Chapter 173 Returning to Jinling
The wheels rolled over the last stretch of official road outside Jinling City, and the familiar noise dispelled the weariness of the journey.
Xie Sangning leaned against the soft couch in the carriage, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked at the bustling scene outside. Thinking of her father Xie Zhenting and her brother Xie Sangyu who were about to return, her slightly irritable heart, which had been traveling for days, finally relaxed a bit, and a rare smile appeared on her face.
"Finally we've arrived," she muttered softly. Even the best carriage can be tiring to ride in. "Ruchun, remember to massage me when we get back, and use the jasmine balm I just had to take back for a hot compress."
"Yes, Miss." Ru Chun replied, skillfully straightening her slightly wrinkled cuffs.
In front of the general's mansion, guards stood at attention, and the steward and servants were already waiting at the gate.
Once the carriage came to a stop, Xie Sangning, with Ru Chun's help, stepped down from the carriage.
Her critical gaze swept across the doorway.
The gilded bronze animal-head door knockers gleamed, the stone lions shone cleanly, the seams of the bluestone slabs were spotless, and a few pots of half-open ink chrysanthemums were arranged appropriately. It was barely satisfactory, a far cry from the dilapidated scene when I first returned to Jinling.
"Welcome back to the manor, Miss!" Everyone bowed in unison.
"Rise. Has things been peaceful in the manor these days?"
"Reporting to Miss, all is well."
The butler bowed and replied.
Xie Sangning nodded and said no more.
After entering the mansion, she did not go directly back to her own Ruixue Tower, but instead went to the old lady's room to pay her respects.
She always followed the rules and regulations meticulously, and even when the old lady was cold and distant towards her, she never missed a single detail of the proper etiquette.
The air in Fushou Hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. The old lady leaned against the couch, looking even more listless than when Xie Sangning had just returned to the capital.
The grandson Xie Wulu, on whom she had placed great hopes, caused a huge scandal and was eventually kicked out of the house, which obviously dealt a heavy blow to the old lady's spirit.
She personally approved the expulsion of the person, but it was for the sake of the Xie family's reputation and honor; it was a last resort.
She felt sorry for her grandson from the bottom of her heart, but she also knew that compared to this, the Xie family was more important, and it was just a matter of feeling upset.
"Granddaughter greets her grandmother."
Xie Sangning bowed respectfully and formally.
The old lady raised her eyelids slightly, her cloudy gaze falling on her graceful granddaughter standing below.
Unexpectedly, a rare, kind smile appeared on that face, and he even raised his hand: "You're back? The journey must have been tiring. I heard your father and brother are also returning to the capital soon?"
"Yes, Grandmother."
Xie Sangning lowered her eyes, understanding dawning on her.
The only person who could make the old lady treat her with kindness was her father, who was about to return in glory.
He was the pillar of the Xie family and the greatest guarantee of the old lady's dignity in her later years.
"Hmm," the old lady nodded, her tone carrying a hint of admonition, "Your father is stationed on the frontier, risking his life. His return to the capital is a great honor bestowed by the Emperor. Everyone in the household must be well-behaved and respectful, lest we lose face and become a laughingstock. You are in charge of the household, so please take extra care."
"Grandmother, don't worry, your granddaughter understands."
The old lady waved her hand: "Alright, you've just returned, so go back and rest. Your father has returned to the capital and has many things to worry about, so you don't need to come to pay your respects these next few days."
Xie Sangning responded and then excused himself.
As soon as she left Fushou Hall, she rubbed her temples and instructed, "Ruchun, go back and change your clothes. These clothes are covered in dust and bad luck from the road. Tell the stewards to wait for me in the flower hall in half an hour. I have something to discuss."
"Yes, Miss."
The air inside Ruixue Tower was warm and inviting with the scent of incense.
Xie Sangning removed her dusty outer garments and changed into a soft and comfortable silk skirt, letting her maid comb her long, black hair.
The person in the mirror has delicate features and skin as white as snow.
"The wind and sand in this cold west really make people age faster." She looked at her face in the mirror and scrutinized it critically. "Ru Xia, find that box of Snow Skin Jade Cream and apply it thickly to me tonight."
After washing and dressing, Xie Sangning stepped into the flower hall, where the stewards were already standing at attention, holding their breath.
She slowly sat down in the main seat, picked up the freshly brewed pre-rain Longjing tea, and gently blew away the foam. Her refined and elegant demeanor was natural and innate.
"Is everyone here?"
She put down her teacup. “Father and brother will be returning to the capital soon. They will be receiving great favor from the Emperor, and a banquet will be held in the mansion. Everyone must be dressed in their best, both to show the illustrious prestige of our family and to live up to His Majesty’s honor.”
