Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The man was injured, and then, angered by Xia Yu, he spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

After examining the situation, Nineteen said to Xia Yu...

“Miss, the person isn’t dead, just unconscious. You’ve been busy all night, so please go back and rest. Leave the interrogation to me.”

"Okay, then ask him if he has any other accomplices? I don't believe he just came here for revenge like this; he might have some other tricks up his sleeve." Xia Yu rubbed her slightly sore eyes and instructed Nineteen.

"Yes, I understand. I will definitely conduct a thorough investigation."

Xia Yu didn't return to her own courtyard but went to Liu's. When the incident happened, Zhang Youtie had ordered all the maids and servants in his household to gather here, partly to protect Liu, and partly to prevent thieves from sneaking into the Zhang family home and committing murder. After things calmed down, Zhang Youtie first sent people to check every corner of the Zhang family home. Now, torches are lit in every courtyard, making it as bright as day.

Although the courtyard had been thoroughly searched, Madam Liu was still restless. She had just heard from a servant that her daughter, along with two maids, had fought with the thieves. While she knew the maids were skilled in martial arts, swords and spears were unpredictable; what if one of them got injured?

When Xia Yu arrived at her mother's courtyard, Liu Shi was anxiously trying to go out and look for Xia Yu. However, she was stopped by Aunt Liu, Aunt Ma, and several maids.

"Madam, you absolutely mustn't go out! With Miss's abilities, she'll definitely be alright. I just heard someone say that Miss has already returned." Ziyan leaned against the door, preventing Liu from leaving.

“We’ve checked all the yards in our house, and it’s fine to go out now. Please move aside. I need to go see Xiaxia.”

"..." Zi Yan shook her head, not saying a word. Her face was full of worry. She was also worried about her young mistress, but even so, she couldn't let the madam go out.

“Madam, Miss is busy right now, but she will definitely come to see you when she’s free. If you go first, you won’t be able to help Miss, and it might even distract her,” Aunt Ma pleaded, supporting Liu’s arm.

"Aunt Ma, I'm so anxious! I just want to see her, as long as I know she's alright. Are you trying to kill me with worry by not letting me out?" Liu looked at the people in front of her. She knew they were loyal to her, but she wanted to see her daughter!

“Sister, Aunt Ma is right. Xiaxia must be busy right now. If you go now, you won’t be able to help her. Instead, you’ll distract her. Just wait patiently for a while longer.”

Just as the two sides were at an impasse, the voice of a maid came from outside.

"Miss is back!"

Hearing the maid's voice, Ziyan, who was leaning against the door, quickly opened the door and saw Xia Yu, dressed in a neat and clean outfit, walking in with Da Niu.

With red eyes, Liu pulled her daughter up and down carefully, only feeling relieved after confirming that Xia Yu had no injuries.

Xia Yu enjoyed her mother's care and smiled as she said to Liu Shi.

"Mom, I'm fine. There's not a single scratch on my skin. Don't worry."

"You silly girl, there are so many men in the village, why do you have to stand up for me? If something happens to you, how will your mother live?"

"Yes, daughter understands. I will never step forward again if such a situation arises in the future." Xia Yu spoke to Liu Shi with a smile, agreeing with everything Liu Shi said. She knew that her mother was doing this because she was worried about her.

Liu was worried about her sister and daughter going back, so she had the servants prepare the east wing room so that they could stay there for the night.

Xia Yu had already planned to sleep here, so she had no objections to Liu's arrangement. However, Aunt Liu felt it was somewhat inconvenient.

"Sister, I think I'll go back to live here. Anyway, the house has been cleaned up and there's no danger."

Hearing her say this, Madam Liu understood her concerns and smiled.

"Your brother-in-law isn't coming back tonight, so you can rest here and sleep peacefully. Go to sleep now, the rooster has crowed twice already, and it'll be dawn soon if you don't go to sleep soon."

With no worries on her mind, Liu felt unusually tired and couldn't help but yawn as she spoke.

Seeing the dark circles under her sister's eyes, Aunt Liu didn't insist any further and went to sleep in the side room with her niece.

