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3.79% Rebirth: The Aloof Prince Falls for Me / Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Discovering the Gold Mine

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Discovering the Gold Mine

Zhang Rui hesitated for a moment before saying, "This old servant took a walk around Mingyue Mountain yesterday afternoon and found something unusual about the mountain."

"Unusual?" Zuo Xiangning was inwardly shocked. She told Pan Xia to go out and stand guard, "Don't let anyone in."

After Pan Xia left, she whispered to Zhang Rui, "What do you mean by unusual?"

Seeing Zuo Xiangning act so cautiously, Zhang Rui couldn't help but feel surprised.

He lowered his voice and said, "On the eastern slope of Mingyue Mountain, under the tallest ginkgo tree, the ground has collapsed into a hole. I jumped down to see what caused it, and I found that the exposed rock wasn't like any stone."

"What is it?" Zuo Xiangning asked with a hint of nervousness.

"It looked golden, but I can't be sure exactly what it is," Zhang Rui rubbed his hands together and said, "I thought I should ask for your opinion first."

Zuo Xiangning looked at Zhang Rui in front of her, short in stature with thick brows and narrow eyes, realizing she had no recollection of him from her previous life.

She didn't know if she could trust him, but since Madame Jiang had given him to her, it seemed Madame Jiang thought highly of him.

"You might also understand the madame's intentions," Zuo Xiangning said crisply, "your family will be my chamber servants, sharing my glory and disgrace."

"This old servant understands," Zhang Rui said earnestly. "Fourth Miss, rest assured, I haven't mentioned yesterday's matter to anyone. I came to report to you first thing."

Zuo Xiangning nodded and asked, "Then tell me about what happened on Mingyue Mountain. What should we do next?"

"Before I left the mountain, I used dead branches and rotting grass to cover up that hole," Zhang Rui pulled out a paper package from his clothing and handed it to Zuo Xiangning, "I scraped off some fragments with a knife, wanting to have someone look at it to find out what it really is."

Zuo Xiangning opened the paper package and saw the glittering gold-like fragments, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Zuo Xiangning's mind searched for a while but couldn't think of anyone appropriate to consult, so she asked with a headache, "Do you know anyone who understands this? If we find someone who's too curious and loose-lipped, it could cause big trouble."

"I have a cousin who grew up with me. He's now the second manager in a gold shop. I want to ask him—he's very tight-lipped," said Zhang Rui. "If this really is gold, then Fourth Miss, you'll have to think carefully about what to do next. Otherwise, I fear you won't be able to keep it safe."

"I understand." Zuo Xiangning nodded, "First do as you suggested."

Zhang Rui responded with a "yes" and was about to leave when Zuo Xiangning stopped him again. She had Pan Xia give Zhang Rui ten taels of silver, "Hire a horse carriage for the round trip, don't be reluctant to spend the silver."

"Thank you, Fourth Miss." Zhang Rui bowed respectfully to Zuo Xiangning and strode away.

Watching his retreating figure, Zuo Xiangning said to Pan Xia, "Have someone go check on Pan Cui's home to see if anything has happened."

Since Pan Cui had returned home yesterday morning and hadn't come back in the evening, Zuo Xiangning was somewhat worried about her mother.

"This maid will have someone go check right away," Pan Xia said.

With her mind unsettled with concern about the news from Zhang Rui, Zuo Xiangning was unable to concentrate and ended up writing just two pages of large characters.

Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps came from the courtyard. Zuo Xiangning's pen paused, and a drop of thick ink stained the fine paper.

"Xiangning!" The person who arrived was not Zhang Rui, but her third brother, Zuo Zimo.

Zuo Xiangning put down her brush and stepped out of the study to see Zuo Zimo hurrying in, "Third Brother, why haven't you gone to school again?"

"Mr. Wen is on sick leave today," Zuo Zimo said hesitantly as he looked at Zuo Xiangning.

"What's the matter?" Zuo Xiangning smiled as she poured him a cup of tea.

