Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 673 Jade Pendant_1

Following that, three thousand taels were set aside, "These two thousand taels are for the household expenses this year."

Of the remaining twelve thousand taels, Zhulan took out two thousand taels, "This is for the eldest to take to buy a residence and shops for Xue Mei, the rest will be used for ancestral worship."

Zhou Shuren looked at the final ten thousand taels, "How do you plan to use these silver coins?"

Zhulan fiddled with her hair, "I haven’t thought it through."

Zhou Shuren, "Then just put it aside for now."

Following this, Zhou Shuren looked at the various boxes on the table, "We really did save quite a bit over the years."

Zhulan opened each box, "Yes, this box contains the deeds to the shops; this box holds land deeds and manor contracts; and the final box has the indentures of the maids and young servants."

Zhou Shuren pointed to the last box, "What’s inside this one?"

Zhulan opened it and said, "This holds the most valuable Jade Pendant of the Zhou family when I first arrived. My mother-in-law passed away without making it clear, and I have always been carefully preserving it."

Zhou Shuren took out the Jade Pendant to look at it, "I never really examined it closely before, but looking at it now, this Jade Pendant is not something ordinary families would have."

Zhulan took it back, "It’s just a pity that it wasn’t made clear at the beginning, and now it can only be tucked away at the bottom of the chest."

Zhou Shuren saw Zhulan closing the box, "It’s getting late, we should rest early."

Zhulan was indeed tired today, after being busy all day, "Mmm, I need to ask the doctor to see Su Xuan tomorrow. Her eighth month is approaching, and we need to be even more careful."

Zhou Shuren was speechless, "You worry endlessly as soon as you return."

Zhulan rubbed her shoulders, "It’s my fate to worry, alright, let’s rest."

In the capital, the Emperor was reviewing urgent reports from the Dongbei frontier. With the weather just starting to warm up, the foreign clans couldn’t resist any longer and had already fought a battle. With victory earned by the warriors of the Imperial court, the Emperor was greatly delighted. Now that the west was stable, only the Dongbei needed focus. This time, he was determined to subdue the foreign clans from the northeast for good.

The Empress came to bring a late-night snack, "This concubine hadn’t yet entered the shop when she heard the Emperor laughing. Could it be that there is good news?"

The Emperor glanced at the hour, "At this time, why haven’t you rested yet?"

"This concubine was thinking of the Emperor and specially prepared a late-night snack."

The Emperor, pulling the Empress to sit down, felt his relationship with the Empress had improved now that his son had returned. Previously, the Empress would not have prepared a late-night snack for him, let alone bring it personally, "Sit."

The Empress asked, "The Emperor has yet to mention what the good news is? Could it be news from Rongchuan?"

The Emperor laughed, "News of Rongchuan? You’re more up-to-date than I am. Don’t think I don’t know, you receive new information about Rongchuan every day."

The Empress’s heart yearned for her son, and now that she had seen him, she could hardly suppress her longing, "I truly hope that Rongchuan can return to the capital soon."

The Emperor held the Empress’s hand, "Even if the child returns, you won’t be able to see him."

The Empress glared, "Who says so? He is an editor in the Hanlin Academy. If the Emperor can see him often, then naturally, I can too."

She had it all figured out. She would occasionally bring some snacks for the Emperor. After all, with Shen Yang’s fake position on top, who wouldn’t know she was doing it to see Rongchuan?

The Emperor guessed the Empress’s plan and was happy for her to visit more often, "The good news I mentioned earlier was the battle report. We have won a victory."

The Empress no longer cared about that, the Ning Residence wouldn’t have anyone participating in the battle, and she did not wish the Ning Residence to strive for military glory. The descendants of the Ning Residence couldn’t afford any losses.

The next day, news of the outbreak of war reached Jinzhou Province. Zhulan, upon hearing this news, took out the ten thousand silver taels she had not yet allocated. She believed that the Imperial court would surely be the victorious party, but not everyone held confidence in the Imperial court; many people had moved to the central or southern regions last year.

Now that spring had arrived, a decisive battle was imminent. Zhulan called for her eldest son, "Here is fifteen thousand two silver taels; three thousand is for your younger sister’s dowry, two thousand is to buy a residence and two shops in the county town for your younger sister, and two thousand is leftover silver coin for ancestral rituals and hosting banquets. The last ten thousand taels are to be taken to Wu Ming, and have him assist in purchasing estates and land."

Zhou Shuren took the silver, "Mother, the price of estates in the northeast has dropped a lot. Are all these ten thousand taels to be used for buying estates and land?" freeweɓnovel.cøm

Zhulan thought for a moment, "Half for estates and land, the rest for shops."

Forget about residences, since their family had no intention of returning to the borderlands. They would sell the shops once the war was over.

Zhou Shuren committed her words to memory, "Mother, we will set off tomorrow then."

"Mm, be very careful on your journey, especially when you go to meet Wu Ming. This time, Shen Xing will accompany you; make sure to take Shen Xing when you go to Wu Ming."

Zhou Shuren was also afraid of dying, "Mother, rest assured, I will be extra careful."

He still had great fortune to enjoy and absolutely had to live a long, hundred-year life.

Thinking of Wu Ming, Zhulan mused that Wu Ning had been the County Magistrate for a while now, never having been promoted. She wondered when he would move up.

That afternoon, Zhulan received a letter from Xue Mei. After reading it, Zhulan truly had no way to help. She replied to the letter, indicating that Xue Mei should not worry about it anymore; Zhou Residence couldn’t manage this matter.

She took the opportunity to respond, giving the reply to her eldest son to take with him when he departed the next day.

Zhou Shuren returned to his courtyard, "Wife, quickly gather all the silver in the house."

Lady Li was startled, "What are you going to do?"

Zhou Shuren said, "Mother is taking ten thousand taels to entrust Wu Ming with buying estates and shops. I think we should also buy some, forget estates, just shops."

Upon hearing her mother-in-law’s lead, Lady Li immediately went to flip through the chest for the silver notes, struggling to take them out, "It’s a good thing I kept thinking about my third brother and Rongchuan’s civil examinations. I haven’t yet spent any silver on our daughter’s dowry. But I did spend quite a bit last year. It’s all here now, a total of fifteen hundred taels."

Zhou Shuren felt it was too little, "Mother probably doesn’t have much silver left on hand, as she just took out three thousand for your younger sister’s dowry. I can’t borrow from mother."

Lady Li, "Borrow from your fourth brother’s wife; she has silver."

Zhou Shuren was tempted, "As the eldest uncle, it wouldn’t be proper for me to see your fourth sister-in-law. You should go for this, and we’ll pay interest on the loan, say, two thousand taels."

Lady Li put down the chest, "I’ll go right now."

Zhou Shuren said, "I’ll go ask my second and third brothers if they’re interested."

"You go ahead," she replied.

Lady Li went to the fourth room, where Su Xuan was busy supporting her belly as she rose, "Elder sister-in-law, please come in and sit down."

Lady Li, seeing Su Xuan’s belly, felt nervous and didn’t dare sit too close, "Sister-in-law, take it easy, you’re making me worried."

Touching her belly, Su Xuan also felt anxious; stretch marks had appeared on both sides of her waist. Fortunately, her skin wasn’t tight. Although there were some marks, they weren’t obvious; otherwise, she would have been crying, "Elder sister-in-law, you must have something to discuss!"

Lady Li felt a bit embarrassed, "You asked, so I’ll just come out with it. I’m here to borrow silver from you."

Su Xuan knew her elder sister-in-law to be meticulous with money and not one to spend frivolously, "Elder sister-in-law, how much do you need? I’ll get it for you."