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

Chapter 1367: Chapter 1367: Mutual Harm

On the carriage ride back to the capital from Zhangzhou Province, the Crown Prince stared at a box, ”What did the Grand Master of Writing buy?”

Someone was sent out to purchase something early in the morning. The box wasn’t very large, but it was still quite noticeable.

Zhou Shuren touched the box, ”A gift.”

Over the years, he had always been on the receiving end of gifts. It was frustrating, to say the least. Finally, he could exhale in satisfaction. The Retired Emperor especially had a tough time this winter; the thought alone brought joy.

The Crown Prince didn’t press further since it was a gift for Lady Zhou. Everyone knew how much Master Zhou valued his wife.

The Crown Prince thought of Lady Yang with a complex look in his eyes. He would never underestimate women. Whether it was the Emperor or his grandfather, both had taught him from a young age not to belittle women, for when women become ruthless, they can be more insane than men.

Lady Yang truly surprised him. The few books he had seen were gifts from his grandfather, containing comprehensive knowledge points, well-organized and logically articulated; what’s most precious was their progressive structure, with fundamentals as the foundation, gradually escalating in difficulty. His grandfather did not hide the fact that these were organized by Lady Yang, and some of the questions were even posed by her after her own studies.

He was shocked, truly shocked. The Crown Prince then looked at Zhou Shuren again. A wife who could be so cherished by Master Zhou must indeed be a remarkable person like him.

When it was time to leave the government office, at the entrance of the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi walked out leisurely, his workload light enough that he even hummed a tune.

Chang Yi was surprised to see the carriage from Qin Prince Residence, only to see his brother-in-law pushing open the carriage window, ”Second Brother, hop in, I’ll take you home.”

Chang Yi stopped humming. Knowing full well how busy Prince Qin was, he recalled how his brother-in-law used to frequently visit their family home, and now even his return visits required squeezing in time. Chang Yi swiftly boarded the carriage.

Sir Liu came chasing only to see the back of the carriage from Qin Prince Residence. Touching his money pouch, he thought to himself, well, his treat didn’t work out again today, and his son was adamantly against forming marital ties with the Zhou family.

He was frugal, sure, but he could be generous when it mattered. Hadn’t he brought out the family’s tribute tea? Marrying into the Zhou family could only bring benefits to the Liu family, a decision he and his father had made after much deliberation. As for the Zhou family’s lady’s liberal spending, Sir Liu touched his own face; his wife was also known for her lavish spending, and she still held the strings to the household authority.

When his wife heard about the Zhou family lady’s generosity, she couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the match. If it weren’t for the wrong timing, she would have visited their household in person.

On the carriage from Qin Prince Residence, Chang Yi said, ”You’re not just sending me home, are you?”

Rongchuan briefly discussed the Grassland Tribe’s probing movements, ”Second Brother, you’re at the Ministry of Rites, and you’ve been posted at the embassy as well. I was hoping you could take special care of these tribes.”

He could have directly arranged someone for the task, but it wouldn’t look good. Besides, his Second Brother was meticulous and would not let others notice. His Second Brother had been on a diplomatic mission for four years before returning; who would suspect that he had been pulling strings behind the scenes, maintaining connections within the Ministry of Rites?

Having witnessed more than one political upheaval, Chang Yi was the true embodiment of the Zhou family’s ruthlessness, ”Rest assured, I’ll manage it without being noticed.”

Rongchuan, ”Thank you, Second Brother.”

”What’s there to thank, that’s my niece too.”

Not only was Rongchuan as a father furious, but he was also irate. His own daughter was as precious as a gem, and even probing was going too far.

Chang Yi thought for a moment before adding, ”Father has started his journey back to the capital, but he doesn’t know yet.”

Rongchuan laughed, ”Yes, father is coming back to the capital.”

”Just hope those Tribes of the Grasslands don’t rush to leave.”

Rongchuan scoffed, ”They’re enjoying their time in the capital greatly; they’re in no hurry to leave.”

Chang Yi laughed, ”That’s good then.”

