Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 594 The knife has been sharpened_1

Zhulan shifted her body closer and froze, before her was a young married couple. The wife was young and her hair obscured her face, which created a disturbance—it was the scars on her face.

Zhulan was momentarily stunned; by the time she took a closer look, the young couple had already left.

Lady Li asked in a low voice, "Mother, was that Wang San’s daughter just now? I didn’t see wrong, did I?"

But her tone was doubtful, Lady Li felt it wasn’t quite right. The woman just now was dressed in coarse clothes; her hands were those of someone who labored. In her memory, even in Zhou’s village, Wang Ru was always dressed in gold and silver. Although she couldn’t wear fine silk or satin, Wang Ru’s clothes were still of good quality.

How could it be like now, with the woman carrying a bamboo basket on her back, married to a man who looked like a fisherman? The contrast was too stark.

Zhulan had a good memory; Lady Li’s intuition was keen, recognizing Wang Ru at a glance. She had seen Wang Ru looking like this before, but as Wang Ru was younger back then and older now, it took her a moment to recall and recognize her.

Lady Li, seeing that her mother-in-law didn’t respond, thought that her mother-in-law felt she had mistaken someone else and fell silent.

Zhulan closed her eyes—the brief glance earlier confirmed that it was indeed Wang Ru she saw last time. Wang Ru had settled down and was living earnestly; the aura around her couldn’t be faked. Closing her eyes, she no longer pondered why Wang Ru had come to Jinzhou.

In a street corner, Wang Ru listened to the street vendors’ chatter about the Zhou family’s carriage. Hearing about the Zhou family again, Wang Ru’s spirit drifted slightly. Due to the sheer passage of years and her destined social class, she knew she would never have any contact with them again. She was Lady Gaowang; the name had been discarded by her.

Gao Gushui asked with concern, "Do you feel unwell anywhere, or is the child causing you trouble?"

Listening to the worried voice, warmth filled Wang Ru’s heart. She reached out to hold his somewhat cracked hand, "I’m fine; let’s go. Once we’re done, we’ll head back."

Gao Gushui’s face reddened under the gaze of his wife’s eyes. They had relied on each other for many years, and they had finally gotten married this year, now with a child. The child’s arrival was somewhat unexpected. "My lady, let’s find an inn to rest first," he suggested.

Wang Ru smiled, her current pursuit was reality and steadiness. Together with her husband, they had slowly saved up the family’s resources. She tapped her husband on the head, "Look for an inn? You have too much silver then? Have you forgotten, with the addition of a child soon, there will be more places we need silver? We’re saving up to buy land, remember?"

Gao Gushui scratched his head, "I just wanted my lady to be more comfortable."

Wang Ru held her husband’s large hand, "Let’s go, I’m hungry now."

At night, Zhulan thought it over and decided to mention seeing Wang Ru, "The Wang Ru today is sincere and steadfast toward life."

Zhou Shuren sneered, "After so much she has been through, if she still didn’t understand, it would waste the opportunity heaven gave her."

Zhulan thought so too, "I’m tired, let’s sleep early."

Zhou Shuren made an ’ah’ sound, yet he thought it would still be better to have someone check things out.

The next day, at noon, Zhou Shuren received the investigative report; he raised an eyebrow, wondering why Wang Ru had come all the way to Jinzhou. It turned out she had retrieved something from the sea and dared not pawn it where she lived. She took a boat north all the way to Pinggang; since Jinzhou City currently had the best public order of any Prefecture City, she ended up here.

It seems the item salvaged was not something particularly precious, but Wang Ru had finally learned to be careful and cautious. Early this morning, she already left the city, and the people he had sent out were back too; Wang Ru and her husband had already boarded the ship for their return.

Zhou Shuren decided to cover their tracks after giving it some thought. Not out of sympathy, but because of the mess Wang Ru initially created; who knows if someone was still after her. It’s better to erase all traces. He didn’t want any more unexpected variables; the situation now was good.

In the capital, on the way back to the Hou Residence, Yao Zheyu held his wife’s hand, "I will definitely bring you back to Jinzhou with me."

