Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

"Does the gentleman also think so?" Zhou Ji's narrow eyes were as black as ink, frighteningly dark.

"But why are they all women? Wouldn't the sudden appearance of women during a battle between two armies easily arouse suspicion?" Mr. Hua hesitated again, unable to understand the meaning of sending more than a dozen women from the capital at this time.

"Your Highness, why don't we wait a few hours? The spies in the city should have news by then." After saying this, Mr. Hua continued, gazing at the now completely dark sky outside.

"However, Your Highness, we still need to increase the number of guards in the main tent, just in case."

"What is there to fear from a few women? I am a descendant of the Zhou family of Da Huai. How could I be afraid of a few female assassins? The guards remain the same; there is no need to increase them."

Zhou Ji was somewhat dismissive of Mr. Hua's idea, feeling that doing so would be a loss of face.

"Your Highness, you mustn't! As the old saying goes, a wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. Since the other side has already sent secret guards, we must take precautions and not take this lightly!" After saying this, he ignored Zhou Ji's objections and left the tent to arrange the guarding matters.

In the city

Zhao Bei didn't ask Xia Yu how he obtained the grain. What did that matter to him? The most important thing was having grain. After Xia Yu arrived, he filled all the granaries in the city. Those overflowing granaries were his confidence in defending the city. Princess Wenfu, the Princess of Zhenguo, was his benefactor.

Although no one asked, many people witnessed Xia Yu entering the city with only a dozen or so people. Many were curious about where the grain came from.

In the end, there was no explanation that could convince everyone.

"Stop guessing. I've heard the late emperor say before that Princess Wenfu is protected by gods. I think she used magic to conjure up so much grain," someone in the crowd said. This was immediately echoed by the others.

“You’re right. I’ve heard it said before. These are the words of the late emperor. Princess Wenfu must be a fairy who descended to earth to save us.”

"That's right, it must be magic, otherwise how could so much food appear out of nowhere?"

"..."

Some rumors spread like wildfire, and soon Xia Yu went from being protected by gods to a fairy descended to earth to save people from suffering.

When Da Niu told Xia Yu these words as a joke, Xia Yu just laughed and didn't say much. Her identity was that of a princess; her ability to conjure food was a divine blessing. If she were just Zhang Xia Yu from Zhangjia Village, such abilities would be considered sorcery, and she might even be subjected to a bloodbath to prove her identity. Therefore, her true identity depended on her real-life identity.

"Miss, look how much everyone likes you!" Da Niu looked at Xia Yu's indifferent expression, somewhat puzzled.

"Hmm, I know everyone likes me, but I'm really tired right now. Can I go to sleep, Big Sister?" Xia Yu leaned against the quilt after washing up, feeling a little sleepy.

The young woman smiled somewhat shyly and said...

"Miss, you can sleep soundly. There are people on duty outside at night."

However, Xia Yu could no longer hear what she said afterward; she had already fallen asleep. Along the way, besides traveling like everyone else, she had also had to constantly immerse her consciousness in the space to cultivate the land, and by now she was utterly exhausted.

Hearing Xia Yu's even breathing, Da Niu quietly closed the door and signaled to Shi Jiu, who was guarding the door, that her mistress was asleep.

"Big Sister, you go to sleep. I'll keep watch with my sister tonight," Nineteen said to Big Sister.

"Okay, I've already arranged for Twenty-two and Twenty-nine to come and relieve you in the second half of the night. I'm going to sleep now." Da Niu didn't stand on ceremony with her. Everyone was exhausted at this point, and it was better to go back to sleep quickly so that everyone else could rest more peacefully.

After Da Niu left, Shi Qi held her younger sister's hand, and the two sisters finally had time to have a proper chat.

"How have you been these past few years?" Seventeen asked her younger sister.

"Okay, sister, I'm doing very well. The family is full of kind people. I eat and live with Miss, and I haven't suffered any grievances." Nineteen held her sister's hand tightly, gently stroking it. Compared to her sister's hand, her own hand was much more delicate.

Nineteen wanted to ask her sister how she was doing, but she opened her mouth and ultimately didn't ask. She could guess how she was doing just by looking at her hands.

"Sister, everything will be alright from now on. The princess is a good mistress; she never mistreats her servants. Sister, guess how much I've saved up now?" Nineteen wanted to talk about something cheerful, so she suddenly leaned close to Seventeen's ear and whispered.

"How much? Two hundred taels?" Seventeen guessed with all his might.

"Sister, you underestimate me. Guess again?" Nineteen said, feigning anger.

"Two hundred and fifty taels?" Seventeen teased her deliberately.

"Sis, I'm going to get angry if you keep doing this!"

"I can't guess, so please tell me!" Seventeen gently patted her younger sister's head and said tenderly.

"Eight hundred taels."

"So many?" Seventeen was somewhat incredulous.

"Well, that doesn't even include my jewelry!" Nineteen said with a touch of pride.

Seventeen gently patted her younger sister's head, her round eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Sister, do you think Dad would regret abandoning us if he knew we were so good at making money?" Nineteen suddenly asked.

Her words silenced Seventeen. If they hadn't been abandoned, how could they have been sold to the Shen family by human traffickers? If they hadn't been sold to the Shen family, how could they have mastered martial arts? And without martial arts skills, how could they have been assigned to serve the princess? If none of these "ifs" existed, she and her sister would probably be dead long ago.

"If he knew how rich we are now, he would definitely be chasing after us, begging to acknowledge us as his two precious daughters," Seventeen suddenly said.

"Yes, not only Dad, but Grandma would definitely treat us like her precious darlings, and so would Mom..." Nineteen-Yuan's eyes filled with tears as she spoke of their mother. She didn't understand why her mother had abandoned them. In her limited memories, her mother was a very gentle woman who loved them dearly. But their father said that their mother didn't want them anymore, that it was their mother who had made them leave.

"Sis, do you want to go home and visit?" Seventeen suddenly asked.

"I want to go back, sister. But I don't remember where our home is. I went there with the princess, but I can't find my way home." Nineteen held back the tears that were about to fall from her eyes, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

"I remember, if I had the chance, I would take you back. We need to ask our mother face to face why she didn't want us anymore," Seventeen said to Nineteen as if making a vow.

"Yes, let's ask her." Nineteen nodded heavily.

The two sisters gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky, just like the starry sky of their hometown in their memories.

Outside the city, Prince Ding'an finally received the message sent out by his spies inside the city.

There were a few words written on the note.

"Princess Wenfu has arrived, and the city has ample food supplies."

"How is this possible?" Prince Ding'an slammed the water cup in his hand to the ground.

At this moment, not only was Prince Ding'an somewhat flustered, but even the usually composed Mr. Hua was starting to panic. According to the information sent by spies in the capital, Princess Wenfu could not possibly have reached Jialing Pass at this time. What was the purpose of that person impersonating the princess? And how exactly were those grains transported into the city? How come their people hadn't received any information at all!

In an instant, everyone on Ding'an Prince's side felt as if they were blind and deaf.