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

Chapter 1731: Chapter 1731: Pregnant Qi

The next day, Miss Jiang came to the Hou Residence bringing gifts, and after making her salutations, she expressed her gratitude: “Thanks to your blessing, I was able to purchase a good manor. The crabs from the manor are quite good, so I brought a few baskets for you to try.”

Zhulan replied, “I was just mentioning I should eat crabs, and here you are bringing them. Don’t stand, come sit.”

Jiang Ling sat on the chair, “I’ve always wanted to come personally to thank you, but the case wasn’t resolved, and I couldn’t leave the Academy. Only upon receiving the news yesterday could I freely exit the Academy.”

Though she could have expressed thanks at the Academy, she disliked thanking someone with mere words, so it had dragged on until now.

Zhulan understood; even though the case was resolved, it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any aftermath, and until safety was confirmed, Jiang Ling was still in danger, “You can rest assured in the future.”

Jiang Ling smiled lightly, “Indeed, now I can live peacefully.”

Zhulan liked Jiang Ling very much; such tenacity is rarely seen even in modern times, let alone in ancient times, “If you need anything in the future, you can come to the Hou Residence.”

Jiang Ling stood up to give her respects and didn’t decline the good intention, “Thank you, madam.”

The fact that the Emperor entrusted her to the Hou Residence implied that he wouldn’t intervene in her affairs. In the future, the Hou Residence was her only backup; otherwise, as an orphaned girl, she wouldn’t be able to hold on to the family business she had bought.

Zhulan estimated Jiang Ling’s age, “Have you thought about marriage?”

Jiang Ling indeed had thought about it, “As long as someone doesn’t mind my appearance and treats me well, I will consider it.”

Zhulan mentally ran through the worthy young men she knew, but eventually dismissed the notion, “It’s good that you have plans.”

Jiang Ling’s main purpose in coming to the Hou Residence today was to express her gratitude, and she didn’t stay long before she left. Zhulan didn’t let Jiang Ling leave empty-handed and prepared some snacks for her to take back.

After leaving the Hou Residence, Jiang Ling didn’t rush back to the Academy. She needed to purchase some necessities, and then she encountered Shao Ting, “What a coincidence.”

Shao Ting’s ears turned slightly red, looking nervously at the carriage outside, “Indeed, a coincidence.”

Jiang Ling blinked, thinking of the frequent encounters with Young Master Zhou Minghui, “I’ll leave you to it.”

Shao Ting’s face turned even redder. She wanted to explain, but the more she spoke, the worse it got. She shouldn’t have followed her brother’s words and gotten on Zhou Minghui’s carriage. She pursed her lips, “My brother is here too.”

Jiang Ling smiled faintly, “I know.”

Shao Ting became deflated, wondering what she knew. She felt even guiltier after watching Jiang Ling walk away, stomping her foot in frustration. Ever since that farce last time, Zhou Minghui’s actions made it hard for her not to think too much, yet their social statuses were too different.

Shao Ting pursed her lips tightly when she thought about it. She shouldn’t overthink it; her status wasn’t even sufficient to be a concubine, and she would rather die than be a concubine.

Minghui and Shao Xun came out after buying paper, and upon seeing Shao Ting waiting by the carriage, Minghui distinctly felt the coldness directed at him and was somewhat baffled.

Shao Ting pulled her brother, “Brother, I’ve bought what I needed. Let’s go home.”

Shao Xun held the paper, “Alright.”

Minghui offered, “Let me—”

Shao Ting cut him off, “No need, we can call a carriage ourselves.”

She said this while pulling her brother away quickly, as if fearing Minghui would chase after them.

Minghui didn’t follow after them, squinting as he watched the two siblings walk away. At first, Shao Xun seemed hesitant, but then he quickened his pace after talking.

The young servant whispered, “Young Master.”

Minghui twirled his fan, “Let’s return to the residence.”

He had thought this one was oblivious, didn’t expect such a big reaction—looks like she wants to distance herself from him!

“Let me see who this is.”

