Chapter 9: Mansion
His gaze shifted to the opposite side of Chengyan.
A young man in a crimson official robe, a golden leather flower belt, and peacocks embroidered on his clothes sat with his eyes lowered. His black hair was all tied up in his official hat. The cinnabar mole at the corner of his eye was bright and eye-catching. His black eyes were indifferent, his lips were red and his teeth were white. He looked like a person who walked out of a painting.
Qin Xiu raised his eyes, his facial features were distinct and three-dimensional, and he was surrounded by an indescribable sharpness and majesty.
He said expressionlessly, "Chengyan, when did you become so noisy?"
…
"Miss, where should we find a house?"
After walking out of the Jingzhao government office, Jiang Qingning and Zi Su, the master and servant, stood outside the government office, feeling somewhat blind.
After all, the two of them had been staying at the Jiang family for sixteen years, rarely leaving the house, and had no worries about food, clothing, housing, and transportation;
For the next eight years, she stayed in the Anping Marquis's mansion. All her food and clothing were paid for by her dowry. As for her clothing, her mother-in-law disliked her wearing bright colors and did not allow her to dress up too much.
Later, he practiced hard in the Taoist temple for three years, and during the eight years, he only wore the same few pieces of clothing.
A bailiff ran out of the government office and ran towards the two of them: "Is this Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Qingning turned around, but couldn't see the person opposite him through the veil.
She said softly, "Young man, what can I do for you?"
Could it be that the Tongzhi forgot to give instructions because of something?
"No, no, it's not..." The bailiff waved his hands quickly with a simple smile.
Zi Su protected her behind him with a serious attitude and a fierce tone.
"Who are you and why are you eavesdropping on my conversation with my young lady?"
The yamen runner looked anxious and swore with his hand, "Just now, my magistrate thought you seemed to be looking for a house. He remembered that a distant relative had left a house with him for sale. It's located in the alley next to the Duke of Qin's mansion. I wonder if you have any ideas?"
Zi Su was stunned and turned to look at Jiang Qingning.
Another bailiff ran out of the Jingzhao government office, even holding a bunch of keys in his arms.
He quickly stepped forward, saluted Jiang Qingning, and said, "My master admires Master Jiang's style on the battlefield in the past, so he couldn't bear to see you worrying about the house. He specially sent me and my colleagues to go there. You can take a look first, but you don't have to buy it."
"Yes, yes, Lord Jiang fought for the country back then. Although we are just small figures, we all admire him very much." Another person quickly agreed.
Jiang Qingning pulled Zisu aside and whispered, "Maybe the Tongzhi is kind-hearted and can't bear to see you and me, master and servant, wandering aimlessly looking for a house.
You and I will go and take a look first, and we have the yamen runners to lead the way. The Tongzhi will never deceive you or me."
She really couldn't find a better house now, and even if she had to find one today, the time was really not enough.
It would be better to find a house first and move all the dowry out.
Otherwise, considering that the old lady of Anping Marquis's Mansion was coveting the dowry, Jiang Qingning was really worried that something might happen later.
"Madam Zhang and the others are still guarding our belongings." Jiang Qingning pursed her lips.
Zi Su nodded firmly: "Well, don't worry, Miss, I will definitely protect you!"
The two men made up their minds and said humbly to the yamen runners, "Since the magistrate is so kind, we will go and take a look first. Please lead the way, yamen runners."
"Oh! Good! Good!" The bailiff agreed quickly, his joy couldn't be more obvious.
The four of them rented a carriage at the intersection, and two yamen runners drove the carriage all the way towards Tongxin Lane on Chaoming Road.
"I am Zi Su, the young lady's personal maid. I don't know the two young men's surnames yet?" Zi Su asked with a smile.
"My last name is Zhang!"
"My last name is Wang!"
"Hello, Brother Zhang, Hello, Brother Wang! What kind of person is our Tongzhi?
Is this house owned by a distant relative of the Tongzhi? Why don't they live there anymore?"
"Our lord, the co-governor..."
Zi Su asked cheerfully along the way, and when the four of them arrived at Tongxin Lane, Jiang Qingning was particularly familiar with Cheng Yan's personality.
Chengyan is a man of integrity, who hates evil and is honest and upright. His ancestors have all been top scholars for generations, and his family is upright.
Such a person would actually help her.
Jiang Qingning was filled with gratitude as he followed the yamen runner into the alley. The first house he saw was the Duke of Qin's Mansion, and further inside was the house next to it.
"This used to be a large house with five courtyards. Unfortunately, a distant relative of yours committed a crime a few years ago and was stripped of his official position and sent back to his hometown to live in seclusion. Now this courtyard has been empty for a long time."
Zhang, the yamen runner, opened the door and led the two men in.
"There are quite a lot of weeds inside, and it has been abandoned for a long time. I hope Miss Jiang will not mind. If you like the house, we can hire workers to remove all the weeds."
Wang, the yamen runner, scratched his head, feeling rather embarrassed.
Jiang Qingning stepped over the high threshold, and what came into view was a deserted courtyard with weeds one or two meters high, but one could still make out the attics, pavilions, rockery and ponds inside, which showed how powerful the relatives of the Tongzhi were back then.
"When was the owner of this house demoted?" Jiang Qingning asked, tilting his head.
"Eight years ago, there were many people exiled in those days, but this house was probably the most spacious."
Wang the yamen runner explained, and then spoke mysteriously.
"This backyard was even bigger back then, but it was bought and opened up by the Duke of Qin's Mansion, which later expanded it into a garden and a stage. If you buy this house, you'll be a neighbor of the Duke of Qin's Mansion, and your future safety will be guaranteed."
"This Duke Qin's Mansion is so magnificent. Even through the high walls, you can see the well-arranged pavilions."
Shisu stood on tiptoe and spoke in surprise.
"As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Is that what Wang Yayi meant to say?"
Jiang Qingning smiled and walked into the courtyard.
"Yes, yes, you are right. Miss Jiang is indeed a lady from a famous family." Wang the yamen runner said with a smile.
Jiang Qingning walked on the corridor. The wooden boards here had not been repaired for a long time and they creaked when he walked on them.
"Let's take a look at the whole yard first."
Yayi Zhang and Yayi Wang looked at each other, with some nervousness in their eyes.
Jiang Qingning stood on the attic. She didn't expect that when she walked to the backyard, she would see another attic.
Standing above and looking out at this moment, you can actually see the surrounding scenery.
A hint of red appeared at the corner of Jiang Qingning's eyes.
She lifted her veil and turned to look. In the spacious and imposing backyard of the Duke of Qin's Mansion, a tall young man in a red official robe and hat was striding towards a main courtyard in the backyard.
The man must have noticed that someone was following him, so he stopped and turned to look.
Somehow, Jiang Qingning felt that he was looking at her again, so she quickly let go of the hand that was lifting the veil, and she saluted from a distance towards the distance.
Qin Xiu stood with his hands behind his back, looking outside the courtyard wall.
On the attic of the courtyard, a woman was wearing a blue long skirt, a light green cloak, a veil on her head, and her veil swaying in the wind.
After Jiang Qingning finished her greeting, she quickly turned around and walked down the attic. Her heart was pounding with fear. It was really too much. She actually stared at a strange man for so long.
Yayi Zhang and Yayi Wang were waiting downstairs. When they saw her coming down, they looked expectant.
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