Chapter 4, The Qin Mansion
Kyoto is a place where land is incredibly valuable, but it is home to many wealthy families and numerous villa districts with increasingly extravagant and luxurious names, such as "Oriental Pearl," "Wanliu Villa," and "Sheshan Manor."
However, the name "Gongguan" (公馆) is not something that can be given lightly. "Gong" (公) represents grandeur and shared prosperity, while "Guan" (馆) implies collection and profoundness. Therefore, Qin Gongguan not only represents a living space, but also symbolizes a high social status and rich historical heritage.
In short, those who live in villa communities are impressive, but those who live in mansions are even more impressive.
According to research, the Qin Mansion was the residence of a famous historical figure. It blends classic Western architectural features with exquisite garden design, showcasing a unique historical and cultural style. As a product of historical architecture, its value is self-evident. Logically, it should have been handed over to the state to become a scenic spot, but in fact, it has always been the private property of the Qin family.
Through the tireless efforts of future generations, the area here has been continuously expanded to 6,000 square meters. Even with three generations of children and grandchildren living together, plus several servants, the per capita usable area is still quite ample.
The entrance to the Qin Mansion retains its old-fashioned and simple style. The main gate, made of golden nanmu wood, is open, and inside is an iron gate with a pointed tip made of black iron. The orientation is also very particular—sitting in the southwest and facing the northeast, which corresponds to the saying "sitting in the golden palace, receiving the coiled dragon, suppressing the pagoda, and gathering the treasure basin".
Upon entering the gate, one finds a main path paved with pebbles around a small garden, where various rare and exotic flowers bloom in abundance. In the distance, one can see several red and white spires. Servants, dressed in uniform blue uniforms with different colored patterns embroidered on their chests (to distinguish their positions and ranks), move about in an orderly manner, diligently performing their duties.
Upon seeing Su Rong return, each person would stop what they were doing and greet her in unison, as if they had been specially trained.
Shen Qingtang's eyes flashed as she recalled the Shen family villa from her memory, and she thought to herself that there was such a big difference between wealthy families. The Qin family truly deserved to be called a top-tier wealthy family.
As the car approached the fork in the road, a woman dressed in a white business suit and with impeccable makeup jogged over in high heels, bowed slightly, and knocked on the door and windows, saying, "Mrs. Qin, you're finally back."
Su Rong noticed the slight sweat on the other person's forehead and smiled, "Mary, what's the rush? Can't you call?"
Mary is Su Rong's personal assistant, a top student specially hired from the British secretarial profession. She has been by Su Rong's side for four or five years and has earned Su Rong's deep trust. She is shrewd and capable, and mainly manages Su Rong's private assets and handles the daily affairs of the wealthy family, such as entertaining guests, attending banquets, organizing charity events, etc. In short, being a wealthy wife is not an easy job, especially since she is the daughter-in-law of the top wealthy family, the Qin family. She needs to be able to handle the relationships in the wealthy family without being too good or too bad.
Mary glanced at Su Rong anxiously and said, "Madam, Old Madam Qin wants you to go to her place."
Su Rong reflexively rubbed her temples, somewhat reluctant to go. The old lady came from a wealthy family in Hong Kong, possessing a special political background that gave her a natural advantage over women from the mainland. Not to mention, she had some British royal blood in her family. Although she was older and less assertive, her eerie green eyes still gave people a creepy feeling. Even though she and Qin Yuan had been estranged for so many years, and she dared to argue and shout at him, even dared to destroy his mistress's love nest, she wouldn't dare raise her voice in front of him.
When she was young, she realized that her partner didn't like her. Fortunately, as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, her partner didn't make things difficult for her, and they managed to get along for so many years.
She knew perfectly well that the old lady had suddenly called her over because she thought it was inappropriate for her to bring Shen Qingtang home to take care of Guan'er. But she didn't want to back down on this matter. She frowned and turned to Shen Qingtang, instructing her, "I'll be right back. You take good care of Guan'er for me."
"Uncle Wang, take her there first." After saying that, he got out of the car and got into another white Mercedes that Mary had arranged in advance.
Shen Qingtang was somewhat puzzled: "Uncle Wang, I'm not in a hurry here, why don't you send Aunt Su over first?"
Uncle Wang didn't give the culprit who caused Young Master Qin's legs to be crippled a pleasant look, his eyes flashing with arrogance and disdain: "That's because the Qin mansion is too big."
He introduced them in a boastful tone: "This is Master Qin Yuan's residence, this is Madam Qin's, and this is Master Qin Ming and Madam Qin's residence..."
Shen Qingtang listened attentively while secretly taking notes, and occasionally asked questions.
Uncle Wang said irritably, "Why are you asking so many questions? Do you want to sneak away?" He didn't think that a rich young lady like Shen Qingtang would really be willing to obediently act as a caregiver for his young master.
Shen Qingtang was naturally detached from emotions, and she was not angry at all in the face of this impolite tone. She calmly shook her head and said, "I want to know where the kitchen is. I can make some medicinal food for Brother Qin to nourish his body."
