Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 705: Guilty Conscience_1

Yesterday, the joyous news of our great victory had spread throughout the capital, and today, the tea house is bustling, with the storyteller’s voice a few notches louder than usual.

Chang Zhong visited this kind of place for the first time and found everything intriguing. "Dad, this place is fun, and there are stories to listen to."

Zhou Shuren took his son to the second floor. Forget about getting a private room; there were still some spots available on the second floor. "The pastries here are also quite good; Dad will order some for you."

Chang Zhong was thrilled. "Great."

Zhou Shuren found a spot with his son and said to Jing Yan and Shen Xing, "You both have worked hard on the journey, have a seat as well."

Both Jing Yan and Shen Xing had been with the adults for a long time and knew that these were not mere courtesies; they both took their seats.

Zhou Shuren ordered quite a lot of pastries and called for a pot of fine tea. Once the waiter left, he leaned against the chair, finally able to rest.

Chang Zhong, with a grin on his face, said, "It’s really good to have Dad at home; you’re the best, Dad."

Zhou Shuren looked at the stack of gift boxes on the floor. He indeed was, having bought back everything his son had taken a liking to.

Shen Xing also glanced at the gift boxes and recalled the pastries they had just ordered, starting to worry a bit. "Sir, do you have enough silver with you?"

Zhou Shuren patted his purse, proclaiming confidently, "Don’t worry, I’ve brought enough Silver Coin."

He had learned from a previous mistake; now, whenever he went out, he made sure to carry extra Silver.

Shen Xing felt relieved. As long as the silver was sufficient, that was good. Though they could go back to the house to get more, it was uncertain whether the mistress had returned. However, the master truly didn’t have his own private fund; all the Silver in the house was in the mistress’s hands!

Two hours later, Zhou Shuren, along with his son who had eaten his fill, left the tea house. The little guy, having eaten a lot, was reluctant to move and even yawned.

Zhou Shuren picked up his son. "Tired?"

Chang Zhong nodded. "Mmm."

Zhou Shuren smiled, "The carriage from our house will be here soon, and then we can go home. For now, you can nap on Daddy’s shoulder."

Chang Zhong rubbed his eyes with his chubby hands. "Mmm."

Jing Yan saw Zhou Shuren struggling to hold the young master and extended a hand. "Sir, let me carry the young master for you."

Zhou Shuren shook his head. "The carriage from our house is almost here; I’ll keep holding him."

Soon, the carriage from their house arrived at the tea house, and Zhou Shuren didn’t have to hold him for much longer. He moved carefully, as his son had already fallen asleep, and signaled Jing Yan to board the carriage first to receive the child.

As Jing Yan climbed into the carriage, and Zhou Shuren was just about to hand his son over, he heard a voice behind him, hesitant, "Master Zhou?"

Zhou Shuren turned around. "Marquis Ning."

Ning Xu enjoyed listening to storytellers in tea houses. He had not expected to encounter Zhou Shuren today. Observing the way Zhou Shuren held his child with such affection, he had to double-check several times to ensure it was truly Zhou Shuren before speaking.

By then, Zhou Shuren had already handed his child over to Jing Yan and then turned to greet Ning Xu, though his arm trembled slightly. "Greetings to the Marquis."

Ning Xu glanced at Zhou Shuren’s arm and said with a smile, "Was that your youngest son just now?"

Zhou Shuren’s eyes softened further. "Yes, was the Marquis also in the tea house just now?"

He thought that Marquis Ning would be visiting the Palace today.

Ning Xu replied, "This tea house is one I frequently visit. Had I known Master Zhou was also here, I would have surely invited you to join me."

Zhou Shuren had seen Marquis Ning at the Palace before, and every time he met Marquis Ning, Zhou Shuren marveled at how tall he was. It was a relief that Rongchuan wasn’t as tall as Marquis Ning. "You are too kind, Marquis. It’s getting late, and I must take my son home. Another day, I shall invite you to drink tea, and I hope you will honor me with your presence."

Ning Xu had wanted to visit Zhou Shuren’s residence for a while but hadn’t found the right opportunity. After hearing about Zhou Shuren’s arrival in the capital, he saw Zhou Shuren in the Palace, but unfortunately, the Emperor had been speaking with Zhou Shuren, leaving him no opportunity to join the conversation.

