Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 717: Meeting_1

Early the next morning, Chang Lian and Rongchuan dressed neatly, and Lady Dong inspected them carefully one final time. Only after ensuring everything was in order did she let them leave.

Lady Dong saw her husband off into the carriage, and only after the carriage had departed did she return to the courtyard. Hearing her daughter call out for dad, Lady Dong picked her up, "Dad has gone out, Mom will play with you."

Yu Yi’s eyelashes were incredibly long, and when she blinked, she looked especially endearing. In a milky voice, she called, "Mom."

Lady Dong kissed her daughter, "Yes."

Their daughter was considered a late talker. She hadn’t compared her to her younger uncle but in relation to normal children. Even when her daughter didn’t speak, now that she had finally begun speaking, both she and her husband were incredibly excited. It was their first time being parents, and their daughter calling them mom and dad meant something different.

Lady Dong held her daughter’s little hand and walked slowly, "Yu Yi needs to grow up quickly."

Yu Yi looked up, "Big."

The maid behind them said, "The young miss can say ’big’ now."

Lady Dong smiled, "Yes, she can."

She needed to go back and write a letter to her mother-in-law. Good news should be shared. Keeping in regular correspondence with her mother-in-law also strengthened the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, preventing them from becoming strangers in the absence of face-to-face interactions.

In Jinzhou Province, Zhulan and Mrs. Tao had made plans to visit the temple to offer prayers. As Zhao’s family and Zhou Lao Er were also joining, this time Zhulan did not bring Lady Li. Since the eldest son had returned, Lady Li had stopped coming to the main residence, spending all day revolving around her eldest son. The couple’s playful squabbles showed the depth of their affection!

Zhulan traveled alone in one carriage, while Zhao’s family and Zhou Lao Er shared another. Initially, Zhao’s family had wanted to bring Yushuang along, and if it hadn’t been for the matters concerning the Ma family, Zhulan would have agreed. But now, caution was best.

When the carriages arrived outside the city, they waited a while for Mrs. Tao to arrive. Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Mrs. Tao got out of her carriage and explained, "The little tyrant at home wouldn’t let me go, so that’s why I’m late."

Zhulan wiped her forehead with a handkerchief, "You’re not really late, let’s go on up."

The weather today was not great, somewhat sultry!

Mrs. Tao had brought her daughter, but Yushuang was nowhere to be seen, "You didn’t bring Yushuang along?"

As they walked, Zhulan explained, "She’s been betrothed, and besides, she’s grown up; it’s best not to bring her to such crowded places."

Mrs. Tao paused, "You and Magistrate Zhou are certainly cautious."

Zhulan smiled, "Caution is the parent of safety. It’s never wrong to be careful where possible."

Mrs. Tao truly admired the Yang family by this point. However, Zhulan’s concerns were valid; the higher one climbed in office, the more dangers lurked in the shadows, especially for women, who were the easiest targets. Glancing at her daughter, she resolved that her daughter too should avoid crowds in the future.

At the mountain’s peak, Zhou Lao Er let go of his mother’s arm, "Mom, I’ll come to find you with Zhao’s family in a bit."

Zhulan thought to herself that sons indeed had strength. Although Lady Li was not weak, climbing the mountain was still a chore for herself, unlike with Chang Yi, who had taken her up the mountain, making it the most relaxed climb she had ever experienced, "Okay."

Mrs. Tao, full of envy, remarked, "Having a son by your side is truly a blessing."

Zhulan fanned herself with her fan, "You have a son too."

"It’s not the same. Our family has so few sons, and my precious boys, having heavy schoolwork from a young age for the sake of the family—I tell you, I’ve had so little time with my eldest son. When he was little, he was with his grandfather; as he grew, he acted like a little adult, no longer close to me."

Zhulan patted Mrs. Tao’s hand. This was the life of a woman from a large family, managing the back house, giving birth to children, with many of their own sons growing up to be practically strangers.

In the capital, Chang Lian and Rongchuan had arrived at the Duke Residence for a while now. They had only met Marquis Ning, and even the Princely Heir was nowhere to be seen. What about the promised meeting with Duke Ning?

