finally came.

Such a great wave had the power to deter other southern noble families, yet also maintained a certain degree, not driving the noble families into desperation.

Therefore, those targeted were the particularly vile and heinous noble families, with their long lists of crimes made public for all to see; their evil deeds were vast and overflowing.

The Imperial court was as quiet as chickens, with noble families managing to deceive the heavens and the sea locally, there must be protecting ministers or inside agents in the capital. Several positions in the forefront of the Imperial court were now vacant.

With the Emperor’s thunderous methods, at the first grand court meeting, Zhou Shuren, looking at the now empty seats, thought to himself that not many top officials had stepped down, but quite a few positions below the fourth rank had been cleared out.

Zhou Shuren somberly thought that the Emperor’s intentions were all too clear; he would surely deal with the matters after the rural examinations ended. Every action of the Emperor carried multiple meanings; with the vacancies created, the Emperor planned to promote some poor scholars.

Yet not all the empty positions could be given to poor scholars; the remaining parts would still be divided up by the noble families.

It’s not easy for a new Emperor to reshuffle the Imperial court; how fortunate the new Emperor is to have such a good hand left by the Retired Emperor, tsk tsk, that’s the benefit of having a good father!

The Emperor’s face was stern. As decree after decree was issued, this deterrent act proved the new Emperor worthy of the Retired Emperor’s personal guidance. With a knife in hand, he was always resolute; once again, the vegetable market in the capital would be blood-soaked.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t help but think, thankfully, the ground wasn’t made of soil where blood could seep in.

After the morning court, groups of ministers exited. At this time, who cared about choosing the Crown Princess Consort? They were more concerned about whether they would be implicated.

Li Zhao walked beside Zhou Shuren, ”The Ministry of Revenue must be busy again.”

The Ministry of Revenue had raided homes again; not a pleasant thought.

Zhou Shuren, ”They have already been transported back to the capital by sea. This time, no Officials of the Ministry of Revenue went there.”

Li Zhao smiled, ”With Prince Qin personally escorting them, there’s no fear of anyone harboring ill-intentions.”

Zhou Shuren lowered his voice, ”It’s not just Prince Qin personally escorting them; basically everyone’s scared out of their wits now. Who would dare to have crooked thoughts at this time?”

Li Zhao thought about it and spoke more cheerfully, ”After this, peace will come.”

Everyone likes to be an official in a stable environment. He wasn’t young anymore, and the peace he could see in the future was truly good.

Zhou Shuren smiled too, ”Indeed.”

Xuzhou Province, Chang Lian received a letter from his father, scrutinizing every word without missing one, a smile curving on his lips. He was not afraid of danger; what he feared was the lack of opportunity, the space to stretch his arms and legs was the desire of an ambitious person.

Chang Lian counted the days, because he was traveling with his youngest son and daughter-in-law, they were not moving quickly, estimating that they should have arrived at the capital by now, thinking of his youngest son’s health, Chang Lian was still somewhat worried.

At the capital, the Zhou family, Zhulan had already embraced her little grandson, who had just woken up when he arrived home and was now at his liveliest.

Zhulan looked closely at her little grandson, ”Ming Ling looks like Chang Lian, these father and son really resemble each other.”

Seeing her youngest son was so promising, Lady Dong was pleased that in front of so many people he didn’t cry or make a fuss, and could even nestle in his grandmother’s arms, she said cheerfully, ”The father and son are getting more and more alike, and the child especially likes to imitate Chang Lian.”

Zhulan had never seen Chang Lian as a child; when she arrived, Chang Lian was already in his teens. Now that she has a baby grandson who looks like Chang Lian, she cherishes him immensely, ”Good grandson, call me grandma.”

That Ming Ling didn’t cry or fuss didn’t mean he wasn’t scared; if it weren’t for the blood relation, he would have cried long ago, keeping his little mouth tightly shut without making a sound.

Zhulan didn’t continue to chase after her grandson, but instead patted the little boy’s back and handed him over to Yu Yi. Siblings are more comfortable with each other, ”Yu Yi, take Ming Ling out to play for a while first, get familiar.”

Children bond quickly with each other, and Yu Yi was the gentlest girl in the family, Zhulan believed Ming Ling would start talking soon.

After her daughter led her son away, Lady Dong said: ”It was just the three of us masters in Xuzhou Province; suddenly coming back home still feels a bit uncomfortable.”

Zhulan raised her hand, ”I understand, Ming Ling is so young, to be acting like this now is already very good, you will stay at home for a while, and slowly get used to it.”

Lady Li took over the conversation and said: ”That’s right, boys are the easiest to play with, with Ming Jung leading Ming Ling, he will adapt quickly.”

Lady Zhao said with a smile: ”Indeed, Ming Jung is the most cheerful, he is the joy of the household.”

Her son Ming Feng, on the other hand, was more introverted in nature, inheriting her personality; a small child who one never knew what was going through his mind all day.

The room burst into laughter upon hearing Lady Zhao’s words; they had to laugh because Ming Jung was truly mischievous, even Ming Teng had to admit defeat, and the playful Ming Teng would dodge upon seeing Ming Jung, which showed his influence.

The child was also always smiling; yes, he was genuinely Hanhan, not a smiling tiger, everyone in the family liked to tease Ming Jung.

Sure enough, after a while, laughter and exclamations from the children came from outside, followed by hearty laughter.

Lady Dong’s gaze softened even more, indeed the family home in the capital was where home truly was, the little home in Xuzhou Province was cold and desolate, homecoming felt much better.

In the Zhou family village, Mingyun arrived in the afternoon, heading straight for the manor in the village upon entering.

Ran Wan had always lived with her grandparents. Her parents left for the capital, and she did not follow; this was her first time traveling this far.

As the journey was rapid, even though Ran Wan’s constitution was strong, she still felt wilted, her legs were a bit weak after getting off the carriage, and she stood holding her husband’s hand for a while before she regained her strength.

Mingyun asked with concern, ”Are you okay?”

Ran Wan exhaled and tried not to worry her husband, ”It’s much better now, don’t worry about me.”

Mingyun, who had gotten off the carriage first, had already listened to the steward’s report, ”Hot water is already prepared, meals are being made, go take a bath to relieve the fatigue first.”

Ran Wan replied, ”Okay.”

Mingyun had more things to arrange after sending his wife back to their residence, so he went to find the steward.