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

Chapter 1795: Chapter 1795: Faking an Accident

Chang Zhi grew interested, quietly sipping tea and eavesdropping, as the flattery next door ended, Scholar Li lowered his voice and said: ”The official tested me.”

Then came a burst of exclamations, now who doesn’t know the examiner’s background, truly drawing the attention of Lord Zhou, the future is promising.

Chang Zhi, ”...”

Ding Jue quickly picked up his teacup and took a sip to calm himself, really daring to boast about anything!

Scholar Li continued: ”I still remember the questions the official posed. Since we are living together by fate, shall I share them for everyone to discuss?”

The smile on Chang Zhi’s lips disappeared, especially when someone discreetly handed Scholar Li a purse afterward.

When Scholar Li revealed the question, Ding Jue’s eyes widened, looking at the official with astonishment.

Chang Zhi’s fingertips wrote on the table, Ding Jue read the words and stood up to leave.

Here in the corner, few paid attention, yet Chang Zhi knew that some people would know the question tomorrow, but it wouldn’t spread widely.

At that moment, Scholar Li added: ”Aren’t you curious why I met Lord Zhou?”

”Why?”

Scholar Li proudly said: ”The official likes spices, and my family just happens to have excellent spices.”

Ding Jue returned just in time to hear this, filled with fury, particularly after noticing someone’s knowing glance.

After Scholar Li and others left, Chang Zhi settled the silver coins and walked out of the inn with Ding Jue, not in a hurry to return but rather mingling with the crowd on the street.

Ding Jue whispered, ”Official, the question was leaked.”

Chang Zhi scoffed, ”Some people aren’t willing to be scapegoats, trying to stir the waters even more chaos, and will even drag this official into it to survive.”

Ding Jue wasn’t worried about the official, he knew the official’s arrangements, ”I’ve already sent someone to keep an eye on Scholar Li.”

Chang Zhi had suspicions about whose handiwork it was, but it was definitely not Prefect Shih and the others. In their eyes, he was like a disaster, and they wouldn’t dare involve him. Moreover, the more they knew him, the more they feared him, as his father was known to protect his own throughout the court.

Ding Jue added again, ”The official is wise.”

Looking at the sky, Chang Zhi remarked, today is gloomy, ha, he shall restore Chuanzhou Province to clarity.

The next day, at the morning court, Ming Teng appeared in court, the Honorable Mr. Hou, who had been absent for a long time, appeared today on the court, and those well-informed understood clearly.

With smiles on their faces, the Emperor and Crown Prince attended the court, the Emperor smilingly said: ”The Honorable Mr. Hou has been guarding the royal manor, which has been cultivating grain seeds for years, not to mention the manpower and resources devoted. I am pleased that years of effort finally paid off today. Mr. Hou, step forward.”

Ming Teng, who toiled alongside farmers at the royal manor, frequently inspected the fields, his skin darker and already tall and sturdy, stood out imposing.

Ming Teng presented the Zhezi, ”Emperor, this is the data from the experimental field at the royal manor, compared to last year’s data, the grain seed is stable and can be promoted.”

The data in the Zhezi was very detailed, the royal manor invested a lot of manpower to optimize the grain seeds, and with enough manpower, the data became more detailed.

The Emperor reviewed and handed it to the Crown Prince, ”Good, cultivating grain seeds benefits the people, if only Father were alive to see this.”

The ministers consoled: ”Our condolences, Emperor.”

The Emperor was not aiming to take credit from his deceased father, ”After the autumn harvest, I will announce to the world, this is the blessing left to the people by the Retired Emperor.”

Zhou Shuren thought to himself, the Emperor truly remembers the Retired Emperor, genuinely.

Of course, with such a great achievement, the Emperor not taking credit, who wouldn’t say the Emperor is filial?

Whether commoners or officials, who wouldn’t wish to follow a principled wise king? Though the Emperor did not claim the achievements, he garnered a good reputation for himself; the better the Emperor’s reputation, the higher the prestige of the imperial power.

