Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1226: Attitude

The next day, Zhou Shuren went to the Ministry of Revenue, and the first thing he faced was a list of officials on leave. At the top was Mr. Xiao, who claimed age as his reason, followed by Qiu Yan. Good, he counted carefully – there were actually fifteen officials.

The pressure around Zhou Shuren dropped dramatically. The Ministry of Revenue was busy, today they had not only to audit the Silver but also to calculate the Silver Coin collected from the confiscated estates.

Zhang Jinghong never expected that, with Mr. Qiu absent, he would become the only person that Minister Zhou was accustomed to using. What a surprise, an opportunity, he thought, "Minister, this is the casualty list sent from various departments."

Zhou Shuren took the Zhezi, "They sent it so early?"

"They were waiting outside the government office doors before they even opened."

Zhou Shuren sighed; it was not only injuries yesterday but also fatalities. On his way to the Ministry today, he saw many households with white banners hanging out front, each department under great pressure, urgently in need of Silver to appease the situation.

Zhou Shuren said, "Hmm, you will follow to the house search later. I’ll leave that to you."

Zhang Jinghong replied, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren listened to the much heightened voice, raised his eyebrows slightly; the sword hanging over Zhang Jinghong’s head was gone, and with it his whole spirit seemed different. Yesterday, he had cut ties with the past; today, he was reborn.

When Zhang Jinghong stepped out of the room, he lifted his head and took a deep breath of the post-rain air, fresh, a new beginning. Zhang Jinghong walked briskly away, while memories of his wife’s cries from last night still echoed in his mind. His son had been cured of the poison, and their family was safe and well.

He also received assurance from the Crown Prince; they could live openly and honestly. Being alive was wonderful.

In the Palace, the Emperor showed no inclination to take over state affairs, sitting beside the Crown Prince drinking tea that he brewed himself while the Crown Prince was discussing the war in the south with the ministers of the Ministry of War and others. Inner troubles had been resolved, but there were still external threats.

Seeing the Emperor’s attitude gave the ministers in the study room a sense of relief, cementing the fact that the Crown Prince’s succession was set in stone.

After waiting for the Crown Prince to finish dealing with state affairs, the Emperor spoke, "Rongchuan should be back in a couple of days."

The Crown Prince responded, "Yes, based on his speed, he should arrive in the capital in three days."

The Emperor put down the teapot and gestured for the Crown Prince to try the tea. Only after his son tasted the tea did he speak again, "I will visit the Duke Residence with your mother later, Rongchuan’s identity has been revealed, and this matter cannot be delayed."

The more importance he placed on it, the more it showed the officials how much he cared for this son.

The Crown Prince said, "I shall go too."

The Emperor raised his hand, "No need, you have your duties. Also, the fourth has become mobile, staying in the Palace continuously isn’t proper. I have already sent someone to take the fourth back to his mansion."

The Crown Prince felt a mix of emotions, "I didn’t expect Prince Liang to get injured."

The Emperor’s hand, turning the String of Pearls, paused. The Crown Prince always referred to the fourth as Prince Liang, not just to emphasize his own status as Crown Prince, but also because deep down he never saw the fourth as a brother, "No one can account for everything; the outcome we have now has the smallest cost."

The Crown Prince knew that Prince Liang’s injury would certainly leave a mark in their father’s heart. He had sent Prince Liang to cooperate, and that was meritorious; the injury was part of the commendation, "I ordered the chief physician to treat Prince Liang; he will surely return to full health."

The Emperor paused for a moment, "Hmm."

At the Zhou residence, Xue Han was a bit stunned upon hearing her mother’s words, "Mother, didn’t you get enough rest?"

Zhulan took her daughter’s hand and made her sit down, "The truth is Rongchuan is the real Fifth Prince. Like uncle, like nephew, Rongchuan’s face is the proof. The Emperor had ascertained this quite a while ago."

Xue Han still couldn’t believe it, "But the Ning family acknowledged Rongchuan!"

"That was the Emperor’s idea, for the sake of Rongchuan’s safety. Zhang Jinghong’s identity was exposed and then came Zhang Yang. That’s when the matter of being acknowledged by the Ning family happened. And haven’t you really noticed?"

