The Rebirth of a Farm Girl from a Military Family and a Cannon Fodder Princess

Shangguan Chengfeng came to hand over the reins to Yu Zhe, and as soon as he entered, he sneered, "Oh, isn't this Lord Yu who has been promoted several ranks? Tsk tsk, what's wrong? Can't take it anymore? Hmph! You're smart to know what's good for you, otherwise you would have been kicked out! It seems a little better to leave on your own than to be kicked out!"

However, neither of us could stay here any longer, poor thing! It's all because your precious niece had such close ties with the Princess; now she's suffering the consequences! Otherwise, I might not have been able to get this position so easily!

After saying that, he threw his head back and laughed three times: "Hahaha!"

Arrogant laughter echoed through Dali Temple.

Yu Zhe ignored his sarcasm and focused on handling his tasks. Once he finished one task, he quickly handed it over without caring whether Shangguan Cheng understood.

Shangguan Chengfeng was immersed in his smugness and didn't pay attention to the handover, or whether he understood it at all. Instead, he waved to Yu Zhe as if shooing away a fly: "Alright, you can go now!" After saying that, he quickly signed and stamped the handover list, making three copies: one for the archives, one for Yu Zhe, and one for himself.

Yu Zhe said coldly, "Wait, this handover list must be signed by a leader. I'll go and fetch the magistrate!"

Just then, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review approached, and Yu Zhe quickly said, "Sir, please sign and stamp the transfer list, thank you!"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review glanced at Yu Zhe impatiently, then smiled gently at Shangguan Chengfeng and asked, "Lord Shangguan, is there a problem with the handover of the inventory list?"

Shangguan Chengfeng: "My lord, there is no problem. I have already signed and stamped it!"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review casually flipped through the list, asked Yu Zhe a few questions, and Yu Zhe explained them carefully one by one. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nodded and signed and stamped the transfer list.

"Thank you, sir!" Yu Zhe picked up one of the documents, carefully folded it, put it into his briefcase, greeted a few colleagues with whom he had a decent relationship, and strode away.

Shangguan Chengfeng spat at his retreating figure, "You lowlife, you're smart to know what's good for you, otherwise I would have made you leave crying!"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review smiled slightly, turned around and went to his private room. Some of his colleagues went to curry favor with Shangguan Chengfeng and joined him in speaking ill of Yu Zhe. However, most people remained silent.

People in the Dali Temple generally knew Shangguan Chengfeng's character; he was a greedy and despicable man. Many still vividly remembered how he seized his sister-in-law's dowry and how he drove his pregnant sister-in-law and young niece out of the house.

There were even rumors that Shangguan Chengfeng was behind Yu Zhe's being sent to Yi County. Wasn't his purpose in sending Fang Yu Zhe to cut off his sister-in-law and niece's support and escape route?

Most people are unwilling to develop deep relationships with such individuals. They fear that one day they might accidentally say something wrong and cause the other person to hold a grudge, which could sow the seeds of future trouble.

Yu Zhe returned home, hurriedly packed his belongings, and then found a pawnshop to sell the furnishings in the house at a low price. This house was a gift from the emperor, and it might be taken away at any time, so he decided to take his servants to Wuliping to stay for a few days the next morning.

Living in Wuliping for an extended period is definitely not a good idea. Since the excuse for resigning is returning to her hometown, then it's best to go back home. Otherwise, someone with ulterior motives might use this as an excuse to cause trouble, which could implicate Zisu and her two daughters—that would be terrible!

So, Zisu went to Peach and Plum Garden early the next morning.

Upon seeing the princess dressed in plain clothes, Zisu couldn't help but shed tears, her voice choked with sobs: "Your Highness, how did things come to this?"

The eldest princess reached out and hugged her, smiling as she comforted her, "Good child, don't be sad, cheer up. Whether we live in wealth and honor or eat coarse food, as long as our family is safe and sound, I will be content!"

Zisu: "Your Highness, please stay here. I have already sent someone to the county town to procure daily necessities, as well as food, cloth, and bedding for you. If you need anything, just tell Aunt Li. I will come here every three days. You can also tell me if you need anything. Don't be shy. Over the years, I have sold recipes to the Good Days Restaurant and have made quite a bit of money! Speaking of which, I have to thank you and Uncle Jiang. If it weren't for you, I might still be very poor now!"

The eldest princess waved her hand: "Not at all, we should be thanking you! Back then, your recipes and dessert formulas would have fetched a high price no matter which restaurant sold them to. To be honest, I've always felt that I didn't pay you enough!"

Zisu: "Your Highness is joking. Not every restaurant would offer such a price. Besides, I feel very secure doing business with you. I don't have to worry about getting a high price one day and then being intercepted halfway through, or even being coerced by force. There are really not many honest and righteous businessmen like Uncle Jiang!"

Jiang Shichang: "It's rare to find a seller like you who doesn't ask for exorbitant prices. In fact, I should thank you! Now, I've brought my whole family to rely on you, causing you trouble!"

This is the principle of "you reap what you sow." If he and the princess had not treated Zisu well in the past, and had not been sincere towards her, then today, he and the princess would absolutely not dare to come and seek refuge with her.

Yesterday's cause, today's effect.

Back then, he spent a fortune buying the recipes and dessert instructions, and didn't bully or threaten Zisu just because she was a child. Looking back now, it was truly a blessing for him. Good people are ultimately rewarded!

Zisu stayed in the Peach and Plum Garden for half an hour, cried bitterly, and then returned to Xiaoshitan with swollen eyes. Once back in Xiaoshitan, she locked herself in her study.

Life is so unpredictable that, for the first time since her rebirth, she felt so helpless, so sad and heartbroken.

