20demayo Chapter 196 The Gate
Chapter 196 The Gate
Finally, it was Su Wuming who suggested buying a chubby baby lantern. Xue Yunting breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Duan Mingzhu had no complaints.
Su Wuming saw their interaction clearly, his eyes turned cold, but his smile remained unchanged: "Let's go, or we'll miss lunch."
It takes about an hour to get from Qingchuan Inn to Dongshan. At the foot of the mountain, there are city walls and towers, with the four characters at the top: Jingzhao Mountain Villa.
At first glance, the four characters appear sharp and incisive, but upon closer inspection, they reveal a blend of strength and gentleness. In the most inconspicuous corner, there is a signature: Xu Nanqiao.
That name sounds familiar. Yes, Luo An mentioned that his mother's name was Xu Nanqiao.
Nianyao said, "Ninth Brother, I've seen many gates of wealthy families, but your family is probably the only one that builds its gate like a city gate. No wonder the concubines of the Jingzhao Manor Master are like a harem."
Su Wuming smiled and said, "Sister, you're right. The Jing family is Dongshan City, and Dongshan City is the Jing family. The city and the family are one."
The main gate was tightly closed, but the side gates on both sides were open. A group of people came out from the left side gate, led by a man who looked to be in his thirties.
The man dismounted and said, "Welcome, General Xue and Lord Su."
Xue Yunting and Su Wuming stood side by side, both looking up slightly at the fully armed guards on the city wall. Su Wuming smiled enigmatically: "Young Master, quite the grand entrance."
Jing Rong smiled and said, "With the arrival of the young general and Lord Su, no amount of pomp and circumstance is too much. Please, gentlemen."
Su Wuming and Xue Yunting stared at the tightly closed door, neither of them moving.
Jing Rong shifted his gaze to the main gate and explained, "When Jingzhao Manor was built, the main gate was only opened when the late emperor came. Since the late emperor passed away, the main gate has never been opened again. We will trouble you to use the side gate."
Su Wuming said, "Young Master, the late Emperor has been gone for many years, and now the Prince Jun is in power. It is probably inappropriate for Master Jing to still adhere to the old rules."
Jing Rong hesitated, "Lord Su, this is a rule that Jingzhao Manor has had since its founding..."
Su Wuming said, "Young Master, we are on the orders of the Emperor to go to Dongyang to deliver the Princess of Dongyang to her husband's family. If we do not enter through the main gate today, it will be said that the Jing family looks down on the Princess of Dongyang, which will damage the relations between the two countries. I am afraid that even Master Jing cannot bear the consequences."
Jing Rong then looked at Qin Jiu and Liang Qingcheng behind Su Wuming, a slight smile playing on her lips, her tone indifferent: "Lord Su, you are too kind. Qin Jiu has defiled my aunt. According to family rules, he should be drowned."
Fortunately, her father was merciful and severed ties with her, banishing her from Jingzhao Manor and sparing her life. Now, without the consent of her parents or the words of a matchmaker, to have a child before marriage, even if she were a princess, let alone a county princess, she would likely not be allowed to enter through the main gate.
Duan Mingzhu looked at Xue Yunting. Her situation was quite similar to Liang Qingcheng's. If she really returned to Qinzhou in the future, she would probably not be able to enter through the main gate.
Xue Yunting noticed her gaze and tightened his grip on her hand: "Young Master, we absolutely must use the main entrance today. If you're willing to open it, that's fine, but if not, we'll have to break down the door."
Su Wuming had a smile on his face and seemed easy to talk to, but Xue Yunting was expressionless and spoke coldly, as if there was no room for negotiation.
Jing Rong's expression immediately turned sour: "Dongshan was bestowed by the late emperor, and the main gate was reserved for the late emperor's use. If you dare to smash the gate, it would be disrespectful to the late emperor."
Xue Yunting said, "What if I'm respectful? What if I'm not?"
Jing Rong said, "Young General, if you show such disrespect to the late Emperor, don't blame the Jing family for disrespecting you. The Jing family is a prominent family in Suzhou. If we can't even keep our own gates, wouldn't we become a laughingstock?"
