Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 583: A Knife_1

Scholar Deng said, "Sir, the first reason is that I miss my son and haven’t seen him for a long time, so I want to visit him. Second, sir, you asked me to surveil Mr. Jiang, and I’ve discovered that he has had contact with the Hou Residence."

Zhou Shuren looked at Scholar Deng, thinking this man was somewhat obsessed with his son. If he remembered correctly, it had only been half a month since Deng Yun returned from the capital!

Feeling somewhat embarrassed under Zhou Shuren’s gaze, Scholar Deng coughed, "There’s only myself as the master of the house, and after a long time, I just can’t help missing Deng Yun."

Zhou Shuren squinted his eyes, "Now that you have a house and silver again, haven’t you thought about remarrying?"

Scholar Deng hurriedly waved his hands, "No, I’m truly frightened by the thought."

Zhou Shuren did not ask further, after all, it was Scholar Deng’s private affair, "After you return, continue to keep an eye on Jiang Ming."

Scholar Deng replied, "Yes."

Zhou Shuren pondered, he felt that it would be better for Jiang Ming to be demoted. If he continued to act recklessly, Jiang Ming was bound to bring about his own downfall, and Zhou Shuren did not want to get dragged down because of him. He could only blame Jiang Ming for being too exuberant, exceeding his tolerance threshold.

Seeing that Zhou Shuren was deep in thought, Scholar Deng rose to leave. Stepping out of the study, his steps were light as he went to see his son. Scholar Deng thought to himself that sons are truly wonderful, and he couldn’t help but think of his daughter. After he had started anew, his daughter wanted to return, but he remembered her leaving without any hesitation, and he just couldn’t get over it in his heart.

In the backyard, Zhulan saw Yushuang approaching, "Let grandma have a look, is Yushuang unhappy in her heart?"

Yushuang was taken aback, "Grandma, I’m not unhappy."

Zhulan pointed at her own eyes, "These don’t lie."

Twiddling a handkerchief in her fingertips, Yushuang bowed her head, "Grandma, it’s not that I’m unhappy, I just feel disappointed."

Zhulan understood. Today, Lady Li took Yu Lu and Ming Hui out shopping. In the past, Yushuang and Yu Lu hardly ever went out, but after more duties fell upon the Zhou family, and the girls caught someone’s attention, they no longer left the house. Now that Yu Lu had gone out, Yushuang felt disappointed, "Do you also want to go out shopping?"

Not wanting to lie to her grandmother, Yushuang nodded, "Yes."

Zhulan stroked her eldest granddaughter’s face, "Then go, but you can’t go out alone. Wait for your father to come back and let him take you out."

Yushuang was delighted in her heart, thinking she wouldn’t be allowed to go out, "Thank you, grandma."

Zhulan smiled. Now, Yushuang rarely used her hair to cover her face inside the residence. The young girl had grown up and was no longer as exquisitely cute as she was when she was younger, but she had grown into a beauty nonetheless, "Wear a veiled hat when you go out."

Yushuang nodded, "Yes."

Zhulan watched Yushuang’s eyes sparkle with excitement, realizing that though the girl was mature in her heart, she was still a child. She couldn’t help but feel emotional, realizing that Yushuang was now ten years old and would have to be engaged in a few more years. Thinking of the dowry, Zhulan calculated that she already had four granddaughters and there would be even more in the future; she would have to continue saving for their dowries.

No sooner had Yushuang left than Chang Lian came in, "Mother, where is father?"

Zhulan was surprised, "Your father is in the study, didn’t you see him?"

Chang Lian shook his head, "I went to the study, but father wasn’t there."

Zhulan said, "He didn’t come back to the backyard either, probably something came up and he went out. Do you have something for your father?"

Chang Lian said, "Mother, Meng Jie told me that a Scholar named Shen inquired about my preferences yesterday, and today I ran into Scholar Shen at the library. He seemed to be looking for father."

Zhulan’s first thought was of Shen Yang, realizing he hadn’t left Jinzhou Province the day before, "What do you think of Scholar Shen?"

Chang Lian recalled, "I chatted with him a bit, Scholar Shen is knowledgeable, but he seemed too arrogant for my taste."

