Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Just when everyone thought Madam Mei would lose her temper, she unexpectedly turned around, boarded the carriage she had come in, and prepared to leave. Seeing this, Madam Lu hurriedly nodded to the lady wearing the hat and followed her.

Sitting in the carriage, Mei'er stretched out her hand, which had been pinched until it bled, inwardly seething with resentment. The woman's words had been like a bucket of cold water poured over her smug head, instantly sobering her up. She had been trained in reading people since childhood, and naturally hadn't overlooked Madam Lu's strange attitude towards the woman. In Dingcheng, she had never seen Madam Lu so humiliated by any other lady. Although unwilling, she knew the situation was not something a mere concubine like herself could contend with. Despite the humiliation, she chose to endure and back down.

"Madam Mei, please don't be angry. I'll have the shopkeeper send all the new styles of jewelry to your residence for you to choose from." Madam Lu lifted the curtain and sat down next to Madam Mei, gently soothing her emotions.

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Lu, but I am just a lowly concubine and I really cannot accept such a generous treatment from you."

Mei'er lowered her head and said in a low voice, her voice filled with deep grievance.

Hearing her speak like that, Madam Lu's face stiffened. She cursed inwardly, "What a shameless woman! She knows my status perfectly well and yet she's still so arrogant!" However, though she thought this, she didn't show it on her face. Her expression only stiffened for a moment before she quickly put on a gentle smile and began to comfort her.

"What concubine or not? I've never cared about those false reputations. I befriended you because I felt a connection with you. Seeing you makes me feel close to you. I used to have a daughter, but she was unlucky; she fell into the river at the age of five and died..." As she spoke, she took a handkerchief and wiped away non-existent tears from the corner of her eye before continuing...

“If she were alive and well, she would be about your age by now. Every time I see you, I think of that poor daughter.”

When Mei'er heard her say that, she felt very unlucky. She was actually comparing herself to a dead person, but she still pretended to be very moved and held Madam Lu's hand tightly.

"Just now……"

"Then, Madam..." The two suddenly spoke at the same time, looked at each other, and smiled.

"Does Madam Lu know the lady from Cuihua Tower just now?" Mei'er asked first.

Madam Lu guessed that this was what she wanted to ask, and shook her head.

"I don't know her, but I know her identity must be extraordinary." Madam Lu lowered her head and thought for a moment before continuing.

"Did you see the bright moon silk that she's wearing on her head? I heard that kind of material takes ten weavers three years to produce just one bolt, it's extremely rare. It's not something an ordinary person can possess, that lady's status must be extraordinary!"

"..." Madam Lu's words made Mei'er fall into deep thought, her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

When Madam Lu saw her expression, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly. She didn't like that other lady; she was far too arrogant. She didn't like this Madam Mei either. Since that was the case, she would let them fight it out themselves, and she would just watch the show from the sidelines.

That evening, when Mr. Hua entered the house, he saw a beautiful woman weeping under the lamp.

"What's wrong with you? Didn't you go out to buy jewelry with someone today? Why are you still unhappy about buying jewelry?" Mr. Hua asked Mei'er as he took off his outer robe.

"What jewelry are you trying to buy? We were kicked out before we even got inside." Mei'er said, feeling wronged but knowing her place, as she reached out and took Mr. Hua's robe, draping it over the hanger.

"Oh, so nowadays there are still people who dare to turn you away? Which jewelry store is it?" Mr. Hua became interested when he heard Mei'er's words. In Dingcheng, who doesn't know that Mei'er is his woman? Who would dare to openly look down on her like this?

“It’s not the jewelry store’s fault. Today, I went to Cuihua Tower with Madam Lu. We happened to run into a lady there who was picking out jewelry. She asked all her customers to come out. The manager of Cuihua Tower also stopped us from going in.” Mei’er said as she helped Mr. Hua wash up.

"And then you just obediently left?" Mr. Hua wiped his face with a handkerchief and continued to ask.

“What else can I do but leave? Am I supposed to rely on the master’s power to start a fight in the street? The master dotes on me, Mei’er knows that. But I can’t cause trouble for the master! I heard that the lady is no ordinary person, she’s very powerful and very rich. She even uses gold leaves to tip the waiter.”

"Hmm? You mean to tip with gold leaves?" Mr. Hua paused in his work and asked again.

"Yes, that's right. I specifically inquired about it today. Everyone in the city knows. She booked the best inn in town as soon as she arrived and arrogantly kicked everyone out. However, she was reasonable enough to compensate them ten times the room rate. I also heard from Madam Lu that the moon-shaped gauze on her hat takes ten weavers three years to weave just one bolt. It's extremely rare and not something ordinary people can obtain..."

Mei'er noticed Mr. Hua's expression and said a lot more, but after hearing that she had rewarded people with gold leaves and the moon-white gauze used for their hats, Mr. Hua's mind seemed to have wandered off somewhere else.

After a long period of contemplation, he suddenly stood up and spoke to Mei'er, who had been watching him intently.

"Bring me my outer robe; I need to go out for a bit."

Mei'er didn't ask what was wrong, and obediently helped him put on his outer robe. Then she saw him out the door.

As she watched the person disappear into the night, Mei'er's lips curled into a smile.

Daring to humiliate her in public, she'd teach her a lesson. Her own status wasn't high, but now she was Mr. Hua's concubine; she couldn't do anything to her, but Mr. Hua could!

A few days ago, he had guessed from a few casual remarks made by Mr. Hua that the Prince of Ding'an was currently short of money, extremely short of money. If the war was to continue, he had to raise funds. If nothing unexpected happened, the prince would soon be targeting the wealthy households in the city, and now that such a fat sheep had been delivered to him, it would be a waste not to take advantage of the silver ingots in the man's luggage.