Chapter 162: I'll eventually behead you three

Hearing Lin Fusheng's words, Lu Yuan looked puzzled.

Lin Fusheng, meanwhile, asked curiously:

"However, I see that your second wife is older than your first wife—how does your family work that out?"

After coming to his senses, Lu Yuan gave a helpless smile and shook his head, saying:

"Sir, she really isn't my wife; she's from the Ministry of War, and I know her younger brother."

"Today she isn't here to hand out a bonus; she's free, so I just brought her along."

"Her surname is Gu, and someone in her family holds a very high post in the Ministry of War—perhaps even an Imperial Relative and Noble."

"The Ministry of War, a Gu—high position?"

Lin Fusheng thought it over carefully, but he didn't know either.

After all, one is the Ministry of Revenue, the other the Ministry of War.

Separated by one department, it's like being separated by mountains and rivers.

Lin Fusheng now knows only about the Ministry of Revenue and its people; other matters, he really isn't clear on.

However, regarding Lu Yuan's mention of Imperial Relatives and Nobles,

Lin Fusheng, however, curled his lips and said:

"What's the big deal about Imperial Relatives and Nobles? Their lives aren't as comfortable as ours, and they're constantly watched."

"If they so much as step out of line—say, buying a steamed bun without paying and promising to pay later—they could be dragged out and chopped the next day."

Lu Yuan looked bewildered and said:

"It's that serious?"

Lin Fusheng immediately nodded and said:

"Everyone knows that—the emperor currently despises these Imperial Relatives and Nobles; moreover, they really haven't done anything good before, so they deserve it."

"So Imperial Relatives and Nobles aren't a big deal; if you like them, just bring them home—your bed is big enough anyway."

Lu Yuan: "……"

After Lin Fusheng finished, he stopped chattering with Lu Yuan, looking at him and chuckling:

"Sir, I'm off now—I'll take these potatoes to the Ministry of Revenue and start arranging the hybrid potatoes tonight."

After saying that, Lin Fusheng didn't mind the dirt, since he had just come up holding potatoes.

His clothes were already covered in mud.

He had no wife to wipe him off, so he just came as he was—dirty.

Holding the potatoes, Lin Fusheng hurried away.

After Lu Yuan smoked another cigarette, he then walked downstairs with his hands behind his back.

No need to tidy the lunchbox; someone else will do it later.

Lu Yuan doesn't work at home—how could he work here?

Upon reaching the building entrance,

Lu Yuan saw Su Liyan holding the rear seat of the bicycle from behind.

while Gu Qingwan wobbled as she rode in front.

It was clear they could still chat easily.

Gu Qingwan chatted and laughed while looking back, and Su Liyan responded with a smile, looking up.

Lu Yuan couldn't hear them very well.

Anyway, the atmosphere seemed fine.

However, Lu Yuan glanced back at the wall behind the office building.

Then he shouted at the receding Su Liyan and Gu Qingwan as they rode farther away:

"Wife, stop playing—get to work already."

"Eh?"

Su Liyan and Gu Qingwan both turned to look at Lu Yuan standing at the gate, then turned their bikes around.

Su Liyan helped steady Gu Qingwan as she rode back.

After stopping, Gu Qingwan looked at Su Liyan beside her and said:

"Liyan, this bike is great—it feels much easier to handle than those big ones."

After being helped by Su Liyan and riding for over half an hour, Gu Qingwan felt she was almost able to ride on her own.

Su Liyan then said with a happy face:

"My brother made this especially for me because he dotes on me."

Gu Qingwan blinked, nodded, then got off and returned the bike to Su Liyan.

After Su Liyan got on the bike, she turned her head to look at Gu Qingwan and said:

"Wan Jie, if you want to learn, come to my place tomorrow—it's Sunday, and you'll pick it up in a day."

Gu Qingwan's eyes lit up, then she smiled and nodded, saying:

"Sure—if I have nothing tomorrow, I'll come find you."

Su Liyan's voice was soft and sweet, her tone gentle, with a hint of a sweet smile.

Even her words to Gu Qingwan became gentler.

After Su Liyan nodded, she sweetly glanced at the silent Lu Yuan standing nearby and said in a coquettish tone:

"Brother~ let's go~"

Seeing his wife's obedient demeanor, Lu Yuan couldn't help stepping forward to ruffle her hair, saying:

"Brother won't be going with you today; I still need to go to the greenhouse to study the potatoes."

Huh?

Still researching?

Su Liyan and Gu Qingwan both stared at Lu Yuan with strange expressions.

Gu Qingwan said, looking bewildered:

"What… what are you still researching?"

Lu Yuan glanced at Gu Qingwan's expression and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"Look at your useless self—yielding only 2500 jin per mu, where does that even get you?"

"Brother, I'm going to research a yield of 5000 jin, even 6000 jin per mu."

"Yield per mu……5000……??"

"6000??"

Gu Qingwan felt as if she were dreaming.

She stammered while looking at Lu Yuan and said:

"Is… is that even possible?"

