Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1206: Made Contact

Today was fated to be a restless night for many, some out of worry, and others out of excitement.

Gu Ren pinched the message that had arrived; Yao Wenqi truly had many people in the Palace, and they struck with accuracy. He needed to find a way to poach all the old man’s agents.

The Duke Ning Residence was filled with worry. Despite trying, they could not pry any information, and even a visit to the Crown Prince’s Residence had been futile, as it remained tightly closed.

At the Crown Prince’s Residence, a female officer said to the Crown Princess Consort, "Apart from Consort Ran’s courtyard being quiet, there’s been considerable commotion in the other courtyards."

The Crown Princess Consort replied, "Make sure everyone keeps a close watch."

"Yes," affirmed the female officer.

After the female officer left, the Crown Princess Consort, exhausted, massaged her temples. Even though she was confined to quarters for a month and the residence was sealed, it did not mean she was oblivious to the outside world. The women of the back palace had been stable for the first month.

As days passed, some people began to panic. Even Consort Lau became flustered, which surprisingly made the composure of Consort Ran unexpected.

The Crown Princess Consort heaved a sigh. She was worried about her mother in the Palace; the Crown Prince had not been in the residence and she had no clue about the situation within the Palace. All she could do was stabilize the Crown Prince’s Residence to the best of her ability.

In Consort Ran’s courtyard, Ran Yan had finally put her daughter to sleep, only then sitting alone, lost in thought. Her calm was also a façade. If she were alone, she could accept life and death dispassionately, but with her daughter present, she had to be cautious. She thought back on the expressions of the Crown Princess Consort these past days. Clenching her palm, her anxiety slowly subsided.

The following day, the Zhou family’s residence gates had barely opened when Madam Song hurried over in a great rush.

The day before, Lin Xi had left the Palace, and the Duke Ning Residence had come to inquire about news.

Without waiting for her sister-in-law to ask, Xue Han replied, "I don’t know anything either. The female officer who brought Lin Xi back didn’t say a word before leaving."

Hearing this, Madam Song’s complexion turned pale. Yesterday, her grandfather had said that her aunt might have really been poisoned, "Yesterday, my uncle tried to use his waist token to enter the palace."

"He didn’t get in?"

Madam Song nodded. "Yes, it was too late, so he didn’t come over to the residence to seek information."

"We don’t know much either; all we have heard are rumors from inside the Palace," Xue Han said.

"What am I talking about, Lin Xi is so young; what could she know?"

Xue Han remained silent. Her daughter was quite capable and was learning to speak. "Your aunt is a woman of fortune; she will certainly be safe and unharmed."

Madam Song sighed. With the Crown Prince confined and with no end in sight for his confinement, plus her aunt being poisoned, she tried to perk up, "The residence has been busy recently, and we haven’t sent anyone to see you, how have you been these days?"

Xue Han smiled, "Quite well, actually."

It almost felt like the days before she was married, teaching her nieces etiquette, discussing the taboos that noble families needed to heed, and talking about the preferences of the female family members. Other than missing her husband, she felt quite at ease.

At the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi, though he had never entered the Palace, was not underestimated, thanks to the advantages of his kinship with the royal family.

Right, young Master Lau had also never entered the Palace, but then his sister was a concubine to the Crown Prince.

Lau Song, remembering his father’s instructions, approached Chang Zhi, "Do you need any help?"

Having arrived at the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi truly thrived like a fish in water, surrounded by rare books not found elsewhere and people to consult at any time. He waved his hand, "No need, I can manage on my own."

Lau Song, known for his steady temperament and not having entered the Palace, went about his duties as usual, "I’d like to ask you a few questions."

Chang Zhi looked up, thinking of the Empress being poisoned and the Lau family panicking, "You’re asking the wrong person, I’m just a bookworm."

He knew that even if he knew something, he couldn’t say it—but in truth, he really didn’t know anything at all!

