Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 602 Two Lives_1

The Zhou family has changed so much. The eldest son said that his brother-in-law would go to the capital one day, so he was afraid that the nephews would look down on the Yang family. Luckily, his worries were unnecessary.

Yang Wuchun said, "The meal is ready. You all must be tired after a day’s work. Have some food."

Zhou eldest looked at his cousin. He was still nervous, as his cousin had a somewhat intimidating aura, "Sure."

Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Wuchun watched Chang Zhi. He had changed a lot, and his eyes were not bad. Wuchun had been observing him these past few days; he was the one most hopeful for the Zhou family to continue improving. It was tough to do alone; even though his son had also become a martial man, it was not enough. The next generation of the Yang family hadn’t yet risen up.

Time flew by, and Zhulan had moved on from the sorrow of her parents’ death. Though she hadn’t fallen ill, she had lost quite a bit of weight. After all the turmoil, she managed to shed the weight that she hadn’t been able to lose since giving birth to Chang Xhong. Now, Zhulan was very slender.

Wu Ning was somewhat distracted. Zhulan asked, "Worried about He Shu?"

Wu Ning openly admitted, "Auntie, the county examination is soon approaching, and He Shu has placed too much pressure on himself."

They hadn’t seen each other recently, but she had her own sources of information and knew well the determination He Shu had to pass the exam. That was why she was worried; she feared his disappointment.

Zhulan looked at Wu Ning. These past few days, whenever Wu Ning had time, she would come to keep her company. It was said to be for her company, but in reality, Wu Ning was seeking a sense of security from her, "Are you afraid that if He Shu doesn’t pass, he will take his anger out on you for your ’jinxing’ fate?"

Wu Ning’s thoughts were hit spot on, and she hung her head low, "It’s not that I don’t trust He Shu, I just can’t help but overthink."

Zhulan understood Wu Ning. Superstition was rampant in ancient times. It was more straightforward to say that Wu Ning feared the He family clan’s relatives overthinking rather than He Shu himself, "You are wrong to think that way. You need to have confidence in yourself."

Only when she had confidence in herself could she argue for herself.

Wu Ning smiled, "Yes."

Zhulan’s thoughts drifted to Rongchuan, and then to Shi Qing. Shi Qing hadn’t taken the exam for Scholar in Pingzhou, and it was unknown where he had gone to take it. Upon reflection, Shi Qing had been gone for quite a while now.

Upon arriving at the residence in Li Family Village, Rongchuan stepped down from the carriage. Chang Lian approached, "I figured you’d be arriving soon, and here you are."

Rongchuan felt a warm feeling inside, "Third brother."

Chang Lian said, "You must be exhausted from rushing back all the way, come on, let’s go home."

Rongchuan’s mouth curled into a smile. He had a very good time at Wu’s, but after all, it wasn’t his home. Now that he was back at Li Family Village, he was truly home.

Chang Lian asked, "You always mentioned in your letters that you were doing well. You weren’t just pacifying me, were you?"

Rongchuan replied, "Do you think the Wu family would mistreat me?"

Chang Lian didn’t ask any further. The Wu family wouldn’t ill-treat him. "After you rest for a few days, we’ll set off for Pingzhou City."

Rongchuan nodded, "The two older brothers from the Wu family aren’t participating in the county exam. I have the keys to the Wu family’s residence, so we can stay there."

The Wu family’s residence was, after all, the Top scorer’s estate. Over the years, many people had wanted to buy it; after the two brothers became Scholars, many offered a high price for the not-so-large residence. Unfortunately for them, the Wu family wasn’t selling.

At that thought, Rongchuan couldn’t help but laugh. His own family’s residence in Pingzhou had also been sold for a high price.

The two of them reached the backyard, where Rongchuan saw his older sister’s family and the newly born child. The little one did not seem shy and looked at him with big eyes.

After a careful look, Rongchuan discerned, "Sister Xue Mei, this child looks like Xue Han."

Xue Mei laughed, "Right, the more he grows, the more he resembles him. Rongchuan, would you like to hold him?"

