Chapter 1564: Chapter 1564 Suspicion
Back at the main courtyard, Zhulan changed into her usual clothes, and while drinking tea, she said, "You were deceiving Ming Hui just now, weren’t you? With so much time passed, the Wen family will only focus on the Zhou residence. However, this Sixth young master Wen is quite interesting, he’s always watching Ming Hui closely, such deep thoughts he has."
Zhou Shuren received the teacup handed by his wife, "I was scaring Ming Hui."
He paused and then said, "It’s difficult for an offspring to stand out, Ming Hui and Ming Rui are his chances to stand out, he truly has the patience, this time Sixth Wen will get the opportunity he desires."
Zhulan replied, "Just in time to use Ming Hui’s punishment to teach the younger ones a lesson."
Zhou Shuren said quietly, "Ming Rui didn’t look after his brother, and the younger ones helped cover for Ming Hui; they all deserve a penalty."
"Then today, I’ll have the kitchen prepare some delicious dishes."
Zhou Shuren laughed, "Good, make more of them, let them have a good meal first."
When the young ones, including Ming Rui, returned from school and understood the situation, Ming Rui brought his brothers to seek punishment, admitting his fault, "Grandson did not watch over my brother, it is all my fault."
Zhou Shuren knew Ming Rui was busy, he couldn’t fall behind in his studies and had to worry about the orphanage, yet a mistake was a mistake, "You indeed made a mistake."
These days, Ming Rui neglected his brothers, which allowed Ming Hui to seize the chance to skip school. Ming Hui’s feigned illness must have been tested several times.
Ming Jia and the others said, "Grandson is also at fault."
Zhou Shuren snorted, and Ming Jia and the others shrunk their necks; they were the ones providing cover.
Zhou Shuren’s expression turned stern, "You gave Ming Hui cover with good intentions, but have you considered if Ming Hui gets into trouble outside, you would be accomplices? Can you live peacefully for a lifetime?"
Ming Jia and the others hung their heads even lower, fear blossoming in their hearts.
Zhulan came in, looking at the little quails with necks shrunk, smiled, "Today your grandmother asked the kitchen to make dishes you love; we’re not being frugal today, happy?"
The children, including Ming Rui, were silent.
No, they were not happy.
When Chang Yi and others came back from the government office and heard what had happened, Chang Yi, feeling awkward, hurried to see Ming Hui, then apologized to his elder brother, "It’s all the brother’s fault; if I hadn’t taken Ming Hui to the theater, he wouldn’t have been tempted to skip school to watch. It’s all the brother’s fault."
Old Zhou sighed in grief, feeling pity as Ming Hui resembled his mother; he truly cherished this son, tiredly he said, "Second brother, I know Ming Hui saved Ming Rui; you treat Ming Hui like your own son, give him silver and gifts frequently. I know this child doesn’t have a mind for officialdom, and I prefer that he lives freely, after all, he has his elder brother to rely on, but he’s still young."
Chang Yi quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, it’s all the brother’s fault; I’ve spoiled him. In the future, it won’t happen again. If you want to be mad, be mad at me; I’m the one who’s spoiled him."
Just as the elder brother said, precisely because they knew Ming Hui’s intentions, their father didn’t strictly demand from Ming Hui, so he dared to indulge him; otherwise, even if given eight hearts of courage, he wouldn’t have dared!
Chang Zhi followed up, "Later, I’ll discipline Ming Jia; the children are clever, I don’t believe they didn’t know."
Chang Yi, "Yes, also Ming Rui; how could he be an elder brother?"
Ming Hui said nothing.
This time none of their brothers could escape.
In the end, all the grandchildren except Mingyun and Ming Teng were punished, and until the year’s end, they’d all be bitterly suffering.
The next day’s morning court, Master Wen looked around, but did not see Zhou Shuren, and kept that breath bottled up inside, leaving the court with a face as dark as a pot bottom.
Master Wen stopped Qiu Yan, "Why didn’t your Chief of Staff attend court?"