Before Lu Yuan could say anything, Su Liyan, who was having her head rubbed on the side, looked at Gu Qingwan with a serious expression and said:

"Definitely possible!"

"My brother says it's possible, so it definitely is!!"

Hearing his wife's soft, sweet, yet extraordinarily firm words, Lu Yuan couldn't help but pull her into his arms and burst out laughing:

"Nothing beats my wife~~"

"With that saying from my wife, even if it can't be done, it has to be~"

Gu Qingwan, having come to her senses, watched this scene and blinked.

Hmm……

Su Liyan really completely trusts Lu Yuan……

Finally, after seeing off his sweet and lovely wife, Lu Yuan turned his head to the thoughtful Gu Qingwan beside him and said:

"I still have to go to the greenhouse; what about you?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, then looked at Lu Yuan and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"I'll follow you; I've got nothing to do this afternoon, not in a hurry to go back. What's up, bro—you don't want someone to light you a cigarette?"

Seeing Gu Qingwan's expression, Lu Yuan chuckled and said:

"If you're willing to light one for me, brother, how could I refuse?"

"Let's go!"

Afterward, the two walked side by side toward the greenhouse.

On the way, Gu Qingwan curiously looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"By the way… what did Lin Fusheng want to tell you, and why won't you let me listen?"

Lu Yuan blinked, then didn't conceal it; he had just said that Gu Qingwan wasn't a gossipy woman.

Let's take a look at that series of labels.

Each one is so good it's unbeatable, just like my wife.

This woman, as of now, is just not fit to be a wife; everything else is perfect.

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan's face filled with displeasure as she said:

"He's purely just wild guessing and wild thinking; the titles that the Human Emperor killed before were because that bunch of people weren't doing human deeds!"

"Those people deserved to die; he makes it sound like the Human Emperor deliberately killed political rivals."

"The Human Emperor isn't some murderous maniac—how could he kill the very titles he himself conferred?!"

Lu Yuan looked at Gu Qingwan with a strange expression and said:

"You aren't the Human Emperor, how do you know?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, then without changing her expression, lifted her head and said:

"Nonsense—I'm a Gu, and I'm related to the Human Emperor; I know better than you what kind of person the Human Emperor is."

Lu Yuan laughed, thought for a moment, then said somewhat seriously:

"I actually think it wouldn't be bad if the Human Emperor killed them all, but these titles—no matter how good a person is, they'll always change."

"Even if a good person is granted a title, if they can't hold themselves together, they'll turn bad."

"Cao Cao back then was also loyal to the Great Han."

Gu Qingwan was a bit dazed.

Who is Cao Cao?

Which dynasty is the Great Han?

However, Gu Qingwan didn't think too much about it; anyway, she understood what Lu Yuan meant.

Immediately, Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan somewhat seriously and said:

"Nothing is absolute; some people just won't change. If you have that awareness, then granting you a title is absolutely correct."

Huh?

Looking at Gu Qingwan, Lu Yuan blinked—this, too, is the case.

Whether it's his wife's 【unswerving loyalty】.

Or Gu Qingwan's 【white-haired constancy】.

Both are like that.

Some people, no matter what, will change, yet can still hold fast to their original aspirations.

Just like myself.

I still hold fast to my original intention of lying flat~

Lu Yuan didn't say anything either; anyway, this isn't something that just a few words between us here can decide.

I won't say more.

But Gu Qingwan, after walking two steps behind Lu Yuan, suddenly turned her head and said to Lu Yuan:

"That Lin Fusheng doesn't allow you to speak these things outside, so why did you tell me?"

Looking at Gu Qingwan, Lu Yuan grinned and said:

"Although we've just met not long ago, I still think you're very reliable."

"I'm willing to tell you this, and I also believe you definitely won't go out and blab."

"From now on, we're basically brothers~"

After saying that, Lu Yuan placed his hand on Gu Qingwan's shoulder, wearing the expression 'I'm the brother, you're the younger sibling.'

Originally, Gu Qingwan was still quite happy with what Lu Yuan had said earlier.

After all, who doesn't like the feeling of being trusted?

But that last sentence left Gu Qingwan stunned for a moment.

She pursed her lips, reached out and knocked off Lu Yuan's hand from her shoulder, and said in a coquettish voice:

"Pfft, who wants to be your brother?!"

In the evening, Lu Yuan and Gu Qingwan planned to each go back to their own homes.

The afternoon's work was finished.

Having Gu Qingwan beside me to take notes really makes things much easier.

Lu Yuan wondered whether he should find someone to help him keep records.

Given my current level, having a secretary and an assistant wouldn't be excessive, would it?

Having a secretary and an assistant really makes things much easier.

Tasks like recording temperature and the condition of potato sprouts, Lu Yuan won't need to do them anymore.

Just leave it to the assistant to handle.

Of course, finding an assistant isn't urgent either.

We need to find someone reliable, preferably someone from my own family.

After all, this is a great opportunity!

It's a nice gig, we can't let the benefits go to outsiders.