"The eldest son of the Gu family just came over; he wants to buy that new mountain you purchased and is willing to pay one thousand taels of silver." Zuo Zimo hadn't finished speaking when he noticed that Zuo Xiangning's expression had changed. He quickly said, "I told him that the mountain is yours, and we have to discuss it with you."

"Did he explain why?" Zuo Xiangning was surprised by Gu Zhiqing's prompt action.

"He said it's because his mother is not well; he had someone look at it, and there's a spring on that mountain. He wants to build a hot spring retreat for his mother to stay at occasionally." Zuo Zimo said with a cautious smile, "That mountain is quite large; maybe we could sell them a piece of land to build a small residence?"

"No way!" Zuo Xiangning pursed her lips and refused, "I said I don't like the people from the Gu family."

"I know," Zuo Zimo said with difficulty, "But right after Gu Zhiqing left, Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir came, and he also wants to buy the mountain, saying the price is up to you."

"Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir?" Zuo Xiangning was slightly shocked. Why was he also getting involved?

"The Princely Heir is still waiting in my courtyard. What should I tell him?" Zuo Zimo said with a troubled face, "He's not easy to deal with; I'm afraid the excuses we use to dismiss the Gu family might not get rid of him."

Zuo Xiangning's mind was in turmoil. Could it be that Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir also knew about the gold mine?

Then why was it Gu Zhiqing who discovered the gold mine in the previous life? Moreover, he even gained significant credit in front of the Second Prince because of it.

"What should we do about Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir?" Zuo Zimo urged when he saw Zuo Xiangning silent, "What if he goes to father, and if father agrees, can you still refuse outright?"

Putting aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, Zuo Xiangning frowned in dissatisfaction, "Just because he wants to buy, why should we have to sell? Why is he so overbearing?"

"His status is there for all to see; the Ling Family is a Meritorious Noble Family, and in our entire capital, they are also considered prominent."

"Why do you boost others' morale and diminish your own prestige?" Zuo Xiangning interrupted her elder brother's endless talk, "Anyway, I guarantee the mountain will not be sold!"

"Then what should we do?" Zuo Zimo turned anxiously in circles, "I can't just keep him hanging there indefinitely, can I? If he gets angry and barges into the courtyard to find me, that would be even worse!"

The more Zuo Xiangning listened, the angrier she got. She stood up abruptly and said coldly, "Let's go, I want to meet him! I really want to see how he would dare to bully and strong-arm under the heaven's son!"

Having said that, Zuo Xiangning strode out, seething with anger.

"Xiangning, where are you going?" Zuo Zimo was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed her out.

But Zuo Xiangning, swift as a gust of wind, left her chubby brother far behind.

Upon reaching Zuo Zimo's courtyard, she didn't wait for the maids to open the curtain; she flung it aside and stepped in, only to see the man sitting gracefully on the Taishi Chair, sipping tea.

Lingxiao set down his tea cup and looked up at the woman who walked in.

Her skin was as white as snow, smooth as jade; her cherry lips were red without adornment, and her shimmering apricot eyes seemed to hold endless grace and appeal.

She wore a light pink silk dress, her hair done up in the simplest bun, adorned with only a pearl hairpin. A few locks of hair brushed softly against her cheek in the breeze, adding an alluring charm that belied her young age, beautiful as winter plum blossoms on snowy branches.

"May I know why the Princely Heir honors my humble abode with his presence?" Zuo Xiangning started with an edge of anger in her voice.


Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Coercive Buying and Selling

Lingxiao asked with a playful tone, panting and arriving a step later, "Third Young Master said he was going to find the person whose decision counts. Could it be that the Zuo Residence is now under Fourth Miss's rule?"

"No, it's not," Zuo Zimo wiped the sweat from his forehead, cautiously tugging at Zuo Xiangning's sleeve, whispering, "You go back first, I'm here!"