Xia Yu was utterly exhausted and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Aunt Liu listened to her niece's soft snores, shook her head, chuckled, and lay down fully clothed before gradually drifting off to sleep as well.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already broad daylight. Xia Yu heard the maids whispering in the corridor, and after a moment of blankness, she got up and put on her coat. Only then did she realize that her aunt was not in the room; she didn't know when she had gotten up.

Hearing the commotion inside, Nineteen and Daniu came in carrying water for washing their faces and clothes.

"Miss, you're awake?" Nineteen asked with a sweet smile.

"Hmm, what time is it now?" Xia Yu rolled up her sleeves, preparing to wash her face.

"It's already past the first hour," Nineteen replied to Xia Yu's question while folding the quilt.

"It's already afternoon! I can't believe I slept for so long?" Xia Yu looked out the window in disbelief.

"Madam said that Miss is young and sleepy, and Miss worked hard last night. So she told us not to wake you and to just let you sleep." Da Niu put Xia Yu's jewelry box on the dressing table and spoke while looking for jewelry inside.

"Nineteen, did you get any results from yesterday's interrogation?" Xia Yu asked Nineteen, thinking of the man from yesterday.

"We've interrogated them thoroughly, and they definitely didn't have any other accomplices," said Nineteen, his face lightly coated with face cream.

"Why do I find this so suspicious? Isn't he just walking into this mess?" Xia Yu murmured.

"It was too late at the time, and his father sent him into the tunnel to escape before leaving. So, he thought that General Zhao and his soldiers killed their people. Later, he found out that it was because our Lord and you, the Lady, were transporting grain through there that these things happened. He didn't dare to go to the military camp to seek revenge on General Zhao, so he held a grudge against us. He just didn't expect that we knew kung fu, so he incited those bandits to come and rob us at night."

Nineteen styled Xia Yu's hair into a snake bun, then stood behind her and looked at herself in the mirror before finding a suitable pearl flower to insert on the dressing table.

After hearing Shijiu's explanation, Xia Yu thought about it and it seemed plausible. Luckily, she was relatively low-key, and not many people knew that she and her two girls knew martial arts. However, after last night's battle, this matter could no longer be kept a secret.

"Where is that person now?" Xia Yu asked again.

"He's still locked up in the woodshed, waiting for you to decide his fate, Miss." (Nineteenth)

"Have the officials arrived yet?"

"They've arrived. The magistrate himself led his men here. They're currently speaking with the master in the front courtyard."

"Hand those robbers over to the magistrate; let him decide their fate according to the law," Xia Yu said to the 19th.

"Yes, I will take care of it in a moment."

"Miss, they killed so many people in our village, why didn't they just kill them all?" Da Niu asked, puzzled, as she listened to Xia Yu and Shi Jiu's conversation.

"Do you think I enjoy killing? Last night's situation was unavoidable. Now that everyone has surrendered, we can't just kill indiscriminately anymore. Whatever the crime, the authorities will decide." Xia Yu glanced at Da Niu in the mirror and explained. In truth, she deeply respected life. She would only act as a last resort; she didn't want to become a ruthless killer.

After the officials took the men away, they were tried for several days. Of those who surrendered, four had not caused any deaths; their purpose in entering the village was simply to rob gold, silver, and grain. The magistrate sentenced them all to five years in prison. The man who sought revenge for his father and sister was sentenced to death and executed in the autumn. The others received different punishments depending on the severity of their injuries.

The bandit leader, still waiting on the mountain for his men to return with the grain and gold, broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing the news from Zhangjia Village. He knew he and his brothers had been used as pawns. Because the matter involved the nobleman and the local magistrate, he grew increasingly fearful, dreading the government sending troops to suppress the bandits. After thinking it over all night, he decisively divided his loot with his brothers in the bandit camp, then disbanded the camp. He took his wife, his valuables, and fled.

His behavior was truly cowardly, but cowardice has its advantages. When the government officials and soldiers arrived on the mountain to suppress the bandits based on their confessions, they found the place deserted, with no one left.