Chapter 77
It snowed last night, and the Duke of England's mansion was covered in white.
Outside Jing'an Hall, where Old Lady Wei lived, several maids were sweeping the snow off the steps. After the heavy snow, the weather was clear, the sun high in the sky, and the breath was covered with white mist.
The heating in the room was warm. Mother Song helped Old Madam Wei sit beside the Luohan bed. A maid brought a cup of blood swallow and half-knelt to put it down. Another old woman carefully replaced the plum blossoms in the room with new ones.
Old Mrs. Wei picked up the letter again. She had read it a few days ago, but she couldn't help but want to open it and take another look.
The old lady had been a beauty in her youth, and even in her old age, her elegance remained unparalleled. She wore an emerald eyebrow band, a sandalwood brocade jacket with a long, embroidered pattern, and her hair was neatly combed. She read the letter over and over again, the angrier she became: "...He's truly foolish! He even forgot his own daughter and let her suffer for so long!"
Mother Song smiled and comforted Mrs. Wei: "Don't worry, it's back."
"After all, she is the child of the Duke of England's Mansion, how can she be raised by that family?" Old Madam Wei was still angry, "You should have let me know earlier to find her and bring her back! Bringing her up by my side will be much better than that place." Keeping her by her side, she would naturally be raised with great care. If the young lady of the Duke of England's Mansion went out, no one in the capital would dare to underestimate her.
"The Duke is also worried that you won't accept this child's origin..." Mother Song, the elderly woman who served Old Madam Wei, said, "Didn't I send you a letter before going to look for him? I think he's almost here."
Old Madam Wei sighed, "I'm already so old, what can I say or not? I raised Mingzhu too. Although she's not our child, she's no worse than a proper young lady. Not to mention, she's the Wei family's biological granddaughter." The maid fed her a spoonful of blood swallow's nest, but Old Madam Wei thought it was too sweet and shook her head, refusing to drink it. She asked, "Is Mingzhu awake yet?"
Mother Song helped Old Madam Wei to her feet. "She played with the daughter of Earl Zhongxian for quite a while yesterday, and got up late today. She was still in bed when the maid called her."
"Wake her up," Old Madam Wei said, "We haven't told her about Yining yet. It's time she met her sister."
Mother Song agreed and went to give the instructions.
The sound of horse hooves and the rising dust of snow made Yining smell a familiar scent.
She drew aside the carriage curtain. After a long and tiring day and night of carriage travel, the capital now loomed large before her. The broad cobblestone streets and alleyways were still closed, but some morning tea shops had already opened, their aroma wafting from steaming pots of soy milk. The area around Yujing Hutong in the capital was extremely prosperous, as most of Yujing Hutong was occupied by the Duke of Yingguo's mansion. Further down, in Huaishu Hutong, was the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion. The Duke of Yingguo's mansion was a founding minister, so his residence was grand and imposing. None of the princes and marquises granted later titles had such grand residences.
There was a locust tree at the entrance to Huaishu Hutong, and in Yujing Hutong there was an ancient well, from which vendors of soy milk drew their water, producing a fragrant and sweet soy milk. These memories, once covered in dust, are now vivid and lively. Yining stared at Wei in a daze, having never imagined she would return like this one day.
"Miss, be careful of the cold wind outside and get hurt." Zhenzhu, the maid Wei Ling assigned to her, said softly.
Yi Ning finally lowered the curtain. Wei Ling had assigned her two maids: the gentler one, Zhenzhu, and the more reserved one, Daimao. He said they were both chosen from his own family. Perhaps Old Madam Wei truly cared for her son, as both maids were strikingly beautiful. Daimao was even better than Zhenzhu. Zhenzhu liked to be involved and was quite enthusiastic about serving Yi Ning. Daimao, on the other hand, was less demanding. She would do whatever she was given, and if not asked, she would just stand there, dazed, or stare blankly at Wei Ling's back.
Yi Ning sighed. She understood this kind of girl. Spending all day with the handsome, tall, and powerful male host, and being so beautiful and young, it was impossible for her not to have some feelings for him. Yi Ning was indifferent to the two girls Wei Ling had given her, and naturally left personal matters to Songzhi and Qingqu.
Wei Ling rode ahead, and pedestrians naturally gave way. Those who saw the pomp and ceremony would sigh, "The Duke of Yingguo's Mansion is indeed the most distinguished of the aristocratic families."
Wei Ling's subordinates entered the Duke of Ying's mansion early. The two tall, black-lacquered doors, inlaid with a unicorn holding a copper ring, slowly opened. Yining heard someone say, "Word has been passed on. The old lady is waiting in the front hall." Someone else said, "Duke, breakfast is ready." Another voice even said, "The young lady's yard is tidy and the old lady has personally inspected it!"
The entire Duke of England's mansion was huge and busy, so it must have been busy preparing for her return.
Zhenzhu and Daimao looked calm, having been ordained children of the family. Qingqu's expression was similarly calm; she was too careless, having no idea what aristocratic family was. Songzhi, on the other hand, became a little nervous upon hearing this. Yining glanced at her and noticed she was clenching her hands tightly.
The Duke of Ying's mansion was truly enormous, and the carriage took a long time to travel from the screen wall to the hanging flower gate. Only after the carriage finally stopped did the curtains open. Yi Ning saw Wei Ling reaching out to her and said gently, "Meimei, follow Daddy down. I'll take you to see your grandmother."
Yining stuck her head out, Wei Ling gently put his arm around her and brought her down, leading her forward.
Yining looked up at the wide corridor and the stone lotus-shaped lanterns. Beyond it were the soaring eaves and brackets, the tall red-lacquered columns, and a plaque above the lintel bearing the Chinese characters "Jing'an." Four maids stood at the doorway, their hands hanging down. They bowed when they saw Wei Ling and her.
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