Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The group waited outside for a long time, and just as the guard knocking was becoming impatient, they heard footsteps coming from inside. Then, the door, which hadn't been opened for a long time, was slowly opened from the inside. Inside, an elderly woman with gray hair stood with several younger descendants.

The guard standing next to the carriage whispered something to someone inside, and then Prince Ding'an bent down and stepped out of the carriage.

"Your Highness, it is an honor to have you here. I am deeply sorry for not being able to greet you properly. Please forgive me." Madam Hua hurriedly came down the steps and bowed to the prince.

"Please rise, Madam. I apologize for disturbing you!" Prince Ding'an personally helped Madam Hua up from the ground and said sincerely.

Madam Hua lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, please come in."

"Please go first, Madam!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhou Ji went first, accompanied by Madam Hua, with the other members of the Hua family following behind, and they entered the Hua residence together.

Looking at the courtyard, which was much more desolate than before, Zhou Ji felt a deep sense of emotion.

"Madam, I've noticed that there are far fewer servants in the manor now. Are they having financial difficulties?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. There are no difficulties. It's just that our family has fewer interactions with the outside world these days, and we don't need as many servants. So, I gave them indentures and freed them, which can be considered as fulfilling a bond between master and servant."

"The old lady is so kind-hearted!" Zhou Ji exclaimed, then said nothing more.

Upon arriving at the flower hall, the host and guests were seated, and maids brought tea.

Zhou Ji looked at the tea in the cup, Taiping Houkui, the tea he used to drink most often whenever he came to the Hua Mansion. It seemed that the Hua Mansion still remembered his preference.

"I wonder if Your Highness has come to my humble abode for any purpose?" Seeing that he had not yet explained his purpose, Madam Hua was unwilling to waste any more time with him and asked directly.

Zhou Ji sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"Mr. Hua has been gone for so long, and I often think of the scenes when he was here, which makes me very sad. For the past six months, I have often been unable to sleep at night. Whenever I think of him, the sorrow in my heart is hard to shake off. It is all because of my carelessness that I failed to protect him! He was by my side for many years, both a teacher and a friend. His departure is a hurdle that I can never get over." As he spoke, Zhou Ji's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them, about to fall.

Hearing Zhou Ji mention her deceased husband and recalling the tragic events surrounding his death, Madam Hua was overcome with grief, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

The son and daughter-in-law, who had been taking care of the old lady, couldn't help but tear up when they saw her like this. But they were worried about their mother's health, so they wiped her face haphazardly and whispered words of comfort.

"It was my fault. I shouldn't have mentioned the gentleman and made the old lady sad," Zhou Ji said, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief as he saw Madam Hua's appearance.

"It's not Your Highness's fault, it was I who lost my composure. I hope Your Highness won't laugh at me!" Madam Hua wiped her eyes with the handkerchief her daughter-in-law handed her, her voice thick with emotion.

"You're too kind, Madam. I've come today to bring your eldest grandson to the Prince's residence to carry on your father's legacy and bring glory to the Hua family. I wonder what your opinion is?" Zhou Ji suddenly changed the subject and revealed the purpose of his visit.

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the room turned to him. They couldn't believe it—how dare the Prince of Ding'an make such a request? Back then, when Mr. Hua, as the head of the family, insisted on following Zhou Ji, they had no power to object, even if they disagreed. But now, the old man had already lost his life in Dingcheng for the Prince of Ding'an's so-called grand cause, and he had even run away without taking care of the old man's funeral arrangements. How could he have the nerve to come to their house and ask for Jinzhi, the most talented of his grandchildren?

An eerie silence fell over the room. Everyone glanced at Zhou Ji, then looked away, lowered their heads, and waited for the old lady's decision.

Madam Hua was equally stunned by Zhou Ji's shamelessness. Her husband had died in Dingcheng, and since his return, Zhou Ji hadn't even personally visited the Hua family to offer his condolences once. Although he had kept his search for advisors secret for the past six months, the Hua family had been informed. Now, unable to find one suitable, had he turned his attention back to the Hua family?

After a long silence, Madam Hua finally found her voice, her tone tinged with regret.

"It is a blessing for the Prince to have taken a liking to Jinzhi. However, he is still young, dull-witted, and inexperienced. In order not to affect the Prince's great cause, I'm afraid he will have to disappoint the Prince's kindness." Madam Hua was politely declining Zhou Ji's offer to recruit him.

Zhou Ji had long anticipated that things wouldn't go so smoothly, after all, he had indeed acted somewhat inappropriately regarding Mr. Hua's matter. If the imperial court hadn't suddenly dispatched troops against him, he wouldn't have bothered to come to the Hua residence. But since he was already there, he didn't intend to leave empty-handed.

"Madam, you are being modest. Mr. Hua has praised Jinzhi's intelligence and quick wit to me more than once, and even her photographic memory. If Madam Hua says Jinzhi is dull-witted, then all of us would be fools." He then sighed.

"I know that my visit today was abrupt and the matter was too sudden. We should give the old lady some time to think. How about this, I will visit again tomorrow. I hope the old lady will not find it troublesome."

"Your Highness, this..." The old lady saw him get up to leave and wanted to stop him, reiterating her family's stance. But before she could speak, Zhou Ji raised his hand to stop her.

"Madam, we should discuss this matter with Jinzhi, as it concerns his future. Alright, Madam, you don't need to see me off. I'll come again tomorrow." With that, he strode out.

Although he said he didn't want anyone to see him off, everyone couldn't really refuse, so they hurriedly followed behind and respectfully saw Zhou Ji off onto the carriage.

"Go back, all of you. I will come again tomorrow." Zhou Ji sat down in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and said to the group of Hua family members outside. After speaking, he knocked on the side of the carriage, the coachman cracked his whip, and the group left in a grand procession. Unlike when they came, the carriage, which was full of gifts, was now empty.

The Hua family watched the carriage disappear around the corner before turning back into the mansion, whereupon the heavy gates were closed again.