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

Chapter 1759: Chapter 1759: Why Study

At the Duke Zhou Residence in the capital, Zhulan listened with great amusement to the actions of the Duke of Yongan Residence, ”Did the Duke of Yongan Residence really send someone to block the Luo family’s doorway and refuse to leave?”

Su Xuan had been following the drama closely these past two days, ”Not only did they block the Luo family’s entrance, but they also read out the dowry list at the gate.”

Lady Li increasingly resembled the matron of a great family, her thoughts broadening to consider the family as a whole, ”Isn’t this going too far? They’ve already suspended the Luo family’s eldest son’s official position. Isn’t it unkind not to give them any time?”

Su Xuan shelled sunflower seeds, ”The Duke of Yongan Residence thrives on going too far. Not only do they want to strip the Luo family’s face, but they want to stamp it into the ground so the Luo family can never pick it up again.”

Madam Zhao, sipping tea, sighed, ”The Duke Residence harbors no small grudge against the Luo family.”

Zhulan understood this perfectly. If I’d spent a large sum of silver and saw no benefit, I’d be angry too. Coupled with the Emperor’s instructions, naturally, they wanted to handle it splendidly. In a life-or-death choice, the Duke Residence won’t miss any chance to ruthlessly trample the Luo family.

Su Xuan rolled her eyes, ”The Luo family can’t come up with silver, so they have to sell land or family treasures. Although the Luo family’s reputation isn’t good, their collection is famously substantial.”

Madam Zhao perked up at this, ”Then I’ll send someone to keep an eye on it. Ming Rui is collecting various notes; I think the Luo family must have some.”

Lady Li poured cold water on the idea, ”I don’t know if the Luo family would sell to us.”

Zhulan, ”...”

Very well, the eldest daughter-in-law is getting better at focusing on key points!

In Yang County, Chang Zhi did not leave but followed the child, on the way to the boy’s home, Chang Zhi asked, ”Your father is a scholar. Did you learn the Thousand Character Classic?”

The boy tightly shut his mouth, refusing to say a word, remembering his mother’s wish for him to stay healthy and not study for his entire life!

Chang Zhi sighed. This child wasn’t unable to answer but unwilling to. Through the clerk, he had learned the child’s basic information. The boy’s father was a famous genius in the county, having passed the child prodigy exam at sixteen. For a student with no family backing, his talent was indeed high.

However, this genius didn’t have it easy. He got sick from a cold during the last exam and wasn’t successful. After recovering, he fell ill again, and he never returned from the subsequent household examination. He passed away, leaving behind a newlywed wife and a mother who cried herself blind. Fortunately, his wife was pregnant, which is the boy before us.

Chang Zhi asked again, ”Have you been eavesdropping on lessons at the private school?”

The boy widened his eyes in horror; how could he be found out without saying anything?

Chang Zhi smiled, ”You’re a thoughtful child.”

The boy finally spoke again, ”Please, please don’t tell my mother.”

Pretending to be a beggar had already tarnished his mother’s reputation in the eyes of those who knew him, and he had pleaded with them, but his mother was unaware. He felt a bit sad that his mother secluded herself and never left the courtyard except to send embroidered handkerchiefs.

Chang Zhi, ”Alright.”

Soon, they arrived in the poor district of the county, where houses were connected. The boy’s house had a small courtyard and was quite dilapidated without any able-bodied men to repair it.

The woman in the courtyard frowned when she saw her son return, ”Why are you so naughty, and why are your clothes so dirty?”

The boy hung his head, ”Mother, I won’t dare next time.”

Noticing the guest, the woman felt uneasy and pursed her lips, ”My son doesn’t study. Our family of widows and orphans doesn’t have silver for education.”

She evidently mistook Chang Zhi for a teacher.

Chang Zhi was unexpectedly intrigued by the boy, indicating that a teacher had come out of love for talent before, affirming the child’s considerable aptitude, ”I’m just a traveler, not a teacher.”