Qin Jiu guessed that Xu Sheng was dissatisfied with the Jing family, and that he had sent Su Wuming and Xue Yunting together to give the Jing family a hard time. Judging from Su Wuming and Xue Yunting's demeanor, the gate would definitely have to be opened.
Qin Jiu stepped forward and stood next to Jing Rong: "Big Brother..."
Jing Rong said, "I dare not accept such praise. The Jing family has no such beastly creatures."
Qin Jiu took a deep breath and endured it: "Young Master, Lord Su passed the imperial examination three times and became prime minister at the age of sixteen. The young general is the youngest chariot and cavalry general in the history of Nan Yue. Chief Xue is the leader of the number one gang in the world, Dahe Gang, and the wife of the owner of Tianxia Yizhuang."
Even when Su Wenzheng was alive, the late emperor treated him with utmost respect. General Xue was deeply trusted by both the late emperor and the current emperor. The Great River Gang and the Tianxia Medical Clan were renowned throughout the land. The weight of these three men was perhaps unmatched even when the late emperor was alive.
Now that the late Emperor is gone, Lord Su and the young general have come on His Majesty's orders and should be treated the same as the Emperor. If the eldest son does not allow them to enter through the main gate, it is blatant deception of the Emperor. Businessmen believe in making money through harmony; the eldest son should think this through.”
Jing Rong looked at Qin Jiu thoughtfully, and finally raised his voice: "Open the main gate."
Qin Jiu boarded the carriage and said to Nian Yao, "Chief, I'll drive."
Nianyao said, "I'll just go in and take a look at the number one manor in the world."
Qin Jiu looked at Nian Yao and then at Xue Yunting. Xue Yunting said, "As long as sister is happy."
The road is eight-horse wide, with waterside pavilions and flower gardens on both sides, layer upon layer. I used to think that Chongming Island's backyard was well-built, but now I realize how shallow my knowledge was.
Nianyao followed the carriage for a while, then felt her legs go weak: "Ninth Brother, how much longer?"
Jing Rong rode ahead to lead the way, then turned back and said, "Chief Xue, if we continue like this, taking our time to observe, it will probably take another hour."
Nianyao immediately climbed into the carriage: "This is much more luxurious than the palace."
Jing Rong said proudly, "Of course, the Jing family is known as the number one family in the world, and that reputation is well-deserved."
It was past noon, and Nianyao's stomach was growling with hunger, but the carriage was still moving. Nianyao suddenly understood what Qin Jiu had once said: Jingzhao Manor was so big that holding a wedding and a funeral at the same time wouldn't interfere with each other.
Nianyao sat in the carriage, looking around in surprise, and exclaimed, "Biyun Palace? Your family names their houses after palaces?"
Jing Rong said, "Xuanyuan Palace and Biyun Hall were both residences of the late emperor. After the late emperor passed away, they were left unused."
Nianyao chuckled: "The Jing family truly has the utmost sincerity towards the late emperor."
Jing Rong thought Nian Yao was like a naive young girl who had never seen the world, and casually replied, "The late emperor had an imperial consort and a concubine. My father almost sent his wife and children away to serve as concubines for the late emperor."
Jing Rong spoke casually, her tone like that of someone gossiping. Xue Yunting and Su Wuming exchanged a glance but neither responded.
Qin Jiu lowered his eyes and sighed, a sense of unease creeping into his heart: When people are riding high, they never imagine they'll fall from grace. It seems the Jing family has truly become arrogant these past few years.
Luo An said that his father had been waiting for his mother at the Heaven and Earth Palace, and finally went with her. But his mother had an emperor husband, and then... Nian Yao blurted out a curse.
Jing Rong turned to look at her, and Nian Yao quickly said, "Young Master, I'm hungry."
Jing Rong dismounted: "Right here."
Jing Zhao stood in front of the main hall, with his first wife standing beside him and a group of concubines following behind: "Welcome Lord Su and Young General."
Nianyao clicked her tongue in surprise. Didn't Qin Jiu say he had about twenty concubines? There must be at least a hundred or two standing behind them. What Nianyao didn't know was that each concubine was accompanied by a matron and a maid, so it certainly looked like a lot.