Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After Changyuan finished saying what he needed to say, Xia Yu led him out of the main hall. The court was in complete chaos again, and Xia Yu didn't want to listen to their arguments any longer.

She never imagined that these seemingly dignified men could argue in court over differing political views with just as much as village women hurling insults. However, they were at least a little more refined in their arguments, refraining from publicly hurling insults at each other's parents and ancestors. Whether they actually felt any such insults was anyone's guess.

"Xiaxia, what are you doing here?" Changyuan finally realized that this was the palace, so why was Xia Yu here?

"Don't talk about my problem yet. Let me ask your third brother, weren't you in the recruit camp in Zhongzhou Prefecture? How did you end up at Jialing Pass? And you almost died there."

“I went with General Zhao. He's the General Zhao who helped you buy grain and escort you back. He was promoted to commander of a thousand after he came back. This time, when Jialing Pass requested reinforcements, General Murong sent General Zhao with men, and that's when I went with General Zhao.”

Hearing his words, Xia Yu frowned. She felt that General Zhao was repaying kindness with enmity. He had been promoted because of his own merits, yet he had brought his third brother to fight alongside him and assigned him such a dangerous task.

"Does General Zhao know about our relationship?" Xia Yu asked, frowning.

"I don't know if he knows or not, he probably doesn't. Everyone in the military camp thinks I am..." Changyuan suddenly stopped speaking before he could finish.

Xia Yu looked at his somewhat guilty face, sneered, and asked...

"Why did you stop talking? What do they think you are in the military?"

"N-nothing!" Changyuan looked a little embarrassed, revealing an awkward expression.

Xia Yu didn't expose her, but instead asked again.

"Did everyone in our village go to Jialing Pass?"

"Of course not, they're still in recruit camp!"

"Then how did you manage to get there?" Xia Yu asked again.

He scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly before answering the question.

“I found a godfather in the army camp. He makes the best pancakes. General Zhao especially liked his pancakes, so before he went to Jialing Pass, he specifically asked General Murong to take my godfather with him. My godfather was worried about me, so he took me with him.”

"Oh..." Xia Yu said "Oh" after hearing it, dragging out the last syllable.

Hearing her drawn-out ending tone, Changyuan's face turned slightly red again.

Xia Yu did not allow Changyuan to stay in the place arranged in the palace, but personally took him by carriage to Li Taifu's residence.

"Grandpa, my third brother just returned from Jialing Pass. He's injured, and I'm a little worried about him staying in the barracks. But I'm living in the palace now, so it's not appropriate for him to stay with me." Xia Yu told Grand Tutor Li about her concerns, and before she could finish speaking, Grand Tutor Li interrupted.

"Let Changyuan stay here with me. There is a physician in the manor now, so it will be convenient for him to seek medical treatment."

"Okay, Grandpa, thank you for your hard work these next few days."

Grand Tutor Li simply waved his hand.

"What's so hard about this? Have you gotten used to life in the palace these past few days?"

"I'm not used to it. If I weren't worried about the Emperor's safety, I wouldn't want to be in there for even a day. It's so stuffy." Xia Yu sighed helplessly.

"Not only Luo'er, but you yourself must also be careful. Be extremely careful with your diet, lest you fall into someone's trap. I remember there's a nanny named Lian in the Baron's mansion who was released from the palace; I saw her when I visited your home last time." Grand Tutor Li suddenly thought of someone.

"Yes, there's a Granny Lian. She used to serve the Dowager Consort." Xia Yu naturally remembered Granny Lian. She had been in the capital for so long, but she hadn't been back to her family's Baron's mansion yet. She wondered how Granny Lian was doing now.

“I’ve had some dealings with her before, and she’s a very nice person. Right now, you only have Da Niu and Shi Jiu by your side in the palace, which isn’t enough. Let her come with you to the palace and be your personal nanny. She knows a lot about things in the palace, and she can offer some advice if you encounter any problems.”

“Alright, I also feel that we are missing a trustworthy nanny. Since you, Grandpa, recommend her so highly, I will go back now and ask her what she thinks, and see if she is willing to come to the palace with me.”

"It's already noon, it's not too late to go after lunch." Grand Tutor Li looked at the glaring sunlight in the courtyard and wanted Xia Yu to stay for lunch.

"Grandpa, once the situation stabilizes, I'll have meals with you every day. But right now, Luo'er is all alone in the palace, and I always feel uneasy about it." Xia Yu felt a pang of heartache thinking of Zhou Luo, who had rarely smiled since taking that position.

When Zhou Luo was mentioned, Grand Tutor Li sighed inwardly, realizing that he had found out too late. If he had known from the beginning that Zhou Luo was a prince, he would have held him to the standards of a prince from the very beginning of his education.

"Then don't stay any longer. Go back to the palace as soon as you've finished your business. You can rest assured that Changyuan is with me; I will take good care of him."

Xia Yu exchanged a few more words with Chang Yuan, then hurriedly boarded the carriage and returned to the Baron's mansion. Seeing the tightly closed gate, the coachman stepped forward and knocked. Soon, the small door on the main gate opened, and he cautiously asked the person standing outside.

"who are you looking for?"

"Princess Wenfu has arrived!" the coachman announced to the people inside the small gate.

"Ah! It's Princess Wenfu!" the man exclaimed softly. Immediately afterwards, the coachman heard running and footsteps inside, as well as the sound of the door bolt being pulled open.

As the gate opened, several maids quickly came out and bowed to Xia Yu, who was wearing a hat.

"May Princess Wenfu be well!"

"No need for formalities. Is Granny Lian in the manor?" Xia Yu asked as she walked inside.

"Yes, Granny Lian is always in the manor."

An old woman answered very quickly.

"Yes, please ask her to go to the flower hall. I have something to discuss with her," Xia Yu instructed the old woman who had answered.

"Yes, this old servant will go and call Granny Lian right away. Princess, please rest in the hall for a while."

"Um"

Xia Yu looked at the somewhat deserted courtyard. The courtyard was large, but with so few people living there, it felt lifeless. Although the flowers in the courtyard were blooming vibrantly, there was still a sense of loneliness. However, every plant and tree in the courtyard was very well maintained; it was clear that care had been taken. Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that the people in the manor hadn't neglected their daily tasks just because their master was away.

Granny Lian arrived quickly, her hair neatly combed with a silver comb tucked into the back of her head. She wore a warm smile and a clean, indigo-blue cotton summer robe. Just one glance at her was enough to calm any restless heart.

"Greetings, Princess." Granny Lian bowed respectfully to Xia Yu.

"Please rise, Granny Lian. I have something to discuss with you today."

"Princess, please just give your orders. You're being too polite, it's too much for this servant." Granny Lian spoke with her usual humility.

"Granny, I feel like there are too few trustworthy people around me in the palace these days, and I don't understand many of the palace rules. I'd like to ask you to come and help me. I wonder if you would be willing?" Xia Yu still spoke in a consultative tone. Although she had been here for a long time, she still unconsciously showed more respect to an elderly woman who was about the same age as her grandmother.

"It is my honor to have the princess's trust. I am willing to enter the palace to serve the princess." Knowing that Xia Yu intended to give her an important position, Granny Lian quickly knelt down to express her feelings.

Xia Yu quickly helped her up.

"Why are you kneeling again, Granny? Get up quickly. You used to serve the Dowager Consort, so your status is much higher than others. From now on, just treat me as a junior. You must never kneel down so easily again."

Xia Yu held Lian Mama's somewhat rough hand and said very sincerely.