Chapter 34 Chapter 34 The Duchess of England has been ill for a long time...
Jiang Yi was nearly pissed off and laughed, but he consoled himself, thinking it was normal for young people to be careless. Even then, he was still uneasy. Regardless of where the woman had gotten the jade pendant, since she had brought it to the Duke of Ying's mansion, he knew its significance.
Jiang Yi picked up the jade pendant again. It was engraved with a lifelike bamboo, with the Chinese characters "Shi Yan" (Time and Yan) inscribed in its center. While jade pendants from aristocratic families often feature dragon and phoenix designs, wishing for good fortune and prosperity for their descendants, this one, however, featured only a single bamboo, a rather unusual sight.
The doorman glanced at Jiang Yi with a certain trepidation. Although the butler was usually very gentle, if a servant like them did something wrong, he would punish them without mercy. Furthermore, the jade pendant was of great importance. However, instead of the punishment he had expected, he saw another side of the butler that was not widely known.
Jiang Yi was usually serious and meticulous, rarely showing any signs of losing his composure. But at this moment, Jiang Yi clutched the jade pendant tightly, then, fearing it might crack due to his own actions, loosened his grip slightly. Tears welled up in his eyes. He had waited twenty years for this jade pendant. Now, having suddenly seen it, he didn't know what to do.
Jiang Yi paced back and forth in a panic, speaking hurriedly, "Go and invite that young lady in, take her to the hall, and treat her well. Since the master hasn't returned yet, I'll go tell the mistress and ask her to come out and receive this young lady."
Then Jiang Yi trotted off towards the backyard of the Duke's Mansion at the speed of wind, leaving the doorman behind. He looked at the housekeeper's hurried steps and complained in his heart, "You say I'm in a hurry and unruly, but aren't you the same?" He had been in the Gu Mansion for a short time and didn't know what was so special about this jade pendant. It was just that the housekeeper had held up a portrait when they entered the mansion and repeatedly warned them to report it immediately if they saw this jade pendant.
Before, he did not feel much about the importance of this jade pendant, and just regarded it as a task assigned by the master. But now, seeing the abnormal attitude of housekeeper Jiang, who was even going to alarm the lady, he thought that the importance of this jade pendant and the woman had increased a lot.
The Duke of Ying's mansion was also a gift from the Emperor Taizu. It was quite old, but despite several renovations, it looked quite ordinary. Within the green brick and tiled mansion lay a hidden gem. Jiang Yi made his way to the inner courtyard, where a variety of precious flowers, plants, and trees lined the path. A long corridor led him to the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard was even more elaborate than the rest of the mansion, with intricately carved wooden windows and a variety of flowers, plants, fish, and insects scattered throughout, seemingly coming to life.
The main room of the inner house was the residence of Liang Qiulan, the wife of the Duke of Yingguo. The Duke of Yingguo and his wife were deeply in love, so they did not take a concubine. Liang Qiulan was the only one living in the inner house. It seemed that none of the men in the Gu family had ever taken a concubine, and their loyalty was unparalleled. This was a legendary event in the capital.
After Liang Qiulan gave birth to a stillborn child years earlier, she hadn't conceived since. Suddenly, many women were courting Duke Gu Cheng of England. After all, what man would allow himself to die childless? But Gu Cheng was just that kind of man. Seeing that his path wasn't working out, they turned their attention to Yi Qinghua, the wife of the old Duke. Marriage is naturally a matter of parents' and matchmakers' decisions. If the old lady had agreed, Gu Cheng would have certainly accepted it. Unfortunately, Yi Qinghua was so protective of Liang Qiulan as her daughter-in-law that she even accepted her inability to bear children.
Although the Duke of Ying was now a powerful figure in the imperial court, many still waited to see the Duke's Mansion become a laughingstock. One wondered if, a hundred years after the Gu family passed away, the Gu family's branches would start fighting over a title.
A plaque hangs above the courtyard, bearing the name "Xieying Garden." True to the saying, "Pick flowers and brew dew, pick the best and pick the green," Gu Cheng named the courtyard Xieying Garden. He planted many precious orchids within the courtyard, and a towering mulberry tree, its broad leaves shading the sky. Beneath the tree, a stone table and chairs provide a pleasant shade in the summer.
Jiang Yi arrived at the main courtyard, and was greeted by a strong aroma of herbs. Liang Qiulan had suffered from injuries after a premature birth, and this, combined with internal depression, had left her with a constant need for medication. Over the decades, countless precious herbs had been brought into Xieying Garden, yet Liang Qiulan's health hadn't improved. So, she had been living here recuperating for years. This place was quiet and undisturbed, making it a perfect place for recuperation.
The old lady didn't ask about trivial matters in the inner house, so these matters were handed over to the housekeeper Jiang Yi. But now that this jade pendant suddenly appeared and the master was not at home, he had no choice but to ask Liang Qiulan to come forward.
