Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 664: Don’t Cry_1

The Emperor nodded, "I had no intention of making any unusual moves this session, the Third-rank Scholar naturally should stay in the capital."

The Empress was brimming with joy, "Mm."

That evening, Zhulan received a letter from Lady Li, "She really couldn’t keep her mouth shut after all."

Madam Song, "Today she was too happy, the eldest lady is straightforward, and she spoke along with her thoughts."

Zhulan knew Lady Li well. When she first met Lady Li, she was someone who liked to show off, showcasing everything, but after her status changed, she gradually learned to keep matters hidden. To be able to conceal them until now was not easy, "Xue Han has taken care of it, and Lady Zhao is not a talkative person either, it’s not really an issue. Besides, Chang Lian passed the degree examination, and Rongchuan has become the Tanhua. The Wang residence should be making a move."

Madam Song hoped for the Zhou residence to prosper more and more, as she had personally witnessed its step-by-step journey to present day, "Then the residence should start preparing."

Zhulan, "Preparation is a must, but we’ll still have to wait for my return."

As it so happens, she could wait for the birth of the twins, and this year has truly been smooth sailing for the Zhou family!

The next day, after seeing off Rongchuan and Chang Lian, Zhulan took her son, daughter-in-law, and others to the previously booked private room at the restaurant. The room had been reserved well in advance; regardless of how Rongchuan and Chang Lian performed in the exams, she had wanted to take her son and Lady Dong to witness the parade.

It occurred only once every three years, and if one didn’t live in the capital, many people would never witness such a grand spectacle in their lifetimes.

Zhulan was not one to shortchange herself; drawing from her previous experience, she had spent silver to secure a good spot in the restaurant.

Lady Dong admired her mother-in-law, "Mother, you really think ahead."

Zhulan pushed open the window, "This is experience. The next time, you will have it too."

Lady Dong smiled coyly, "That will be many years from now."

Her son wasn’t even born yet.

Zhulan looked at Lady Dong’s belly. She hoped that the third branch of the family would have a son; Lady Dong and Chang Lian were both wholeheartedly desiring a son.

Chang Zhong wanted to leave the private room to watch, but Zhulan stopped him, "There are people everywhere today, aren’t you afraid of being snatched away by a child-stealer? Stay put."

Chang Zhong asked, "Mother, what is a ’child-stealer’?"

Zhulan explained, "Those who steal children, sell children. Mother isn’t trying to scare you. Once a child is lost, it’s very hard to find them. In the future, you must not run off on your own, understand?"

Chang Zhong was a bit scared now, clutching his mother’s clothes tightly, "If I’m sold, won’t I be able to see father and mother again?"

"Yes." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Chang Zhong touched his belly, "Also, won’t be able to eat good food?"

"That’s right, not only will you not eat or dress well, you’ll also get beaten and scolded. So, you must not run off, and wherever you go, you cannot let go of the young servant."

Chang Zhong became frightened, thinking of being beaten and not being able to eat or dress well?

The little guy started to wail a little, "Son doesn’t want to not see father and mother."

Zhulan realized she might have frightened him too much, "Alright, alright, as long as you don’t let go of people, you’ll be fine."

However, this also served as a reminder for Zhulan: it was better for the children at home to learn how to fend for themselves; indeed, they should also raise their awareness of danger.

At the palace gate, Rongchuan met the Top scorer and the second-place scholar. These two were the first and third place in the provincial examination respectively. The Top scorer remained the first in the final palace examination, and the second-place scholar had ascended from third place in the provincial examination to be the officially designated second-place scholar by the Palace examination. Indeed, his rise was the unexpected one.

Chang Lian calculated how many candidates in the second rank were from the south, how many from the center, and how many from the north, and concluded that the distribution was fairly even.

Standing towards the back, Shen Yang watched as those behind him envied his position at the end, while those in front didn’t turn to look at him, unlike Zhou Changlian, who had people talking to him from both sides. Taking a deep breath, at least he was in the second rank, but whether his luck would be good enough to stay in the capital was uncertain.

The Emperor, seated on the Dragon Throne, had been waiting and finally saw Rongchuan, a smile forming on his lips. This was the Tanhua he had envisioned in his mind, paying no attention to the Top scorer or the second-place scholar at all.

The Crown Prince’s gaze, however, was fixed on Shen Yang. He had read Shen Yang’s papers, which were by no means good enough for the second rank, yet he had still managed to secure the last spot. Sensing his father’s clearly pleased mood, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but take a greater interest in Shen Yang, although he felt nothing much about him.

Did he not feel any connection to his full brother either?

After the proceedings, there were no surprises in this session, followed by the procession through the streets.

Eunuch Liu felt the Emperor’s joy most profoundly; the Emperor was genuinely happy.

Rongchuan, now an editor in the Hanlin Academy, was to stay in the capital, but this was just his starting point. With resolute steps, he moved forward steadily. Regardless of his origins, he was determined to prove himself, to be solely himself.

Zhou Changlian, on the other hand, was somewhat carried away. He had become a scholar, though for a short three-year term, with a reassessment after three years. Still, he was now close to the Emperor, something he had never anticipated. After three years, being dispatched from a scholar’s post would certainly be different.

Shi Qing felt stable; he knew his position would not be bad, being a scholar and all.

Shen Yang was overwhelmed with surprise, having secured the very last rank. He had hardly hoped to stay in the capital, yet he had become a scholar, which was a truly astonishing delight.

His joy was clear for all to see, inciting envy in some who were ahead of him in the ranking.

Inside the restaurant, Lady Dong heard the sounds of music and hurriedly opened the window. "Mother, do you hear that?"

Zhulan heard it too, rising to the window as the bustling noise of the crowd grew closer, "It’s almost here."

Lady Dong gripped the window frame excitedly, yet too bashful to stick her head out, she could do nothing but wait.

Zhulan found herself missing the convenience of a camera or a smartphone, thinking how easy it would have been to capture this scene on video or in photographs. But then, she realized that she could paint it—of course, she could paint a portrait for Zhou Shuren. After all, it was not like her artistic skills were inadequate now.

Chang Zhong looked on eagerly. "Mother, when are third brother and the others coming over?"

Zhulan, listening to the sound drawing nearer, replied, "Soon, very soon."

In another restaurant’s private room, the Empress also approached the window. Accompanied only by her confidantes, she was somewhat nervous. "They’re coming soon."

The Female Officer responded, "Yes."

As the words fell, the sight of the Top scorer led the way, followed by the second-place scholar, and then the Tanhua.

The Empress held a handkerchief to her chest, her eyes quickly reddening, tears falling, "He looks so much like him, so much like him."

The child resembled her elder brother—there was no doubt, this was her son. She couldn’t be mistaken about this feeling.

The Empress’s gaze stayed locked on Rongchuan, her son. She lamented he didn’t resemble her, but seeing him growing up like her elder brother, she knew her father would have no regrets upon seeing Rongchuan.

Rongchuan felt something and looked around, quickly spotting an elegantly dressed woman at the window of the restaurant, staring intently at him with tears in her eyes. The feeling set his heart in a tight grip, leaving him uncomfortably distressed; he didn’t want the woman to cry. He believed she should be smiling.

Unfortunately, even at the slow pace of the procession, it wasn’t long before they passed the restaurant.

Without a second thought, Rongchuan turned back to look at the woman who was now crying and smiling, and finally, couldn’t help but opened his mouth and said, "Don’t cry."