Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1296: Deceiving Superiors and Subordinates

Chapter 1296: Chapter 1296: Deceiving Superiors and Subordinates

It turns out that His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived. Zhou Shuren’s fingers, which were gripping the book, tightened, causing creases on the pages.

Zhou Shuren stood up and walked to the front courtyard, where the Crown Prince was already sipping cold tea and enjoying pastries, while telling the nearby eunuch, "The Zhou residence certainly has an abundance of ice."

The eunuch nodded repeatedly, his gaze falling on the ice basin, unable to resist the urge to walk over and get closer.

The eunuch also looked at the maids and young servants in the hall, envy flashing in his eyes. The masters in the Palace had cut down on the use of ice, so those like him enjoyed it even less. He was still one of the better off, closely following the Crown Prince and thus able to partake in some luxury, while others were hot to the point of death.

The cool water drawn from the well at night warmed up after a while, not refreshing at all.

Zhou Shuren entered and said, "This official pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince. May I inquire if Your Highness has come to my residence on important business?"

If it’s nothing important, please leave quickly. I was resting, and grinding his teeth inwardly, he thought it was just his luck that the Crown Prince would arrive now.

The Crown Prince smiled genially, "Indeed, I have important business. Today, I especially come to visit the elders on behalf of my father the Emperor."

Zhou Shuren twitched the corners of his mouth. By offering his ice cellar to the fourth uncle, he inadvertently provided the Crown Prince with a legitimate reason to visit the Zhou residence. Regretting it to death, he thought he should have waited until his vacation was over to offer the ice cellar.

His Highness the Crown Prince said, "Since the official is present, may you lead me to visit the elders?"

Zhou Shuren’s forehead was sweaty; it was rather hot walking over from the backyard. Ah, it is not so good having such a large house now, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this way please."

The Crown Prince, too, was reluctant to leave the room, but he had to pay the visit. With reluctance, he glanced one last time at the ice basin and followed Zhou Shuren out.

Rong Yushang was leisurely lying down, eating grapes, and listening to a book.

Zhou Shuren entered and thought to himself, this is the kind of retirement life he had imagined.

In the main courtyard, Yu Die was restless. Having sat for a while, she became fidgety, "Grandma, when will grandpa come back from the front courtyard?"

Zhulan replied, "Your grandpa will not be able to tutor you today."

Yu Die exclaimed, "Why not!"

Zhulan thought to herself, because the Crown Prince won’t leave so easily.

Yu Wen hated summer, not just this year’s summer, but every summer because it was uncomfortable to sleep, easy to perspire, and she frowned like a baozi, "Grandma, then your granddaughter will head back."

Zhulan said, "Alright, take the shaded path on your way back."

Yu Wen glanced out the window at the sunny sky and whimpered, not wanting to go outside. Finally, biting her lip, she stood up and left.

Upon seeing this, Yu Die said, "Grandma, then your granddaughter will go back too."

Zhulan replied, "Good."

The two young girls went back to their courtyards at very different paces; Yu Die moved quickly while Yu Wen walked slowly, frowning every now and then.

Zhou Shuren, leading the Crown Prince along the corridor to the front courtyard, saw Yu Wen frowning upwards at the sky.

Then he saw Yu Wen hop a step, landing in the shade of a tree, and her frown intensified – clearly, the distance to the next tree was too far to jump.

Zhou Shuren, "..."

I mean, granddaughter, instead of pondering over it, you’d better hurry back to your courtyard.

The Crown Prince blinked, clearly discerning the girl’s identity, but he was not willing to linger, "Official."

Zhou Shuren uttered a sound of acknowledgment and quickly led the Crown Prince toward the study. No peace for him today. He pressed at the center of his forehead, regretting once more giving the Emperor a reason to visit.

If it weren’t for a justifiable reason, the Crown Prince would not easily cross the threshold of the Zhou family’s door.

Despite the Crown Prince’s casual attire, heh, he dares say that those who are watching the Crown Prince must already be aware of the news by now.

In Jiangzhou Province, the Retired Emperor and his wife are sitting on a boat. Today, Jiangzhou is overcast with rain, drifting on the lake while sipping tea and listening to the rain. The Retired Emperor says, "This is what living is truly about."

