Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

In order to help the Zhang family get used to life in the capital as soon as possible, Xia Yu specially selected several nannies from the palace and sent them to the mansion, asking her mother to make arrangements for them.

Madam Liu understood her daughter's meaning. They came from a small place and were inevitably lacking in some of the rules and etiquette of the capital. In order not to be laughed at when interacting with others in the future, they still had a lot to learn.

Not to mention the masters, even the servants who came with them need to learn these rules and etiquette properly. Otherwise, if they do something improper when they are taken out, it will be the Zhang family that loses face.

The Gao family had already heard the news that the Zhang family was coming, and they brought gifts to visit the next day.

"Greetings to the Lady of the State!" Madam Gao greeted Madam Liu with a smile.

"Auntie, you flatter me. Please sit down. It's been so long since I've seen you. You look even younger than the last time I saw you." Liu smiled and took Gao's hand to sit down on the high chair.

"I'm just in high spirits because of this happy occasion. I've been so excited about your arrival that I haven't slept for days," Gao said, patting Liu's hand with a smile.

Seeing her beaming face, Madam Liu naturally understood what was making her happy. Seeing how much she valued her younger sister, Madam Liu was also very pleased.

The two talked for a while, then Liu asked her maid to call her younger sister over to keep Gao company. They also invited her to stay for lunch.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Zhou Luo excitedly led his entourage to Xia Yu's Zhaohua Palace as soon as court was over.

"Sister, look what good things I brought you!" Zhou Luo's voice came in before she even entered the door.

"What wonderful things has His Majesty brought for our princess this time? Let us servants see them!" Da Niu bowed to Zhou Luo and teased him with a smile. She didn't mean anything by it, but to her surprise, Zhou Luo looked at Da Niu and fell into deep thought.

The girl felt a chill run down her spine under his strange gaze and asked somewhat awkwardly.

"Your Majesty, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Hmm, I was thinking that Eldest Sister is getting on in years and should find a husband. And Nineteenth Sister is also getting on in years."

He muttered a few words to himself, then looked excitedly at Xia Yu.

"Sister, guess what I brought you?"

"I don't know." Xia Yu put down her book, glanced up at the brocade box Changshou was holding, and said.

"Then take a guess!"

Xia Yu didn't want to do something so boring, but seeing that Zhou Luo was in high spirits, he didn't want to go against his wishes, so he got up and walked over to Changshou and looked him up and down.

"I bet it's a painting!" Xia Yu said.

"You've guessed half right, now guess what painting it is?" Zhou Luo continued.

"I have no idea. There are so many famous paintings, how would I know which treasure you've acquired?"

"Changshou, open the box and let your sister see it," Zhou Luo instructed Changshou with a wave of her hand.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Changshou's voice was somewhat high-pitched. He then looked around and placed the brocade box under the desk by the window. He opened the box and took out a painting from inside.

"Wow, why are there so many paintings in this box? Your Majesty, did you rob someone's treasury?" Da Niu had been watching Chang Shou's actions closely, and she was also curious about which master's paintings were inside. Upon closer inspection, she realized that there weren't just one painting in the box; at a glance, there were at least seven or eight. She couldn't help but tease Zhou Luo again.

Zhou Luo smiled but didn't respond to her teasing, nor was he angry with her. Back when they were in Zhangjia Village, Da Niu had taken him to raid bird nests quite a few times, so their relationship was still very deep.

Changshou took out a painting, unfolded it very carefully, and held it up with both hands to present it to Xia Yu, showing it to her.

Xia Yu looked closely and saw it was a portrait. In the painting was a young man, dressed in a long blue brocade robe, holding a scroll, standing under a tree full of osmanthus blossoms, looking up at a pair of birds perched on the branches, a gentle smile playing on his lips. The man's appearance reminded Xia Yu of a line of poetry: "A gentleman like jade on the road, unparalleled in the world."

"Tsk tsk, this young master is so handsome, with rosy lips and white teeth, just like a young lady." Xia Yu had just thought of that phrase when she heard Da Niu's praise. Xia Yu's mind instantly cleared.

She turned to look at Zhou Luo and asked him.

Who is the man in this painting?

Zhou Luo gave him a knowing look and said...

"This is the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping, seventeen years old and unmarried. He is seven feet six inches tall and I hear he is studying..."

Zhou Luo was still talking on and on when Xia Yu raised her hand to stop her.

"Stop...stop...stop."

"Sister, are you not satisfied? It's alright, there are many more there, we can look at them slowly. Changshou, go get another one." Seeing Xia Yu like this, Zhou Luo thought she was dissatisfied with the portrait of the Marquis of Xuanping, so she immediately asked Changshou to get another portrait.

Hearing him say that, Xia Yu understood immediately. She rubbed her aching forehead and asked him...

"Luo'er, do you want your sister to leave the palace? Don't you want your sister to stay with you in the palace anymore?"

"Of course not, why would you say that, sister? I wish you could stay with me forever!" Zhou Luo stared wide-eyed, not understanding why she would have such a thought.

Xia Yu let out a long breath and then asked again.

"Since you want your sister to stay with you forever, why have you been arranging marriages for her lately? Luo'er, this is a time of national mourning. Do you know how much gossip you'll get for doing this?"

"Sister, I know we're in a period of national mourning right now, but I just want you to choose someone first. Otherwise, all the good families will be taken by the end of the mourning period, and that would delay your important matter," Zhou Luo said earnestly.

"Didn't we agree before that I would investigate secretly? Now that you've done this, doesn't everyone in the court know?"

"So that's what you were worried about, sister. Don't worry, I didn't say I was going to choose a husband for you. I said I was going to choose a study companion for myself. I used that as an excuse to have them send in portraits." Zhou Luo had a smug look on her face.

"Why did you decide to choose a study companion?"

"Shouldn't I choose a few trusted confidants? Currently, all affairs of the court are handled by the Empress Dowager and a few assisting ministers. Even if something is brought to me, it's just a formality. The Empress Dowager and the ministers are naturally trustworthy, but everything needs a long-term plan." Zhou Luo didn't intend to hide his thoughts from Xia Yu. If he had to say who he trusted most right now, it would be Xia Yu. This trust even surpassed that for Shen Jingheng.