In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

In the end, Li Yuanchang successfully escorted the person back to the Prince of Han's residence.

The journey here was far less grand than the grandeur of Chang'an back then.

It wasn't that Li Yuanchang didn't want to give it to Situ Lan, but rather that the higher-ups wouldn't allow it. They made it clear that a grand celebration was not permitted as a form of punishment. If it were held, it would cause trouble once the news reached Chang'an.

The Situ family was obviously aware of this matter, so they didn't actually prepare any procedures.

However, the story of the Han princess entering the palace spread by word of mouth and became known to everyone.

Many gifts were sent to the Prince of Han's residence, mostly from officials from various parts of Liangzhou Prefecture, but Li Yuanchang returned them all.

These gifts could easily amount to eight thousand strings of cash, and things could get complicated later.

Li Yuanchang had just returned to the East Courtyard with Situ Lan, and she hadn't even had time to put away her dowry and clothes yet.

"Your Highness, Lord Wang has returned and says there's some progress."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up, and he instinctively wanted to leave, but then he suddenly stopped. Situ Lan had just married into the family today.

Situ Lan, quick-witted and perceptive, immediately said gently, "Your Highness, if you have official duties to attend to, please go ahead and do them. The important matters come first."

"This isn't my first time here, I can take care of myself."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang felt guilty once again, realizing he hadn't given them the wedding and had kept them waiting for so long.

"No, go tell Wang Hongzhi that we'll discuss this tomorrow."

"Your Highness, please don't," Situ Lan insisted.

"I've just arrived and there are still many things to tidy up. These are all women's things, and it's inconvenient for you to be here."

"Besides, isn't the family dinner going to be in the evening?"

"You can go ahead and come back for the dinner."

Li Yuanchang glanced at the fairly festive East Courtyard, then at Situ Lan's gentle, watery eyes.

"Well... okay."

"Then you should tidy up first, and just tell Fang Weng if there's anything you need."

"Yes." Situ Lan smiled, poised and graceful.

After Li Yuanchang walked out, she remembered something and chased after him.

"Your Highness, the weather has been getting colder lately. Please put on your coat." She kindly helped Li Yuanchang put it on.

Touched by these details, Li Yuanchang gently patted her slender hand.

Situ Lan's cheeks flushed instantly; this was the first time in her life she had ever had skin-to-skin contact with a man.

By the time she came to her senses, Li Yuanchang had already walked away, his tall and decisive figure leaving her lost in thought.

forecourt.

Wang Hongzhi, dressed in a wide black robe, had been waiting for a long time. As soon as Li Yuanchang arrived, he immediately went to greet him.

"Any progress?"

"Your Highness, when you went to pick up the Princess early this morning, I led my men to find a stonemason who was in charge of building the Dahong Temple."

"When the temple collapsed, three-quarters of the people were crushed to death. This person happened to be returning home and survived."

"He was unwilling to show his face, but after learning who we were, he said that the stone and timber were supplied by the same company."

"Lu Family Stone Manor!"

Li Yuanchang squinted: "Lu's Stone Manor?"

"What's their background?"

"Your Highness, the Lu family's stone quarry is the largest stone quarry in Liangzhou, and it is controlled by the Lu brothers."

"It is about 100 miles away from Liangzhou City. The entire Shizhuang village has a population of more than 1,300, all of whom are surnamed Lu. It is a true clan village."

"They moved here decades ago and have been here ever since. It is only through the reproduction of two generations that we have reached the current situation."

"It is said that the Lu family is very xenophobic. Outsiders are not allowed to enter their village. They also have private retainers to guard their homes."

"More than half of Liangzhou's stone and timber come from them."

"However, in recent years, due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, the Lu family's business has not been as good as before. Many mountains have become barren, and it is difficult to mine stones."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang seemed to be deep in thought.

"Can you confirm that the stone and timber were supplied by the Lu family?"

Wang Hongzhi said directly, "Yes, not only do craftsmen know about this, but the Lu family also appears in many files in Liangzhou Prefecture. They have supplied goods to the government more than once."

"The price was relatively low, and the Liangzhou Prefecture at that time would also give them some land and exempt them from some taxes. It was because of this that the Lu Family Stone Manor grew stronger day by day."

The more Li Yuanchang listened, the more it sounded like some kind of collusion between officials and businessmen. He was a businessman in his previous life, so how could he not understand the intricacies of this?

"The only regret is that all the procurement information from that time has been lost with Wu Wei's death and can never be found again."

"We can't be sure if there's really a problem with those goods."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang seemed to be reminded, and a sudden inspiration flashed in his mind.

"The original materials are no longer available, but there should still be stone materials at the Lu Family Stone Manor, right?"

Wang Hong was stunned for a moment: "Yes, definitely!"

"That's fine. If there were really problems with the stone and timber that were bought for 8,000 strings of cash, then there must be problems with the Lu Family Stone Estate. No one would turn down money."

"Maybe they have them in their village now."

Wang Hongzhi said directly, "Then, Your Highness, should we mobilize troops and go there now?"

Li Yuanchang shook his head: "No, you have to catch a thief red-handed and an adulterer caught in the act. If we go directly there, someone will tip us off, and the other party will definitely hide it; they won't put it out on their own."

"Families and villages are generally very united. If we are not careful, it can easily turn into a conflict between officials and the people. I cannot give anyone such an opportunity to impeach me."

"What should we do then?" Wang Hongzhi asked blankly.

Li Yuanchang's lips curled up, and a wicked idea immediately came to him.

"Place your order!"

"Lue the snake out of its hole."

"Give us the evidence, and use it to refute the claim twice."

Wang Hongzhi only understood the phrase "luring the snake out of its hole," and he didn't understand the rest.

The Li Yuanchang he was looking at was becoming more and more mysterious. He was alright in Chang'an, but since he came to Liangzhou, it was as if a seal had been broken.

His overwhelming abilities and boundless imagination almost made him unrecognizable.

Not long after.

Li Yuanchang left the mansion again and went to a shop in Liangzhou City.

This shop is called Lupu. It doesn't sell any goods, but only has private rooms for customers to drink tea.

This is a shop of Lu's Stone Shop in Liangzhou City, but the stone and wood materials are not here. After the customer pays and signs here, the stone shop will start production and delivery.

Li Yuanchang brought only a few men with him, and they disguised themselves by wearing black brocade robes and adding some beards. Unless one knew them well, it would be difficult to tell that Li Yuanchang was the Prince of Han.

"Please come in, sir."

An elderly man with a goatee quickly approached with a group of people, his face beaming with smiles. He could tell at a glance that Li Yuanchang was no ordinary person, but rather someone of great wealth and status.

It must be said that you can doubt a businessman's character, but you can't doubt his judgment.

Li Yuanchang walked in with a smile, looking around.

"The Lu family's business is really big; even I, an outsider, have to come here because of their reputation."

The old man chuckled and said, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."

"May I ask where you come from, young master?"