Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 133 Closing the Net

Liu Yuechu paused for a moment, then quickly touched the flesh around her waist. She was indeed a bit fuller than before her marriage, but she wasn't pregnant.

"Granny, you're just trying to scare me."

"This isn't meant to scare you, it's just a reminder. Your son-in-law is with you every day, and you rarely sleep alone. But it's been three months, and there's still no sign of pregnancy?" Granny Fang wasn't concerned about the Liu family's business; she was worried about Liu Yuechu's pregnancy.

She didn't care whether she made a profit or a loss; she just had to get pregnant.

Liu Yuechu was both amused and exasperated.

She has no interest in anything.

She might be going to the palace to be scolded soon, but the nanny was still worried about whether she could get pregnant.

But she liked this concern very much, as it felt like the advice and reminders from her elders.

Her mother died too early, and her father went far away. She was happy to listen to Granny Fang's nagging, as it was a sign of care. "Alright, alright, after I've finished dealing with all this mess, I'll try my best again."

Granny Fang knew she was just being perfunctory, and she was already starting to wonder if she should give the young master some nourishment. She would have to find some secret recipes later.

Despite her elaborate disguise, Liu Yuechu was summoned to the palace.

When his wife went to the palace for training, Yuan Cuo naturally had to accompany her.

This time, however, he didn't wait at the door. Instead, after sending Liu Yuechu into the palace, he went to apologize to each department in turn.

He went to the Ministry of War first and said that he could not deliver the Mongolian horse he had promised to the Ministry of War. "...My family has encountered a lawsuit and there is no telling when the horse farm will be closed. If I send the horse to the Ministry of War now, it will be like giving a bribe. If you are implicated, it will be a great sin."

"Don't worry about it. If the horse farm is shut down, I'll sell these horses at a high price to help you recover some of your financial losses."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

After leaving the Ministry of War, he went to see Zhang Xinyan at the Golden Feather Guard. The apologies were essentially the same; not a single word needed to be changed.

He made another trip to the Court of Imperial Stud and even to the Censorate to tell Chen Zhongyao that the horses could not be given to the Governor-General. He asked Chen to apologize to Princess Chen and the Governor-General on his and Liu Yuechu's behalf.

After visiting these places, he went to the imperial mausoleum and ancestral hall to see Cheng Hai.

But this time he didn't come empty-handed; he brought a small horse to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, whereas her prized horse was gone.

Cheng Hai's lips twitched. Wasn't this just a deliberate threat?

"You did this on purpose! Even if your Liu family's horse farm is shut down, why can't you give away the horses you won? Don't think we don't know what you're up to!"

“We’re no longer officials or merchants, so why should we give it away? If you still want it, you’ll have to buy it back with money. We spent a lot of money when we built the horse farm, so we need to get some of our investment back. Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Yuan Cuo continued to wipe the blank stele, very carefully.

"You really didn't marry into the Liu family for nothing!" Cheng Hai couldn't help but mock, as he still couldn't accept that Yuan Cuo had gone to the Liu family to become a live-in son-in-law.

“A wife should follow her husband’s wishes, and I think I’ve done a good job. Besides, those horses might not be sold. Maybe we can train them and keep them for when we need to escape.” Yuan Cuo actually felt honored to be a son-in-law.

"Run for your life?" Cheng Hai understood his meaning after a moment's thought. "It's just a minor skirmish, nothing serious." Of course, he knew everything, including how the Bai family, taking advantage of the Liang family's influence, really wanted to take a swipe at the Liu family. "And your wife should also behave herself. She's always causing trouble. Can't she just live a quiet life? Be careful she doesn't cause any more trouble, or our family won't be able to handle it."

Yuan Cuo patted the horse, then suddenly became very serious. “He has even handed over the official roads leading from the capital to the Consort’s family. What’s wrong with our Liu family raising a few horses? These nine of mine are openly displayed in front of him. He can count them on one hand and see them at a glance.”

Cheng Hai's expression changed, and he naturally understood what Yuan Cuo hadn't said. "You mean, the Liang family... has something they're hiding that the person above doesn't know about?"

Yuan Cuo didn't say it outright, but said, "I'll make a bet with you: if the Liu family's horse farm is shut down, the first family to come and buy horses will definitely be the Liang family."

