Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1210: Clan Leader

Zhulan, "No, he loves the excitement. The twins enjoy hearing about overseas adventures, and he’s always willing to share them."

When the twins weren’t around, the older children in the family were at the Academy, while the younger ones only knew how to play and didn’t like being with the elderly. The twin grandsons disliked studying, preferring the outside world, and the fourth uncle was also ready to talk.

Yu Dang had travelled to some nearby countries over the sea, his experiences were exceedingly broad. It would be good for the twins to listen to him more.

Lady Li listened to the ruckus of the young ones in the courtyard, "It hasn’t been this lively in a long time."

Mrs. Zhao, hand on her belly, listened to Yu Die’s commanding voice and said helplessly, "With two new brothers in the past few days, Yu Die is overjoyed."

Other people’s daughters were already learning manners or literacy, so well-behaved. Her own daughter liked leading her brothers in wild play, like a little female general, and even wheedled a small sword out of her husband.

Xue Mei smiled, "Children are the future, the prosperity."

Zhulan loved to hear this.

Su Xuan listened to her son’s laugh, similar to a goose’s cackle, and rubbed her forehead, "When they grow up to marry and have children... oh my, just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Lady Li shut her mouth. Her sons were the most numerous. She extended her plump hand, counting, thinking about sons having grandsons—if there were too many, she swallowed her saliva, wailing inwardly, our family isn’t wealthy, "Mother, I cannot follow your example."

If she really had to be fair to each child, giving each the appropriate dowries and bridal gifts, she couldn’t afford it.

Zhulan, "Hmm?"

Lady Li retracted her plump hand, "Your daughter-in-law is too poor."

Zhulan understood and thought of the extra three hundred thousand taels in her purse, which straightened her back quite a bit, "The eldest daughter-in-law always understands herself best."

For a moment, all the women in the room laughed.

Lady Li, "..."

Palace, the Emperor flipped through a name-list in his hands. The edges were worn, showing frequent use, "Has the Zhang family entered the capital?"

Crown Prince, "Yes, they’ve disguised themselves to enter the city. The guards at the city gates are still bribed."

The Emperor closed the increasingly thick name-list, "Ha, while I’m busy with the rebellion, they’ve also been busy."

Crown Prince, "The gunpowder brought from Xuzhou has been split into two parts, one near the city gates and another inside the city. The gunpowder from Xuzhou is meant to create chaos, providing a way to escape."

The Emperor asked, "And the other part?"

Crown Prince, "It has already been distributed."

The Emperor, "Last time, it was thanks to the Yang family’s encounter."

The Crown Prince was also relieved. He had carefully considered Zhou Shuren and his wife, it seemed like every time the Zhang family encountered them, things went south.

Just as his father the Emperor had said, Zhou Shuren truly was a lucky general.

At Prince Five’s Residence, Zhang Yang watched the elder in front of him—this was Gu Ren’s father, the current Clan Leader of the Zhang family.

Zhang Wuxi, no, that should be Zhang Wuxi, looked fondly at Zhang Yang, "When all this is over, you will be the Emperor."

Zhang Yang scoffed inwardly, Emperor, he was just a puppet. He had been cut off from having heirs, the children in the palace were poisoned; they really thought he didn’t know. Once he ascended the throne, the Zhang family would slowly take control of the court. Once the children died young, his role as Emperor would become utterly worthless.

Now they were sweet-talking him, pampering him, because he still held the legitimate title of Prince Five. Even if he seemed like a worthless man now, with that status, as long as the Emperor and his elder brothers died, he would be the sole heir, the rightful son.

As for the poisoned Empress, the Zhang family would rather mistakenly kill than let anyone slip through—after all, he was now the only successor. They feared anything might go wrong because of the Empress.

These people wanted to catch everyone in a single swoop, but—he liked it!

Gu Ren saw Zhang Yang’s silence, displeasure in his eyes, "Did you truly deceive Prince Liang?"

Zhang Yang lounged carelessly, "Ha, Prince Liang will serve as our pawn."

