CHAPTER 894: CHAPTER 892: ONLY NOW REALIZING HER SON’S PREDICAMENT

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been contending with each other for two or three months, and Lady Zhao, out of helplessness, finally lost heart.

She once considered suggesting Xiuqin to become Wong Qiao’s concubine. However, not only did Wong Qiao refuse, but Xiuqin remained silent, and even the neighbors said that it was inappropriate to add a concubine for a son right after the daughter-in-law enters the house.

Moreover, this daughter-in-law not only comes from a powerful family but also has backing from the palace. Doing such a thing would invite trouble.

Thus, Lady Zhao could only pinch her nose and continue living as if she had no daughter-in-law, wallowing in self-pity.

Zhou Biyao entered Lady Zhao’s room with Qian Yue, first paying respects to her mother-in-law and then standing aside quietly, waiting for Lady Zhao to speak.

Lady Zhao had no chance to reproach Zhou Biyao, but she still maintained her mother-in-law’s air of authority.

Probably because she hadn’t realized what had happened yet, she sat proudly on the kang, looking down at the standing Zhou Biyao, and asked with a stern face, "You two young ones don’t treat this old woman as a mother anymore, do you? You hide everything from me. Even the street neighbors have begun to give me dirty looks, yet I know nothing. What do you take me for?"

Zhou Biyao kept her head down and said nothing. Hiding the matters of the Iron Workshop from Lady Zhao was Wong Qiao’s idea and had nothing to do with her. Wong Qiao thought of telling his mother later, giving her a few days of peace of mind.

Since her husband was being filial and Lady Zhao hadn’t asked her directly, she naturally wouldn’t say more.

Seeing Zhou Biyao standing there pretending to be dead, Lady Zhao got angry.

She slammed her palm on the kang, exclaiming angrily, "You really think this old woman is a nuisance and want to infuriate me to death? You! Tell me, what exactly is going on? Why isn’t Ah Qiao going to work?"

Standing beside Zhou Biyao was Qian Yue. Qian Yue was a maid of the Zhou family, although Zhou Biyao brought her along, Qian Yue’s Indenture Contract was actually left at the Zhou Mansion.

She had Madam Liang of the Zhou Mansion as her backing and didn’t fear Lady Zhao. Hearing Lady Zhao slapping the embroidered silk bedding, she frowned. That was her lady’s dowry satin, Huzhou silk, after all.

She tugged at Zhou Biyao’s sleeve and said, "Third Madam, since the Eldest Lady is asking, you should tell the truth lest she falls ill with anger."

Qian Yue naturally lowered her voice, but only slightly, not intending to hide it from Lady Zhao, intending for Lady Zhao to hear. Her master-in-law was considerate of his mother’s feelings, but her lady didn’t have much affection for Lady Zhao. Besides, given the circumstances, Lady Zhao would have to know sooner or later, why let her lady be scolded for something everyone would learn of eventually?

Lady Zhao sat on the kang, pointing her finger at Zhou Biyao, irritably saying, "See, see, I was right. You are all hiding things from me. Was it you who instigated Ah Qiao to alienate me, his mother?"

Qian Yue was unhappy, and Xiao Cui and Xiuqin, beside Lady Zhao, also changed their expressions.

Third Master hasn’t gone to work for the past few days, combined with the strange looks from the neighbors, it’s clear something happened at the workshop. Whether it’s Third Master or Third Madam, not telling the Eldest Lady about it was for her own good to keep her from worrying.

Yet, the Household Madam wasn’t thinking in a normal way. Her words implied as if Third Madam had evil intentions.

Qian Yue again said to Zhou Biyao, "Third Madam, you see, your good intention has been misunderstood by the Eldest Lady. You should tell the truth to the Eldest Lady."

Lady Zhao sternly said, "Ah Qiao’s wife, your maid is saying this, yet you still wish to deceive me?"

Zhou Biyao sneered in her heart, did Lady Zhao really think there was something good kept from her? Once she heard it, even if she lost her appetite and sleep, Third Master couldn’t blame her.

"Since Mother is worried about this matter, I shall tell Mother the truth," Zhou Biyao said, "The other day, due to being implicated in a major case in the capital, the Ministry of Justice sealed several workshops in the capital. The Iron Workshop was one of them, and the persons in charge of these workshops have been detained by the Ministry of Justice and jailed..."

Zhou Biyao explained the situation to Lady Zhao again, not in great detail, but she clearly explained all the specifics released by the yamen to Lady Zhao.

Lady Zhao, who was already upright, sat even straighter after listening to Zhou Biyao’s narrative. She leaned forward, her face pale.

After Zhou Biyao finished speaking, Lady Zhao’s lips moved for a long time before she asked, "Wasn’t Ah Qiao working for His Highness Prince Fu? Since this workshop belongs to Prince Fu, who dares to touch his industry, or arrest his people?"

Zhou Biyao lowered her eyes. She naturally wouldn’t tell Lady Zhao what happened to Prince Fu, but matters on the surface were no problem to reveal.

"His Highness Prince Fu claimed illness a few days ago. It is said that His Majesty, concerned about His Highness’s health, has already ordered him to rest in Prince Fu’s Mansion and no longer attend court to handle affairs."

Even though Lady Zhao was a commoner, she conducted daily matters with some cleverness. Zhou Biyao’s words immediately left her stunned. She stared into an unfocused point ahead, mulling over Zhou Biyao’s words repeatedly.

His Highness Prince Fu feigned illness, and His Majesty instructed him to recuperate at the mansion, meaning, whether voluntarily or not, Prince Fu was no longer involved in court affairs.

Soon thereafter, workshops under Prince Fu’s name were sealed by the Ministry of Justice, and the person in charge, said to be a trusted steward of Prince Fu’s Mansion, was detained in jail.

Having lived in the capital for over a year, Lady Zhao knew that cases handled by the Ministry of Justice were indeed more severe than those by the Capital Prefecture’s yamen.

Meaning, due to some reason, not only did Prince Fu have to leave the court, but it also implicated those associated with Prince Fu’s Mansion.

At this thought, Lady Zhao unconsciously leaned forward, seemingly wanting to grab Zhou Biyao.

However, as Zhou Biyao was at a distance, she could only helplessly put her hand down, looking eagerly at Zhou Biyao, asking, "What about Ah Qiao then? What will happen to Ah Qiao in the future? Can he keep his job?"

Keeping a job? This mother-in-law prides herself on being cunning, and yet at this point, still talks about jobs? Shouldn’t she first consider whether Third Master will be implicated and punished?

But since Wong Qiao was filial to his mother, Zhou Biyao didn’t want to scare her too much and could only speak directly, "That depends on the court’s investigation results. If the Iron Workshop indeed did not engage in illegal activities, the workshop may continue, and perhaps Third Master could also keep working there. However, by then, the prestige of the Iron Workshop won’t compare to before."

Zhou Biyao glanced at Lady Zhao and, sure enough, Lady Zhao detected the implication. With the declining status of the Iron Workshop, Wong Qiao’s position and salary would naturally decrease, causing Lady Zhao’s pride to falter.

She continued, "If the investigation finds unlawful activities at the Iron Workshop, then the situation might be troublesome."

"Troublesome? How troublesome?" Lady Zhao was shocked, repeatedly pressing for answers.

Only now did she think of her son’s predicament, growing frightened, "Ah Qiao is in charge at the workshop. Would he, would he..." She dared not continue.