Ning Xu, beaming, said, "I know Master Zhou has been resting at home these days. Instead of picking a date in the future, why not make it tomorrow? How about Master Zhou invites this Marquis to your residence for a drink?"

Zhou Shuren also wanted to get to know Marquis Ning better and said with a smile, "Good, tomorrow, this official will wait for Mr. Hou at the residence."

At the Zhou residence, Zhulan was waiting for Zhou Shuren and her son to come home for lunch, but instead, Zhulan saw her son who had fallen into a deep sleep, "How did he fall asleep?"

Zhou Shuren rubbed his shoulders, "The child got a bit tired, and after eating and drinking his fill, he became sleepy."

Zhulan looked at Zhou Shuren’s stomach, "You didn’t eat less, did you?"

Zhou Shuren laughed awkwardly, "The stories at the teahouse were quite good indeed, I did eat quite a bit."

Zhulan looked at the gift box that Shen Xing had brought in with careful words and stared wide-eyed, "You didn’t spend too much silver, did you?"

Zhou Shuren felt a bit guilty, as his purse was indeed running low, "I rarely rest, and I bought a bit more because the child was happy."

Zhulan pointed at the gift boxes on the table, "Is this what you call a bit more?"

Zhou Shuren felt even less confident and a little short of breath, "That, it won’t happen again."

Zhulan huffed, "Your bottom line for your son is getting lower and lower, Zhou Shuren, I think I need to take charge of your purse."

Zhou Shuren, "... Wife, I don’t think you should treat me like this."

Zhulan gave a cold laugh, "Heh."

Zhou Shuren bent slightly at the waist, remembering how Zhulan had kept in mind the last time he took his son to go fishing, and this time, Zhulan was truly angry. His eyes drifted toward the gift boxes, and it did seem like, maybe, there were quite a few too many!

Lady Dong, holding her daughter, came for lunch, and only saw her mother-in-law and younger sister-in-law, "Mother, haven’t father and my little brother come back yet?"

Zhulan was still angry, "They’ve eaten at the teahouse, no need to worry about them."

Lady Dong rarely saw her mother-in-law get angry, and today’s mother-in-law didn’t even try to hide it. She was quite curious about how her father-in-law had managed to make the mother-in-law angry, it was indeed a rare sight.

Xue Han knew what had happened, and she firmly took her mother’s side, indeed feeling that her mother should take charge of her father.

In the afternoon, at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy, Chang Lian and Rongchuan boarded the carriage back to the residence. Chang Lian saw Rongchuan lift the curtain to look back, "What’s wrong?"

Rongchuan let down the curtain, "I just felt like someone was staring at me, it might have been my imagination."

Chang Lian also lifted the curtain, "There’s nothing, only carriages behind us."

Rongchuan pressed his brow, "Perhaps I’m just too tired today."

In the carriage behind them, Ning Hui only wanted to take another look at Rongchuan. He had been too far away last time, so he had sneakily watched from the entrance of the Hanlin Academy, timing it so he could pass by naturally.

But he didn’t expect Rongchuan to be so sharp. He had only stared a few times more, and the boy felt it. But really, he’s so much like his eldest brother.

When Chang Lian and Rongchuan returned to the residence, Chang Lian felt something was amiss during dinner. His father was downcast and kept offering vegetables to his mother, and this time, Chang Lian didn’t feel choked up but rather that his father seemed to have been dealt with by his mother!

Chang Lian barely made it through dinner and then asked his wife back in the courtyard, "What did father do to upset mother?"

Lady Dong had heard it from Xue Han, and after relating what her father-in-law had done, she said, "You can’t blame mother for getting angry."

Chang Lian was speechless. He was well aware that there was quite a bit of silver in his father’s purse, then he clutched his chest, "In all my years, father has never bought me any gifts."

Lady Dong, "That’s not true, your father has bought you things."

He had bought several times, and her husband had been cherishing them!

Chang Lian, "....I was referring to gifts bought just for me."

Lady Dong, "...."

So, her husband was jealous!