Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1297: No Chance of Deception

Rongchuan thought for a moment and then said: "There is also a lot of ice in my younger brother’s residence, and the master of the Qin Prince Residence only has three people, so they can’t use all the ice. My brother will send some to the palace on another day."

He wasn’t offering ice because Rong Yushang had sent some, but because he genuinely wanted to. He had seen several times how the Emperor sparingly used the ice in his study.

The Emperor said to his beloved brother, "Good, I will not stand on ceremony with you."

Zhou Shuren’s vacation passed in a flash. Why does time fly so swiftly? He spent the remaining leisure days serving the Crown Prince, and as a result, he didn’t even get to examine his granddaughter as he had planned.

When Zhou Shuren returned to the Ministry of Revenue, he could sense the admiring looks from Director Wang, "Hmm?"

Director Wang was the Emperor’s confidant, often hearing the Emperor speak highly of how capable Zhou Shuren was, having fought his way through the ranks with pride. Even though Zhou Shuren had indeed achieved much, many still believed that his success was largely due to his maternal family’s influence.

In the absence of Director Zhou from the Ministry of Revenue, Director Wang deeply realized that the Chief of Staff was missing, yet the Ministry functioned normally. He questioned how many could achieve what Zhou Shuren did.

After Director Wang left, Zhou Shuren quietly asked Qiu Yan, "What’s with him?"

Qiu Yan chuckled, "He admires you."

Zhou Shuren also smiled contentedly, quite flattered indeed!

Prince Chu arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, well, his face was gloomy. Zhou Shuren looked at the Zhezi and immediately allocated silver. Prince Chu was heading to Jiangnan to purchase medicinal herbs for the Imperial Hospital.

Zhou Shuren was puzzled. Every year, there would be designated herb merchants supplying the Imperial Hospital with herbs in the capital. If it were not for an instruction personally penned by the Emperor, he really would not have allocated the silver so readily. Well, it was also because he knew that the herbs for the Imperial Hospital should not be delayed, thus he was always prompt about disbursing funds for their purchase.

Naturally, Prince Chu noticed Zhou Shuren’s confusion, his expression still sour. All the dirty work falls to him, haha, ostensibly going to purchase herbs, but covertly, it was an investigation into the noble families. "This great task awarded to me, I owe it to Prince Qin!"

Zhou Shuren played dumb and swiftly stamped the document, "You can go get the silver now."

Prince Chu gritted his teeth, spat, Rongchuan must have been taught by that cunning old fox, he took the Zhezi and turned to leave, as if he was so eager to see Zhou Shuren’s face.

Zhou Shuren called over Jin Yan; he had been resting at home for many days, and Rongchuan had rarely come over, so he really didn’t know what had happened, "Go and find out some news."

Unfortunately, Jin Yan did not discover anything; such covert investigations naturally would not have leaked information. This time even Rongchuan kept his mouth shut tight, the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager were in Jiangzhou Province after all. It was a matter of their safety, not a word could be disclosed.

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, if Rongchuan wouldn’t speak, it could only mean that the matter was significant. Thinking of the Retired Emperor in Jiangnan and that Prince Chu had also gone to Jiangnan, envy appeared in Zhou Shuren’s eyes, it seems a grand scheme was afoot.

Prince Chu received the silver, immediately after he cornered Prince Qin, "You’re quite the capable one, eh? All you had to do was speak a word to your brother, and I never refused to help you."

And yet you trap me like this; a business trip in the sweltering heat is one thing, but is Jiangnan that easy to investigate?

Rongchuan offered a rueful smile, "Isn’t third brother the most experienced among us? Among the brothers, only the third has the most expertise."

"You are talking about your Fourth Brother, Prince Liang, who has more experience than I do. After all, the Qi family clan was crippled under his watch."

Talking about this still made Prince Chu livid.

Rongchuan tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Third brother is joking. Fourth brother can’t leave the capital."

Even if he could leave the capital, Fourth brother would not go. If it weren’t for occasional encounters with Fourth brother, the capital would nearly have forgotten about Prince Liang. It shows how low-key the Prince Liang Residence is.