As for having Gu Qingwan as the assistant, that's definitely out of the question.

She's from the War Bureau, only free today, and won't be available later.

Lu Yuan thought and thought……

Or perhaps……

How about asking Third Uncle to come?

That way, Third Uncle could also move into the city to live.

Besides, this could count as being an employee of the Agriculture Bureau!

This is way better than farming at home!

The only thing is…… does Third Uncle know how to write?

Hmm……

It's a bit arrogant, but it's fine.

Writing and recognizing characters isn't that hard.

If you can't, just go to a village school to study for a month or two.

"Well, I'm heading back now; if I'm free tomorrow, I'll come to your place to hang out."

Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan and said:

Huh?

Lu Yuan was startled, then he said with a strange expression:

"You're really coming?"

That's just my wife being polite, saying a couple of nice words.

How could you actually take it seriously!

Why come over? That's just being a third wheel!

It's hard enough for my wife to get a day off, and Lu Yuan was still thinking about spending a sweet couple's time with her.

Gu Qingwan: "???"

After Gu Qingwan came to her senses, she immediately gritted her teeth and said:

"I'm really going!! I'm not coming to see you; I'm going to find Liyan, and Liyan told me to come!!"

Lu Yuan pursed his lips and said:

"Alright, then I'm off."

It doesn't matter either way; besides, my wife still has to tidy up at home on Sunday, and having Gu Qingwan come over could also lend a hand.

After saying that, Lu Yuan promptly swung onto his horse.

Riding the horse, he bounced along.

Gu Qingwan pursed her lips slightly, then turned and entered the carriage.

In the evening, in the Imperial Palace, in the Cabinet.

There is still an hour before the Imperial Palace locks up.

Gu Qingwan was leaning sideways on the chief seat of the Cabinet, her face covered in frost.

Having just returned from outside, the first thing Gu Qingwan did was to see whether the Ministry of Revenue had submitted the memorial to the Cabinet.

Don't delay it; I'll quickly approve it and then have the Agriculture Bureau get to work right away.

Besides, it's also a good time to set a date for granting Lu Yuan a title.

Gu Qingwan had decided what title to grant Lu Yuan.

There are five ranks in total: duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron.

Gu Qingwan really wanted to directly make Lu Yuan a count.

But she felt that would be too extravagant.

Of course, given Lu Yuan's achievements, even making him a marquis would be more than enough.

But... Lu Yuan's previous identity was merely that of a commoner.

To jump straight up that many ranks really doesn't make sense.

So, after some thought, Gu Qingwan prepared to give Lu Yuan a viscountcy.

As Lu Yuan would say, the days ahead are long.

I will always find an opportunity to promote Lu Yuan further.

First, take it slow; of course, taking it slow doesn't mean just giving him the lowest rank of baron.

She felt that would be somewhat unfair to Lu Yuan's efforts.

So, Gu Qingwan thought of first granting him a viscountcy.

But...

Who would have thought that just this viscountcy would truly make her furious tonight.

The three Grand Councilors kept saying this and that.

They simply refused to agree to make Lu Yuan a viscount.

Gu Qingwan gazed at the three elderly officials in front of her, wearing crimson official robes; finally, expressionless, she rose from the chief seat and walked toward the door, saying:

"Then let it be a baron; pick an auspicious day and hand it over to the Ministry of Rites to handle."

The three Grand Councilors' faces lit up, and they all knelt before Gu Qingwan, saying:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Leaving the Cabinet, Gu Qingwan's face was as icy as frost, her expression very grim.

"Not qualified," "can't skip ranks," "all sorts of nonsense."

All excuses.

They just want to restrain me.

They just want to continue using the ancestral injunctions to restrict me.

Gu Qingwan clearly knows what these three Grand Councilors are thinking.

Back then, my ascension to the throne would not have been possible without the covert support of these three Grand Councilors.

Over the years, I've done too much, and these three are not clean either; they fear that I will meet the fate of 'the rabbit dies, the hound is cooked; the birds are gone, the bow is put away.'

In the past few years, when I dealt with the Imperial Relatives and Nobles, and various princes and nobles, these three supported me more than anyone else.

They handled affairs faster than anyone else.

But over these years, the princes and nobles have mostly been cleaned up.

When it comes to clearing out some corrupt officials, if they are subordinates of these three, the three will all jump out to oppose.

Perhaps sensing that a great disaster is imminent, these three now dare not exert any authority.

Whenever I do something, these three will nag on and on.

They fear that if I loosen even a little, I will next move against them.

Gu Qingwan turned and gave the Cabinet a cold glance; her expression was indifferent, her emotionless eyes flashing a hint of killing intent.

The Gu Qingwan now is no longer the one Lu Yuan faced.

But has regained the dignified, cold demeanor of a female emperor.

Just wait, you three old fogeys; I will someday have your three dog heads chopped off!

Thanks to the elder brother's 15000 book coin reward, thank you very much; boss, spend rationally!

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(End of chapter)