First-rank palace maid Su Jixiang

Chapter 398: The Duke's Mansion in the Capital

Although the Duke's Mansion had been returned to Wei Ling, it no longer had its former glory.

The Duke's Mansion has been vacant ever since the old Duke was beheaded and Wei Ling's family was exiled. A few years ago, there was a fire on this street, which burned down half of the Duke's Mansion.

If it had been in the past, the Duke's Mansion would never have suffered any damage in such a fire. Unfortunately, at that time the entire Duke's Mansion had been reduced to an empty shell, and in addition it had been sealed off, so when the fire brigade arrived they would only rescue the other inhabited houses first.

Later, after Wei Ling took back the Duke's Mansion, he also sent people to repair it.

However, when he was in the capital, he only left an old man from the Wei family here to help look after the place.

This old man was Wei Ling's great uncle, an old widower. All his children and grandchildren died on the way to exile. He was lucky enough to survive, but was tortured terribly at the border and became a beggar for several years. When he was found by Wei Ling, he was almost half dead.

Wei Ling took him back to the Duke's Mansion and asked him to help look after the house.

Over the years, Wei Ling has been looking for someone from Mangcheng to bring him money, one so that he can spend his old age in peace, and the other so that he can help find someone to repair the Duke's mansion.

So when Wei Ling mentioned the Duke's Mansion to Su Jixiang on the road, there was a hint of pride in his eyes.

Originally, Su Jixiang thought that after arriving in the capital, the Duke's Mansion he saw, although not as magnificent as before, had at least been restored.

Little did they know that Wei Ling was called directly into the palace. Xie Yingfeng also followed Qu Wanning and General Qu to the general's mansion in the capital. She took a carriage alone with Lu Shui and others to the Duke's Mansion, but what she saw was still a dilapidated scene.

The red paint in front of the door had peeled off for some reason and was cracked like old tree bark.

The plaque on the door has disappeared, leaving only a faint mark left by the plaque hanging there for many years.

Just by looking at the gate you can tell that the house has fallen into disrepair.

Lushui and Guihua also felt very confused.

They knew how solemn and magnificent the Duke's Mansion was in previous years, but this was far different from the Duke's Mansion in their memories.

The door was tightly closed. The lantern hanging under the eaves was newly installed not long ago, as could be seen from its color. However, it was not a good one and looked flimsy.

Lushui went forward and knocked on the door. After a long while, someone came to answer the door and opened the corner door.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man.

As soon as he opened the door, he looked Lu Shui up and down, "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"

"Excuse me, is your uncle here? Our master is General Wei's wife. General Wei once wrote back saying that he was going back to Beijing. Has your uncle received the letter?" Lushui said.

The man was stunned for a moment, then looked outside and saw Su Jixiang and his group standing at the bottom of the steps. He nodded and said, "My master did tell me about this matter. Please wait here. I'll go in and tell them!" After that, he slammed the door of the Duke's Mansion shut.

Lu Shui stared in astonishment at the door that had closed tightly before her eyes again, and then looked at Su Jixiang again. She trotted to Su Jixiang's side, "Madam... this..."

You have to know that this is Wei Ling's home, or in a sense Su Jixiang's home. It doesn't make sense for someone to be notified when returning to their own home.

"Please be patient." Su Jixiang also felt something was a bit strange, but she didn't show any expression. She just smiled and said to Lu Shui, "Now that my uncle is living here, it's only right to pass the message on."

But after the man went in to pass on the message, there was no news. The group stood at the bottom of the stairs and waited for a long time, until Guihua couldn't wait any longer, "Madam, I will climb in and open the door!"

The time it takes to pass the message is probably enough to run around the capital city for a short while.

Even though the Duke's Mansion is big, it's not this big!

"Let's wait a little longer. We've already waited for such a long time." Su Jixiang was also a little anxious, but he still persuaded Guihua to stop.

The group waited for about half a quarter of an hour before the corner door was opened again.

An old man appeared in the door.

The middle-aged man who had just gone in to pass the message was being supported by the side.

The old man walked out slowly, leaning on a crutch in one hand and supported by someone with the other. He glanced at the people standing at the bottom of the stairs with his cloudy eyes.

"Are you from Mangcheng?" He spoke slowly, his voice old and weak.

"Greetings to my ninth uncle." Su Jixiang hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects, "My nephew's wife, Su, is here to greet you."

Wei Ling told her that the old man in front of her was his grandfather's ninth cousin.

Uncle Jiu looked Su Jixiang up and down carefully, and after a long while he spoke, "Where is your husband?"

"In reply to Uncle Jiu, my husband was summoned to the palace as soon as he arrived in the capital." Su Jixiang said, "That's why my nephew's wife came here first."

"Oh. So that's how it is. Let's go in!" The old man didn't look very happy. He just nodded, turned around and walked towards the door again.

Su Jixiang followed with a group of people.

After entering the yard, Su Jixiang couldn't help but look around.

The courtyard is beautifully decorated, with a screen wall carved with flowers of the four seasons and the five blessings, meaning flowers are in full bloom, the four seasons are auspicious, and blessings are at hand.

The screen wall is very majestic and worthy of the title of Duke's Mansion.

After turning around the screen wall, we arrived at a courtyard, but this courtyard was a bit disappointing. It can be seen that the original courtyard was very beautifully designed, with rockery and water system, but now the water in the water system is completely gone, and half of the rockery has collapsed, and the sight is full of desolation.

Lu Shui couldn't help but whisper, "Doesn't the master give money to the family every year? Why is this place still so shabby?"

Su Jixiang gently tugged at Lushui's sleeve, signaling her not to talk too much. Lushui then curled her lips and stopped talking.

After passing the garden, you will enter the front hall.

The original front hall was magnificent with carved beams and painted rafters, and hung with twelve huge eight-armed glazed lamps, which could illuminate the entire front hall as bright as day even at night.

But it was only dusk and the front hall was already dimly lit. There was only an oil lamp barely burning inside. The large chandelier that was originally hanging was broken in half, and the remaining half was just a deaf man's ear, just a decoration.

Uncle Jiu turned around and sat down in the main seat in the front hall, looking at Su Jixiang, "How many days are you going to stay this time?" he asked.

Su Jixiang was slightly startled. This question sounded like she was a visiting guest. However, Su Jixiang suppressed the thought in her heart and replied, "It should be after the Queen Mother's birthday ceremony is over."