The woman breathed a sigh of relief. Her husband had died because of studying, and her son was her only support. She knew her son was gifted, but she preferred him to lead an ordinary life.

The door remained open without fear of gossip. Chang Zhi sat in the courtyard, observing the embroidered handkerchiefs, noting that such common handkerchiefs weren’t worth much silver and would strain the eyes.

Chang Zhi, looking at the uneasy boy, said, ”I mean no harm.”

The boy understood. With his precocity, he could discern good from bad in people and gazed with concern at his mother in the house. His grandmother’s illness and passing had used up the last bit of silver in the home. Without land, they had only this house, and their livelihood depended entirely on his mother’s embroidery. When his mother fell ill last time, there was no silver at home, and he had to beg for it.

The boy lowered his head, ”The neighbors all say my father was good at studying. I’ve seen the books my mother hid away.”

Chang Zhi had keen ears and heard the boy’s muttering clearly. This child wanted to study, ”Why study?”

The boy pursed his lips, ”To fulfill my father’s unfulfilled wish.”

Chang Zhi chuckled softly, ”The imperial examinations select talents for the nation, talents that benefit the people and offer wise strategies for the country. Do you understand?”

The boy looked confused, ”Isn’t studying for fame? Isn’t it for being a scholar in the Scholar, Farmer, Artisan, Merchant class?”

And for silver. Once someone becomes a graduate, people will bring silver, and they’ll never have to live a hard life again.

The smile on Chang Zhi’s face faded, ”Yes, many have the same expectations as you.”

In the Hanlin Academy, how many top scorers and second-place scholars study for the nation and the people? Some study for the family, some for power and silver, and some for themselves.

In the Ministry of Justice in the capital, the Crown Prince flipped through the files from after his father’s ascension to the throne, while his father had read those from his grandfather’s reign.

The Crown Prince rubbed his temples, grateful for Marquis Zhou’s reforms, which made the case files organized and clear to improve efficiency and accuracy in the Ministry of Justice.

The Crown Prince turned to Zhuo Guyu, ”What do you think of the file records?”

Zhuo Guyu, having done his homework, ”It makes searching more convenient and saves a lot of time.”

”All these changes thanks to Marquis Zhou.”

Zhuo Guyu felt a pang of heartache. Even though he had come to terms with it, he couldn’t help but think if he’d been engaged to Magistrate Anhe, would his official career have been so difficult, ”Marquis Zhou is immensely talented.”

The Crown Prince smiled, ”Has the Luo family confirmed when they’ll return the dowry silver?”

Zhuo Guyu, ”They said as soon as possible.”

The Crown Prince snorted inwardly as the Luo family was beyond saving. Then he fell silent, no longer reviewing the historical files, and gestured for the Ministry of Justice to dig up records of closed cases.

The Crown Prince browsed through the records, lightly raising his eyebrows. Some records were indeed vague, making him wonder if it was deliberate or simply negligence. He leaned toward the former.

The Crown Prince stood up, ”I’ll head to the Ministry of Revenue. You continue reviewing the files here.”

Zhuo Guyu, ”Yes.”

This is the royal family’s stance towards Marquis Zhou—trust, a trust that inspires envy and jealousy.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was surprised the Crown Prince would visit, ”Isn’t the Crown Prince reviewing files at the Ministry of Justice? Already finished?”

That couldn’t be, the annual cases in the Ministry of Justice were numerous.

The Crown Prince took out the records of closed cases from his sleeve, ”Mr. Hou, take a look.”

Zhou Shuren took them and began flipping through, ”What does the Crown Prince want to ask?”

The Crown Prince didn’t want to ask anything specific, ”I was just uncomfortable with the records of closed cases. How many of them were closed voluntarily?”

Zhou Shuren stopped flipping through, ”So?”

The Crown Prince wouldn’t have approached him without something in mind. His visit clearly indicated that he hoped for some advice.