Upon hearing the voice, Minghui looked over and chuckled, “Cousin.”

Lin Xi, who was in the teahouse across the street, was very familiar with the Hou Residence carriage. Seeing a young lady standing by the side, her eyes nearly popped out, witnessing such a scene.

Minghui looked at the young girl beside his cousin and thought of the news he’d heard yesterday, then greeted, “Greetings, Princess Jingxuan.”

Princess Jingxuan motioned for him to get up. Lin Xi asked cheerfully, “Whose daughter was that young lady just now?”

Minghui, “Not a daughter from any prominent family.”

Lin Xi’s expression became serious. If she wasn’t a lady, it meant she was an ordinary commoner’s daughter. Lin Xi wasn’t looking down on commoners, but the gap in social class was significant. Even if Cousin Minghui wasn’t burdened with family responsibilities, he shouldn’t carelessly marry a common girl unbeknownst to the family, which would appear that the Hou Residence abandoned him, hindering his future prospects.

No matter the explanation, few would believe it. Typically, how could a legitimate grandson of the Hou Residence marry a common girl?

Minghui had no intention of explaining, “I’ll head back to the residence first.”

After the carriage departed, Princess Jingxuan whispered, “Isn’t this a story straight out of a book?”

Lin Xi was speechless, “What kind of books have you been reading?”

“The gratitude of saving someone with marriage?”

Lin Xi, “…”

With the advent of serialized novels, the variety of stories has increased. Especially after it was known Teacher Yan was the Empress Dowager Chen, even women started writing books. While prominent family ladies wouldn’t dare write, widows or merchant daughters had fewer scruples.

The result was that novels not only included tales of poor scholars but also heroines who were commoners, with the male lead often being sons of officials. As for why not merchant daughters? Simply because no official’s son would marry a merchant daughter as his main wife. Even though policies on merchants have relaxed, no one dared to be the first to marry a merchant daughter as a main wife.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned, “The Crown Princess Consort had a pregnancy scare.”

Zhulan asked, “How did you know?”

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, “The Crown Prince wasn’t around today, but the Emperor mentioned it to me.”

“He told you this much?”

“Who knows if this child might be my apprentice!”

Zhulan had indeed forgotten, “How did she have a pregnancy scare?”

This pregnancy of the Crown Princess Consort was being carefully protected. Even when the Empress fell ill, they exempted the Crown Princess Consort from palace visits, fearing she would be exhausted.

Zhou Shuren spread his hands, “That I don’t know. The Emperor didn’t say, but his expression didn’t look too good.”

Zhulan, “Many people do not wish for the Crown Princess Consort to give birth smoothly.”

A legitimate firstborn son, to the Emperor, to the Crown Prince, this carries weight heavier than the legitimate firstborns in official’s families. If this child is a son, it won’t bode well for future women entering the Crown Prince’s harem!

Zhulan voiced her thoughts, and Zhou Shuren said, “Saying it’s unfriendly is an understatement; it’s practically a wipeout.”

If only the legitimate firstborn son is passed down, what other goals are there to strive for!

Zhulan said, “They can only make a move now before the child is born.”

“Even now, they’re quite bold. The Emperor’s control over the capital is deeper than I’d thought.”

The Hou Residence was presented openly, and because of his openness, the Emperor trusted the Hou Residence more, making it unnecessary to keep a close watch on the residence’s affairs. As for other noble families, the Emperor kept a constant watch on their movements.

Zhulan quietly lit a candle in her heart for the bold ones, “Originally those who could enter the Crown Prince’s harem, now with this disruption, they have no chance.”

Zhou Shuren nodded in agreement, “The Emperor will make a move soon.”

Zhulan, “Hmm?”

Zhou Shuren didn’t elaborate, instead asking, “Is your crystal polished yet?”

“I bought large pieces of crystal, so it can only be polished little by little. Now, only a rough shape has emerged. It still needs more time to be completely polished.”

The current speed was thanks to hiring enough craftsmen. She had considered using glass, but unfortunately, in later generations, glass wasn’t worth anything, not even a little collectible value!