Zhulan was quite curious about Shen Yang’s information, but unfortunately, she and Zhou Shuren didn’t want to get involved, so they hadn’t looked into him at all. However, to develop such an arrogant character, his family’s background must be considerable, "When your father comes back, I’ll talk to him about it."

Chang Lian stayed, "Mother, I was thinking of setting off for our old home after father’s birthday."

Unfortunately, because of the rural exams, he would not be able to attend his mother’s birthday.

Zhulan frowned slightly, "Yu Yi is too young; she can’t go back with you."

Chang Lian looked somewhat embarrassed, "Mother, I’ve been thinking of hiring a wet nurse."

Zhulan looked at Chang Lian, "What you mean is, you take Lady Dong back, and leave the child in the residence to be cared for by a wet nurse?"

Chang Lian had considered leaving Lady Dong behind, but long ago he had promised her, "Mother, Chu Chu misses her family, and besides, we do not know when Chu Chu can return."

Zhulan thought about Mr. Dong’s decisiveness, "Leave the matter of the wet nurse to me; after you leave, I will take Yu Yi back to the main courtyard."

Chang Lian, grinning, "Thank you, mother."

Zhulan smiled too—who asked her to be the mother!

After Chang Lian left, Zhulan pondered the matter of the wet nurse, calculating the days; there would be ample time to find one.

Descending, Zhou Shuren had just returned, and Zhulan smelled alcohol, "Where have you been drinking?"

Zhou Shuren, "I had a drink today with the Princely Heir."

Zhulan did not believe it was just about drinking, "Do you have business with the Princely Heir?"

Zhou Shuren let out a sound of acknowledgment, "Mmm, indeed there is a matter."

Seeing that Zhou Shuren had no intention of explaining, she did not ask, and mentioned Shen Yang’s intent, "It seems to me that Shen Yang wants to become an apprentice."

Zhou Shuren, with a hooked corner of his mouth, "Do you think someone is leading him?"

Zhulan, "I do not know, all I know is that, if becoming related to you is beneficial to him, that’ll be enough."

Regardless of whether it was true or false, Shen Yang’s path would be much smoother with Zhou Shuren’s approval; he would certainly draw more attention.

Zhou Shuren, "So, I cannot become related to him in any way; I always have a feeling."

Zhulan grew curious, "What do you feel?"

Zhou Shuren lowered his voice, "I always feel that because of my disregard, this desire to become an apprentice arose."

Zhulan’s expression turned serious, "Do you mean, someone guessed that you know the fifth prince in the capital is a fake?"

Zhou Shuren fiddled with his Jade Pendant, "Now, I suppose they dare not be sure."

Zhulan laughed, because Zhou Shuren’s disregard led to uncertainty, "So, disregard is still the best option."

In the capital, Zhang Jinghong excitedly returned to his residence, holding in his hands a list of suspects he had compiled during the day; his mood was very joyous indeed, this task was truly worthwhile, no wonder his brothers fought over it.

Zhang Jinghong looked at the list again—it must be investigated, perhaps it contains men of his brothers.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor asked the Crown Prince, "Has the second son returned to the residence?"

The Crown Prince, "Yes."

The Emperor chuckled, "The second brother’s responses are quick; the people they send out of the city are all overt agents."

The Crown Prince’s gaze grew heavy; thus, it was not surprising he clashed with his brothers. Apart from the fifth brother’s slow reactions, the others knew what to do upon hearing the news; the people they sent out of the city had no issues at all.

The Emperor looked up from the Zhezi, "I hope the fifth brother handles his task swiftly."

The Crown Prince, head bowed, thought his father gave the task to the fifth brother to use him as a pawn.

In the Second Prince’s residence, the Second Prince furrowed his brow; he did not think the third and fourth brothers would make such a blunder, so whose men were on the list the fifth brother received?

The Third Prince smiled with a hint of amusement, "This is interesting; I thought I knew the capital well, but it turns out there are hidden elements."

The Fourth Prince, on the other hand, thought further; what exactly was his father’s intention, and why give such an important task to the fifth brother?