Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Just as Xia Yu had guessed, news spread throughout the city only two days later that the Prince of Ding'an was going to take a concubine. The chosen concubine was the daughter of Commander Lu. Although she was born out of wedlock, she had been raised by Madam Lu since childhood. She was very dignified and elegant, possessing the bearing of a legitimate daughter.

Lady Wang also received an invitation to the wedding banquet, and she attended the feast with four maids. Although the banquet was somewhat rushed, it was still quite grand. On that day, the groom, Prince Ding'an, personally toasted Lady Wang with a cup of wine to thank her for attending the wedding.

Ten days after Miss Lu became a concubine, she personally hosted a banquet at her residence, inviting the families of officials of all ranks in Dingcheng, including Lady Wang, who had a very special status.

After the banquet, Consort Lu and Lady Wang became close friends, frequently meeting for tea and shopping. A month passed in this way, and their relationship grew increasingly intimate. Then, the messenger who had gone to Jinling to gather information returned.

"Your Highness, the men who went to the capital have returned and are waiting outside," Mr. Hua whispered to Prince Ding'an.

"Yes, come in. Sir, don't go out either, listen from the side," Prince Ding'an instructed.

Soon, a very ordinary-looking man, dressed in shorts, entered the study.

After entering, the man first bowed to the prince before reporting the information he had gathered in Jinling.

"I have learned that in the Wang family of Jinling, only the wife of the third master, Xie Mingjuan, is not at home. She has been told that she has gone to the countryside to recuperate. However, I have searched all the Wang family estates in Jinling and have not found any of the wives recuperating there."

"Have you found out the real reason she left home?" Prince Ding'an asked.

"Your Highness, it took me quite a bit of effort to get in touch with the steward in charge of purchasing in the kitchen of this mansion. From what he said, it seems that the Third Master of the Wang family is keeping a mistress outside, and now that she is pregnant, he wants to bring her closer to the mansion. But his wife disagrees, saying that the mistress comes from a brothel, and even if she were to leave the family, she would not live under the same roof as a prostitute."

After hearing what he said, Prince Ding'an and Mr. Hua exchanged a glance, and then Mr. Hua spoke to the man.

"Alright, you've worked hard these past few days. Go and rest. The Prince has rewarded you with one hundred taels of silver. Remember to go to the accounting office to collect it."

"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness!" The man knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Prince Ding'an to express his gratitude, and then left.

“Your Highness, if that’s how it is, then it makes sense. The marriage between the Xie and Wang families back then shocked the whole world. I heard that the Xie family’s dowry for their daughter filled dozens of cargo ships. The elaborate wedding processions that wealthy families in the capital gave their daughters were nothing compared to her.”

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I do recall. That wedding was indeed a grand affair. If her identity is true, then..."

"Your Highness, she has the money. It's just that it's difficult to say it aloud!"

"I need to think this over carefully. Sir, you should also return first!" With that, Prince Ding'an got up and left the study, heading towards the inner courtyard.

Mr. Hua knew that Consort Lu and Madam Wang had been quite close recently, and he guessed that the Prince would probably send Consort Lu to find out what Madam Wang was saying. Thinking about it this way, things weren't entirely without clues. Having figured this out, Mr. Hua was unusually relaxed and even had the energy to chat and laugh with Mei'er when he returned to his room.

For several days in a row, Prince Ding'an stayed in Consort Lu's courtyard. He also had a set of jewelry specially made by Cuihua Tower and sent it to Consort Lu. He was so attentive and considerate for several days that Consort Lu felt very happy and sweet. She felt that she had married the most perfect husband in the world.

Her sweetness was unconsciously revealed when she met Madam Wang, which made Madam Wang look on with envy.

"My sister is so lucky to have married such a wonderful husband. Unlike me...!"

"Sister, if I really do..." She stopped mid-sentence, stuck out her tongue, glanced around shyly, and then whispered...

"If I really achieve that extraordinary future, I will be my sister's support. At that time, my sister can do whatever she wants in the Wang family, and I will take care of everything!"

Upon hearing her words, Madam Wang seemed to be thinking of something and stared blankly at the pastries on the table for a long time.

Consort Lu glanced at her expression, and after a while, she spoke in a coquettish tone.

"Oh dear, sister, what are you thinking about? I'm talking to you and you're ignoring me. The prince said the jewelry from Cuihua Tower is ready. Sister, will you come with me to get it?"

Startled by her coquettish words, Madam Wang snapped out of her daze. She apologized to Consort Lu.

"It's my fault. I was lost in thought and didn't hear you, little sister. Come, I'll go with you to Cuihua Tower to get your jewelry. You can choose a few more items then, as an apology from your older sister." Madam Wang promised generously.

"Thank you, sister, but I also have a gift for you." Consort Lu smiled and kept everyone in suspense.

The two quickly arrived at Cuihua Tower by carriage, only to run into Mei'er again. She was also inside picking out jewelry. Now that Prince Ding'an had a concubine, many people had turned to curry favor with Concubine Lu, leaving Mei'er feeling rather lonely.

"Greetings to Consort Lu!" Mei'er saw Consort Lu enter and hurriedly went up to curtsy.

"Hmm, Madam Mei is here too!" Consort Lu responded indifferently to Mei'er's greeting. It was clear she disliked Mei'er.

"I've come to collect the jade pendant that my master commissioned," Mei'er replied meekly.

"Oh, so you're here to retrieve the jade pendant for Master Hua? That's wonderful!" Consort Lu's tone softened upon hearing Mei'er mention Master Hua.

"I've already received it and was just about to head back when I saw the concubine come in."

"Then you should hurry back, don't delay the master's needs," Consort Lu said to Mei'er.

"Yes, this servant takes her leave." Mei'er curtsied and left Cuihua Tower with her maid.

"Doesn't my sister like that Mei'er?" Madam Wang suddenly asked, noticing Consort Lu's expression.

"Was my behavior very obvious?" Consort Lu asked in surprise upon hearing Madam Wang's question.

"Hmm...it's not very obvious." Her question left Madam Wang momentarily speechless.

When the shopkeeper saw them come in, he had already taken out the jewelry and headdresses that Prince Ding'an had ordered. Seeing that the two of them were no longer talking, he quickly placed the items in front of them and introduced them one by one.

This is a complete set of gold filigree phoenix headdresses, consisting of sixteen pieces. The filigree is inlaid with rubies and pearls, and decorated with phoenixes, butterflies, flowers, and other motifs. The workmanship is exquisite and magnificent.

Picking up the phoenix tail ornament with a pearl the size of a little fingertip, Consort Lu could imagine how gorgeous it would look on her head.

"Tsk tsk, the Prince really dotes on his sister. I think this set of jewelry is suitable for the grand ceremony." Madam Wang exclaimed in admiration as she looked at the magnificent jewels displayed in the brocade box.

"Oh dear, this is far too precious. Your Highness is in dire need of money right now, it's really inappropriate for you to give me such an expensive gift."

"That shows how much the Prince cherishes you, sister! Besides, as a prince with so many fiefdoms, how could he be short of money? Sister, please don't joke like that."

"Sister, you don't know, these 100,000 troops eat and drink so much without spending money? The prince is kind-hearted, and he refuses to accept the money offered by the merchants in the city. He says that if he accepts that money today, he will owe them a huge favor... Sigh, sister, so what if you owe a favor? He's a prince, do you think he's afraid of not being able to repay the favor later?"