Gu Ren thought about Gu Wu’s words, his smile deepening, "Indeed."

Zhang Yang sneered inwardly, feeling that it was also indeed good, barely containing the madness in his eyes as he hurriedly closed them, humming a newly learned tune.

Gu Ren rose to help his father out, "Father, you shouldn’t have come. Didn’t we agree that you would stay on the island until everything was settled?"

Zhang Wuxi, "Many escaped that year, but only your father and I survived. I must see this with my own eyes."

The Rong clan was annihilated that year, and he had not yet married. Unexpectedly, the Emperor feigned insanity for years to rebel, leveraging the former dynasty’s power to eradicate the Zhang clan. Had it not been for a contingency plan, his own clan would have perished in the previous dynasty.

Gu Ren, "We’ve been scheming for so many years, even swallowing up the Yao clan’s influence. We shall not fail."

The smile on Zhang Wuxi’s face grew thicker, then turned cold, "Zhang Jinghong must not be spared either."

Indeed, many had escaped, but those who remained perished. The decree from the previous Emperor was clear: Zhang Jinghong, a remnant of the previous bloodline, must pay the debt. Their enmity was as deep as the sea.

Gu Ren, "He has been rather fortunate to have survived with such a background."

Zhang Wuxi, "That’s exactly why he cannot be spared."

In the Ministry of Revenue, Qiu Yan asked softly, "You know about the recent rumors, don’t you?"

Zhou Shuren didn’t even look up, "Hmm." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

At this point, denying knowledge would be too unbelievable.

Qiu Yan’s feelings were complex, "If the rumors are true, then Mr. Hou sure has audacity. Speaking of which, you didn’t shy away from discussing the dangers of the prohibited ointments with us back then."

Zhou Shuren, "But isn’t it so that Mr. Hou hasn’t been convicted yet?"

Qiu Yan already believed the rumors, whispering, "This is a serious crime worth ransacking a house for. You—no, your fourth uncle is also surnamed Rong. If it really comes down to it..."

Zhou Shuren understood the unfinished statement. That’s why he had re-evaluated the allegiance of his people lately, "You think I’ll be implicated too?"

Qiu Yan shook his head, "I don’t think you will be, since your surname is Zhou."

He paused before continuing, "Oh, there’s another rumor saying that the Emperor has fainted and hasn’t awakened since Mr. Hou was thrown into prison, and he hasn’t summoned any ministers either."

Zhou Shuren curled his lips. These people really had short memories, "My fourth uncle went to the Palace that day."

Qiu Yan naturally knew, but nobody believed he had actually seen the Emperor. He asked, "Did he see the Emperor?"

Zhou Shuren remained silent—his fourth uncle’s implication was clear: he had not seen the Emperor.

Qiu Yan’s eyes widened, not expecting this. He was just making conversation and stumbled upon confirmation. Trembling, he asked, "He didn’t see him?"

Qiu Yan’s brain raced. It must be to stabilize the situation, which was why Zhou the official’s uncle was allowed into the Palace. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Mr. Hou had been in prison for so long without a verdict—that meant no one dared to act on behalf of the Emperor!

Zhou Shuren looked up to see Qiu Yan trembling and quickly lowered his head. Oh dear, he had unintentionally frightened Qiu Yan again.

All right, he had done it on purpose just now. This news would spread sooner or later anyway.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren and his spouse had been analyzing things in their minds. The more they could anticipate, the safer they would be.

Zhou Shuren whispered, "In a day or two, someone will surely become restless and petition to see the Emperor."

Zhulan, "The Crown Prince has also not been seen for quite some time now."

Zhou Shuren, "Everything that needed to be purchased in the past few days has been gathered, right?"

"I finished all the purchasing the day before yesterday. Our home lacks for nothing. I’ve also sent a message to Mrs. Wu Ming."

"Hmm, think carefully, is there anything we’ve missed?"

Zhulan whispered, "There should be nothing left. I even had people set up many traps near the courtyard walls."

Having gone through such an experience once, she didn’t want to face it again.