The Emperor was genuinely elated, and fortunately, no one obliviously caused trouble today, some hid their prepared Zhezi.

The Emperor further stated: ”For the Honorable Mr. Hou’s meritorious guard of the royal manor, I will confer rewards based on merit.”

Ming Teng did not modestly decline, the Emperor sent him to the royal manor to bestow honors, ”I kneel to thank Your Majesty’s grace, long live the Emperor.”

Zhou Shuren felt the envious glances, alas, what’s the point of envy, Ming Teng was already adopted out.

At Marquis Zhou’s residence, Zhulan asked the eldest, ”Have arrangements for the new guard’s family been made properly?”

For the past few days, the elder eldest was busy with such matters, ”It’s all arranged. As per your instructions, I opened a private school for the children to learn to read.”

Zhulan nodded in satisfaction, ”Nowadays, perceptive people know a few words; in the future, understanding literacy and reason will lead to a better life.”

The elder eldest could relate the most, for he often visited the manor, ”I frequently visit the villages near the manor, now more families are sending children to study, previously when asked if a child was literate, the answer was surely a shake of the head, now upon asking again, more nod in affirmation.”

Zhulan was delighted, ”That’s wonderful.”

The elder eldest stated: ”Mother, I am worried about my fourth brother.”

The fourth brother’s letter mentioned the arrangement of the guards’ families, at the time he didn’t think much of it, lately upon seeing these families, he realized the new batch of guards are all experts, indicating dangerous surroundings for the fourth brother.

Zhulan was also counting days in her heart, ”Qiu Wei will begin soon, hoping all goes smoothly.”

The elder eldest felt uneasy, it’s hard for him to say he completely understood his brothers, but he grasped their personalities a bit, the fourth brother either disregarded everything or orchestrated events, which truly frightened him.

After talking for a short while, the elder eldest noticed something amiss, ”Mother, today is the second brother’s day off, he should be here by now, right?”

Typically on his day off, the second brother would come to spend time with mother before going about other things, he had been sitting for quite a while, yet the second brother hadn’t arrived?

Zhulan actually knew, ”During breakfast, your second brother sent the maid over, rare for him to rest, he went out with Lady Zhao.”

The elder eldest muttered, ”Their marital affection is truly good.”

Zhulan commented, ”Your bond with Lady Li is also well.”

The elder eldest said: ”We bicker, but the second brother and sister-in-law hardly ever quarrel.”

Which was what he admired the most.

Zhulan laughed, ”You have more of a lively life.”

Upon thinking about it, the elder eldest agreed, ”Mother, I’ll go tend to my tasks first.”

Looking forward to another autumn harvest, he had much to handle.

After her eldest son left, Zhulan sighed in her heart, a woman’s happy marriage doesn’t show age, not a single hint of fatigue among the daughters-in-law at home, because the Zhou family forbids concubines, the daughters-in-law don’t even bear the reputation of being shrew-like, going out to attend banquets only incites envy.

In the afternoon, Chang Yi and his spouse returned, after changing clothes, Chang Yi came to the main courtyard, and Zhulan was flipping through the roster.

Zhulan asked, ”Is there something?”

Chang Yi nodded, ”Mother, guess who your son saw today?”

Zhulan couldn’t guess, tentatively asked, ”Second Prince?”

Chang Yi grinned and shook his head, ”No, I saw Earl Zheng today.”

”Zheng Hong, huh, where did you see him?”

Chang Yi had a peculiar expression, ”Mother, when I saw the Earl, he was dressed in rustic clothes, attempting to stage an accident.”

Zhulan, ”Hmm?”

Chang Yi continued, ”What’s more, the target of the stunt was a Scholar, your son thought he was mistaken, upon careful observation confirmed he wasn’t.”

Zhulan realized, ”A deliberate stunt to assess character?”

However, Zheng Hong really went all out in choosing a son-in-law for his daughter.