Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 703

The second wife, Lady Zhao, immediately recognized her younger brother’s handwriting upon receiving the letter. The once little child had now also become a young boy.

Lady Zhao did not rush to open the letter, her mind pondering what it could be about.

In the capital, Zhou Shuren returned home early, to Zhulan’s surprise, "You’ve come back early today. I thought I would have to wait until night!"

Zhou Shuren’s face was filled with joy, "We won, we’ve achieved victory. After a few days of stability, we should be able to return to the capital."

Zhulan was stunned for a moment before realizing that they had won on the northeastern border. It had been a long time since she had paid attention, "This ended rather quickly. I thought it would drag on!"

The main reason was the continuous small skirmishes, where victories outnumbered losses. She really thought it would keep probing like this!

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "I don’t know much, only that we lured the enemy deep in and then annihilated most of their main force. We took the initiative to attack and won."

In her heart, Zhulan thought, although Zhou Shuren hadn’t said much, the process must have been fraught with danger, "Yao Zheyu must have contributed to the victory!"

Zhou Shuren spread his hands, "I’m not sure about that. All I know is the Emperor mentioned something in passing, then he got busy, and I took my leave."

Zhulan smiled gleefully, "Ah, I had Wu Ming help me buy quite a few shops. Give it a year or two, and their prices are sure to rise."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "Right. The Emperor is busy these days, so I don’t need to enter the palace, which is like being on holiday for me. I can keep you company for a few days."

Zhulan was extremely happy, "Really?!"

"Of course it’s true."

Zhulan turned around, "I’ll go find clothes for you. Perfect, you can accompany me to the Wang Estate."

Zhou Shuren pulled Zhulan back, "Stop looking. I’m not going to the Wang Estate; Old Master Wang isn’t even there."

Zhulan slapped her forehead, "Right, I got so excited I forgot. Old Master Wang is a high-ranking official."

Zhou Shuren was also happy, finally having some relaxed days, "I came back early today, I’ll go change clothes first, and then we can take a walk in the garden."

"Sure."

At Zhou’s residence in Jinzhou Province, Lady Zhao quickly finished reading the letter and sat on the chair, lost in thought. Yushuang asked, "Mother, what does the letter say?"

Lady Zhao’s eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.

Yushuang panicked, "Mother."

But her mother just cried, and Yushuang took the letter to read for herself, also stunned, "Grandmother passed away?"

Lady Zhao’s tears kept falling. With her mother’s death, all her resentments faded away, leaving only the memories of her mother’s kindness, "How could she have gone so suddenly?"

She thought that because her mother cared so much for her younger brother, she would surely live well, watching him marry and have children. But now she had passed away.

Yushuang handed her mother a handkerchief. She did not feel much for her grandmother. The news saddened her too, but not as deeply as it did her mother. Her eyes reddened a bit, and she sat beside her mother for company.

After crying, Lady Zhao took the letter and read it carefully again, especially the last part, "Your uncle writes that he will not heed your grandmother’s last words to come here, insisting on staying in Lizhou to live by himself."

Lady Zhao was relieved that her brother had grown up but also worried about him. Now that their mother was gone, she felt he was closer to her.

Yushuang looked at the letter, "Uncle says he is doing well at the Academy. Mother, if you’re worried, you can speak to grandmother about asking granduncle to take care of uncle. If you’re still concerned, you could have father send a young servant to look after uncle."

Lady Zhao wiped away her tears, "You’re more thoughtful."

Yushuang hesitated before speaking, "Mother, you should write back first. I’ll go tell my fourth aunt about this."

Lady Zhao hoarsely agreed, "Okay."

She said that in recent days, she’d been having dreams and feeling anxious—it turned out to be because of her mother’s death. Lady Zhao felt more sadness and grief. Receiving the letter delivered in haste, she knew her mother had been buried and the seventh-day mourning period was over, yet she never once dreamed of her mother.

