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“However, Granddaughter-in-law, even thought Neverland was set up to make money, I hope you can clearly separate public and private interests. In other words, you must keep the general’s estate and Neverland separate. For generations, the Mo family has been a loyal military family whose duty has been to protect and defend the nation. It cannot be assimilated into your Su family. To get to the point, we are not a merchant family!”
Mo Fengzhi’s words were meant as a rebuke to wake Su Biluo up.
Su Biluo just wanted to make the most of things and put her talents to full use, but she had forgotten this was ancient times, and ancients had ancient ways of thinking about loyalty and filial duty.
She smiled meekly. “Grandmother is right to chide. Granddaughter-in-law has learned her lesson. Public and private interests indeed ought to be clearly separated. So, starting tomorrow, Ziqian, Zi’an, you two go with my husband to the training grounds and focus on training. I’ll get someone else to manage the horse ranch.”
“Hey, Sister-in-law, you can’t do that to me…” Mo Zi’an looked pained and wronged. “It wasn’t easy getting that horse ranch up and running. I did most of the hard work. What right does someone else have to enjoy the fruits of my labor!”
He’d much rather amass wealth with abandon along with Su Biluo than endure the monotonous drudgery of training every day.
Perhaps it was more in line with his playful, rambunctious nature.
“Nope! You’re a real man, an especially capable general of the Mo Family Army; how can I waste your talent working for me? Do as you’re told—” She winked at him over and over.
Mo Zichen coughed lightly and ordered, “Ziqian, Zi’an, come with me at once!”
“Yes sir!” After all, Mo Ziqian and Mo Zi’an were soldiers. They sprang up reflexively under their commander-in-chief’s order.
They each shouldered a chest of silver and followed Mo Zichen out.
Su Biluo didn’t try to stop them. Certainly the Mo brothers had more important responsibilities to shoulder; the defense of Nothern Mo depended on them.
As for the others…
Su Biluo gave Meng Zixian a flattering smile. “Mother-in-law, I heard that not only were you a heroine back in the day, you were even better at running the home. Daughter-in-law was thinking that since Mo Di is busy managing Neverland, the general’s estate might trouble you to manage things here, and Ziling could assist you. This way public and private interests wil be separated. What do you think, Mother-in-law?”
Meng Zixian smiled. “The national treasury is in debt, and Eastern Ling, Southern Man, and Western Xia look on Northern Mo covetously. My sons are busy training the troops to strengthen the nation and Daughter-in-law is raising money to support the family. So just relax and leave these trifling estate affairs to me.”
Su Biluo was delighted. She stood and bowed to Meng Zixian three times. “Mother-in-law’s firm grasp of principles is my good fortune. With Mother-in-law and Little Sister-in-law managing the house, I have nothing to worry about.”
“Haha—” Everyone bloomed with happiness at Su Biluo’s unexpected show of etiquette.
Meng Zixian’s face flashed an ugly look before she pulled it back. She waved her hands. “No no no, don’t do that. I still want to live a little longer.”
Su Biluo seemed to understand now. Her mouth twitched and she awkwardly adjorned the meeting.
She went over and helped the old dowager up and personally saw Meng Fengzhi and Meng Zixian back to the north compound.
When they got there she saw Man Yuke waiting there with Maka, a worried look on her face.
Man Yuke curtseyed, then anxiously took Mo Fengzhi’s hand. “Grandmother, did you send word to my mother?”
“Yes, I sent someone. When he went to morning court at the hour of the rabbit this morning, I had Zichen send Mo Yu to deliver a letter.” Mo Fengzhi stroked Man Yuke’s hand to comfort her. “Relax, His Majesty had your big cousin explain everything. Let them settle it in private. If they can’t, then we’ll deal with it.”
They continued talking as they went inside, but Su Biluo was bored so she didn’t follow them in but took her leave and led Moonglow and Vivid out of the estate.
“Madame, where are we going?” Moonglow took quick, short steps to catch up.
The Courtyard 