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

Chapter 1330: Chapter 1330: Chang Zhi is the Envy of the Zhou Family Men

Mingyun saw Wen Rong about to come over, pulled his fourth uncle and turned into the jewelry shop, pah, he didn’t want to interact with Wen Rong at all. Wen Rong treated him as a rival, and it annoyed him immensely. Every encounter was uncomfortable, yet due to the nature of noble family interactions, they met quite frequently!

Wen Rong, seeing Zhou Mingyun enter the jewelry shop, halted in his tracks, pondered for a few seconds and decisively turned away.

In the jewelry shop, Chang Zhi and other shopkeepers were handling the bracelets, whispering, ”He didn’t follow us in.”

Mingyun, ”Hmm.”

Chang Zhi’s eyes twinkled with amusement, his own nephew truly detested Wen Rong, ”How did he come to fixate on you?”

Mingyun was also puzzled, he wasn’t the Top scorer in the imperial examination, and he didn’t want to continue on this topic, ”Fourth Uncle, do you have enough Silver with you?”

Chang Zhi patted his purse, ”Rest assured, my purse has never had less than two hundred taels.”

Mingyun, ”...”

He shouldn’t have asked; his own Fourth Uncle’s purse was always the bulkiest amongst the men in the family!

Back from the government office, Zhou Shuren arrived home only to see his wife scrutinizing the ledgers, ”It’s not time to close the accounts, why are you looking at the ledgers?”

Zhulan looked up, ”I’m free anyway, so I’m just checking the accounts.”

Zhou Shuren washed his hands first, wearing the official attire in summer was uncomfortable, ”I’m going to take a bath first.”

”Sure.”

By the time Zhou Shuren came out, Zhulan had already put away the ledger. Zhou Shuren sat down, eating the chilled watermelon, ”Refreshing.”

Zhulan glared at him, ”Eating cold watermelon on an empty stomach, I see your stomach is comfortable again.”

Zhou Shuren smiled apologetically, ”I’ll just eat one piece, not more.”

Zhulan signaled to the maid to take away the watermelon and then said, ”Today, the eldest daughter-in-law checked Yu Lu’s dowry, and I also delivered the dowry we prepared to the eldest house.”

Zhou Shuren finished the watermelon and wiped his hands, ”In the blink of an eye, those little girls have grown up, getting married one by one each year.”

Zhulan also sighed, recalling when they first arrived, both girls were little and pink, and now they had reached the age of marriage, ”Next year we will have Ming Teng.”

Zhou Shuren said, ”Not just Ming Teng, Jiang Zhu is also not young, the girl from the Jiang family is older than Jiang Zhu, if he doesn’t marry soon, who knows what rumors will spread.”

Zhulan rubbed her forehead, ”Yeah.”

Their eldest daughter and son-in-law seldom stayed in the capital, and she had no chance to have a proper talk with her daughter about the kids’ marriage matters.

Zhou Shuren lamented, ”Children are debts indeed.”

A few days later, the first to return to the capital was Xue Mei’s family, now the twins also ran around everywhere, leaving only Jiang Miu and the youngest, Jiang Lei, in the capital.

Zhulan looking at her daughter, who had tanned quite a bit, ”You still know how to come back?”

Xue Mei smiled apologetically, ”Mother, I brought you many specialties.”

Zhulan snorted, her eldest daughter had become increasingly restless, ”Regarding Jiang Zhu’s marriage, do you and your husband have any plans? The girl from the Jiang family is older than Jiang Zhu, the wait can’t continue.”

Xue Mei, ”You didn’t even have to mention it; I was just about to discuss it with you. How about after the provincial exams for Jiang Zhu’s marriage?”

Zhulan paused, ”Isn’t that around the same time as Yu Lu?”

Xue Mei nodded, ”As you said, the girl from the Jiang family is older than Jiang Zhu, we can’t wait till after the new year, so I was thinking, after the provincial exams, we all return together with Jiang Zhu.”

Zhulan asked again, ”What about Miumiu?”

Xue Mei really didn’t want to marry off her daughter, ”Next year, as you know, Mu Chen - no, now he’s Mu Fan, he’s also taking this year’s provincial exams, so their side implies next year.”

Mu Chen changed his name for the imperial examination since it contained a character that sounded the same as one in the Emperor’s name, and changed it to Mu Fan.