Madam Yu was very worried: "Alas, this child is pitiful. He finally made a friend in a princess and gained a strong backer. However, who could have imagined that the princess would be in such a sorry state?" Not only has this backer fallen, but the Shangguan family and the Yu family may also be implicated.

Grandma: "Yes, Zisu has had a tough time! It's heartbreaking. I just hope all the misfortunes will pass quickly and everything will get better soon."

Shangguan Yi and Yu Han noticed their sister's unusual behavior. The two of them were sensible and did not make a fuss. They sat obediently at their desks reading and writing.

After a long while, just as Madam Yu and her grandmother could no longer bear it and were about to knock on the door, Zisu finally opened the door to the study and came out.

She said to Madam Yu, "Mother, the Eldest Princess has been overthrown, and Shangguan Zhihua has now curried favor with Consort Mei. I reckon our peaceful days are probably coming to an end! Here's what I'll do: I'll go to the county town tomorrow, withdraw all the silver I have in the bank, and then hide it in several different places, just in case!"

Madam Yu: "Alright, I'll do as you say. Let Li Mao, Xiang Li, and Ying Tao go with you tomorrow!"

Zisu: "Okay, I understand!"

The night was long, and Zisu, preoccupied with her thoughts, finally managed to fall asleep.

That night, Li Mao rested in the thatched cottage.

Just as dawn was breaking, Zisu, carrying pears and cherries, boarded the carriage. Li Mao acted as the coachman and bodyguard.

On her way, Zisu unexpectedly ran into her uncle, Yu Zhe.

Seeing Yu Zhe with his servants and two carts full of things, her heart pounded: Could it be that something had gone wrong with her uncle's job?

Sure enough, before she could speak, Yu Zhe took the initiative to tell her, "I've resigned, and the person who will replace me is Shangguan Chengfeng."

After hearing this, Zisu immediately understood. It was obvious that someone had already set their sights on her uncle's position. In other words, even if her uncle hadn't resigned, he would have been stripped of his official post. Well, at least her uncle resigned voluntarily, which made him feel a little better.

Zisu pulled her uncle aside and whispered to him, "The Princess and the people from the Jiang family are all in Peach and Plum Garden now. Just pretend you don't know anything about this."

Yu Zhe nodded silently, then asked her, "Where are you going?"

Zisu said, "I feel something is wrong. I'm going to the county town to withdraw the money from the bank. I'm worried that if I'm too late, someone will forcibly take it from me!"

The uncle said, "How about this, I'll go!"

Zisu: "I'll go, you're too eye-catching now!"

Yu Zhe thought for a moment and then sighed, "Alright, but let Shen Laihui and Luo Jianming take you there! With the two of them there, I can rest assured!" Shen Laihui's martial arts skills are superb; he can take on dozens of people by himself.

Zisu thought for a moment and then nodded: "Alright, Uncle, please be careful on your journey and be wary of Shangguan Chengfeng and Shangguan Zhihua trying to harm you!"

Yu Zhe: "Don't worry, it shouldn't happen this time! That family just wants to see us fall from our high places, they want us to suffer a fate worse than death. But you're right, it's still necessary to be careful. Once you've finished your business in the prefectural city, come home as soon as possible!"

Zisu: "I understand, Uncle, you should go back now. I'll watch you leave!"

"Okay, I'm leaving now!" Yu Zhe couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had no choice but to leave first.

Zisu watched until her uncle was out of sight before boarding the carriage and galloping towards the county town. Alas, she hadn't expected her uncle to be forced to resign. Even more unexpected was that Shangguan Chengfeng had taken over her uncle's position; it seemed Shangguan Zhihua was currently enjoying considerable influence!

Upon arriving in the county town, Zisu went to the money exchange and withdrew two hundred taels of silver, five hundred taels of gold, and exchanged the rest for one hundred taels and one thousand taels of silver notes.

Back home, Zisu gave Madam Yu five one-hundred-tael silver notes and thirty gold coins: "Mother, find a few old cotton-padded jackets and sew these silver notes and gold coins into them! Wrap the silver notes in oiled paper so they don't get ruined by water."

Mrs. Yu stared wide-eyed in surprise: "Sew it into the clothes? Why?"

Zisu: "The situation is turbulent these days. Who knows when our family might suffer! It's always good to be prepared!"

Zisu gave her grandmother another five hundred taels of silver notes and thirty gold coins: "Grandma, find some old clothes and hide the silver notes and gold coins!"

Grandma didn't say much, just nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Zisu gave her uncle another five thousand taels of silver notes and one hundred gold beans: "Uncle, find a way to hide these silver notes and gold beans well!"

Yu Zhe sighed: "Zisu, it's all because your uncle is useless."

It's all his fault for being so useless, making this child worry so much.

Zisu: "Uncle, it's not that you're useless, it's just that the bad guys are too vicious! You've done a good job as an official, and your achievements are obvious to all. If Shangguan Chengfeng's family hadn't jumped out to cause trouble, you would have been perfectly capable of holding the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review based on your performance! In fact, you've been implicated by our family of three!"

Yu Zhe: "Good child, please don't say that. Your uncle is so ashamed of you. No matter what, I am your uncle. I should be the one shouldering the burden of these two families. It's all my fault for not being good enough! You've suffered so much these past years!"

Zisu: "Uncle, we're family, let's not stand on ceremony. Quickly think of a way to hide the silver notes and gold beans. After dinner, I'm going to Peach and Plum Garden to give the Princess and the others some silver notes and gold beans, just in case. If they are discovered, having money on them will allow them to leave at any time."

Yu Zhe: "That's great! I'll go with you tonight! If you go alone, it will arouse suspicion in the village. If your uncle goes with you, and they see you, just say you're accompanying your uncle to relax!"