"gone."

"He went to pick up his wife."

He dusted off his clothes; this was a wide robe specially made for him by Liu Yuechu. The fabric was so expensive, costing a fortune per foot, and kept warm in winter and cool in summer. He would be heartbroken even if it got wrinkled.

But his affected and pretentious manner made Cheng Hai grit his teeth in anger.

Meanwhile, Liu Yuechu had already emerged from the Imperial Household Department, looking menacing.

Seeing Yuan Cuo at the door, she angrily complained, "You made me deal with the nasty rumors on the street as soon as possible, and you even told me to consider closing the horse farm." Hua Gonggong also subtly suggested that she should stop, otherwise it would affect Yuan Cuo's autumn imperial examination, and that she should carefully consider the pros and cons.

Because the chief examiner for the autumn imperial examination has already been decided, and it will be Li Shu's father, Minister Li.

The feud between the two families is common knowledge in the capital, needless to say to outsiders.

She stared intently at Yuan Cuo, as if asking him what his so-called solution was.

Yuan Cuo smiled and took her hand. "If they won't let us run the horse ranch, then we'll just shut it down. My wife has been a bit tired lately, so why don't you take a good rest?"

"It's most annoying when someone doesn't tell you what they want to say." Liu Yuechu knew he was harboring some mischief, but he just wasn't telling her.

Yuan Cuo knew she was anxious, so he dared not hide it any longer. He whispered a few words in her ear, and Liu Yuechu's eyes lit up instantly.

"No, we can't let them get away with this so easily. We need to teach them a lesson to deter the others!"

When she got home, she called Suozi's wife over again...

The next day, Liu Family Horse Ranch announced its closure and temporary suspension of business.

The nine Mongolian horses that had just arrived at the horse farm were left unattended, with Pei Chun and Lu Bingyang, along with a few other playboys, riding them out for races and other leisurely activities every day.

The group was initially resentful and frustrated because the horse farm was closed, but they never expected that once the Mongolian horses were ridden out, they would be so dashing and carefree, winning applause and winning every horse race.

The money was made incredibly fast, much faster than running a horse farm.

Some of them actually benefited from the misfortune and had a great time, even Ye Zinan joined in.

But while they were happy, the Ministry of War and the Golden Feather Guard were not.

Such a fine horse, why not serve in the army and the Golden Feather Guard, instead of helping rich playboys win money? Isn't that a waste of talent and a real squandering of a good thing!

However, Yuan Cuo had already apologized to them in advance, explained the reasons, and said that since the horse farm was closed, these horses could be sold.

So the bigwigs from several departments went to the Ministry of Revenue and asked them to buy these horses.

The Ministry of Revenue's biggest worry was money; how could it possibly come up with the funds? So they sent them to the Imperial Household Department.

It was the Imperial Household Department that suggested the Liu family stop operating the horse farm and asked them to find a way to buy it.

So, Eunuch Hua was surrounded and attacked by a group of bigwigs. His fat face twitched. "Ancestors, it's really not my fault. I only listened to what the higher-ups said. How could I dare not allow the Liu family to open a horse farm?"

"Why don't you go find that guy to provide the funds? Let him buy the horse farm!"

One after another, Zhang Xinyan, along with the Minister of War and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, approached Liang Ye.

Liang Ye was furious and wished he could tear Bai Shuncai to pieces!

He had no idea what was going on, and these bigwigs had been beating him up all morning. Not only was he scolded, but they also demanded that he fund the purchase of horses and then transfer them to these departments.

This is equivalent to him inexplicably spending a huge sum of money to help the government buy horses, and still getting a bad reputation.

"It's all because of Bai Shuncai! Why isn't he dead yet?!"

He knew Bai Shuncai had made some underhanded moves, but he didn't take it seriously. The Liu family was nothing; even if they stirred up trouble, how far could they go?

But this was a troublesome matter that had to be resolved. Liang Ye had no choice but to spend money to avoid further trouble, sending someone to the Liu family to inquire about the price of the horse farm, thus silencing those people with money.

Two more days passed.

Liang Ye didn't receive news of being cut in half, but was instead summoned by Qin Muyan.

He was hit on the head with a book as soon as he entered the door, followed by Qin Muyan's frantic roar!