Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 131 Men

After Hou Lai and Yuan Cuo returned, they told the siblings that Bai Shuncai had bribed Wei Gongming.

"...If someone steals a bun from another's bowl, it's perfectly reasonable for them to retaliate by biting back."

"There are still more than three months until the autumn examination. Even if they don't want me to participate, it's a bit too hasty," Yuan Cuo said in a low voice.

Liu Yuechu felt that it was one thing to only criticize the Liu family, but it also involved Elder Zhuang. If they continued digging, even Yang Zhanchun might not be safe, and they might all be implicated.

"Uncle Chun, please prepare some gifts later. We will go and apologize to any families who have been implicated."

"No rush, things have only just begun. Besides, a few idle words are nothing to be afraid of. We are all pillars of the literary world, why should we be afraid of such filth?" Yuan Cuo was not worried at all.

"So who's behind the Bai family?" Liu Yuechu finally remembered to ask.

Yuan Cuo mentioned the Imperial Concubine and Liang Ye, saying, "But this storm was bound to come sooner or later, so it's better to deal with it sooner rather than later."

Liu Yuechu sighed helplessly. She knew that the trouble caused by Yuwen Chan would be unavoidable.

Before they could speak again, the gatekeeper rushed over and said, "Fourth Madam and Miss Tang have also arrived at the door, crying and wanting to see Yue Niang."

"What are they doing here? Aren't they just causing trouble already?!" Liu Musheng was furious and wanted to rush to the door to chase them away, but then he remembered that they were just a few women. "Why don't you go and talk to them, sister?"

Liu Yuechu looked at Hou Lai and asked, "How much silver did Wei Gongming receive?"

Hou Lai held up one finger, “One hundred taels a day.”

Liu Yuechu clicked her tongue twice. "It's so expensive, no wonder they've all come to the door to make a scene. But let them make a scene if they want. I'll just use the back door when I leave. If they're so capable, they can pay for a year's worth. Anyway, it's not my money they're spending."

She is no longer the innocent, baseless girl she once was, who could be brought down by a few words of public criticism.

Besides, there's no evidence. Words are meaningless. Do you really think you can use the moral high ground of family to pressure her? You're dreaming.

"I'm just curious, since Second Sister gave Fourth Brother a lot of money before, why would Fourth Uncle make up these stories to deceive people into marriage?" Liu Muchi had been listening from the side without interrupting.

Liu Yuechu was also puzzled. "Yeah, that's twenty thousand taels of silver. Surely it's not all gone?" She looked at Hou Lai. "Do you know?"

Whether it's a big or small matter, Hou is the one who handles it.

But this time, Hou Laizhen was unaware that he had been assigned by Yuan Cuo to follow and protect Liu Yuechu, so he had no time to listen to gossip.

"Why don't we go ask Fang Suozi?"

Pawnshops know best the everyday affairs of ordinary people in the city.

Liu Yuechu immediately instructed Liu Muchi to go out through the side gate and fetch Fang Suozi.

Fang Suozi himself didn't come; his wife came instead.

"Master Liu has a mistress named Guo Nu'er, whom he dotes on. Master Liu received a share of money from you, but fearing that his wife would take it all and he wouldn't be able to get it out, he secretly gave a large sum of money to Guo Nu'er for safekeeping."

"This Guo Nu'er nominally has an older brother who is a gambling addict. He lost too much money recently and was detained at the casino, almost losing his life. Guo Nu'er paid off the debt owed to the Fourth Master and then secretly ran away from the capital with her brother."

"So the fourth master was short a lot of money and couldn't afford to prepare a dowry for his daughter."

……

This gossip came out of the woman's mouth with great relish.

Liu Yuechu was very curious, "After being swindled out of such a large sum of money, why didn't Fourth Uncle report it to the authorities?"

"What official are you reporting this to? Guo Nu'er isn't a woman, she's a man."

Suozi's wife was very feisty, and she wasn't ashamed at all when talking about it. "She was originally an actress, but the fourth master took a liking to her and bought her home. Besides, he kept saying he didn't trust his wife, and he slapped her hard across the face. If outsiders heard about this, the family would lose all face, and the children wouldn't be able to find a good match."

Liu Yuechu let out a long breath. She hadn't expected her fourth uncle to be so cunning. In her previous life, she only knew that her fourth uncle was greedy for money and lustful, but she never imagined that he was attracted to men.

Liu Musheng was also stunned. "Holy crap, Fourth Uncle actually... actually..." He couldn't say it.

He usually spent his time partying with Pei Chun and the others, but at least the women around him were all young girls, none of them were interested in men.

Yuan Cuo touched his nose. No wonder Fang Suozi didn't come to talk to him in person. He was such a big man, he probably felt disgusted just thinking about it.

"So when my fourth uncle was intimidated in jail, he started to smear us. That's why he kept targeting us and demanding a share of the money. It turns out he was supporting two families."

"So what are we going to do? Just stay inside and take the scolding?" Liu Musheng couldn't stand this humiliation; he still had to go to the horse farm to work these next few days.

"Go ahead and scold me, I'm not afraid anyway." Liu Yuechu raised a wicked smile. "If you can't stand it, big brother, just tell your fourth aunt about it. She's lived like this for so many years, and it turns out her husband is keeping another man outside."

"I'm not going, I'd be too embarrassed." Liu Musheng rubbed his arms, getting goosebumps as he listened to the story.

Liu Yuechu also felt very constrained; even though they had separated from the family, she was still an elder...

"I'll take care of it," Yuan Cuo said, rubbing his nose. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the task.

"Forget it, you're covered in filth now, and you still have to busy yourself with the scientific expedition." Liu Yuechu scratched his head. "Let me think about what to do."

She does indeed have a lot of trivial matters to deal with these days, all of which have piled up together.

She traded furs with Yuwen Chan, supplied goods to the Imperial Household Department, and the fur merchants who had previously opposed her learned that a large quantity of furs from Mongolia had entered the capital. They immediately began to lower their prices, and she also ordered the people on her estate to buy them in large quantities.

Even if those fur coats are of average quality, they are still reliable in keeping you warm.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching, and Yuan Cuo will be taking the exam in the autumn, so she has to take over all the duties.

In such a busy time, someone even blocked the door and caused trouble. "...The silk and paper materials supplied to the palace must be handled with utmost care, and no mistakes must be made."

She figured that Bai Shuncai spending money to annoy her wasn't just to vent his anger; he must have other plans, perhaps even intending to kill her.

What could be more terrifying than a problem with supplies for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration?

This is the only matter in which His Majesty will not protect the Liu family...

Yuan Cuo nodded slightly; he had also thought of this.

"So why don't we discuss whether we should take over the Liang family's business?" He had another new suggestion.

Moreover, this proposal was extremely bold, even placing it in opposition to the Third Prince.

Liu Yuechu was stunned for a moment. "Does my husband think our family doesn't have enough enemies yet?" At least take them one by one. We haven't even dealt with the Bai family yet.

“Whether you’re herding one sheep or a flock, it’s all the same,” Yuan Cuo said contentedly. “Actually, I have an idea…”