Shen Yile’s cheeks flushed with bashfulness, yet she couldn’t bear to pull her hand away. Although she had not spent much time with her husband, he treated her well, "I believe you," she said.

Yao Zheyu gripped his wife’s hand tighter; he would need his sister’s help to successfully take her with him.

At the Hou Residence, Yao Zheyu saw the carriage from The Prince Residence and remembered the jokes from his wedding day. The Fifth Prince wouldn’t harbor any more illusions; it seemed that Yao Xin must’ve returned alone.

Walking towards the back courtyard, Yao Zheyu saw Yao Xin, the only child of the Hou Residence whose mind wasn’t too sharp. Although foolish, she used to be lively. Now, dressed in the heavy garb of a Prince’s main wife and supported by a palace maid, she resembled a puppet being manipulated by strings.

Yao Zheyu watched as Yao Xin left.

"Big brother, elder sister-in-law."

Turning towards the voice, Yao Zheyu saw Yao Yao, "Ah, are you here to send off Yao Xin?"

Yao Yao, "I don’t have the leisure to sympathize with Yao Xin, I’m here to wait for big brother."

Yao Zheyu laughed, "Please, sister."

Within the palace, the Emperor flipped through the Zhezi, finding the list on it interesting, "Fifth son, is everything you wrote in this Zhezi true?"

Zhang Jinghong kept his head down, "Every word written by your son is true; everyone on this list is related to the Yao Hou Residence."

On his wedding day, Yao Wenqi had slapped him, bringing him to full awareness. Yao Wenqi was eager to leave him, even if it meant he had married a girl from the Marquis Yao’s family. How foolish he had been before, to think that the legitimate daughters of the Hou Residence would be discarded, let alone an illegitimate one.

Seated securely on his high platform, the Emperor said, "Fifth son, the Yao Hou Residence isn’t so easily moved. Pull one hair and the whole body is affected; even I would find it difficult."

Zhang Jinghong raised his head, "Father Emperor, your son is willing to share your worries."

The Emperor, "Good."

The corners of the Crown Prince’s mouth turned up slightly. The Emperor was using Zhang Jinghong as a knife, and now this knife was ready to be bloodied. Prior skirmishes had been petty, but now this knife thirsted for blood. It was unfortunate that Yao Wenqi had been too hasty to cast off the fifth son.

With a profound gaze, the Crown Prince thought of how Yao Wenqi caught up with a few people by the second son’s hand on the wedding day, knowing full well that it would offend the fifth son but did it anyway. The issues involved were of great magnitude.

The following day in Jinzhou, Zhulan received an invitation from the Princely Heir Residence in the afternoon. Opening the invitation, this time it was written by the wife of the Princely Heir. Zhulan looked carefully, ensuring she had not misread it—it was an invitation from Magistrate Shen.

In the evening, curious, Zhulan asked Zhou Shuren, "How did the Princely Heir manage to bring Magistrate Shen out?"

She didn’t believe Mr. Hou would allow Magistrate Shen to leave so easily.

Zhou Shuren lamented, "The second Miss Yao’s assistance was invaluable, what a pity, such a pity."

It was a waste for someone as astute as the second Miss Yao. If she had not been born into the Hou Residence, her life could have been smooth and untroubled.

Zhulan fell silent for a moment, "This second Miss Yao truly is a pity indeed."

Zhou Shuren gloated a bit, "Marquis Yao must be in a rage!"

Zhulan, "There must be a follow-up plan to call someone back home; filial duty is paramount. If one falls ill, even Magistrate Shen would have to return."

Zhou Shuren said in hushed tones, "However, they wouldn’t do this for a month or two. Lord Shen of the Hou Residence is no pushover either. I honestly hope I can delay my entry to the capital for a few more years."

The capital in the days to come would become increasingly tense. It had always been a meat grinder, and now it seemed ready to start at any moment!

The next day, Zhulan visited the Princely Heir Residence with Xue Han and Wu Ning. Since it wasn’t a rest day, and the Prince had invited guests, Zhou Shuren and others came later during the day at the invitation of Magistrate Shen for the official’s family in Jinzhou.

Zhulan was quite curious about Magistrate Shen; she had always wanted to meet this Magistrate Shen!