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

Chapter 1812: Chapter 1812: All That’s Left Is a Sense of Distance

The carriage arrived at the street for antiques and paintings. Since the carriage couldn’t enter, Chang Xhong got off and helped his fiancée down, saying to her, "Let’s go to the Scenic Pavilion first. I heard from Young Master Wu that a batch of antiques has arrived."

Wei Xinyi asked, "Could they be antiques handled by the Ministry of Revenue?"

Chang Xhong chuckled, "If they really were antiques handled by the Ministry, would I need to ask Young Master Wu?"

Wei Xinyi also laughed, "Then let’s go have a look."

The two of them arrived at the Scenic Pavilion, which wasn’t very crowded. Upon seeing Chang Xhong, the shopkeeper greeted him with a beaming smile, "You’ve come, Young Master Zhou. A new batch of antiques has recently arrived. What would you like to see?"

Chang Xhong replied, "Take me to see the ornaments."

Wei Xinyi gazed at the fans, "You go look at the ornaments, I’ll go check out the fans."

Chang Xhong said, "Alright."

After carefully selecting gifts and paying for them, the two left the antique street intending to have some tea. As they passed a pawnshop, Chang Xhong heard a noise. He lifted the carriage curtain and saw a young man clutching a Jade Pendant, being pushed to the ground.

The coachman hurriedly stopped the carriage. Since it was the Hou Residence’s carriage, the pawnbrokers didn’t dare to act. They exchanged a look and quickly returned to the pawnshop.

The young man had already stood up, looking a bit disheveled, "Thank you."

Chang Xhong opened the carriage window, "I didn’t help you with anything."

"Thank you anyway, otherwise I would definitely have been beaten."

Chang Xhong raised an eyebrow, "I see you’re not oblivious—why provoke the pawnshop staff?"

Yang Xiu frowned, "I wanted to pawn the Jade Pendant. They insulted me, and I couldn’t hold back."

Chang Xhong glanced at the Jade Pendant. How to put it? The pendant could fetch dozens of taels in a regular sale. However, the pawning price was meager. Moreover, with the Ministry of Revenue handling a large number of antique jewelry, the pawn prices were even lower. It’s hard not to feel that the pawnshop was deliberately undervaluing it.

Chang Xhong said, "I gather you are a scholar. From your accent, you’re not from the capital. Did you encounter some difficulties?"

Yang Xiu hung his head, "I’m a student who came to the capital for exams. I used all my Silver as compensation and now I only have this Jade Pendant from my master to relieve my situation."

Chang Xhong was astonished, "You didn’t come to the capital with your companions?"

Yang Xiu pursed his lips, his chin tense, exuding a haughty air. Chang Xhong took a glance at his age and then understood. He didn’t want to bully or associate with this young genius, but when he heard that he was the top scholar of Chuanzhou, Chang Xhong blinked, "How about this, you pawn the Jade Pendant to me, and you can redeem it when you have the Silver."

That evening, Chang Xhong recounted this to his fourth brother. Zhou Changzhi asked, "Did he pawn it to you?"

Chang Xhong nodded, "He wasn’t overly prideful. Though young, he was rather clever. He wants to continue with the exams, and having suffered once, he might learn his lesson."

Yang Xiu mentioned that being extorted of Silver Coins was clearly a setup. Not all examinees are noble and upright—many harbor narrow-minded and malicious thoughts.

Zhou Changzhi had tested Yang Xiu before and recognized him as a talent. He called a young servant to look after him, finally reflecting on the youthfulness and lack of experience.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day to propose at the He family. The He family was very satisfied with Ming Jia. The proposal and matching of Birthdays went smoothly. Ming Jia resembled Chang Zhi, and with Su Xuan’s personal teaching in worldly wisdom, Ming Jia turned out more tactful than Chang Zhi, gaining favor with the He family’s elders.

With Ming Jia sorted out, Zhulan called Ming Hui, "I gave Shao Ting a set of head ornaments. Jiang Ling understands my intention. What are your thoughts?"

Ming Hui had a plan, "Grandson wants to wait until the Spring Court Examination is over."

Zhulan, having received the accurate news, decided not to interfere, "Discuss it well with your mother."