Looking into the other man's sincere eyes, Uncle Wang felt a surge of anger rising in his chest, stuck in his throat, unable to vent it. He sighed softly, "Now, forget about nourishing the young master's body, I'd be happy if you could just get him to eat something." Uncle Wang had worked at the Qin mansion for decades and treated Qin Guanlan like half a child. As he finished speaking, his eyes welled up with tears, and he said reproachfully, "If it weren't for you, the young master wouldn't be crippled in both legs, and he wouldn't have been unable to eat or sleep for three consecutive days."
Shen Qingtang nodded and promised, "I will make sure Brother Qin eats well and sleeps well." Looking at the calm and determined face in the rearview mirror, Uncle Wang's heart stirred slightly, and for some reason, a sense of trust arose in his heart.
After many twists and turns, the red Maserati finally arrived at its destination, a two-story garden villa—though "small" was relative to other villas.
Because of his paralyzed legs, Qin Guanlan's personality changed drastically. He disliked people coming and going, so he only kept two maids and two bodyguards (who also acted as caregivers) to take care of his daily life.
Perhaps to soothe the soul, the flowers here are of a great variety and bloom in abundance, including high-priced flowers such as Red Jade Beads, Lotus Lanterns, Hellebore, and Emperor Flowers. A gentle breeze carries the faint fragrance of the flowers to the nose.
Seeing Shen Qingtang's mesmerized expression, Uncle Wang's face showed a hint of pride: "Isn't this one nice? In the entire Qin Mansion, the young master's garden has the most varieties of flowers and the best blooms."
Shen Qingtang squatted down, poked the soil with her finger, nodded and said, "The fertility is good. After pulling these out, we can plant some yams, goji berries, and angelica, these kinds of medicinal herbs."
Uncle Wang: "..." Each of these flowers costs an average of 400 or 500 yuan! Pulling them out would be such a waste!
He led Shen Qingtang into the villa's hall, where they happened to see two maids carrying trays coming down from the second floor.
Sweet and sour pork ribs, twice-cooked pork, stir-fried bok choy, pumpkin soup... two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and one soup, beautifully presented and looked delicious, but unfortunately, not a single bite was touched.
Seeing this, Uncle Wang frowned and said, "Xiao Wen, Xiao Qian, has the young master still not eaten anything today?"
Xiaoqian nodded, placed the plate on the table, and sighed softly, "Yes, no matter how we try to persuade the young master, he won't eat, and he's locked the door to his room." Xiaowen frowned and looked at Shen Qingtang, asking, "Uncle Wang, who is she?" Looking at the other woman's beautiful face, a hint of hostility flashed in her eyes.
Uncle Wang introduced her: "She is Shen Qingtang."
"Shen Qingtang, why did you bring this unlucky woman in here?" Xiaoqian's pretty face twisted instantly, her tone became sharp, and a look of disgust flashed in her eyes.
Uncle Wang chuckled twice and said, "This was brought back by Mrs. Qin, who said she would take care of the young master." After saying that, he hurriedly made an excuse and left.
Xiaowen concealed the disgust in her eyes, quickly adjusted her expression, and said politely but distantly, "I'm sorry, Miss Shen, the young master doesn't need your care. Xiaoqian and I are enough here. Please leave now."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I promised Aunt Su that I would take good care of Brother Qin." After saying that, she took two steps forward, touched the still warm plate, picked it up, and walked upstairs.
"What are you going to do?" Xiaoqian blocked the stairwell, stopping Shen Qingtang with a wary look on her face.
Shen Qingtang didn't speak, but looked down at the plate, her meaning quite clear.
Xiaowen squeezed next to Xiaoqian and said coldly, "Miss Chen, our young master already said he's not eating anymore." She raised her head and warned, "This is the Qin family, not the Shen family!"
Shen Qingtang glanced at the two of them indifferently and said, "Is this how you take care of Brother Qin? He says he doesn't want to eat and then he just stops?"
Xiaowen and Xiaoqian were frightened by Shen Qingtang's gaze, and without realizing it, they let him go up the stairs.
Xiaoqian was instantly furious and hurriedly went upstairs, but Xiaowen grabbed her hand and gave her a look: "Go and tell Mrs. Qin about this, let her judge the matter."
"But young master..." Xiaoqian hesitated before speaking.
"Are you crazy? The young master can't eat. The most important thing right now is to get Mrs. Qin to get rid of this wretched woman." Xiao Wen rolled her eyes and said, word by word, "Do you want her to steal your position?"
Although Qin Guanlan was crippled, he was otherwise in excellent condition, making him a highly sought-after young maid.
Hearing this, Xiaoqian blushed and touched her face, saying, "Sister Xiaowen, don't say that. Young Master would never be interested in me." Although she said that, her ears turned bright red, and she hurriedly turned around to look for someone.
Xiao Wen watched her run off into the distance before his teasing smile vanished, and he uttered two words: "Fool." To actually want to marry the young master? That's just wishful thinking.
Although there were many rooms on the second floor, there was only one master bedroom. Listening to the breathing sounds inside, Shen Qingtang quickly found Qin Guanlan's location.
She knocked on the door politely, her voice completely flat: "Brother Qin, it's time to eat."