Xue Han fell silent. Hadn’t she really noticed? There were signs; the Empress’s kindness towards her, her affection for her daughter, the attention towards Rongchuan, her husband was distracted for a while – all these were evidence. freēwēbnovel.com

Xue Han’s throat was dry, "Rongchuan knew this all along?"

"No, he found out later too. You know, there are some traces that blood relations simply can’t be concealed."

Xue Han was still bewildered. Rongchuan was the fifth Prince, "Doesn’t that mean that his daughter is the fifth Prince’s Consort?"

This identity leap was quite significant; she thought that becoming Mrs. Hou was her future, but now she had become a Prince’s Consort!

Xue Han pinched herself with all her might. It wasn’t a dream; it was all true.

Zhulan looked at her daughter acting foolish; she could understand. Anyone would be stunned by this revelation. That her daughter could remain composed was already commendable.

The news that Rongchuan was the fifth Prince had spread throughout the capital. It hadn’t circulated yesterday due to the plethora of events, but today, everyone sought to shift their focus, and Rongchuan, the true fifth Prince, became the prime subject.

The various branches of the Zhou family also knew now. Zhou Changli looked somewhat dazed. Lady Li stretched out her hand and gave a fierce twist, using all her strength.

Zhou Changli let out a yowl, pain making him leap up, clutching the inside of his thigh. It hurt too much, "What are you going mad for?"

Lady Li snapped back to reality. "So it’s not a dream."

"It’s not a dream, damn it. I think you’re just taking this opportunity for revenge."

Lady Li felt guilty. Okay, she did harbor some resentment, after all. Who would’ve thought her husband would side with their youngest son to annoy her in the past few days? She changed the subject, "Sister-in-law is the fifth Prince’s Consort now! If Rongchuan is granted a princely title, then sister-in-law will be a Princess Consort. Oh my, I never imagined I would have such good fortune to even have a Princess Consort as my sister."

Zhou Changli was speechless. "Your greatest fortune should have been marrying me. That’s how you got today’s happiness. Otherwise, hmph, if you had married someone else back then, you wouldn’t have today’s glory."

Lady Li became angry, her plump finger pointing, "You despise me? Well, Zhou Changli, you haven’t even secured your own title yet. Mom and Dad still run the household. And you’re looking down on me? I can’t live with this anymore."

Zhou Changli, "..."

Zhou Changli took a deep breath and ran off quickly. This woman was looking for another excuse to fight with him. He couldn’t provoke her but could certainly avoid her.

Madam Zhao and Su Xuan had already come to the main courtyard, only to find no one there.

Madam Zhao asked, "Mother, where’s little sister?"

Zhulan replied, "Just now, the Duke Residence sent someone to pick up your sister and Lin Xi back to the Duke Residence."

Su Xuan, "Back to the Duke Residence?"

Zhulan explained, "The Emperor and Empress are at the Duke Residence."

At the Ministry of Rites, Chang Yi still had his simple, guileless smile as if nothing had changed, regardless of whether people were talking behind his back or genuinely congratulating him.

He thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of people being envious yet having to watch him prosper. It was exhilarating!

Gu Zhuomin was excited, "I heard as well. Congratulations."

Chang Yi was prepared when his father had told him on the way to the government office today, "Good people get good rewards."

If his parents hadn’t been kind-hearted back then, there wouldn’t have been today’s fortune as a Prince’s brother-in-law.

Gu Zhuomin agreed, "Good deeds bring good karma."

Mr. Zhou planted seeds of kindness and now harvested the fruits of prosperity. No, even without a Prince for a son-in-law, Mr. Zhou had still built up his wealth through his own efforts.

Inside the prison, Zhang Yang heard a noise and looked up. In the desolate cell, Zhang Yang cowered in a corner. He wanted to live; he didn’t want to die. His eyes were fixated on the direction of the prison door, waiting for someone to arrive.

Zhang Yang had only spent one night, his hair disheveled, his body filthy. Seeing someone coming, his movement to approach was withdrawn, and he shrank back.