"Grandson understands."

The next day, Zhulan, who hadn’t seen Mrs. Tao in a long while, remarked, "You seem to have lost weight, haven’t you?"

Mrs. Tao felt she had aged quite a bit, "Our whole family has slimmed down significantly."

Zhulan noticed sorrow etched on Mrs. Tao’s face, "Do you have worries?"

Mrs. Tao felt stifled. She had indeed gained prestige as a housewife in the Wang clan, yet faced dissatisfaction as well, "It’s all because of my worthless family."

Zhulan inquired, "Something happened?"

"Yes, just when we had someone promising, he wasn’t cared for by his father, and tormented by his stepmother. If I hadn’t sent New Year’s gifts ahead, the good child might have been lost."

Zhulan, intolerant to the maltreatment of children whether in modern or ancient times, asked, "How is the child now?"

Mrs. Tao, feeling aggrieved, replied, "I took him back to the capital, he’s now being raised at my dowry estate, sigh."

Zhulan consoled, "The child is good, and the Tao family can still look to him in the future."

"Ha, what hope exists when they’re tormented into resentment."

Zhulan asked, "Do you plan to raise him?"

Mrs. Tao nodded, "Yes, I’ve discussed it with the master, and he agrees."

The younger generation in the Tao family still intended to send girls to her, but she refused all, believing that raising sons, rather than relying on women, was foundational for a family. Thinking about her family sending girls to be concubines for her grandson, she felt both angry and disgusted.

Zhulan advised, "Since you’re clear-minded, don’t be upset."

Mrs. Tao sighed, "I can only vent to you."

Pausing, Mrs. Tao asked, "I haven’t been out, but heard some news. Did you really settle on Gu Sheng?"

"The rumors are known by you all?"

"You didn’t hide it either, and we’re not blind."

Zhulan smiled, "Yes, we’re just waiting to pick a good day to propose."

If not for the southern noble families persistently visiting, Chang Zhi wouldn’t have been so overt. The Zhou family didn’t wish to entangle with the southern noble families.

As a result of the rumors, Gu Sheng garnered more attention. Some intended to cause trouble, but Gu Sheng kept a low profile between the Hanlin Academy and home, under Zhou Changzhi’s protection, giving them no chance.

Gu Sheng, wary of accidents, declined invitations where possible.

While there were dangers, there were also benefits—a better reputation at the Hanlin Academy, where everyone treated him more politely. The only nuisance was Ji Deming clinging like a leech, blocking him daily despite Gu Sheng’s refusal to accept gifts.

Time flew quickly; by winter, more than half of the year had passed, and the new year approached as they entered the twelfth lunar month.

As the Spring Court Examination drew near, Chang Xhong had stopped going out, not forgetting his aim to achieve the top scorer’s title.

Ming Teng and his wife also returned to the Marquis of Rong’an’s residence, planning to stay through the festive month.

One day, when Ming Teng and his wife returned, Zhulan noticed their attire, "Where have you returned from?"

Ming Teng replied, "We just came back from the Ran Residence."

Zhulan sensed something was amiss in her grandson’s tone, "What happened?"

Lau Jia, noticing her husband’s reluctance to speak, answered, "Ran Xun’s legitimate eldest son is gone."

Zhulan hadn’t heard any news, but she quickly understood. The child’s death must have been complicated—a family scandal the Qi Clan would suppress within the inner quarters.

Zhulan lamented the difficulty of the child’s upbringing, "How did he die?"

Lau Jia glanced at her husband, "The charcoal fire was bad and the child caught a chill. That’s all we know—just that by morning, the child was no more."

Zhulan felt a heavy heart. She had met the child and even gifted him a red envelope—a tiny, quiet person.

Ming Teng gave a bitter laugh, "Grandmother, why do you think people can change so drastically?"

Zhulan knew he referred to Ran Xun. She thought, with such disparity between friends, only a sense of distance remained, "You?"

Ming Teng knew deep inside that there was no going back with Ran Xun. He had intended to console Ran Xun but was dismissed as being incapable and ignorant. Feeling inflamed, Ming Teng left with his wife abruptly, regretting attending in the first place.