Prince Chu took a deep breath, "This prince doesn’t care, this business trip, you owe this prince a favor."

Rongchuan, "..."

Waiting here for him, pfft, favors aren’t easily repaid.

Rongchuan smiled sincerely, "If the third brother is unwilling, your younger brother can reply to the Emperor on behalf of the brother."

Prince Chu, "...Is it so difficult for you to owe your brother a favor?"

"I’m afraid I can’t repay it, and besides, I’m helping you as well, third brother."

"Help me?"

Rongchuan stepped back twice before saying, "The estate of the Third Brother is bustling with excitement. Inside and out, it’s unbearable. I just gave Third Brother a hand, so now that he’s not in the residence, it has quieted down."

Prince Chu, "...You little rascal, don’t run, I swear I’ll thrash you to death."

Rongchuan ran even faster. If someone was going to beat him to death, why wouldn’t he run? How foolish it would be not to!

Today, Zhulan went to Qin Prince Residence. Her daughter’s belly was getting big, and she was living alone in the prince’s residence. Today, the weather was overcast but still bearable, so Zhulan went to see her daughter.

She also brought a few of her younger granddaughters, who could play with Lin Xi.

Upon arriving at Qin Prince Residence, she saw a carriage from Qi Prince Residence parked at the gate. Today was quite a coincidence; Princess Qi was also visiting.

Yu Die had only been to Qin Prince Residence twice before — the first time was when Xue Han moved in, and the second was after the New Year, due to the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s presence, Zhulan had not brought her granddaughters over.

As Yu Die walked into Qin Prince Residence, she whispered to Yu Yi, "Every time I come here, I feel that auntie’s house is huge. It always takes a long time to walk through."

Yu Yi felt helpless towards her sister who was too energetic. She quickly glanced at the Female Officer leading the way and said, "Because it’s a prince’s residence."

Yu Die uttered an "oh" and mumbled, "Anyway, when I grow up, I don’t want to live in such a large residence. It’s too big."

Even her own home felt large to her, not to mention a prince’s residence.

Yu Yi thought to herself that how large a residence she would live in the future depended on whom she married, and she could not move into her dowry residence even if it was large.

Yu Wen, on the other hand, suddenly stretched out her chubby hand and pulled on her sister Yu Yi’s sleeve. It’s much less effort to walk with a sister leading the way.

Yu Yi, "..."

She felt like she should be ranked as the third, wondering why it felt like she was looking after two younger sisters.

When they reached the main courtyard of the prince’s residence, Xue Han stood up to greet her mother, "Mother."

With that single word, "mother," the longing of Xue Han was expressed.

Zhulan, seeing her daughter’s complexion was good, felt relieved. She then turned to Princess Qi and said, "I’ve seen Princess Qi."

Princess Qi, "Madam is being too formal. Are these young ladies your granddaughters?"

Zhulan smiled, "Yes, they are a few of the younger granddaughters in my family."

Princess Qi observed the three girls and could tell at a glance that their personalities varied: one had sparkling, lively eyes; another was serene; and the third was endearingly naive.

Princess Qi had two rambunctious boys and was very fond of little girls, "Madam is blessed."

Zhulan liked hearing her children being praised, "Thank you for the compliments, Princess Consort."

Yu Die and the others had good manners; they greeted the princess consort proper and quiet.

Xue Han knew her nieces quite well. The children weren’t comfortable staying here, so Zhulan said to the Female Officer, "Take them to find Lin Xi to play."

Yu Die happily winked at her little aunt, and Xue Han smiled along.

Princess Qi’s gaze lingered on the lively little girl, then shifted to the serene one.

Zhulan noticed and spoke to her daughter, "Last time, you mentioned you were missing the pickles made by your sister-in-law. She made some for you, and I brought them over."

Xue Han, slightly suffering from summer heat, had difficulty eating much but was missing her sister-in-law’s pickles, "Then I must thank sister-in-law."

Princess Qi’s attention was brought back to the present.