"The previous layout of the mansion was haphazard and vulgar."
She didn't hold back in criticizing the second wife's actions.
"Now, listen carefully—"
Over the next few hours, Xie Sangning displayed astonishing coordination skills and an extremely demanding aesthetic eye.
She sat upright in the main seat, speaking slowly but clearly and logically, each instruction precise and unquestionable.
"Find the pair of animal heads at the gate of the mansion and have the best craftsmen polish them again. They are the face of the General's mansion. I'm sure you all know that without me saying more."
“Those few half-dead plants in front of the screen wall,” she casually pointed out the window, “remove them all. Send someone to the Zhang family’s greenhouse in the suburbs of Beijing and bring back those twenty camellia plants they’ve been keeping at the bottom of their trunks. They need to be lush and full of flowers.”
"The tribal totem battle flags from the warehouse were hung on both sides of the covered walkway. They were arranged in the order of my father's conquests, and the flags had to be starched and made crisp, without a single crease."
“Remove those junk items from the weapon racks on both sides of the courtyard,” she frowned slightly, with a hint of disdain. “Replace them with those imperial axes and halberds from the storeroom, and move out two of those life-sized bronze lion-shaped incense burners from the storeroom and place them in a prominent spot in the courtyard, burning pine and cypress incense every day.”
Xie Sangning walked to the center of the main hall, looked around, and his brows were full of dissatisfaction.
"Put away the chair in the main seat. Bring out the huanghuali chair that His Majesty bestowed upon us, and make sure the footstool matches it."
It wasn't that the Emperor's gifts were particularly generous, but rather that they wanted to show everyone that the Emperor had bestowed a considerable amount of favors, and that their General's Mansion, at least outwardly, was grateful. They couldn't afford to give anyone cause for criticism, since the Emperor's gifts were all kept hidden away; what would people think then?
"The guest seats on both sides have all been replaced with armchairs with backrests. The cushions are made of dark crimson silk, which I remember having quite a few of in the storeroom. They are embroidered with cloud patterns in silver thread, so that you can feel the weight of the chairs and not sit on them."
“Right in the center,” she pointed to the empty wall, “hang up the gold plaque with the imperial inscription ‘Pillar of Loyalty and Courage,’ and place the sandalwood table below it, with the barbarian scimitar inlaid with pigeon blood rubies that Father captured right below it. The position must be straight, not even a fraction off.”
After everything was arranged, the sun had already set.
Xie Sangning returned to the main seat in the main hall, picked up the warm teacup, and thought about whether he had forgotten anything.
The menu was personally designed by her, bringing together the best of the north and south and seasonal delicacies. She invited the chief musicians of Yunshao Prefecture to perform, and the repertoire was limited to solemn and elegant music, strictly prohibiting decadent tunes.
The guest list, seating arrangements, welcoming and farewell procedures, security and guard duties, carriage parking, and the dress code for maids and servants... Xie Sangning arranged everything meticulously.
The entire General's Mansion, like a sophisticated machine, unleashed astonishing efficiency under Xie Sangning's command.
The servants moved with hurried yet orderly steps, and the carriages carrying goods arrived one after another, continuously delivering precious flowers, trees, and rare artifacts into the mansion.
The General's Mansion has regained its vitality.
Meanwhile, in a narrow, quiet courtyard west of Jinling City, Xie Chengzong gulped down a large mouthful of pungent, cheap liquor, the rough porcelain cup slamming heavily onto the greasy table with a dull thud.
Wang sat opposite, holding half a cold, hard steamed bun in her hand, unable to swallow.
"Listen! Listen!"
Wang slammed the steamed bun on the table, her chest heaving violently, her eyes filled with jealousy and hatred. "That jinx! What is she doing? That's all money! Money flowing like water! It should all belong to our second branch! It should be ours to live on! Now that wretched girl has spent it all! Her spending is like a bottomless pit!"
The "lowly girl" she was referring to was naturally Xie Sangning.
Wang was out working today and naturally heard about what was happening at the General's Mansion. She learned that Xie Sangning was redecorating the place and had spent a lot of money. When she returned from work, she was so angry that she couldn't help but fly into a rage.
Xie Chengzong's expression turned unusually good; he was looking forward to Xie Zhenting's return to the capital.
In his heart, Xie Zhenting loved his younger brother very much, otherwise he wouldn't have continued to give him his salary for so many years!
"Don't worry, that's my own elder brother! Over the years, every penny of his salary has been used for the household. How could he not care about me, his own brother? When he comes back, our good days will return."
He had no idea that the reason the salary was given to their second branch of the family was entirely because Emperor Pei Yan deliberately wanted to annoy Xie Zhenting, and it was not out of brotherly affection that he hadn't forgotten to support his younger brother while he was away fighting.
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