Zuo Xiangning shook off Zuo Zimo's hand, stepped in front of him, and glared at the man with an attitude of breezy indifference, "I can clearly tell you that we are not selling the mountain. What are you going to do to us?"

For Zuo Xiangning, the mountain was like a bone that had landed in her mouth—she hadn't even begun to bite it, so how could she possibly spit it out?

The man picked up his teacup and took another sip, before speaking leisurely, "Let's talk nicely. If you don't want to sell it, then you don't sell it."

He stood up, casually flicked his dark blue brocade robe with black trim, placed one hand in front of him, and the other behind his back as he looked with interest at the siblings, his narrow phoenix eyes amused.

"I hope you can stick it out to the end."

After Lingxiao walked out with his head held high and confident strides, Zuo Zimo turned to Zuo Xiangning, giving her a thumbs-up, "Sister, you're amazing! In just a few words, you sent away such a ruthless person!"

Zuo Xiangning, looking at her carefree older brother, sat down speechlessly and said, "What did he mean by his last sentence?"

"Which sentence?" Zuo Zimo had been too preoccupied with his fear to pay attention to what Lingxiao had said.

"He said, he hopes we can stick it out to the end." Zuo Xiangning spoke seriously. "He wouldn't be planning to harm us, would he?"

"You worry too much. Didn't the Young Master say it already? If we don't want to sell, we won't," Zuo Zimo reassured her. "Just relax, the Princely Heir is a man whose word is his bond."

"Aren't you the same person who earlier said he was arrogant, self-conceited, and impolite?" Zuo Xiangning still harbored worry deep within her heart.

"But he is also a man who stands tall under heaven and keeps his promises," Zuo Zimo replied.

"It's better to be cautious. If anything happens, you must inform me in time."

Zuo Xiangning gave her brother several words of warning before she returned to her own courtyard.

Zhang Rui's household servant approached quietly at the door, saying, "Fourth Miss, my husband came over. He says he has something important to discuss with you."

"Let him in quickly." Zuo Xiangning entered the main house, had Pan Xia and Zhang Rui's household servant stand guard outside, leaving only Zhang Rui with her, and asked, "How is it?"

"My cousin said it's gold, and its purity is very high." Zhang Rui's voice trembled with excitement, "I told my cousin that it was scraped off a gold ingot from my wife. He didn't suspect a thing."

Zuo Xiangning's heart also couldn't help but pound "thump thump" with excitement.

"First, go fill in that hole, then measure out the area of that platform. Try to get the house built as quickly as possible." She thought for a moment, "We don't know if there are other places on this mountain like that one. I might need to trouble you to go around the mountain carefully in these next few days."

"Yes," Zhang Rui nodded in agreement.

"And for the workers, make sure to choose those who are honest and tight-lipped." Zuo Xiangning recalled from the memories of her past life, "Ma Qiang and his brother Ma Zhuang both seem decent. If it works out, I'll find a way to arrange for them to work under you."

"The Ma brothers are good, straightforward men, and there's also Old Master Ma from the Ma Family," Zhang Rui spoke excitedly. "I heard he'd worked in mining before, though I don't know what kind. The stable master Xu Gui in the back courtyard is Old Master Ma's disciple, and he's said to have come straight from the mines. Xu Gui can work hard too."

Zuo Xiangning took note of these names and had Pan Xia investigate them. Upon learning that they normally had no contact with Zhang Rui's household, she regarded Zhang Rui even more highly.

The next day, Zuo Xiangning took the baby bib pattern she had drawn and went to Fanghua Courtyard.

Madame Jiang looked at Zuo Xiangning with surprise, "When did you become such a good artist?"

"I wonder too. It seems like I suddenly started drawing well overnight," Zuo Xiangning said with a smile curving her brows.

"You've had an epiphany. The baby bib still has months to go; you take your time with the embroidery. There's no rush. Start by embroidering two handkerchiefs for me first," Madame Jiang smiled, "Lady Zhou had been showing off a handkerchief her daughter embroidered. Next time, I will let her see what truly exquisite embroidery looks like."