After calling out ten times, there was still no response from inside. However, the two burly bodyguards standing next to Qin Guanlan couldn't help but advise, "Brother Qin, why don't you have something to eat for lunch?"
"That's right, Brother Qin, you haven't eaten for three whole days. The doctor said you can't keep getting glucose injections."
No matter how much people around him advised him, ever since he learned that there was no possibility of his legs recovering, Qin Guanlan had been looking out the window. If it weren't for the fact that his eyes could move and he could still breathe, he would have seemed to be dead.
Finally, Qi Yi could only sigh softly, look towards the door, and reply dejectedly, "Take it away, Brother Qin doesn't want to eat right now."
Shen Qingtang remained unmoved and repeated, "Brother Qin, it's time to eat." After saying that, she paused and said politely, "I'm sorry."
With a "click," the lock cylinder snapped open, leaving the once impregnable security door wide open.
A hint of surprise flashed across Qi's eyes. He quickly walked up and, seeing that it was a stranger who didn't know the rules, said impatiently, "Why did you come in?"
"Didn't I already say? Brother Qin won't eat it."
Shen Qingtang, holding her tray, walked past without saying a word and saw a tall figure sitting in a wheelchair.
Her intuition told her that it must be Qin Guanlan—the man whose legs were crippled because of the original owner of the body, and the former general manager of the Qin Group in charge of business sectors.
Although his face was obscured by his back, the man in the black and white striped pajamas was incredibly thin. The section of his wrist peeking out from his sleeve looked like a withered tree. The veins on the back of his large hand were prominent, as if connected only by a thin layer of skin. He was frighteningly thin, and several slightly swollen needle marks were faintly bluish.
Shen Qingtang frowned deeply, keenly sensing that the man had a weight that was seriously disproportionate to his height, and that his mental state was worse than she had imagined.
In the vast room, the curtains were drawn tightly shut, shrouding him in darkness. Only a small window was open, letting in air and sunlight. He seemed to be able to tolerate only this sliver of light, staring blankly into it, like a tree that had lost its heartwood. He exuded an aura of decadence and despair, all his vibrant qualities stripped away.
Shen Qingtang waved the wire in her hand at Qi Yi and said, "It's not that hard to open." She hadn't specifically studied lock picking, but it seemed like she was born with it.
Qi Yi: "......." This security door isn't cheap, how could it be opened with just a wire?
Then, he warned with his eyes, "Get out of here, Brother Qin said he's not eating."
“Man is made of iron, food is made of steel, he has to eat.” Shen Qingtang’s tone was calm, but her attitude was very firm. She brought over a small wooden table and chair and sat down in front of Qin Guanlan.
Qi Yi frowned, wanting to step forward to stop him, but Qi Er stopped him, whispering, "Let her try." Brother Qin can't go without eating forever.
A glint flashed in his eyes; this woman was not as simple as she appeared.
Shen Qingtang picked up a spoon, slowly scooped up a mouthful of rice, and held it to Qin Guanlan's lips: "Brother Qin, do you still remember me? I am Shen Qingtang, and I've come to take care of you."
“I promised Aunt Su that I would heal your leg. If I can’t heal it, I will take care of you for the rest of my life.”
"From now on, I'll listen to whatever you say."
Seeing the culprit standing in front of him, saying he would take care of him for the rest of his life, Qin Guanlan, unlike Qi Yi who exploded and Qi Er who frowned, only raised his eyes slightly without any extra reaction, like a wooden puppet.
As the male protagonist's cousin, Qin Guanlan's appearance is naturally outstanding. Unlike the male protagonist, who is known as the noble young master of the Qin family, Qin Guanlan is the type with a very strong masculine aura. His facial features are prominent, and perhaps because he was a soldier, his eyes and brows exude a dignified and upright air. His hair is black and thick, and his eyebrows slant upwards into his temples, making him a typical general in ancient times.
It is said that "excessive rigidity leads to breakage, and extreme strength leads to humiliation," but his deep, cold green eyes perfectly balanced this. The minty green color gave people a chilling feeling, and his thick eyelashes drooped slightly, perfectly concealing the complex and calculating emotions in his eyes.
Unfortunately, his eyes have now become empty and dark, like the inky blackness of the sky swallowing up all the colors in the world. His once robust body has also withered rapidly, his face is pale and sickly, and there is a melancholy look in his eyes.
It was a seed that was about to wither.
Upon learning that the woman in front of him was Shen Qingtang, Qi Yi flew into a rage, pointing at her nose and yelling, "Shen Qingtang, get out of here! Brother Qin doesn't need your help!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang calmly stated, "But you took very poor care of him." These words were like a slap in the face to Qi Yi, yet he had no way to refute them.
Because that's just the way it is.
If it weren't for the family doctor coming to administer glucose every night, how would Qin Guanlan have the strength to sit in a wheelchair?
Even the usually composed Qi Er couldn't help but twitch his brow upon hearing this, his gaze fixed on Qin Ge: "Could you possibly persuade Brother Qin to eat?"
Shen Qingtang said calmly, "I can get Brother Qin to eat."
Of course, in special circumstances, more forceful methods can be used.
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