Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1129: Maternal Uncle

Zhou Shuren had not yet entered the study when he heard sobbing; without stepping through the door, he turned to Eunuch Liu, "Who is crying?"

The crying was so sorrowful, it made one’s heart ache just to listen.

Eunuch Liu was very courteous to Zhou Shuren; his position usually meant being flattered by others, but he had to be polite to Zhou Shuren. Even if the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, Minister Zhou would be heavily relied upon, and the Crown Prince had always kept Zhou Shuren in mind. "Minister Yu has arrived."

Zhou Shuren’s acting was spot-on, feigning surprise admirably, though he understood everything in his mind; this was a confrontation with the Emperor.

Eunuch Liu smiled, "The Emperor is waiting for you."

When Zhou Shuren entered the study, Yu Dang was kneeling and crying on the ground. The old man was wailing, his cries full of resentment and grievances. The last time Zhou had seen Minister Yu, his hair had not been very gray; this time, it had whitened significantly. And no wonder, staying in the capital to watch over the Rong Garden, enduring the torment day and night, was more than most could bear.

Upon seeing Zhou Shuren, the Emperor said, "Dispense with the formalities, come and sit down."

Zhou Shuren, not eager to kneel, briskly walked over, "Your Majesty, what is this about?"

The Emperor had no expectation that Yu Dang, lost in his memories, would explain. He shared with Zhou Shuren what Yu Dang had told him, "Rong Yushang, one of the few who fled overseas back in the day. He alone survives; all others are dead."

Zhou Shuren thought, if it weren’t for him and Zhulan changing so much, this man likely wouldn’t have returned. A few more years and once he had passed away, the secrets of the Rong clan truly would become secrets.

The Emperor continued, "The direct line of the overseas Rong family can no longer be called the Rong family; Yu Dang says they have intermarried with foreign families for generations, the overseas Rong family has been taken control of. Previously, there was still the main household in the capital, so they didn’t dare to make many moves. With the main household annihilated, the overseas Rong clan has completely broken away from the control of the main family and is still preoccupied with the secrets of the capital’s main house."

Zhou Shuren blinked, considering this to be darker than he had imagined, as for the secret of the Rong family, he thought of the box held by the Emperor, "Rong Yushang. The overseas Rong family changed their surname to Yu, this name..."

The Emperor wrote down the name Rong Yushang and then penned the Yu surname adopted by the overseas Rong clan.

Zhou Shuren understood, "Homophones."

The Emperor nodded, "This generation’s given names all share the ’Yu’ character."

Zhou Shuren, looking at the gradually calming Minister Yu, commented, "He is lucky to be alive."

The Emperor agreed, thinking that if the others had not perished, and the overseas Rong family wished to know the secrets, this man might not have survived.

Zhou Shuren asked, "So, the overseas Rong family doesn’t know the secret of the main household."

The Emperor heaved a sigh of relief in his heart; the secret was now his, nodding, "Only the earliest Family Head knew the secret. After the head of the overseas Rong family passed away, the main household in the capital guarded the secret. Thus, the overseas Rong family only knows there is a secret, but not what it is."

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "Thankfully, the Rong family’s Family Head had the foresight not to trust the overseas Rong family, otherwise, none would have survived."

The Emperor sighed, then gripping the still-uncapped pen and squinting his eyes, considered betrayal. In his view, the overseas Rong clan was no longer the Rong family but people of another country.

Yu Dang had cried enough; the old man’s crying was quite disheveled, hiccupping, and it was only after following Eunuch Liu to clean up that he returned. The crying had left his heart feeling empty, "Back then, I dared not marry for fear of leaving a handle, so I’ve been alone all these years. I still shall be alone when I return, but I wish to go back to Rong Garden." freёwebnoѵel.com

That was his home.

Zhou Shuren looked at the matching Jade Pendants on the table; one must belong to Yu Dang, the other left by his mother.

The Emperor inquired, "How much do you know about the Rong family’s annihilation?"

Hate filled Yu Dang’s eyes; he wasn’t made of stone. The Rong family was not only his clan but also his parents and siblings, relatives and friends, "The Yao family, the Zhang family, the royal house, and many others."

He paused before mentioning all the families involved.

Zhou Shuren wasn’t surprised, just unexpected that Yu Dang had mentioned the Yao family first.

Clearly, the royal family had noticed as well, "The Yao family?"

Yu Dang hated them, "Yes, the Yao family has been supported by the Rong family for generations. This is betrayal. The Yao family knows many of our Rong family’s secrets; otherwise, we wouldn’t have had only a few people escape in the end. Emperor, the Yao family has wolf-like ambitions, they are the most treacherous, such villains should not be spared."

The Rong family knew they couldn’t stand alone, so naturally, they needed to find reliable allies. Even if the dynasty was incompetent, the Rong family still had the backbone to defy imperial power. But to have the dog they fed for years turn on them, and even as the mastermind, the hatred was overwhelming.

Zhou Shuren looked into Yu Dang’s bloodshot eyes; he seemed ready to devour someone.

The Emperor had been mentally prepared for a long time, and was not surprised by the Yao family at all; he hated them even more. His youngest son had been switched out, and the disloyalty of the Yao family certainly warranted death, "It’s not yet the time."

Rong Yushang was stunned for a moment but then calmed down. He had seen it all, and now that he had said everything he could say, he then looked towards Zhou Shuren, "I am your maternal uncle; your mother and I are cousins."

Zhou Shuren was taken aback, "Really?"

Yu Dang smiled, "Yes, really. My father is the eldest, and my small uncle is the youngest."

Zhou Shuren felt dazed; so he really did have relatives still alive. He had thought it to be just another clan member, but he never expected it to be his maternal uncle, "Maternal uncle?"

Yu Dang’s eyes lit up with joy, "Ah, I’ve been ranked as fourth after joining the direct line. Just call me Fourth Uncle."

Zhou Shuren found this revelation as fascinating as eating melons; indeed, it was delightful, "Fourth Uncle."

The corner of the Emperor’s mouth twitched. Zhou Shuren’s tone was rather skeptical, his smile beaming, "Shuren, now is still not the time for recognitions."

Yu Dang’s mouth twitched. It indeed wasn’t the time for recognitions, and he couldn’t expose himself. If those who were involved back then knew he was alive, it would be dangerous, "I shall stay at the embassy."

The Emperor said, "We are still searching for the descendants of your small uncle, so it’s not advisable to make it public. Once we find the descendants of your small uncle, there won’t be any concerns."

He feared making everything public would endanger the descendants of the small uncle. Now the secret within the box was known only to him, so he was even more eager to find the descendants.

Yu Dang understood, "I will listen to whatever the Emperor commands."

The Emperor was in a good mood today; the mysteries had cleared, and he knew how to deal with the overseas Rong family. The time was late, and the Emperor would not stay any longer as keeping Yu Dang in public for an extended period would not be good.

Zhou Shuren stood without moving, reminded of how his wife had longed for the delicious pastries in the palace, his eyes fixed on the desserts.

The Emperor, "... Why does Shuren gaze at the pastries so?"

Zhou Shuren had the nerve to ask, "I’ve been busy at the Ministry of Revenue, and I’ve grown somewhat hungry, so I brazenly ask for some pastries."

The Emperor waved his hand magnanimously, "Pack some for him to take back later."

Zhou Shuren was delighted, "Then I shall take my leave."

Yu Dang stood there, dumbfounded. Could one really just ask for the Emperor’s things like that? Although he had forgotten his status in his grief earlier, once sober, he spoke with great caution.

The Emperor chided with a smile, instructing Eunuch Liu to pack a little extra.