Qiu Yan was nervous; he didn’t know how the Chief of Staff had offended Master Wen again, cautiously replied, "Recently, the Ministry of Revenue isn’t busy; yesterday, the Chief of Staff requested leave, so he won’t attend morning court the next few days."
Master Wen was speechless.
Zhou Shuren must have done it deliberately!
But Zhou Shuren felt wronged; he truly didn’t do it deliberately. Yesterday, he told the Retired Emperor it was slippery during snow on the way to court and nearly fell, then the Retired Emperor said if nothing important was happening, he could request leave and skip morning court. Zhou Shuren saw this opportunity and couldn’t pass up the chance; who willingly gets up early in winter? He swiftly requested leave.
It truly wasn’t to avoid Master Wen; when confronting people, he never lost. After all, in the end, it wasn’t him holding in frustration.
Days passed quickly; this year was a cold winter, the temperature dropped sharply, creating the lowest temperature since Zhulan came to ancient times. The only consolation was the whole country didn’t suffer heavy snowfall.
As days went by, the year’s flavor grew stronger, Lady Li was busy, busy purchasing for the New Year.
Zhao and others were also busy; the family’s business had grown, so for the New Year’s they must prepare gifts for the servants too.
The busiest was Su Xuan, who needed to inspect around at the year’s end, every time she went out she brought back quite a few account books.
Zhulan, on the contrary, was leisurely, reading books and doing handiwork every day, living comfortably.
Su Xuan came in with the cold, "Mother."
Zhulan replied, "You’re back early today, finished the inspections?"
Su Xuan warmed herself at the coal basin for a while, then sat beside her mother-in-law, "Basically finished, these days have been exhausting."
Zhulan said, "You spoke of cutting off Yu Wen, but look, you can’t bear it yourself."
Su Xuan laughed dryly; verbally she was tough, yet when she wanted to train her daughter, her heart softened, they were her treasures, "Mother, guess who I saw today?"
Zhulan couldn’t guess it, "Just tell me directly."
Su Xuan said, "Shen Yile, Magistrate Shen."
"Isn’t she rarely going out?"
Ever since Yao Zheyu believed in Buddhism, it was said that Magistrate Shen also believed, and the couple rarely went out except for religious ceremonies, leading people to think at one point Yao Zheyu might become a monk!
Su Xuan sighed deeply, "When I saw her today, I was startled; she seemed like she was a generation older than me, dressed in somber attire, without any bright jewelry on her head, lifeless and gloomy."
Zhulan also felt this sentiment, "A woman fears marrying the wrong man, as a man fears entering the wrong profession."
In ancient times, husband and wife were considered one unit; although they could separate, very few would actually do it, and Yao Zheyu and Magistrate Shen were even less likely to separate, as theirs was an imperial marriage.
Su Xuan hesitated while picking a fruit, "Today, I saw Shen Yile looking haggard; I don’t know what happened."
Zhulan wasn’t focused on Yao Zheyu anymore, so she listened without curiosity.
However, when Zhou Shuren returned from the government office later, he mentioned something, saying, "I do know."
"What is it?"
Zhou Shuren gradually changed his clothes, "Yao Zheyu fell ill, came down with sickness since winter started, hasn’t recovered, it’s been intermittent."
Zhulan asked, "How do you know this so clearly?"
Zhou Shuren blinked, "Zhang Jinghong mentioned it, and Fourth Uncle also brought it up."
Zhulan was shocked.
She had forgotten, while Yao Zheyu was alive, Fourth Uncle had an unresolved issue in his heart, perhaps fearing Yao Zheyu’s restlessness, thus keeping a watchful eye on him.
Zhulan lowered her voice, "Could it be poisoning?"
She had reasons to suspect that Fourth Uncle felt aged and wanted to accompany Yao Zheyu in departing, the more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed!
Zhou Shuren hadn’t considered poisoning, raised an eyebrow, "I don’t think it’s poisoning."
Zhulan shared her speculation, "The unresolved knot in Fourth Uncle’s heart won’t go away while Yao Zheyu lives, I don’t think Fourth Uncle will be content."
Zhou Shuren conceded, "You make sense."
Zhulan’s eyes widened, "So it’s truly poisoning?"