Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1168: Homicide Case

Zhulan thought to herself, with Ran Xun’s reckless nature, it was fortunate that she hadn’t agreed to Ran Zheng’s proposal. Otherwise, once the impetuous affection of youth faded, her granddaughter would have suffered in the future. Even if their feelings were genuine, Ran Xun was not the steady type, and her granddaughter would have had to worry for a lifetime.

Zhulan gestured to Lady Qi to drink some tea. "Ming Teng and his brother are getting too bold as well. Without their curiosity, this incident wouldn’t have happened."

But she didn’t forgive Ran Xun either. The boy really deserved a beating; he was so young, yet so capable of causing trouble.

Lady Qi could naturally tell, the patriarch had been too angry to sleep last night, even slapping his own face, regretting most of all that he had pleaded with Zhou Shuren on behalf of Ran Xun. She laughed dryly, "These are good as gifts for Ming Teng and Ming Rui; our patriarch asked me to bring these to the two children."

Zhulan couldn’t bring herself to break ties; after all, this involved the children. But still, she wasn’t pleased. Yet seeing the Ran family’s full remorse and considering her future granddaughter-in-law, Zhulan said, "Then I will accept these on their behalf. These are indeed fine items."

Lady Qi was relieved. If she had accepted them, it meant this matter was in the past. "In the future, we will definitely discipline Ran Xun well."

Zhulan replied, "We will also educate our children well."

Lady Qi, "..."

She had learned quite a bit from the information gathered yesterday. She knew it was Yang who had spoken, deliberately letting the Ran family hear it. The Zhou family was truly harsh when it came to educating children.

Zhulan didn’t need to guess to know what Lady Qi was thinking. She sipped her tea indifferently. If you don’t properly discipline a child when they are young, you’re harming them. From a young age, they should learn what they can and cannot touch. The saying ’Sparing the rod spoils the child’ holds truth.

At the Academy, the Duke’s son did not see Ming Teng and the others and asked Dong Zhan, "Why didn’t they come?"

Dong Zhan found it hard to explain. He rarely joined Ming Teng and the others’ gatherings because he didn’t have the resources to participate, and he wasn’t willing to waste time. Naturally, he had not attended yesterday’s event, but he knew how they had been beaten. It was hard to speak of it; after all, it was the Zhou family’s business.

Jiang Zhu was no longer in the Y class, so he had not found out.

After school, the Duke’s son went to the Zhou residence and then saw the pitiful state of Ming Teng and the other.

Back at the Duke Residence, the two children, having been frightened, reported to their great-grandfather.

Duke Ning stroked his beard, saying to his eldest grandson Ning Zhao, "If your grandfather had been stricter with your father and had laid his hand heavier, your father wouldn’t have turned out so useless."

As for the Ministry of Revenue affairs, he knew them best. The eldest grandson might not be smart, but if he had been strictly disciplined from the start, he wouldn’t be as he was now; even a slow bird knows to fly early. Not everyone in the political arena is a genius. Back then, he said he had many considerations, but in the end, he just couldn’t bear to be harsh.

Ning Zhao, "..."

Duke Ning, looking at Ning Yang who had just started school, recalled his younger son’s words. Indeed, an alliance with the Zhou family would be a good match.

In the evening, when the Zhou family doctor and his wife left Zhou Village, they were eager to return home. But haste didn’t help; this time Ming Shan’s return to the capital was with his whole family in tow—his wife and child, as well as his parents—and they needed to rest as it was already dark.

Ming Shan’s parents were not following to live with their son but were concerned about him. They wanted to stay in the capital for a while, to ensure Ming Shan settled down before they would return to Zhou Village. After all, roots return to the land, and since Ming Shan was not the eldest son, having finally returned to the clan, his old parents still preferred village life.

Lady Li and Ming Shan’s mother couldn’t really chat together, their ages were too different, and her father-in-law’s generation was quite senior. Sitting on the edge of the inn bed, Lady Li expressed her anxiety, "I can’t wait to get back home."

Zhou Shuren’s father felt the same, "Just bear with it."

Lady Li’s plump hands clenched together, "I felt so uneasy last night; I don’t know if something has happened at home."

She had been uneasy all night, very worried.

Zhou Shuren’s father didn’t feel the same, "What could possibly happen? With your parents there, even problems would be caused by Ming Teng."

Upon reflection, Lady Li felt that aside from Ming Teng, no one else could be the cause, then she cheerfully said, "We received some three-hundred-year-old ginseng this time, which was quite unexpected."

Zhou Shuren’s father also hadn’t expected Ming Shan’s parents to have saved up a considerable sum. They indeed had the ability, having accurately grasped the local scene in just a few years since their return. They knew who had valuable items, and when they couldn’t consume them all, they wanted to show filial piety, so those items went to him.

Zhou Shuren’s father accepted this favor. If he didn’t, Ming Shan’s parents would have felt uneasy. He had already declined the items they wanted to give him, but now, this was a solution everyone was content with.

The next day, Yu Dang was the last to find out that Ming Teng had been beaten so badly he couldn’t get out of bed, and personally came to the Ministry of Revenue.

Uncle Four kept silent, and Zhou Shuren did not initiate conversation first. When it came to educating children, he would not compromise.

Yu Dang was the first to lose his patience, "The child is still young, just educate him. I went to see, and you were too harsh. Aren’t you afraid of seriously hurting the child?"

Zhou Shuren, without looking up and multitasking, replied, "Children at home have been practicing martial arts since young. Mingyun strikes with discretion."

Yu Dang’s heart ached. Shuren didn’t understand his feelings. The older he got, the more he treasured his children, genuinely cherished them. His children were the regret of his generation, "Ming Teng is already very sensible. After understanding the whole situation, I realized that it’s not his main fault."

With a blank face, Zhou Shuren said, "Did he tell you that?"

Yu Dang was intimidated by his grandnephew’s demeanor, "No, not really, Ming Teng admitted it was all his fault. He wouldn’t have had these problems if he hadn’t been moved. He had already sensed something was wrong before boarding the boat, yet he still went on board."

See, how sensible the child is.

Zhou Shuren’s expression lightened a bit, "If he still cannot recognize his mistake, he lacks a good beating."

Yu Dang froze. Ming Teng got so nervous upon hearing about Zhou Shuren that he would tremble. Clearing his throat, he faced those indifferent eyes of his grandnephew, caught off guard.

Zhou Shuren continued, "Originally, I was thinking, since you are fond of Ming Teng, and your branch is also my mother’s branch, I agreed to the adoption. But I see that your resolve is not firm. I may need to reconsider this matter. Each of my grandsons is taught with care; they are all expected to be successful."

Yu Dang was full of regret, his heart turning blue. His expression changed as he slammed his hand on the table, "A child won’t grow without discipline. Beat him, beat him severely. You rest assured, I am fine now, and I will help you keep an eye on him. We will definitely educate the child well."

Zhou Shuren thought that this time the old patriarch would care more about Ming Teng’s education than he did, "Hmm."

Yu Dang could not gauge his grandnephew’s thoughts nor dared to ask, "Well then, I should be going back now."

"Alright."

After that, Ming Teng had a tough time, as Yu Dang stayed in the Zhou residence, supervising Ming Teng’s studies every day. Yu Dang was genuinely knowledgeable, and poor Ming Teng suffered miserably.

Even Zhulan felt sorry for Ming Teng and secretly asked Zhou Shuren why Yu Dang was acting so out of character, only to learn it was Zhou Shuren’s doing.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed, and the Ministry of Justice received a case that shocked the capital: the Bai family accused Marquis Yao of poisoning his concubine, Lady Bai.