Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1298 Guests

Zhulan was at Qin Prince Residence chatting with her daughter, and Princess Qi didn’t leave either, also having a meal there. Lady Li’s pickled vegetables were served at the table.

Xue Han had a good appetite and ate an extra bowl of rice porridge.

After the meal, Zhulan left with her granddaughters, but Princess Qi still stayed.

Xue Han bid farewell to her mother and asked her sister-in-law, "Did you stay because there is something you want to discuss with me?"

Princess Qi smiled, "Indeed, I think each girl from the Zhou family is pretty good, so I’d like to make a match."

Hearing this, Xue Han felt relieved that it wasn’t for her own son and became interested, "With which family?"

Princess Qi said: "Our relationship is good, and I’m not going against my conscience. It’s not my maternal family, the Wu family, but my eldest sister-in-law’s maternal family, the Yun family, whose eldest son is a Senior Executive of the Imperial Temple, Third Rank, and the youngest son from the main line has a good character and appearance."

Princess Qi paused then continued: "Originally, my eldest sister-in-law wanted to strengthen ties between the Wu family and the Yun family. Yun family refused, and she asked me to mediate, which I had refused. But seeing the girls from the Zhou family today, I felt hopeful."

Her eldest sister-in-law’s method was about proposing her second brother’s little girl, who really wasn’t suitable. Addressing her niece was always a sensitive issue. Initially, her sister-in-law persuaded her to consider her son. She disagreed, and then turned her attention to the Yun family.

This eldest sister-in-law was a master planner and always wanted to involve in everything, and she never liked her from the start.

Yun family had already distanced themselves from her sister-in-law, and consequently, Qi Prince Residence became distant from Yun family as well.

She had to consider for her son, the Retired Emperor was still alive, Qi Prince Residence was still influential, and even if Prince wandered freely, no one would dare to offend. But if the Retired Emperor passed away, and the Crown Prince ascended, shaking off marginalization for her son and preserving the current connections would become necessary.

Of course, she genuinely wanted to mediate, else it meant offending both families.

Xue Han was not very familiar with the Yun family, but she made a note of it, understanding that securing good men should be done promptly, "Thank you, sister-in-law. I’ll discuss this with mom and dad."

Princess Qi was confident; knowing the Zhou family’s standard for choosing sons-in-law, she needed a thorough investigation, envying the girls born in the Zhou family.

Not long after Zhulan arrived home, she received news from Qin Prince Residence. Indeed, she remembered the Yun family and knew the eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Liu, quite well. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Zhulan had someone inquire further, Princess Qi dared to speak, showing great confidence in the Yun family. As her daughter thought, as long as it wasn’t Qi Prince Residence’s initiative, it wasn’t an issue.

Zhou Shuren and she had discussed it; the Zhou family had already given a Princess Consort Qin, and their daughters should ideally avoid the Imperial Family and its complications. ’Perfection is a flaw,’ the Zhou family already had enough.

Moreover, for their girls, the couple did not hope for marriages of convenience; the family’s prospering relied on the male heirs.

That evening, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren discussed the Yun family, "I didn’t find much, could you inquire more?"

Zhou Shuren, "Yun family?"

Without Zhulan’s mention, he wouldn’t have noticed; Yun family kept a low profile, and he noted it down.

Zhou Shuren then said: "Help me pack for a trip these days."

"Why, are you going out?"

"Yes, I met with the Emperor today, and he expressed his wish to inspect the Navy, and I think I’ll be among the accompanying officials."

Zhulan frowned, "Going out in this hot weather."

Zhou Shuren massaged his legs, "I don’t want to leave either, but I want to see the Navy with my own eyes."

The sea power is crucial; whether they could have their shipping routes depends on the Navy; he hoped to see a strong Navy.

Zhulan asked, "Will there be drills?"

Zhou Shuren sitting cross-legged, "I don’t know, that’s for the Ministry of War."

Being the Minister of Revenue, a department head, he and Li Zhao were careful to avoid interference with each other’s affairs; he wouldn’t inquire about matters of the Ministry of War.

Zhulan also wanted to see but then considered the weather and decided she was better off staying home.

The following morning, the Emperor scheduled the inspection trip to Pinggang, and the list of accompanying officials, including Zhou Shuren, was confirmed.

After the Imperial Court session, the Emperor kept Zhou Shuren back, "The Ministry of Revenue spends so much silver each year; you should see the results yourself."

Thinking of the annual significant expenditure pained Zhou Shuren, "I need to take a good look. The Navy is crucial."

The Emperor laughed, "Not just you feeling the pinch, every time a cannon fires a shell, it pains me too."

Had the national treasury not been full, the Emperor would be overwhelmed now, a country’s normal functioning couldn’t proceed without silver. The Emperor viewed Zhou Shuren even more kindly.

The Emperor continued, "Recently several neighboring island nations have continuously sent official requests to purchase our ships."

Zhou Shuren puzzled, "Are there retired ships available?"

The Emperor, "All have been sold."

"What do you mean, Emperor?"

Emperor smiling, "They provide silver, and I’ll build ships for them, using retired blueprints better than letting their neighboring nations research by themselves, keeping the technology in my hands."

Moreover, this would train more shipbuilders, later serving the nation in researching more advanced ships, achieving two goals with one act.

Zhou Shuren thought, this is truly an ambitious Emperor’s strategy—controlling technology and making neighboring countries dependent, once they’re accustomed, tsk tsk, truly a brilliant move.

The Emperor added, "Therefore, the Imperial court plans to expand the shipyard, but no rush; we’ll visit the shipyard and plan further."

Zhou Shuren, "..."

He had underestimated the situation. What an oversight of inspecting the Navy; blatantly using him as a means to spend more silver.

At Zhou family’s residence, Mingyun was surprised to see Ming Teng at home, "No official duties today?"

Ming Teng, "None, big brother, are you going out?"

Mingyun shook his head, "Yes, Uncle Wu Ming has a day off today, and I and young uncle are visiting Wu’s place. You staying at home, joining us?"

Currently, Uncle Wu Ming was very busy, even their young uncle was not residing at Wu’s place anymore, only visiting during days off, so opportunities to consult Uncle Wu Ming were rare.

Ming Teng shook his head, "I’ll pass, I have guests today."

Mingyun became curious, "Who is it that brought you to invite over?"

Ming Teng had many friends, but sincere ones were few, and he had never invited anyone over before, thus stirring Mingyun’s curiosity.

Ming Teng said, "Wen Rong, the fourth young master from the Wen family."

Mingyun, "...Wen Rong?"

Ming Teng nodded, "What, big brother, do you know him?"