Chapter 1514: Chapter 1514: Counting on Oneself
Chang Yi and Mingyun were worried and wanted to stay longer. Zhou Shuren waved his hand and said, “You should go back, let us have some quiet.”
Chang Yi’s nose tingled, his eyes were red, it was the first time his father didn’t hold back his sorrowful emotions.
After Zhulan saw her sons and grandsons leave, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. She didn’t want to cry, even though she knew that Ming Teng’s chance of surviving the avalanche was slim. Deep down, she still clung to a sliver of hope, so she couldn’t cry; her grandson would surely be okay.
Zhou Shuren held his wife’s hand, “If you want to cry, just cry.”
“I won’t cry.”
Zhou Shuren tightened his grip, then finally let go. He didn’t want to close his eyes because as soon as he did, he could see images of Ming Teng growing up, and some blurred memories became clearer.
As Chang Yi and the others returned to their respective courtyards, everyone in the back courtyard knew that something had happened to Ming Teng.
Ran Wan asked the maid to take her son and daughter away, anxiously asking, “Is the news accurate?”
Mingyun nodded, “You should tell it to your sister-in-law.”
Ran Wan felt it was too cruel to her sister-in-law. Ming Teng went out for work, and what her sister-in-law did the most was make clothes for Ming Teng, each stitch filled with longing. Now they had to tell her sister-in-law that something had happened to Ming Teng, she couldn’t bring herself to speak, “Maybe we should keep it from her for now.”
Mingyun had a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth, “We can’t hide it. The Liu family must have heard the news by now too. It’s better if we tell her ourselves than have her learn it from her paternal family.”
Ran Wan grasped the handkerchief, her eyes red. These years since she got married, her direct brother and sister were very good to her and cared much about her as the eldest sister-in-law. Her tears couldn’t stop flowing when something happened to Ming Teng, and she sobbed, “I’ll wait a while before going over.”
Mingyun covered his eyes with his hand, suddenly thankful that his parents weren’t home. If they were, they wouldn’t be able to handle it. He hadn’t planned to send a letter to them; before he had any results, he wanted to keep it from them.
In the second wife’s residence, the teacup in Zhao’s hand shattered, Yu Die silently crying, Ming Rui dryly laughed, “Father, you can’t joke like this. You must be kidding, right?”
Chang Yi said, “Do you think I would joke about your second brother?”
Ming Rui’s throat went dry, he couldn’t utter a single word. After a moment of silence, he mumbled, “My second brother is so fortunate. Who in the entire capital doesn’t say he is blessed? Father, my second brother will surely be fine. Yes, he will be fine.”
Zhao also believed in fortune, “Ming Rui is right. Who doesn’t envy Ming Teng’s fortune? Good people are naturally protected by heaven. Ming Teng will be fine.”
Chang Yi opened his mouth, but it turned into a sigh.
In the fourth wife’s residence, Su Xuan was in a daze, and Chang Zhi was directing the maids to pack, pulling out thick cloaks and so on.
Su Xuan snapped back to reality and helped pack, mumbling, “Bring more medicine, it’ll be useful when Ming Teng is found. Right, also bring a doctor, you must bring Ming Teng back.”
Yu Wen said, “Father, Mother is right. Bring more medicine.”
Ming Jia reached out, “Mother, give me the key to the storeroom.”
Chang Zhi felt bitter inside. His wife and children didn’t believe anything could happen to Ming Teng, so he said with a heavy nasal voice, “Okay, I’ll bring everything.”
By the next morning, Zhou Shuren’s eyes were swollen. Zhulan pretended not to notice; Shuren had cried secretly last night.
Zhulan was worried, “Maybe you shouldn’t go to court today.”
Zhou Shuren’s face was calm, “They’re all waiting to see our family’s reaction. I must attend the morning court. If I don’t go, it’ll confirm that something happened to Ming Teng. Before there’s a conclusion, no one can say Ming Teng is gone.”
Zhulan, “Then take care of yourself.”
“Mm.”
Zhou Shuren’s appearance at the morning court surprised many. Looking at his expression, there wasn’t much change from the usual.