Lau Song chuckled and returned to his place.

Chang Zhi felt Lau Song was too clever, reminding him of Big Brother Wu. They were similar, only their paths had diverged: one had smoothly entered the Hanlin Academy, while the other, without his father’s protection, must have faced numerous trials. Hence, his experiences made him even more formidable; indeed, Big Brother Wu was more impressive.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren eyed Ning Zhiqi. Zhiqi’s growth in recent days was plain for all to see—an emergency can indeed be a powerful motivator. Now, Zhiqi no longer required Zhang Jinghong’s guidance.

Ning Zhiqi greeted him, "My lord, this subordinate."

Zhou Shuren raised his hand, "This official knows what you want to ask, and I do not know either."

Ning Zhiqi straightened himself. In the past, he certainly would have persisted in inquiry, but not now. "I have disturbed my lord. I shall return to my duties."

At that moment, Qiu Yan came back. "Just now, it was Prince Ning?"

Zhou Shuren confirmed with a nod, "Hmm."

Qiu Yan could guess why Ning Zhiqi had come. Sitting down, he said, "I just went to the Ministry of Rites. The government office’s entrance was really bustling—a long line of merchants waiting."

Zhou Shuren was pleased inwardly, "Ensure Zhang Jinghong keeps a close watch on the solicited silver. That silver must be returned."

Qiu Yan laughed, "I’ve already instructed them. The scene at the Ministry of Rites is truly magnificent; even samples were brought over, all of them fine goods."

Zhou Shuren remarked, "The Ministry of Rites has truly outshone itself this time."

Qiu Yan, stroking his beard, said, "The Minister of Rites is grinning ear to ear."

Inside the Palace, within the Empress’s chamber, the Empress was seated in a chair, basking in the sun, while Consort Qi and Consort Chen sat by her side.

Consort Chen asked with concern, "Does Your Majesty feel somewhat better?"

The Empress had felt much better upon rising today, "Hmm, I am all right."

Consort Qi remarked, "Without little Lin Xi in the palace, it does indeed feel much quieter."

At the mention of her granddaughter, the Empress also smiled. Especially when they played cards and the little girl mimicked picking them so aptly—so adorable. "If you feel it’s too quiet, you can ask Prince Qi and Prince Chu to bring the children to the palace."

Consort Chen waved the idea away, "Forget it."

Her son had two legitimate sons; the elder’s health was fragile, the younger was his wife’s precious child. She had suggested the idea before, but the daughter-in-law would feign ignorance!

Consort Qi and her daughter-in-law were at odds, and with few children in her son’s residence, the blame lay on the daughter-in-law, which pained her heart.

The corners of the Empress’s mouth curled slightly. She indeed had a keen eye for daughters-in-law.

Consort Chen and Consort Qi had come to probe for news. Seeing the Empress still appeared weak today told them enough: she must have truly been poisoned, wrapped in a blanket even in this sweltering heat—a healthy person couldn’t bear it.

In the capital, it was still a world of theatrics. Prince Liang personally sought Zhang Yang, who was in his usual private room, still humming a tune.

Prince Liang sat down and spoke bluntly, "The Empress was poisoned. Was it the Zhang family’s doing?"

Zhang Yang knew, even after their previous lengthy conversation, Prince Liang wouldn’t trust him. He needed to offer something valuable, "Yes, the Zhang family acted. They possess secret medicines from the former dynasty, and plenty of them."

Prince Liang remarked, "What a clever feat, having remains even after several purges in the Palace."

Zhang Yang chuckled softly, "Wrong, wrong, wrong. When the Zhang family fled back then, the Yao family certainly provided ample help."

Prince Liang narrowed his eyes, "You mean someone from the Yao Residence? Yao Wenqi is currently confined."

Zhang Yang tapped his temple, "How could the Yao family not have a contingency plan? The Zhang family has re-established contact with Yao Wenqi, and not just once."