In the courtyard, Liang Qiulan sat on a stone bench beneath a mulberry tree, flipping through a book casually, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. Her hands rubbed the book, but her eyes stared blankly into the distance, their tenderness and longing seemingly overflowing.
Liang Qiulan was a renowned beauty in her youth. Though born into the Liang family of Taiyuan, she was raised in her maternal home. Her maternal grandfather was the Imperial Tutor, and the current Empress Dowager is her aunt. Despite her long illness, her beauty remains undiminished, and instead, she exudes a certain pity.
Jiang Yi lowered his footsteps, fearing to disturb the lady, who was deep in thought. Liang Qiulan's maid, Furong, noticed his arrival and felt a little strange. Because Liang Qiulan needed to recuperate, few people except the Duke would set foot in Xieying Garden.
She knew Jiang Yi must have something important to report, otherwise he wouldn't have come to disturb Madam. So she spoke softly, waking Liang Qiulan from her reverie, "Madam, Butler Jiang is here."
Liang Qiulan slowly raised her head at Furong's prompting. The woman's face was a little pale, but she was still beautiful, as if time had not left any traces on her face. She only then noticed Jiang Yi's arrival. A smile played on her lips, and her tone was low but very gentle: "How come you have time to come to Xieying Garden today, Housekeeper Jiang? What's the matter?"
Jiang Yi said nothing. He quickly walked over to Liang Qiulan and took out the jade pendant. Liang Qiulan took the jade pendant and looked at the familiar pattern on it. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, tears welled up in her eyes. She sobbed, her voice tinged with hope, but more with fear. "Where did this jade pendant come from?"
"This jade pendant was given to the doorman by a woman today. I have asked someone to invite the girl to the flower hall and treat her well. But now the master is not at home, so I have to ask Madam to go in person." Jiang Yi answered and informed the purpose of his trip.
"A woman? How could it be a woman?" Liang Qiulan muttered to herself in confusion. Then she quickly reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She stood up and paced back and forth frantically, her tone excited, "Furong, come in and help me change clothes."
A moment later, Liang Qiulan changed into a gorgeous red dress. A golden hairpin adorned her hair, revealing her elegance. She even had lipstick on the corners of her mouth. Her face, originally pale from illness, looked much more refreshed after this little makeover. This attire didn't appear intimidating; instead, it showed the host's attention.
"Let's go. Don't keep the girl waiting any longer," Liang Qiulan said gently. While she meant to keep the girl waiting, the other two knew her eagerness. After twenty years of waiting, finally getting a clue today would be thrilling for anyone.
Jiang Yi followed behind her, taking in her anticipation. He could only silently hope that this time, his joy would not be in vain. The Duke and his wife had waited for this day for twenty years, and the day when the master would leave was drawing near.
On the other side, the doorman returned to the gate of the mansion under Jiang Yi's instructions. Seeing the girl still waiting there, a big stone in his heart fell to the ground instantly.
He walked quickly forward, came to the front of the girl, made a gesture of invitation, and said respectfully: "Young lady, please come into the mansion and sit for a while. The housekeeper has gone to report to the lady." After seeing Jiang Yi's strange feelings about the jade pendant, he knew that this woman would definitely be an honored guest of the Duke's Mansion in the future. If he established a good relationship with her now and got her praise in the future, he would have a bright future.
Hua Ling did not follow him into the mansion immediately. She glanced at the carriage parked nearby and said, "Can I bring someone in with me?"
The concierge also noticed the carriage and hesitated. He hadn't previously told the butler about the two people, and now that there was one more person, he was worried about how difficult it would be to explain. After all, the Duke's Mansion wasn't open to just anyone. If someone like an assassin got in and disturbed the noble, he would be dead.
Hua Ling noticed his hesitation and said sympathetically, "In that case, I won't go in either."
The doorman looked stunned. He didn't understand why the girl would refuse such a chance to soar to fame. This was the Duke's Mansion where countless people wanted to get close to her. Now the door was open for her, but she refused.
Then he began to panic. The housekeeper had already gone to ask the lady to come. If he didn't see her, wouldn't it be his fault? He made up his mind and decided to give her a favor. "Young lady, take that man with you. I'll lead the way for you."
After hearing his answer, Hua Ling walked to the front of the carriage, leaned over to the window, and said something. Soon, the carriage curtain was lifted from the inside, and a young man walked out. He was dressed in a turquoise blue suit, with delicate features, red lips, and white teeth. For a moment, many people were stunned.
By the time they reacted, the two had already followed the doorman into the mansion, leaving only curious onlookers.
The concierge was incredibly welcoming, his earlier suspicions and worries completely forgotten. This young man looked incredibly wealthy and scholarly; how could he possibly be an assassin? Instead, he looked like the carefully groomed heir of a prominent family. He had never met the Duke's wife, but if he had, he would have noticed something unusual about her.
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