In the fourth wife’s quarters, Su Xuan listened to Yushuang’s words, "You go back and keep your mother company. The task of sending a letter to the capital, I’ll have your fourth uncle write it, and it will be sent to the capital first thing tomorrow morning."

Yushuang was also worried about her mother, "Thank you, fourth aunt. I’ll go back now."

Su Xuan waited until Yushuang had left. "I really didn’t expect it to be this matter. That being said, our second brother-in-law’s younger brother does seem to be quite ambitious."

Chang Zhi had met Qian Keqi. "Originally, Dad was worried that Lady Fang wouldn’t raise him well. The Academy recommended was also residential. I visited this child last time I went back to Lizhou Province, and he was quite polite and well-mannered. Still not bad."

Su Xuan said, "You go write a letter."

She listened and knew enough not to ask further, implying she wasn’t particularly interested in the second wife’s brother.

"Alright."

In the capital, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren arrived at the garden where all the flowers had been taken care of and were growing quite well.

Zhou Shuren walked with his hands clasped behind his back, which Zhulan found displeasing regardless of how she looked at it. "You already don’t stand up straight as it is, and now with your hands behind your back while walking, you really look like a little old man."

Zhou Shuren clasped his hands behind his back just to stretch his shoulders. "Alright, alright, I won’t do it anymore."

Zhulan said, "The weather is nice today. Let’s eat outside for dinner!"

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard. "I haven’t eaten roast lamb leg for a long time. Let’s have roast lamb leg and rack for dinner tonight."

He was indeed quite craving it!

Zhulan smiled, "Sure."

As she spoke, Zhou Shuren didn’t bother to stroll in the garden anymore, signaled the old lady servant to head to the kitchen to pass the message, and walked back.

Chang Lian and Rongchuan returned home and changed their clothes. They hadn’t yet reached the entrance of the main courtyard when they smelled a delicious scent. Chang Lian quickened his pace, then froze. There was dirt all over Dad’s face, with grease on his hands. This image left Chang Lian hesitating as he called out, "Dad."

Zhou Shuren didn’t feel there was anything wrong with his appearance at all; in fact, he was proud of it. "Back already, huh?"

Chang Lian stayed silent. It was indeed his dad, but this image was an eyesore. "Dad, why did you start roasting yourself?"

Zhulan laughed, "Your younger brother was whining about wanting something Dad had grilled, so your Dad started doing it himself."

It had been a long time since he had been hands-on, and the situation turned into a chaotic mess, especially with Chang Zhong causing trouble, leaving Zhou Shuren particularly disheveled.

Chang Lian saw his little brother greasy-faced, clearly having indulged quite a bit already, and he felt cravings too, couldn’t help but reach out for some meat from his little brother’s plate.

However, as soon as Chang Lian extended his hand, it was smacked away.

Zhou Shuren put down the knife he was holding and stood up. "If you want some, do it yourself. That’s for your little brother. You’re all grown up and still want to take from him, you should be ashamed."

Chang Lian, "...."

Different treatment, definite different treatment. Compared to his little brother, he felt like he had been picked up from the streets.

Rongchuan’s gaze never left Xue Han. Sitting beside Xue Han, he took the plate she handed over, tenderness brimming in his eyes, "You’ve worked hard."

Xue Han became a little embarrassed. "I didn’t do it, the kitchen maid did."

Rongchuan, unfazed, replied, "Even carrying a plate can be tiring, so you’ve still worked hard."

Xue Han, "...."

No, she wasn’t tired at all. They were all at the same table; she just carried it over.

Zhulan listened intently; she realized that Rongchuan’s sweet talk was getting smoother. She silently moved her seat away a bit.

Zhou Shuren fed his son and blew on a piece of meat to cool it down, extending it towards Zhulan’s mouth. "It’s not hot now, eat."

Zhulan’s ears reddened a bit. This man, no matter his age, was still feeding her in front of the kids.

Rongchuan watched the meat on his own plate, inexplicably feeling like he had lost!

Chang Lian looked at Dad and Mom, twitching at the corner of his mouth. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that Dad was doing it on purpose, definitely on purpose!