Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

When they arrived in the capital, they only needed four carriages, including passengers and luggage. But on their return journey, those four carriages clearly couldn't hold all the boxes filling the courtyard. After meeting Shen Luo and Chang Yun, the Emperor rewarded them once, giving each of them several boxes of treasures. This morning, when Xia Yu was conferred the title of Lady of the Township, he bestowed upon them another reward. Not counting the things they bought while traveling, they already had dozens of boxes of items.

The Li family now only had two horse-drawn carriages and one oxcart. Just as Uncle Hu said he was going to the street to hire more vehicles, Shen Jingheng arrived. He didn't come alone; behind his carriage followed a large procession of about twenty horse-drawn carts, five of which were already loaded with boxes, and each cart had a guard with a sword beside it.

"Are you coming back with us?" Li Taifu asked, looking at the boxes on the carriage.

“No, the box on the carriage is a gift from the Emperor to the Grand Tutor. He said it was a New Year’s gift from a student to his teacher,” Shen Jingheng explained.

Upon hearing Shen Jingheng's words, Grand Tutor Li knelt down and bowed towards the direction of the palace, but Shen Jingheng held him up with both hands.

"Grand Tutor, His Majesty said that he sent this gift to you as a student, and there is no need for thanks."

Despite saying this, the Grand Tutor still bowed deeply towards the direction of the palace. When he looked up again, his eyes were somewhat moist.

Seeing the Grand Tutor before him, Shen Jingheng pretended not to notice. The relationship and affairs between the Emperor and the Grand Tutor were not his concern. If it weren't for Consort Jiang's affair, the Grand Tutor would certainly have been willing to serve the Emperor in court until his last breath. But now… Shen Jingheng could only sigh silently.

After everything was loaded onto the car, several servants from the Li family stood in front of the mansion gate to say goodbye to Grand Tutor Li.

"Master, we will miss you!"

The Grand Tutor sighed.

"Thank you all for your hard work these past few days. I'll be back after the New Year. I hope you're all doing well here."

Looking at his loyal servants, Grand Tutor Li felt a pang of sorrow. These were all old men who had served him for decades. But he couldn't bring them all with him; his residence in the capital needed people.

“Master, please take care of yourself while we are away serving you. These past few years without you in the mansion have always felt empty,” said Uncle Hu.

"Yes, sir. We only have someone to rely on when you're here," Uncle Hua added.

"Grand Tutor, it's time to set off. It'll be dark soon," Shen Jingheng said, glancing at the time.

They boarded the carriage and waved goodbye to the people in front of the mansion. After half a year away from home, Xia Yu and his party finally embarked on their journey home.

It was already dark when the boat set sail. Shen Jingheng stood on the dock watching the Shen family's boat leave before taking a carriage back to his residence.

In fact, Grand Tutor Li's departure was quite hasty. By the time many people heard the news, Grand Tutor Li and his entourage had already boarded the ship. After all, there were only ten days left until the New Year, and they had only been back from their trip for three days. Almost everyone assumed they would spend the New Year in the capital.

Many ladies and young women were even planning to get a good look at what the newly appointed Lady of the Township looked like during the New Year's banquet in the palace. But they left so quickly!

When Fu Fen'er from the Fu household heard that Xia Yu had been bestowed the title of Lady Wenfu by the Emperor, she was so angry that she broke her fingernails. What kind of seductive methods had this peasant girl used to get the Emperor to make an exception and bestow such an honor upon her?

Looking at her own home, her mother had also fallen ill because of that wretched girl. Since her mother got sick, her father had clearly become less attentive to her than before. He seemed alright on the surface, but she had to take care of all her own food and clothing, as he was busy with official duties all day and sometimes she wouldn't see him for days at a time.

And now even some of the respectable old women in the manor don't listen to her anymore, all thanks to that girl. If it weren't for her making trouble for me and my mother, how could my mother have fallen ill? My mother's illness started because of her.

Some things are just strange. She wasn't unaware of the truth, she just didn't want to believe it. So she wanted to find a reason for these misfortunes that she was willing to believe, and that's exactly what Fu Fen'er was doing.

On the afternoon of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Shen family's large ship arrived at the dock in Ming'an County. Mr. and Mrs. Shen were the first to receive the news, and while rushing to the dock, they sent someone to deliver the message to Zhangjia Village.

"Luo'er..." Madam Shen saw her grandson in the crowd from a distance.

"Grandmother, Grandfather," Shen Luo heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw her grandparents running towards her.

Shen Luo responded to her grandmother's call and quickly ran towards the two elders.

They nestled into Madam Shen's arms like swallows returning to their nests.

"Luo'er... Grandmother's good grandson, you're finally back." Madam Shen held her grandson, whom she hadn't seen for half a year, with tears in her eyes.

"Let Grandmother take a good look," Madam Shen murmured, pinching Shen Luo's body to see if he had lost weight while he was away.

"Grandmother...haha...Grandmother, please don't pinch me, it's so ticklish, haha." Shen Luo laughed as he dodged Madam Shen's 'claws'. When Madam Shen touched him up and down, she pinched Shen Luo's ticklish spot, making him wriggle involuntarily.

After looking Shen Luo up and down to make sure he was alright, Madam Shen hugged him tightly again. Old Master Shen, standing nearby, was anxiously wringing his hands, wanting to hold his grandson as well, but since his wife was already holding him, he couldn't just snatch him away.

"Grandmother, don't hug me so tightly, I can't breathe," Shen Luo's pained voice came from Madam Shen's arms.

"Oh, oh, it's because Grandmother was holding me too tightly." Madam Shen quickly let go.

Taking advantage of this lull, Mr. Shen finally had a chance to speak.

"Madam, the Grand Tutor is still over there. Let's go over there."

Madam Shen looked up and saw that Li Taifu, Xia Yu, Chang Yun and the others were looking in their direction from a dozen meters away.

Xia Yu met Madam Shen's gaze, smiled brightly, and raised her arm to wave in their direction.

Inspired by Xia Yu, Madam Shen unconsciously followed suit, raising her arm and waving it vigorously. Then, she took her grandson's hand and followed Mr. Shen in that direction.

"Grand Tutor, Lady Wenfu, did you have a smooth journey?" Master Shen bowed to the two men.

Xia Yu quickly stepped aside to avoid Mr. Shen's greeting. Her face flushed red; she hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.

"Grandpa Shen, please just call me Xiaxia, it sounds really awkward."

Xia Yu's words caused Master Shen and Grand Tutor Li to burst into laughter at the same time.

Looking at Xia Yu's rosy cheeks, Madam Shen sighed with a touch of regret. Before leaving, she had planned to let Xia Yu meet her second son upon her return, to see if there was any possibility between the two children. But who could have imagined that Xia Yu would become a village princess after her trip? In that case, her son, still a commoner, was no longer a suitable match.