Actually, the current dynasty wasn’t too strict about these things, but the Jiang family was extra cautious; they simply changed it directly.

Zhulan, ”When do you leave?”

”The wedding betrothal gifts need some days of preparation; it will probably take about half a month before we set out.”

”Perfect timing, your second brother is also returning to the capital.”

Xue Mei was thrilled, ”Second brother is coming back to the capital?”

”Uh-huh, according to the days, it should be around ten days from now.”

Xue Mei was also worried about her second brother, because after Ming Shan’s death, she had several nightmares, ”My return really is timely. Since second brother is coming back, I’m in no rush to leave. Staying in the capital for a few more days before leaving isn’t too late.”

”As long as you understand that in your heart.”

Mother and daughter were chatting away, mainly with Xue Mei speaking, and Zhulan as the listener. Xue Mei shared the sights and experiences from her journey, since Zhulan couldn’t go herself, she could only listen to the stories. Just as she was getting engrossed, Qing Xue came in.

”What’s the matter?”

Qing Xue said, ”The Ran family has sent a message, Zhou Mingyun is going to be a father again.”

Upon hearing this, Zhulan remarked, ”I felt something was off with Wanwan a few days ago, turns out she is pregnant.”

Xue Mei gladly joined in, ”Our family has had a steady stream of good news these past two years.”

Zhulan inquired, ”Did the Ran family say when they will return?”

Qing Xue responded, ”They should be able to return shortly.”

Zhulan gestured for Qing Xue to invite the doctor over and went to inform Lady Li.

At the Ran family residence, Ran Wan sat leaning against the bed. Now that her grandmother was on the floor, she found herself lying on the bed. Ran Wan still felt a bit dizzy, but after resting for a while she felt somewhat better, ”Grandma, I’m alright.”

The Qi Clan matriarch was truly frightened upon hearing that Wanwan had fainted at the gate of the estate. She couldn’t stay lying down, ”You’re so stubborn, child. I told you not to come back, and yet you’re back here taking grievances.”

She thought that Wanwan was holding in anger and wasn’t resting well, which, along with the pregnancy, led to the fainting.

Wanwan said, ”Grandma, sister-in-law didn’t do it on purpose.”

Feeling stimulated, her words came out without a filter, but she didn’t take it to heart. Both being mothers, she could understand her sister-in-law.

The Qi Clan matriarch said, ”I’ll have someone send you back later. Don’t come back here if there’s no need in the future.”

Wanwan nodded. With a child on the way, she had to be mindful of the baby she was carrying.

The Qi Clan matriarch watched over her granddaughter’s stomach. When Wen Yue was born, she and the old master were disappointed—not because they didn’t like girls, but because they felt it would be better if Mingyun, as the eldest grandson, had a son first. The past two years, there had been no news from Wanwan’s womb. If not for Yang’s suggestive remarks that children are a matter of fate, she would have definitely urged for a child.

Now, all was well; Wanwan was pregnant again. This child was precious, and the Qi Clan matriarch was no longer irritated, full of joy instead.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren wrapped up his work and then received the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince hadn’t visited often these past years, but Zhou had taught him quite a bit, ”Your subject has seen the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince gestured for Zhou Shuren to rise, ”Sir, I have gained another teacher.”

Zhou Shuren had not heard this news yet, ”Congratulations, Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince wasn’t pleased, since the teacher was not to his liking, ”My new teacher is Master Yan.”

Zhou Shuren, ”...”

Master Yan, ah, whose surname matched his temperament, being particularly strict about everything. He understood why the Emperor chose Master Yan.

The Crown Prince continued, ”Master Yan has a particularly bad temper.”

Zhou Shuren, ”I think it’s tolerable.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened; he had been polite in saying it was bad, ”Can sir not be my teacher?”

Zhou Shuren mentally rolled his eyes; he had no such desire, his current position was just fine, ”The Emperor has always thought that I have led Your Highness astray, and moreover, I have shouldered many burdens on Your Highness’s behalf, which you are well aware of.”

Aware of his own actions, wasn’t he? Constantly testing the Emperor’s limits, and now he has hit the bottom line, as he should!

The Crown Prince touched his nose sheepishly, ”Well, Father knows what’s in his heart.”

Zhou Shuren internally scoffed—of course he knew it was a misunderstanding, but seizing the opportunity to exploit him was real all the same. These two troublesome father and son, he suspected several times that the Emperor and his son were playing a game with him!