Chapter 111
The Duke of England's mansion has never been so quiet as it is now.
A solemn silence fell across both the East and West Gardens, and the maids and servants dared not breathe. The prominent housekeepers and servants stood outside the main hall of Old Lady Wei's Jing'an Residence, their hands hanging low, awaiting their orders. It was already completely dark, and an inexplicably oppressive atmosphere permeated the mansion.
It wasn't until the lanterns lining the aisles lit up and a group of people gathered around Yi Ning that the stewards rushed over to greet them. Thanks to Yi Ning's previous experience managing the household during the New Year, the stewards were somewhat impressed by her. They were all hand-picked by Wei Ling, so naturally they were all capable—but no matter how capable they were, they were not the masters of the Duke of Ying's mansion, and they couldn't make decisions on many matters.
Yi Ning was surrounded by the stewards, all of whom had visible anxiety on their faces. The Duke of Ying's family was a single-line successor to Wei Ling's generation, with Ting'er as their only child. It was clear what the consequences would be for the Duke of Ying's family if Wei Ling died. Yi Ning glanced at them hurriedly and asked, "Have you sent someone to the garrison to bring Ting'er back?"
"A fast horse has been sent, and it should be back tomorrow morning." One of the managers said quickly.
Yining exhaled slowly.
She remembered Wei Ling's near-death experience in her previous life, but back then, he was just a strange British duke to her. She only had a limited understanding of his affairs, but she did remember one thing: he was still alive and well. But she didn't know if this life was any different from her previous one, and it was impossible not to feel nervous.
After all, Wei Yining didn't exist in the previous life, and the child died early. But now she does exist.
Yi Ning asked again, "Is grandma in the house?"
The maid was stunned for a moment and said, "After the old lady woke up, she went to the ancestral hall and hasn't come out since. Do you want me to go..."
Before she could finish her words, Yi Ning waved her hand and said, "I'll find it myself." Then she led her people to the ancestral hall. Cheng Lang looked at her and stayed outside the main hall, instructing the stewards to be quiet.
The ancestral hall of the Duke of Ying's mansion was built behind Jing'an Residence. The mansion was passed down from their ancestors. A plaque hung on the old ancestral hall's paulownia door lintel, and a light was on inside when viewed through the corner gate. Zhao Mingzhu stood outside the corner gate, looking at Yining anxiously. "I can't get into the ancestral hall... I don't know how my grandmother is doing. She was crying so hard outside just now that she almost fainted."
Zhao Mingzhu didn't like Luo Yining, and she still didn't. The better Wei Ling treated Luo Yining, the worse he treated her, so she didn't like Wei Ling either. But if Wei Ling were truly gone, the future of the Duke of Ying's Mansion would be uncertain. She didn't want anything to happen to Wei Ling.
Luo Yining nodded slightly. Zhao Mingzhu was from another family, so naturally she couldn't enter the Wei family's ancestral hall. She walked in, and the maids standing on either side bowed to her. Yining didn't even notice. She just looked at the back of Mrs. Wei, who stood in front of the ancestral seat, standing straight.
Old Mrs. Wei just looked at the ranking of the Wei family's ancestors without saying a word. She turned her head when she heard footsteps.
Yi Ning stood at the entrance of the ancestral hall, watching her. The darkness outside made her silhouette seem even thinner. Old Mrs. Wei saw that her features resembled Wei Ling's, yet with a touch of childishness, and thought of how much Wei Ling loved her daughter. She had already lost her mother, and now she might lose her father too. She felt uneasy again, her breathing heavy and her eyes red.
Yi Ning walked over to her and saw that Old Madam Wei's face had turned pale. The ancestral hall was next to a pond, a damp place. She was already in poor health, and if she became ill again, what would happen? "Grandma, please come back with me," Yi Ning said to her. "We haven't found any trace of my father in Pingyuan Fort yet. Maybe he'll be back in a few days..."
Even Yi Ning felt that his consolation was too pale. With 30,000 soldiers gone, would the Oirat tribe let the enemy leader go? They were always barbaric, so it wasn't impossible for them to behead him on the spot.
Wei Ling might have been among the dead who died on the battlefield. There wasn't even a place to bury the bodies in that desolate neighborhood.
Thinking of this scene, the emotions that had calmed down on the way became agitated again, but Yi Ning continued, "Maybe he will be back when you go back to sleep."
Old Mrs. Wei held her in her arms. She was so choked up that she couldn't speak clearly, and her voice was broken: "Yining—your father, what if he can't come back! I...when he left, I didn't see him off. I didn't even see what he looked like at the end..."
Old Madam Wei had an unfamiliar sandalwood scent on her body, and Yi Ning had never been close to her. But now she let her hold her.
Old Mrs. Wei hugged her with her cold hands, holding Wei Ling's child, she cried breathlessly: "I...he has never wanted me to worry about him, he has been sensible since he was a child! Ling'er...my Ling'er..." She cried almost to the point of wailing, the most tragic thing in the world is that the elderly bury the young.
Old Madam Wei was weeping so hard that she could barely hold herself back, and Yi Ning hurried to support her. She, too, was in pain, her eyes red from holding back. Needless to say, the maids guarding the door rushed in upon hearing Old Madam Wei's wails, and helped her up again. Yi Ning directed them to take her back to Jing'an Residence.
Yi Ning sent Old Madam Wei back to Jing'an Residence, where the imperial physician from the palace quickly gave her acupuncture. The old lady lay on a Luohan bed, surrounded by maids serving ginseng soup and hot water. She wore a brow bandage, her withered hands resting on a rosewood frame, visible veins bulging from her frailty.
Yi Ning took care of Old Lady Wei and told the maids to keep a close eye on her before leaving the west side room. As she left, she saw Cheng Lang standing in the yard. He turned around and saw Yi Ning, walked up to her and said, "I have something I must tell you. Are you available to listen?"
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