Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

Chapter 1118 The Royal Family

Just as Shen Zheng had predicted, the rumors were growing increasingly rampant on the way to the Prince's mansion.

The rumors are divided into two factions.

One faction, having heard the news from somewhere, said, "The former official, Lord Wang, is indignant and now his whereabouts are unknown; I fear his life is in danger."

The other faction firmly believed in Shen Zheng and argued logically: "After Lord Wang takes over from Lord Xu, he will be able to go to the Accounting Office to serve as an official. The Accounting Office is a good place, and many officials want to go but can't. This matter must be a misunderstanding. Don't spread rumors."

Both sides have their own version of events, but due to Wang Huai'an's disappearance, the scales of rumors are beginning to tip.

As Shen Zheng listened to the rumors, her fingers unconsciously tapped on the table.

Within moments of discovering Wang Huai'an's disappearance, the people knew the news.

This makes it hard not to suspect that Wang Huai'an was framed by someone else...

But in any case, the trip to the Prince's Palace is inevitable.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the Prince's Mansion.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, a dispute arose from the gate of the mansion.

A woman exclaimed, "No! I'm going to the government office right now to find out if they've hidden my husband! It's just a handover, and my husband has never said he didn't want to. Why are they treating him like this?"

It was immediately obvious that this woman was Wang Huai'an's wife.

Shen Zheng gripped the carriage curtain and whispered to Xu Yunyan, "Wang Huai'an hasn't gone home either... and his wife even thinks his disappearance is related to us? Why are we hiding him? To stop you from getting promoted?"

This is utterly absurd.

Before Shen Zheng could even get out of the carriage, another voice rang out: "Foolish woman! Stop talking nonsense and making a fool of yourself! Why is the government hiding Huai'an? Do they not want the magistrate of Tong'an County to be promoted? Go home now, I'm going to the government office to ask them!"

"Mother!" Madam Wang became even more anxious upon hearing this and shouted, "I won't go back until I see my husband! Your daughter-in-law will go to the government office with you!"

Madam Wang's angry voice rang out: "What are you going to do? Shout and yell, or make a scene and threaten suicide? You're just causing trouble all day long. You stay home and wait, you're not allowed to go anywhere!"

"Mother!" Madam Wang cried out.

Shen Zheng sat in the car and listened for a while, and roughly figured out the Wang family's personalities.

Madam Wang is indecisive, has a quick temper, and likes to wail when things go wrong, but she is wholeheartedly devoted to Wang Huai'an.

Madam Wang's voice was strong and steady; she was probably the backbone of the family.

As Shen Zheng pondered this, she led Xu Yunyan out of the carriage. Seeing this, Yu Zhengqing also got out of the front carriage, and the three of them headed towards the Prince's Mansion together.

After walking a few steps, Old Madam Wang spotted them. Her expression changed slightly, and after scolding Madam Wang in a low voice, she strode forward to greet them.

"This old woman greets Lord Yu, and greets..."

"I am Shen Zheng." Shen Zheng took the initiative to say, "This is Lord Xu Yunyan, who is also the prefectural clerk appointed by His Majesty. He has come to the prefectural city today to meet with Lord Wang."

Madam Wang paused for a moment, bowed, and said, "Gentlemen, my daughter-in-law is ignorant and has made you laugh. I will definitely discipline her properly when I come down."

Suddenly, Madam Wang, who had been shouting and yelling just moments before, fell silent, standing to the side with a flushed face, without uttering a single word.

Madam Wang looked at her and said sternly, "Why aren't you coming over and bowing to the esteemed officials!"

Madam Wang lowered her head and shuffled over, reluctantly curtsying and saying, "This concubine greets Lord Yu, Lord Shen, and... Lord Xu."

"You!" Old Madam Wang raised her hand, as if to rebuke Madam Wang.

Her daughter-in-law... is truly spoiled by her son. She never thinks things through and will cause a disaster sooner or later!

"It's alright." Yu Zhengqing didn't want to dwell on it and said directly, "Madam, would you like to speak with me in private?"

Seeing that more and more people were gathering around, Madam Wang immediately said, "It was my oversight. Please come in, gentlemen."

Shen Zheng and the other two followed them into the mansion.

The Prince's Mansion is a two-courtyard complex. After passing the screen wall and going through the covered corridor, you will reach the main hall of the mansion. There are several pots of pomegranates under the corridor, which have just finished blooming.

After entering the hall, Shen Zheng and Yu Zhengqing were invited to sit in the main seats.

After taking his seat, Yu Zhengqing spoke directly: "Madam, this morning at roll call, Huai'an was still at the government office. After roll call, someone said they saw him go to Wuyi Lane, and then his whereabouts became unknown."

The old lady's heart skipped a beat when she heard the words "missing".

But now is not the time to panic. She looked at Madam Wang and asked sternly, "What did you ask Huai'an to buy this time?"

Madam Wang shuddered and instinctively denied it, saying, "My daughter-in-law didn't..."

How could the old lady not understand her? Hearing this, she raised her voice sharply: "Speak!"

"Really, no!" Startled by the old lady's words, Madam Wang almost burst into tears, stammering, "It was just last night, my husband, that the Dianrong Pavilion in Wuyi Lane had some new rouge... I wanted to go and see it today, but... but I didn't let my husband buy any!"

Hearing this, the old lady felt a tightness in her chest with anger: "Do I not know you? You never say what you want outright. Only Huai'an indulges you. Once you open your mouth, he's like a donkey that's been whipped, pulling the millstone non-stop!"

Madam Wang sobbed softly, "It was my husband who wanted to buy it; I never forced him. Is it wrong for my husband to treat me well...?"

The old lady choked, wishing she could punch her younger self.

At that time, she always taught her son to love his wife and children, but she never expected that she would go too far in teaching him and raise a henpecked husband.

What a terrible thing to do...

Yu Zhengqing looked at them, then called in Constable Sun and asked him to send someone to Dianrong Pavilion.

After Constable Sun left, Shen Zheng looked at Madam Wang, who was wiping away tears, and asked, "Madam Wang, after Lord Wang received the handover message last night, was there anything unusual?"

Lady Wang sobbed as she raised her head and shook it. "I was asleep then, and I only vaguely heard my husband say that the court had arranged a good place for him. Oh, right..."

She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief again and said softly, "It seems my husband didn't sleep all night. Before dawn, when he left, he seemed to tell me that today was an auspicious day and that he was going to Dianrong Pavilion to buy me the new rouge..."

Shen Zheng's earlier idea was confirmed.

Wang Huai'an was not opposed to the handover and was full of expectations.

Therefore, his disappearance was intentional.

"My lords..." Seeing their unpleasant expressions, the old lady looked at Xu Yunyan and guessed, "Has Huai'an offended someone, and is there someone who doesn't want him to return to his post?"

The old lady's words were quite subtle.

She was actually asking Xu Yunyan if he had offended anyone.

Xu Yunyan shook his head and said, "I have no enemies in Liuyang Prefecture."

"Then this..." The old lady swayed slightly, a flood of unpleasant thoughts rushing into her mind.

Seeing her daughter-in-law crying, she secretly pinched herself, forcing herself to calm down.