Rongchuan’s palms were sweaty with nervousness; he carefully held the child, feeling a warmth in his heart. He couldn’t help but think that his and Xue Han’s child would also look like her, as if he was holding his own child in advance. He liked the child the instant he saw him. "What’s the child’s name?"

Jiang Sheng smiled, "Jiang Lei."

Chang Lian’s eyes were full of laughter. Rongchuan wasn’t young any more; he was also thinking about getting married. It was just a pity that his sister was still young, so Rongchuan had to wait.

The next day, in Jinzhou, Zhulan received another invitation from Magistrate Shen. This time, she brought her daughter and Wu Ning as well. Before Wu Ning’s wedding, she wanted to teach her everything she could. With Wu Ning attending these kinds of banquets more frequently, she would not feel intimidated in the future. As long as He Shu pursued a career as an official, Wu Ning would have to face these occasions sooner or later.

Fortunately, Wu Ning was aware of her shortcomings and was studying very diligently.

Xue Han whispered, "Magistrate Shen is less than three months pregnant; how can she be holding banquets already? It’s too much hard work."

Zhulan, well-informed and supplemented with information from the Tao family, knew too much. "Magistrate Shen isn’t returning to the capital, and the capital’s affairs have followed her here."

Thinking about this made Zhulan want to curse. The time when a woman is most fragile is during her pregnancy, but still she has to arrange for her husband’s concubines and chambermaids, especially those from the great families—it’s all the more tragic.

Wu Ning’s grip on her handkerchief tightened. Xue Han didn’t need to worry—since Rongchuan had been saved by the Zhou family and owed them for his upbringing—but she was different. Her relationship with He Shu was good, yet she would not blindly trust him. Whether in Lizhou Province or Jinzhou, she had heard too many stories of couples who got along well when they first married but still couldn’t withstand the erosion of time. Thinking about Dong Yiyi’s husband, she had once envied her so much, but what was the outcome?

At the residence of the Princely Heir, Zhulan looked around after arriving and frowned, "Aren’t there too many people here today?"

Tao’s wife was also frowning, "Indeed, there are many."

Zhulan watched Magistrate Shen, who was speaking and occasionally covering her face with a laugh. Zhulan was unclear about her motives, "Be careful later on."

Tao’s wife played with her fan; she, like Yang Wuchun’s wife, wasn’t very fond of Magistrate Shen. After all, age showed; even the future Mrs. Hou of Shen Residence doesn’t carry herself with as much pride as the Magistrate.

Zhulan sent Nanny Song to remind Xue Han and Wu Ning—no matter what the Magistrate was planning, as long as it didn’t involve the Zhou family, it was fine. She was someone who preferred to clean the snow from her own doorstep; in the circle of power, kind-hearted saints really weren’t needed.

Look at both Tao’s wife and Lady Ranqi, who were unconcerned with affairs beyond their windows. At a time like this, the usually animated Tao’s family was silent.

There are no good feasts.

Zhulan returned home with a look of displeasure on her face. Although the Zhou family wasn’t implicated, Xue Han and Wu Ning had both been frightened. No, all the young ladies attending the banquet had been shocked.

Zhulan looked at the dispirited Xue Han and Wu Ning, "Go back and drink two bowls of calming soup."

It was Xue Han’s first time witnessing death. The calculations of the young ladies in the inner court had never led to outright fatalities in her presence before. "Mother, just like that, two lives were gone?"

Zhulan patted her daughter’s shoulder. "Don’t think too much about it; it has nothing to do with you."

Xue Han shivered. She felt that the scheming she had seen before was petty compared to what she had witnessed today, where moves were made and lives were taken.

Wu Ning clutched Xue Han’s hand, their fingertips icy cold from fear.

Zhulan massaged her temples. Magistrate Shen’s ruthlessness was worthy of someone who frequented the palace; her moves resulted in fatalities. She was truly hard to like, but it showed just how angry Magistrate Shen was. It was just family disgrace being aired in public. Well, the Hou Residence had long ago lost its face, always featured on the gossip boards.

In the evening, Zhou Shuren returned home and asked, "I heard there was an incident at the banquet. Were you frightened?"

Zhulan wasn’t frightened; by the time she arrived, the bodies had been taken away. "No."

Zhou Shuren inquired, "What happened at the banquet?"