"Okay," Zuo Xiangning gave a wry smile. Her mother was always looking for opportunities to publicize her skills, all to secure a good marriage proposal for her.

```

In the realm of what she could manage, she was more than willing for Madame Jiang to take pride in her, regardless of what the future held, she hoped that those she cared about could enjoy each and every day a little more.

"I heard from the steward that Zhang Rui came over early this morning, is there something going on?" Madame Jiang asked.

"Mother, I would like to find a few people to accompany Zhang Rui to Mingyue Mountain," Zuo Xiangning told Madame Jiang.

Hearing the names of the people she mentioned, Madame Jiang nodded and said, "These people are all good, I will speak to the steward about it in a moment."

"Mother..." Zuo Xiangning looked at Madame Jiang who was always thoughtful of her, hesitating over whether to tell Madame Jiang about Mingyue Mountain.

"What's wrong? Is there something you can't resolve?" Madame Jiang asked with a smile.

"Thank you," Zuo Xiangning took hold of Madame Jiang's hand, but ultimately decided not to say anything yet.

After her rebirth, she hoped that those around her could be happy, rather than filled with even more fear and worry because of her.

"Don't worry, I have prepared five thousand taels of silver for you, you can build the house according to your own wishes," Madame Jiang said with a smile.

Zuo Xiangning hesitated for a moment and asked, "How is the relationship between the steward and Old Madam and Auntie Liu?"

"The steward was promoted by me..." Madame Jiang looked into her daughter's shining eyes, "What have you found out?"

"In the garden, I saw the steward holding Jin Zhui, Auntie Liu's main maid's hand, they seemed quite... intimate, and talked for quite a while. It looked like the steward gave her a package," Zuo Xiangning blushed as she spoke, "Perhaps you should have someone take a close look into this?"

Madame Jiang felt a jolt in her heart.

Her own dowry and private savings were all managed by the steward, if the steward and Auntie Liu were in league, the consequences...

Once Zuo Xiangning had left, Madame Jiang called Nanny Cai into her room, and they spoke behind closed doors for quite a while.

An hour later, Nanny Cai hurried out of the residence.

Zuo Xiangning returned to Xianglan Residence and saw Pan Cui talking with someone from Zhang Rui's household at the entrance.

Seeing Zuo Xiangning return, Pan Cui hurriedly greeted her, "Fourth Miss."

"You're back?" Zuo Xiangning asked with concern, "How is your mother's health?"

"Thanks to your sending the doctor with me, my mother has been struggling to breathe these past few days and felt tightness in her chest. The doctor said it was lucky we didn't delay any longer, or it could have been serious," Pan Cui knelt down, insisting on kowtowing to Zuo Xiangning twice.

"My mother said I must kowtow twice to thank you," Pan Cui said gratefully.

"It's good that she's alright," Zuo Xiangning hastened her to get up.

Zuo Xiangning went to her room to change her clothes and asked Pan Xia to accompany her out of the residence.

Since there were indeed gold mines on the mountain, Gu Zhiqing and Lingxiao would not easily give up. Without going to take a look herself, she would never be at ease.

At the base of the mountain, Zuo Xiangning and Pan Xia first went up to a platform on the mountainside. She asked Pan Xia to wait for her there.

"Miss, I should come with you," Pan Xia said with concern, "There could be wild animals on this mountain..."

"If you come with me, it'll just make the wild animals fuller," Zuo Xiangning joked. "If anything happens, I'll call for you, and you signal the coachman to bring help."

She carefully looked for traces of where people had walked, heading towards the east side of the mountain. Upon seeing the tallest ginkgo tree, she quickened her pace with excitement.

Suddenly, she heard voices talking ahead. She quickly crouched down and hid in the dense bushes nearby.

"You still can't confirm whether this mountain has it or not?" It was Gu Zhiqing's voice, filled with annoyance, "You tell me one of these sixteen mountain peaks, but what I need to know is, which one exactly?"

```


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