Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1170: Panic

Zhou Shuren, "Why don’t you agree? The child raised from a young age would be much more reliable than one found later. Why wouldn’t I want someone delivered right to my doorstep? Besides, the Duke Ning has no nitwits left. Even if the Duke Residence were to be demoted, it still represents an excellent marriage opportunity for our granddaughter."

He was confident in his ability to brainwash, or rather, educate those raised in their own environment. He had to instill the importance of having a good daughter-in-law, without any troublesome matters and no worries about the children dying young, ensuring healthy and superior offspring. Yes, there were indeed too many advantages.

Zhulan chuckled, "I’ve noticed that you particularly like to find little husbands for your daughters and granddaughters."

Zhou Shuren closed his book and spread his hands, "Only the ones I educate myself are trustworthy."

Everything changed when their status changed. It was all because the Emperor had put him in a tough spot; with a mere "uncle" from the Crown Prince, his status changed in an instant. The Crown Prince, the future Emperor, had addressed him personally. Now, everyone was eyeing the Zhou family kids for marriage arrangements. It was irritating to think about. Even the usually stable Qiu Yan had the cheek to ask on behalf of his grandson.

Zhulan asked, "When will the apprenticeship begin?"

Zhou Shuren, "That depends on when Ning Xu formally visits. Just know this–the child will be living with us."

Zhulan smiled. From her husband’s earlier words, she knew the child would stay at their residence for ’brainwashing.’ "Hmm."

At Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi was still there but under house arrest. He had made a trip to the Ministry of Justice today, was questioned, and then sent back. Yes, sent - by a government officer.

Yao Wenqi sat motionless. The Bai family’s decline didn’t concern him, but it had given him a stabbing blow, turning the Bai family into a blade wielded by the Emperor.

The only thing Yao Wenqi could think of was the Emperor. It couldn’t have been the Rong family – the evidence was too detailed, right down to finding the medicine. So someone close to him was the Emperor’s man.

In Yao Zheyu’s courtyard, Shen Yile had become frantic, constantly asking her husband, "What should we do now?"

Today, she went back to her parental home to ask her father for help, but he claimed illness and refused to see her. Her mother seemed about to say something, but ultimately, she sent her back home. Over the years, her family hadn’t been as kind to her as before, and she sensed it. But today, she felt completely abandoned.

Yao Zheyu remained silent. "I’ll go to Marquis Rong’s Residence tomorrow."

He knew his sister well, which was why he needed to ask for clarification. After his sister returned, his brother became a monk, and now the Bai family had filed a complaint against their father. He had to get to the bottom of it.

Shen Yile’s eyes widened, "You mean, Yao Yao?"

A daughter suing her father? No, it’s the Bai family who is now the accuser.

Yao Zheyu closed his eyes, "Let’s not talk about this, rest first."

But how could Shen Yile rest? She was too shocked. Was she resentful? Indeed, she was, resentful of the arranged marriage, but she dared not blame the Royal family. Who was to blame? She didn’t know anymore.

The next day, Lady Song paid a visit; it was clear she knew about Ning Yang’s apprenticeship, "How has the lady been recently?"

Zhulan, "Doing well, eating and resting well. Just look at my spirit and complexion to know."

Lady Song smiled, "I tell you, you’ve been looking younger and younger these past few years."

Zhulan touched her plump face, "It’s all just fat. When a person gains weight, the wrinkles disappear, and naturally, they look younger."

"Isn’t that true? It’s because you have a good mindset. My mother always says that your mindset is the best she has seen." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Zhulan beamed, "Your words are especially sweet today, have you been drinking a lot of honey water?"

Lady Song laughed as well, "What I’m saying is all heartfelt."

Zhulan thought to herself. Ever since Lady Du passed away and Lady Song let go, the smile on Lady Song’s face had become more frequent. Now, Lady Song looked full of life, no longer concealing her melancholy as before, "All right, it’s all the truth."

Lady Song continued, "Yesterday my son came home and mentioned Ning Yang’s apprenticeship to the fourth son. I dreamed about it all night and woke up laughing."

She was genuinely delighted. Her legitimate second son couldn’t inherit the title, but now he was apprenticing under the fourth son of the Zhou family, a veritable second-place scholar, no less. Zhou’s family was no longer just an unripe sapling; too many were eager to cling to them.

The ability for her legitimate second son to become a disciple was a chance she would gladly take a thousand times over.

Zhulan, "I also heard from Master yesterday that our fourth son teaches quite well, so you can rest easy."

At the Marquis Rong’s Residence, Yao Yao and Yao Zheyu sat opposite each other. Yao Yao looked at her older brother, whose face bore a perpetual expression of frustration, and felt a pang of sorrow, "Are you alright?"

Yao Zheyu looked directly at Yao Yao, "What do you think?"

Yao Yao somewhat avoided her brother’s gaze; this move of hers was somewhat unfair to him. With their father gone, her brother’s plight was sealed, and yet, "I had to do this."

Humans, after all, are selfish creatures. When compared to her children and husband, her brother naturally fell by the wayside, especially since her husband hadn’t abandoned her!

Yao Zheyu averted his gaze, so indeed it was Yao Yao who had instigated the Bai family from behind, "May I see the evidence? You should know that my mother and yours suffered the same fate."

Yao Yao, "Of course."

Yao Yao stood up to fetch the evidence herself, "Take a look."

Yao Zheyu examined the documents carefully, his pupils contracting. He looked up at Yao Yao once more and finally understood why she said it had to be done—the evidence was compellingly detailed.

Yao Yao had many words to express, but in the end could only advise, "You should make plans as well."

Yet, what good was such advice? By marrying her husband, she had a chance to live; but what about her brother?

Yao Zheyu stood up. Indeed, he needed to make plans. Yao Yao didn’t know that he had always been serving the Emperor, "I need to enter the palace."

Yao Yao was startled, "Huh?"

Yao Zheyu said no more and stood up; he had to enter the palace.

In the Fifth Prince’s Residence, Zhang Yang was drinking and enjoying music, watching the dancing girls sway. With the rising temperature, the dancers were dressed in increasingly lighter attire.

Gu Ren, disguised as a young servant, entered. He paid no attention to the dancers and walked up to Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang caught a glimpse of Gu Ren and sneered inwardly. It was rare indeed to see urgency on Gu Ren’s face, who even dared to come looking for him.

Gu Ren was livid, "Trouble has erupted at the Hou Residence."

Zhang Yang continued to drink leisurely, "So what?"

"So what? If Yao Wenqi gets into trouble, our..."

Gu Ren couldn’t help raising his voice, only to have Zhang Yang laugh scornfully, "Our what?"

Gu Ren calmed down; of course, he meant our grand vision, but it was something he couldn’t voice. He pursed his lips, "You need to think of something. Marquis Rong used to be on good terms with you; go and talk to him."

He would have liked to approach Marquis Rong himself, but he had no place to speak on behalf of Yao Wenqi. He could only turn to Zhang Yang, who had some kind of rapport with Marquis Rong.

Zhang Yang wore an expression that read ’you must be foolish,’ "Back in the day, Shi Qing, no, Marquis Rong had no one to rely on. Now he relies on the Emperor. Actually, even without the Emperor’s support, Marquis Rong fears no one. With the credit he has for building roads, no one dares to offend Marquis Rong lightly. Do you think he would listen to me?"

He even wondered, if he weren’t the Fifth Prince, whether Marquis Rong would seek retribution against him, since he had often made demands of Marquis Rong.

Gu Ren, "...."

Zhang Yang was right; he was merely panicked in the moment.