Chang Lian found it difficult to drink any more tea, having nearly finished a whole pot; no matter how exquisite the tea was, he could no longer stomach it, yet he could not ask any questions and could only occupy himself with the teacup to pass the time.

Rongchuan looked at Marquis Ning with an indescribable expression. What was the meaning of drinking tea in silence?

Ning Xu had no other choice; the old master and his second brother were afraid that meeting the father directly would be too much to handle. In the end, they devised a plan to first take a secret glimpse. The doctor was on standby just in case, and only then would the father come out to meet Rongchuan.

The second brother had to watch over the father to prevent any accidents, so he was the one entertaining at the fore. He could not ask about Hanlin Academy work, and he was embarrassed to discuss poetry and essays, as learning was something he disliked since his youth. As for inquiring about personal life, delving too deep would be inappropriate considering they weren’t that familiar, so all he could do was endure.

Inside the room, Duke Ning gazed at Rongchuan under the tree outside, his cloudy eyes not even blinking as tears fell of their own accord, "So alike, just too alike."

Ning Hui counted the time; the father had been looking at Rongchuan for quite a while, maintaining the same state since he first laid eyes on him, muttering repeatedly how striking the resemblance was, "Father, it has been half an hour."

It was a relief that the old master was alright, but crying continuously was not a solution. "Will you be able to come out later?" he wondered.

Duke Ning let out a deep breath; his heart still ached, and wiping away tears, he felt an emptiness, sitting dazed for half a day. When the family doctor approached to take his pulse, Duke Ning waved him away. He was fine, just overwhelmed with the fervent desire to see his eldest son. Now that he had, the ensuing bitterness was all he felt, and he needed time to collect himself.

After a while, Duke Ning applied something to his eyes. The discomfort in his eyes subsided, and he slowly stood up. "Let’s go out," he said.

No sooner had these words fallen than Duke Ning heard Zhi Xiang’s voice. He turned his head to look at his second son, "Why has Zhi Xiang come over?"

Ning Hui felt uncomfortable under his father’s gaze. "Father, I didn’t call for Zhi Xiang. He has met Rongchuan before, so he might have some guesses. I suppose he’s here to probe."

Duke Ning snorted, "Don’t think that just because your father has aged, I am unaware of what’s going on."

Ning Hui’s face burned, as he had been entertaining some thoughts. "Father," he said.

Duke Ning waved his hand, "Enough, let’s go out."

Zhi Xiang had just sat down when he heard the door opening. He saw his grandfather and father come out together. His fingertips twitched slightly; grandfather and father had been inside the whole time, why come out now? His gaze landed on Rongchuan, and there lay the reason.

Chang Lian and Rongchuan quickly stood up to greet him, "We meet Duke Ning."

Duke Ning’s emotions were stable now, but his voice was somewhat hoarse, "Please, sit."

With the help of his son, Duke Ning took his seat, "Once a person gets older, the legs don’t work as well. To be young is truly a blessing—to see both of you young men makes me feel much younger myself."

Chang Lian and Rongchuan waited for Duke Ning to be seated before they took their seats again; however, they found it difficult to respond to such words, so silence seemed the best option.

Ning Xu said, "Father, once you have rested and recovered, you should live a long and healthy life."

In the past, Duke Ning would have retorted to his eldest son, but not now; he had a new source of spiritual support, "Ah, indeed, I should take good care of myself."

Though Rongchuan was his grandson, he was different from the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, raised within the palace walls and being of royal status, was inscrutable, and Duke Ning could only understand so much of him since as much separated a monarch and a subject.

Rongchuan, however, was different; not having been raised in the palace, he was simpler, and coupled with his resemblance to Duke Ning’s eldest son, the Duke felt as if he was looking at his eldest son reincarnated.

Rongchuan, holding his teacup, noticed Duke Ning’s gaze resting on him several times. So, was he truly a child of the Duke Residence? Yet, why was the Princely Heir so indifferent?