The Empress Dowager, admiring the beautiful scenery, is filled with worry, "Unfortunately, even exquisite landscapes cannot conceal filth and corruption."

The Retired Emperor sets down his teacup, "The farther away from the capital, perhaps the Prefecture City can be somewhat better. Away from the Prefecture City, in the counties, the noble families cover the sky with one hand."

The more he speaks, the angrier the Retired Emperor becomes. There are those who forcibly seize young women, those who usurp farmlands; these days have been truly eventful.

The Empress Dowager pours tea for her husband, "We left the capital to be the Emperor’s eyes, didn’t you already write a letter back to the capital?"

The Retired Emperor, "Abdicating the throne early was the correct decision, I am standing in for the Emperor to oversee this land."

He is the Emperor, and wherever he goes, he sees things from an Emperor’s perspective, which is also the most objective. The information he provides is also the most truthful.

The Empress Dowager, perplexed, says, "I thought you would take action to intervene."

The Retired Emperor gazes at the lake surface, the rain growing heavier, and says solemnly, "My intervention can only address the immediate issues. Once we leave, the deeply entrenched local noble families will only cause the victims to suffer even more gruesomely. It’s better to write back to the Emperor in the capital, conduct a thorough investigation, and deal with it directly. Uprooting the local powers with a single move is the true salvation."

Moreover, he knows too well the madness that comes with desperation. He must consider the safety of himself and his wife. Identifying problems and conducting covert investigations before sending the findings to the capital is the most efficient method.

The Retired Emperor adds, "This year’s promotional articles have been very well received. They’re popular in all provinces. We should run a few more issues on hometown stories. When more voices rise in the future, some of the local powers will be more reserved."

In the Palace, the Emperor is flipping through a letter from his father. The letter is thick, and after reading it, he slams his hand on the table, "Good, very good; deceiving superiors and hoodwinking subordinates, a veritable local despot."

Eunuch Zhang hears the last three words and is terrified, trembling as he tries to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The Emperor, holding the letter, "Summon Prince Qin to the Palace."

Eunuch Zhang quickly runs out, "Yes."

It has been nearly half an hour since Rongchuan entered the Palace, drenched in sweat. The Emperor also pities his brother, "Look at you, all sweaty. Go change your clothes quickly."

This is indeed the treatment for a dear brother. Rongchuan is indeed uncomfortable and goes to the side hall to wipe himself off and changes into clean clothes.

Rongchuan asks, "Your Majesty summoned your subject’s brother here, is there an urgent matter?"

The Emperor hands over the letter to Rongchuan, "This is the letter our father has sent back. Take a look."

Rongchuan quickly finishes reading the letter, his brow furrowed tightly, "This letter really embodies the saying ’the sky is high and the Emperor is far away.’"

The Emperor, with low pressure, "What’s your opinion?"

Rongchuan, "Opinion? This matter is difficult to handle. The local noble families are deeply rooted; cutting off branches without locating the source is pointless."

The Emperor is also aware, "You."

Rongchuan interrupts with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, I’m truly very busy. Your brother believes that Prince Qi and Prince Chu are both capable."

How pleasant it was to compete with the Emperor back then. Both of those older brothers have brains and means. He does not want to add to his own burdens.

The Emperor falls silent; he naturally knows that both Prince Qi and Prince Chu are capable. Not to mention the stance that Prince Qi and Prince Chu have taken, but also since he has just ascended the throne, he is pleased that Prince Qi and Prince Chu have kept a low profile.

Now looking at Rongchuan, hmm, Rongchuan is indeed very busy. The Emperor, fingering a String of Pearls, "Between the two of them, who do you think is more suitable?"

Rongchuan wants to suggest Prince Qi, but after a moment of silence, "Prince Chu is more suitable. Back in the day, the Qi family clan was a well-known noble family in the Jiangnan region. Prince Chu has the deepest understanding of these intricate networks and can truly grasp the pulse of the problem."

The Emperor looks at Rongchuan with satisfaction; what he said aligns perfectly with his thoughts, "I understand."