Upon returning home, Chang Yi went straight to see his mother, ”Mother, just now it was Rongchuan who sent me home.”

”As long as you both know what you’re dealing with.”

Chang Yi knew he couldn’t keep anything from his mother, ”Mother, is the Imperial court really going to war?”

Zhulan, ”It’s unavoidable.”

After her son-in-law and daughter departed, she lay down to rest, but her mind continued to work ceaselessly. Over the past few years, she had subdued a few tribes, and she had heard the caravans constantly heading to the Tribes of the Grasslands. The caravans were too frequent; she sensed a conspiracy, it might be the Emperor who most wants to wage war!

Chang Yi said ominously, ”Let’s just hope the war stays at the border.”

Zhulan, ”Let’s hope so.”

The next day, the embassy updated its wares to match the preferences of the Tribes of the Grasslands, even boasting that they might get a good amount of grain and fodder for free.

Listening to the expressions of the princes and princess consorts of the various Grassland Tribes, Chang Yi clicked his tongue twice, hoping that in a few days they would still have such vitality.

Zhulan knew that Lin Xi had entered the Palace for a short stay — this was the Retired Emperor doting on his granddaughter.

Inside the Palace, Lin Xi had heard about the tribes’ proposals for marriage yesterday; at first, the young girl was frightened, as she is a princess of the royal family. Only after her father said she would not be married off did she feel at ease.

But being young and easily scared, she had upset the Retired Emperor and his wife greatly.

The Retired Emperor beckoned, ”Lin Xi, don’t be scared. In the future, you can choose your own husband. No, I mean, your grandfather will pick a good one for you.”

Choosing her own husband? No, what if she’s deceived by someone?

Lin Xi blinked, ”Mhm.”

The Retired Emperor was happy, glanced at his wife, then stood up with his hands behind his back, ”I’m going to see how the Emperor is doing.”

He really did not want to reside in the Palace; he had had enough of living there!

When the Emperor saw his father, ”Father Emperor.”

The Retired Emperor sat down and gestured for the Emperor to do the same, ”The Crown Prince has started his journey back to the capital, hasn’t he?”

The Emperor understood, ”He is on his way back.”

The Retired Emperor looked at the piles of Zhezi on the Emperor’s desk, ”The Crown Prince returns and it’ll be the New Year soon; how time crawls by. I still miss the vegetables I planted.”

The Emperor with a wooden expression, as the empress mother watches the Retired Emperor closely, he only came to torment him. Being aware of his father’s leisure, could he possibly not pop up when he was busy?

And about the vegetables grown by the Retired Emperor, he hadn’t tasted any of them; the greenhouse at Qin Prince Residence has become his father’s domain. Confined during winter, his father planted a lot of vegetables, while his son could only watch hungrily!

The Retired Emperor seemingly didn’t notice the Emperor’s stiff expression, ”Something about the tea in the Palace tastes off; the south was much better. Let me tell you...”

The Emperor maintained a smile, here it comes, he thought. When he becomes old, no, he doesn’t want to travel at such an advanced age like the Retired Emperor, lest his body couldn’t take it.

After the Emperor listened to his father boasting about his daily life, he took a sip from his teacup, ”It’s a pity that the empress mother won’t let you travel far next year, so you can’t go down south.”

The Retired Emperor, ”....”

Isn’t this a blow to your father’s heart? He’s already retired, and that’s all the hobbies he has now. An unfilial son still pierces his father’s heart!

Seeing his father looking like he wanted to bite him, the Emperor was satisfied, mutual hurt it is. He first heard this term from Zhou Shuren. The Emperor said with a smile, ”Father Emperor, are you curious if Zhou Shuren brought any gifts?”

Tsk tsk, he knew it, he knew it.

The Retired Emperor rolled his eyes and turned to leave; Humph!

The Emperor smiled and continued to read the Zhezi. He had clearly rejected the probe made by the Grassland Tribe the day before; the grain could be postponed, but the marriage proposal cannot. Not surprisingly, the Grassland Tribe did not give up and even took a step back, indicating that it doesn’t have to be a princess; a Commandery Princess would suffice, ha!