Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1215: Ruthless Heart

In the blink of an eye, another two days had passed, and with them rose more rumors—rumors about the Crown Prince’s conspiracy, claiming that the Crown Prince did not wish for the Emperor to awaken and had not cared for the Emperor wholeheartedly.

All the rumors seemed to suggest that the Crown Prince was short of directly harming His Majesty to ensure a smooth succession.

At today’s morning court session, Zhou Shuren observed the Crown Prince presiding above. Ah, this was the true Crown Prince, his composure deeply engrained, not something just anyone could feign. Besides, court politics had to be dealt with today; only the true Crown Prince could preside.

There had been a standoff in the southern battlefront for some time, and an urgent report had come into the capital yesterday that the fighting had erupted again—this time the foreign tribe from the south had taken the initiative to attack.

The Crown Prince asked in a deep voice, "Does any minister have thoughts on this matter?"

Li Zhao stepped forward, "The southern foreign tribe has gone too far. This subject pleads for a decree to reinforce our troops and eradicate them once and for all."

Then several ministers concurred. The ongoing warfare, with its constant drain on resources and relentless harassment, was becoming far too troublesome.

The Crown Prince watched, his expression unreadable, the most eager ministers advocating for reinforcements. Reinforcements were out of the question; the garrison armies of each state were on strict guard, and the only troops available for dispatch were from the capital. The south had already tied up too much military strength.

The Crown Prince remained silent; over the past few years, the Navy had grown, but the army had not, "I understand."

Li Zhao and the others fell silent, and afterwards came other affairs that the Crown Prince handled with ease. The morning court session ended swiftly.

The Crown Prince kept the Minister of War and Zhou Shuren behind along with several princes, while all the royal sons stayed except for Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang felt the ministers’ gazes upon him. He thought he did not care, but he overestimated himself; it mattered to him. He left with quick strides—he could wait.

Inside the government hall, the Crown Prince inquired of Prince Qi and others, "What are your thoughts on the southern warfare?"

Prince Qi frowned, "It’s peculiar. They were at a standoff and suddenly launched a fierce assault. This subject finds it strange."

The Crown Prince thought the same. Recently, the Zhang clan’s movements had been constant, which likely meant the Zhang clan could be in contact with the southern foreign tribe, diverting the Imperial court’s attention, seeking an opportunity.

The Crown Prince looked towards Prince Liang, who after a moment of silence said, "Military strength."

Indeed, reinforcing troops would inevitably require mobilizing forces near the capital, but the various provinces had already been arranged properly. Redeployment of troops was impossible.

Prince Chu watched Prince Qi intently. Ah, this was serious. He narrowed his eyes. What was second brother up to?

Li Zhao frowned, "Crown Prince, what about the southern battle?"

The Crown Prince picked up a brush, penned a single character, then lifted it for all to see.

Zhou Shuren’s pupils shrank—fire. They were to set a fire. The foreign tribes were hidden within the forests; a fire attack would surely lead to countless deaths and injuries.

Prince Qi and others looked at the Crown Prince, who appeared calm, as if unaware of how many lives his command would claim.

The Crown Prince set down the paper, "The previous dynasty never managed to subdue the south. For centuries, they’ve been a constant nuisance, increasingly emboldened. I shall not tolerate it."

Zhou Shuren inwardly remarked, an emperor with ambitions of expanding the realm must possess a ruthless heart, and the Crown Prince had made up his mind.

Zhou Shuren thought further that not just anyone could be an emperor destined to expand the realm. Among those present, Prince Qi and others lacked the Crown Prince’s sharp edge.

In fact, the several princes present would also make fine successors, if only they hadn’t been born in this era.

The Crown Prince continued, "Still, we must at least make a show of moving troops."

Only gradually did Li Zhao realize what the Emperor and the Crown Prince were planning, "This subject understands Your Highness’s decree."

The Crown Prince then said to Zhou Shuren, "Chief Zhou, prepare ample provisions."

