Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 579: Four-part Image_1

Zhulan sat on the side of the Qi family clan, while Lady Liu sat down on the other, Zhulan’s head was aching a bit. Lady Liu’s arrival did not bode well, she wanted to return to the estate.

After Lady Liu took her seat, "With so many banquets, I have yet to meet the granddaughters of the Zhou family. I thought I would see them today, but I did not expect that they would be absent again."

Zhulan did not believe Lady Liu’s words were said casually, "They are too young and are still learning from their tutor."

Lady Liu’s face showed a hint of a smile, "It just so happens that my youngest grandson is the same age as Miss Yu Lu from the Zhou family. That too is fate."

Zhulan thought to herself that Lady Liu had been waiting here for her, eyeing Yu Lu, "Oh."

Lady Liu’s smile stiffened. She truly wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Zhou family. She was talking about her eldest son’s youngest grandson, a legitimate young master. She was sincere in her intentions, you know. Zhou Shuren’s eldest son was nothing much, and he already held an official position of the fifth rank.

The Qi Clan scoffed, knowing that the Min estate had no future, let alone the astute Zhou family. Even if it was not the youngest grandson, not even the eldest grandson of the Min estate would tempt the Zhou family.

The Qi Clan fanned herself, "Some people always fail to see themselves clearly."

Lady Liu sneered, "Still better than some who cannot return to their own family, and who are having a difficult time in Mr. Ran’s household, I presume."

Don’t think she was unaware that the Qi family clan supported the Third Prince, Lady Ranqi did not heed the Qi family clan’s advice, cutting off relations, and also severing many of Mr. Ran’s connections.

Zhulan, upon hearing this, truly did not know. Every time she met with the Qi Clan, she was always cheerful, showing no signs of trouble at all.

The Qi Clan’s smile did not change, looking at Lady Liu as if she was ignorant, "One knows one’s own affairs best, you had better take good care of the Min estate!"

Lady Liu frowned, but seeing the officials’ families look at her, she moved her lips. It was not suitable to cause a commotion now. She snorted and lowered her head to drink tea.

The Qi Clan’s eyes curved with amusement. She could not be more content, it was not her daughter who brought this about, but her husband. She could not do anything to harm her own daughter, and thus did not listen to her father. Her father was furious, and she once feared the consequences would affect her husband.

When her father acted against her husband, she completely gave up on her own family. Ultimately, her husband was open with her, and, unexpectedly, he was a man of the Emperor, always loyal to the Emperor. The hardships they faced were only temporary, and everything would get better. Freed from the burden of her family clan, she now lived a carefree life.

Zhulan was joined by Madame Tao, who came over to chat with Wu Ning. Wu Ning was initially nervous, but then relaxed. Zhulan watched from the side, satisfied with Wu Ning’s polite and appropriate behavior and conversation.

At Zhou family village, Jiang Sheng arrived home, and Xue Mei walked out with her pregnant belly, "How is Magistrate Dong’s condition?"

Jiang Sheng supported his wife, "It’s not good. The doctor said that my master can only rest quietly from now on, and should not worry too much anymore."

Xue Mei sighed, "How could the carriage have overturned, did they find out anything?"

Jiang Sheng shook his head, "Nothing was found. It might have just been bad timing. I’ve seen my master, and he feels that he can’t continue as the county magistrate."

Xue Mei was very disappointed. Having Mr. Dong as the county magistrate was like having a family member in the position. As long as the county magistrate was there, he could protect her husband. Without the county magistrate, many conveniences would be lost. Though her father could also protect them, he was, after all, a bit distant, "I hope Mr. Dong recovers soon."

Jiang Sheng thought of his master’s children and grandchildren, feeling a chill in his heart. With the master lying in bed, the focus of the room was more on the future, and he saw the disappointment in his master’s eyes, "Actually, it’s not so bad to step down. The master isn’t young anymore. Stepping down to recuperate, he can enjoy some peaceful blessings."

Xue Mei smiled and nodded, "Yes."

In the evening at the Zhou residence, Zhou Shuren came home, changed his clothes, and sat down for dinner. He was so distracted that Zhulan, watching him, lost her appetite as well. When Zhou Shuren put down his chopsticks and the old nanny Song went to the kitchen, Zhulan asked, "What are you thinking about? You seem so out of it."

Zhou Shuren replied, "I went back to the examination hall today and took another careful look around."

Zhulan waited for him to continue, but Zhou Shuren paused, "And then?"

Zhou Shuren blinked, "I saw a candidate, guess who he resembled?"

Zhulan locked eyes with Zhou Shuren. The two understood each other very well, and for Zhou Shuren to ask such a question suggested the resemblance was to someone very significant. Her mind raced, and she pointed upward, "Is it?"

Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yes, I checked each candidate and, from the side, he really looked especially like the Emperor’s profile. Not only was I stunned at the time, but Mr. Wang was too. I made sure to look at his face directly, and it was about forty percent similar."

My goodness, all these years, and this is the first time he’s been dumbstruck!

Zhulan’s heart skipped a beat, "Surely he’s not the same age as the Fifth Prince too!"

Zhou Shuren looked at Zhulan with approval, "You guessed it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been so startled. There are many who share a similar appearance, but it’s much rarer for them to be the same age."

Zhulan still thought it was a bit too coincidental, "Even if they are the same age, you forget about last year’s real and fake Fifth Prince. It’s not hard to create a similar face!"

Zhou Shuren suppressed the doubts in his heart, "So I’ve been thinking, feeling like I’ve overlooked something."

Zhulan lowered her voice, "It would be nice if this were modern times, a simple paternity test would clear it all up, but in ancient times, it’s just so unreliable."

Zhou Shuren agreed that a paternity test would be quite convenient in ancient times, "But, following the principle of ’less is more,’ I will pretend I didn’t see anything. After all, the Emperor doesn’t know I suspect the Fifth Prince is an impostor. Whether it’s by chance, a deliberate setup, or truly the Fifth Prince, I will act ignorant. There are many similar faces in this vast world, it’s best not to care, not to ask, not to guess."

Zhulan giggled, "Standing steady like a mountain, aren’t we?"

Finally, a smile appeared on Zhou Shuren’s face, "Exactly, I’m going to play with my son."

Zhulan watched Zhou Shuren playing with their son, a smile curling her lips. It was for the best. Zhou Shuren had enough worries as it was; it was better not to meddle.

The following morning, as soon as Zhou Shuren arrived at the government office, he saw Mr. Wang standing guard-like at the entrance. Zhou Shuren was speechless, "This seems to be the first time you’re here this early since your youngest son was born. You really think you’re a guardian deity? Don’t block the way."

Mr. Wang’s eyes were bruised-looking as he stepped aside and followed Zhou Shuren into the establishment, motioning for Jingyan to keep his distance and carefully closing the door, "Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Shuren’s mouth twitched, "Why are you closing the door? Is our conversation that shameful?"

There was a depressive quality to Mr. Wang’s voice, "Can’t you be normal for once?"

Zhou Shuren sat down, "I’m normal now, speak."

Mr. Wang leaned in, bending over, "Last night, I thought about it. The Emperor’s attitude towards the Fifth Prince is off, Mr. Zhou. Look, out of the Emperor’s five sons, aside from cherishing the Crown Prince, the Emperor shows affection for the Second, Third, and Fourth. As long as they aren’t too out of line, he always handles them with care. So why be so harsh on the Fifth Prince?"

Last night, when he thought about it, he scared himself half to death. His heart pounded the whole night, and in his mind echoed his father’s assessment of the Emperor: ruthless yet affectionate.