Wong Ju knew Zhou Shuren well enough to realize he was just barely holding on.
After the morning court, many wanted to gossip in small groups, but upon feeling the Marquis Zhou’s gaze, they quickly quickened their steps to leave.
Mr. Qie wanted to make a snide remark but was stopped by Old Master Wen. Mr. Qie asked, “Why are you stopping me?”
Old Master Wen also wanted to add insult to injury. If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have hesitated, but not Rong Mingteng, “Rong Mingteng was adopted by the Rong family. Would you really want them to see the Rong family suffer?”
Mr. Qie was so eager to trample them that he overlooked it, “He’s getting off easy.”
Old Master Wen, “Anyway, it’s not easy for him, no matter how strong he pretends to be. He knows in his heart whether it hurts or not.”
Mr. Qie laughed heartily, “I might drink a few extra glasses of wine today.”
Zhou Shuren wasn’t deaf; Mr. Qie’s laughter was gratingly loud. With his eyes lowered, his fingers fiddled inside his official robe, hiding all of his calculations in his heart.
Li Zhao asked, “Are you alright?”
Zhou Shuren raised his head, “Do I seem unwell?”
After a careful observation, Li Zhao realized the old guy was getting better at hiding his emotions, “As long as you’re okay.”
Several more people came to inquire one after another, all of whom Zhou Shuren responded to, and after dismissing all of them, he had already left the Palace.
Wong Ju got into the carriage with him, “Don’t pretend in front of me.”
Zhou Shuren relaxed his back, “I’m alright.”
Wong Ju said, “Haven’t you always said Ming Teng is lucky? You will find him.”
“Mm.”
After that, Wong Ju didn’t speak again; every word about Ming Teng was like a knife in Zhou Shuren’s heart. Sigh.
At the Zhou household, Zhulan saw Chang Zhi off, then went to see Lau Jia, as Lady Li was not at home. Without the mother-in-law’s comfort, Lau Jia might have dangerous thoughts.
When Zhulan arrived, Ran Wan was also present, having stayed up all night, “Grandmother, you’re here.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Ran Wan, not feeling assured, stayed with Lau Jia all night.
Ran Wan rubbed her temples, “Grandmother, I’m not tired. I’m worried about Yu Lu, Yu Lu is pregnant.”
Zhulan said, “With the other two branches of the Wong family split off, it’s easy for the Wong family to keep the news from getting out.”
Ran Wan breathed a sigh of relief, “Grandmother, my sister-in-law is lying down.”
Zhulan went into the bedroom; Lau Jia had already gotten up, her eyes swollen and red, who knew how much she had cried. Upon seeing Zhulan, Lau Jia was somewhat in a corner, “Grandmother, I harmed Ming Teng.”
Zhulan was taken aback, “What do you mean by that?”
“Since I married in, I haven’t gotten pregnant. It must be my fault affecting Ming Teng.”
Zhulan’s face turned cold, “Nonsense, it has nothing to do with you.”
Lau Jia put all the blame on herself, thinking she had brought bad luck to Ming Teng.
Lau Jia cried again, Ran Wan realized she was dumbfounded. No one from outside had blamed her, but her sister-in-law was overthinking it, “Stop crying, you’ll harm your eyes. Second Brother will surely turn bad luck into good. Don’t wait until he returns, for him to find you sick, how much would that pain him?”
Ran Wan had said this many times overnight, with little effect.
Zhulan had a headache, “Now if you keep crying, you’re really cursing Ming Teng.”
Lau Jia stopped crying immediately, “I won’t cry, I won’t cry.”
Ran Wan, “…”
Zhulan sat down, “The better you are, the better Ming Teng will be. Look at our family, is anyone crying?”
Lau Jia wiped her tears with a handkerchief, “Grandmother, I won’t cry anymore.”
Zhulan was still worried about Lau Jia; she didn’t have much energy, and Ran Wan had two children to care for, “In a while, I’ll invite your mother over to keep you company.”
Madam Ma is insightful. With her mother around, Lau Jia could ease her mind.
On the snowy mountain, Rongchuan sat up abruptly upon hearing the report, “Only the horse?”