Zhou Shuren, "Your servant understands the directive."

Thereafter, Zhou Shuren and Li Zhao left together. When Li Zhao found himself without a single person by his side, he then said, "Do you know where the provisions you have been ordered to prepare are to be sent?"

Zhou Shuren was pondering that very question. If the troop movements were a feint, then for whom were the provisions really being prepared? "I do not know."

Li Zhao, "And here I thought you knew everything!"

Zhou Shuren, "....Indeed, if only your rank were not higher than mine."

"You feel like hitting me?"

Zhou Shuren glanced at Li Zhao’s height and physique. Zhou Shuren, "No."

Li Zhao was speechless, thinking Zhou Shuren backed down too quickly. "The Navy. There have been naval engagements recently."

He had concealed the Naval movement, otherwise, the constant redeployment of the Navy would have long been noticed.

Zhou Shuren’s heart stirred. Yang Wen had yet to return, likely still at sea, and he had a premonition that Rongchuan might be there as well. "Thanks."

Li Zhao, "No need for thanks, you would’ve found out sooner or later."

By keeping Zhou Shuren in his confidence today, the Crown Prince had shown no intention of concealing anything from him, which indicated the high regard in which Zhou Shuren was held in the Crown Prince’s heart. As the saying went, with each new Emperor came new ministers. Li Zhao was a man of understanding; if Zhou Shuren’s position was to rise, his own would not, and he had to be ready to move. Control over the Ministry of War had to be in the hands of the Crown Prince.

The current Crown Prince, the future Emperor. The Emperor was in good health. Recalling his audience with the Emperor just yesterday, Li Zhao stroked his beard, his mouth forming a small grin as he hurried away.

Zhou Shuren stared blankly at Li Zhao’s legs, knowing he could not catch up. He suspected Li Zhao did it on purpose.

At the Zhou residence, the day of Rong Enqing’s beheading was imminent. Yao Yao had still gotten wind of the news. Zhulan watched expressionlessly as the maid knelt on the ground.

In the room, the doctor was administering acupuncture. Having fainted at the news, and having shown signs of bleeding, it was fortunate that Zhulan, cautious of potential chaos recently, had arranged for a doctor to stay at the residence.

Yao Yao’s condition had now stabilized, the bleeding had stopped, and the doctor continued the acupuncture.

Xue Han sat beside her mother, "Speak, who sent you?"

Zhulan too was puzzled. She was in control of the entire household, and she had people watching the maids and crones Yao Yao had brought with her. Still, some news had managed to leak through.

The maid trembled as she knelt, "No one, no one sent me, I just... I heard it, yes, I learned it from eavesdropping on conversations."

Xue Han slammed the table, "The servants of the Zhou residence never gossip. Speak, who sent you?"

The maid, not wishing to die, shut her mouth tight, repeatedly denying anyone had instructed her.

Zhulan signaled to Steward Ding to take the people away. If extracting the truth had been that easy, it would have been a miracle. She refused to believe that a lapse could occur in her controlled domain; she was determined to find out how the news had been transmitted.

After a while, the doctor emerged, sweat on his forehead, "The fetus has been steadied. From now on, the pregnant lady must rest in bed, and the fetus-protecting medicine must not be discontinued."

Zhulan noted everything down and instructed the crone Song to take the doctor to rest. She went in to see Yao Yao, who had awakened and was crying.

Zhulan sighed, motioning for everyone to leave the room, then whispered in Yao Yao’s ear, "It’s fake. Rong Enqing is unharmed, a substitute sits in the prison. It is enough that you alone know this; you must not speak of it to anyone."

A glimmer of light returned to Yao Yao’s listless eyes. She yelped but then quickly quieted her breathing and nodded, certain to keep it to herself.

Zhulan adjusted Yao Yao’s pillow, "Having stirred the fetus, put more thought into your child, and take good care to heal."

Heartened yet again, Yao Yao nodded affirmatively, "Mhm."