Chapter 556: Return to the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence

In the capital, there was an old saying:

The east was wealthy, the west noble, the south lowly, and the north poor.

Among them, the Western District was where the capital’s powerful and influential gathered. It was the heart of the imperial city, the most prosperous and prestigious area in all of Beijing. And within the Western District, the famed Gonghou Street was even more renowned—a place where noble families clustered together like stars surrounding the moon.

At this moment, a dusty young man leading a travel-worn horse slowly entered the street.

Though his clothes were technically clean, compared to the elegant young nobles dressed in flowing brocade robes and jade ornaments around him, he inevitably appeared somewhat rough and unpolished.

Against the extravagant splendor of the Gonghou Street, he looked thoroughly out of place.

The sight of him immediately earned no small number of disdainful glances from passing nobles and aristocratic households.

It was as though his mere presence had lowered the overall dignity of the entire street.

Whose poor country relative is this?

One noble young lady passing by in a sedan chair even covered her nose delicately with an embroidered handkerchief before rolling a massive pair of eyes toward the honest-looking, somewhat shabby youth outside.

“Ah, Cui’er, tell them to slow down… slow down a little. I think that person is heading toward the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence.”

Inside the sedan chair, the young lady caught sight of the lone rider and horse approaching the gates of the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence from the corner of her eye. Instantly intrigued, she stretched a small fair hand through the curtain and called to her maidservant.

The sedan chair itself was elegant and luxurious, crafted with exquisite care. Crimson silk curtains draped around it, decorated with tassels and dangling ornaments, carrying the refined charm of a noble young lady’s quarters.

Two maidservants accompanied the chair, along with two older matrons and two sedan bearers.

“It really is, Miss,” the maidservant Cui’er replied after taking a closer look. “Looks like he’s some poor relative from Miss Li’s side of the family.”

Then she immediately instructed the bearers:

“You two, slow down a little.”

Thus, the sedan chair gradually slowed.

Moments later, it even turned directions slightly and began leisurely heading toward the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence as well.

Inside the carriage, the young lady lifted a corner of the window curtain and secretly watched from afar as the dusty youth entered the manor gates.

The gatekeepers appeared to recognize him immediately. Not only did they open the doors from a distance to welcome him, one of them even hurried forward to help lead his horse inside personally.

Seeing this, the young lady could not help curling her lips into a smile.

“The last time we attended the poetry gathering at the Marquis of Lingbi’s Residence,” she giggled softly, “Third Sister from the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence mocked Sister Tang’s poor relatives. She kept boasting that the Li family was a distinguished clan of officials and nobility, saying all their relatives were successful and accomplished people, unlike certain households with embarrassing country kin.”

The young lady’s smile widened mischievously.

“Hehe… now I’d like to see what Third Sister from the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence has to say this time.”

Then she dropped the curtain and immediately instructed:

“Cui’er, turn around. I’m going to the Marquis of Lingbi’s Residence to chat with Sister Tang for a while.”

Clearly, she could no longer resist sharing this amusing discovery.

Just imagining the reaction already made her eager with anticipation.

Meanwhile, while the sedan chair changed direction toward the Marquis of Lingbi’s Residence…

Zhu Ping’an had already entered the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence.

After all, he had once stayed here for an entire month during the imperial examinations. The manor itself had relatively few male residents to begin with, and Zhu Ping’an had also been the newly crowned top scholar of the examinations.

It would have been difficult not to remember him.

So despite his dusty appearance from travel, the gatekeepers recognized him instantly.

Before Zhu Ping’an even reached the gates, they had already swung them open to welcome him inside enthusiastically.

One gatekeeper rushed ahead to grab his luggage before Zhu Ping’an could do so himself.

Another quickly took the horse from Zhu Ping’an’s hands and led it toward the stables to be properly fed and cared for.

A third servant had already hurried toward the inner courtyard to announce:

“The Fifth Young Master-in-law has returned!”

“Young Master-in-law, you must have suffered terribly from the journey,” one gatekeeper said attentively while following beside him. “This servant will immediately have hot water prepared and sent to your room.”

The man’s eyes were extremely sharp.

Even his form of address had changed—from the old “Young Master Zhu” to “Young Master-in-law.”

News of Zhu Ping’an’s marriage to Li Shu in Xiahe Village had already spread throughout the manor. And among all the servants, gatekeepers were naturally the best informed.

They had known about it long ago.

“Then I’ll trouble you,” Zhu Ping’an replied without false modesty.

Truthfully, after such a long journey, he really did need a proper bath.

As he spoke, he casually took out two silver beans and tossed them to the gatekeeper as a reward.

“Thank you for the reward, Young Master-in-law!”

The gatekeeper nearly beamed with joy.

Those two silver beans were enough for the gatekeepers to enjoy meat dishes and wine for several days.

“Young Master-in-law,” the gatekeeper continued enthusiastically after receiving the reward, “during the time you returned home, those two friends of yours came by twice looking for you. They said once you returned, you should go find them…”

“Oh, and some official from a government office also visited once, but after hearing you weren’t here, he left.”

“And your black horse—haha—it’s grown almost two sizes fatter since you left…”

The gatekeeper was clearly a chatterbox.

And after receiving silver, he became even more talkative, recounting all sorts of random happenings around the manor without any real order or logic.

Zhu Ping’an listened with mild amusement, occasionally responding with a smile while following him along a shortcut.

They passed through a garden, walked down a narrow covered corridor, turned a corner, and soon arrived near the guest courtyards.

After another short walk, they reached the very same small courtyard Zhu Ping’an had stayed in previously.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Zhu Ping’an said upon entering the courtyard, nodding toward the gatekeeper carrying his luggage.

“How could we dare accept thanks from Young Master-in-law?” the gatekeeper replied repeatedly.

At that moment, however, a sound of approaching footsteps drifted in from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by women’s voices.

Soon afterward, several young women entered the courtyard.

Leading them was a woman around twenty years old wearing a pale blue sleeveless jacket over a fitted pink skirt. A light purple silk sash encircled her waist. Her oval face carried only light makeup, and her entire appearance was clean, capable, and refined.

Several little maidservants followed behind her.

Zhu Ping’an recognized her immediately.

Zijuan.

She was one of the Old Madam’s personal maids. The first time Zhu Ping’an and Li Shu had visited the manor together, it had been Zijuan who greeted them at the entrance.

The moment she entered the courtyard, Zijuan quickly stepped forward and performed a graceful curtsy.

Straightening again, she smiled warmly.

“Young Master-in-law has finally returned. The Old Madam has been thinking about both you and Fifth Miss constantly lately. She’s even been regretting not being able to attend your wedding.”

Zijuan covered her mouth lightly and smiled.

“She was so regretful she ate half a bowl less food for several days in a row.”

“Coincidentally enough, the Old Madam had just been talking about you and Fifth Miss earlier today… and now you’ve returned.”

As expected of the Old Madam’s senior maidservant.

Every word she spoke was polished and pleasant. No one could possibly find fault with her manners.

“It troubles Grandmother to worry over me. Ping’an has been unfilial.”

Zhu Ping’an smiled slightly and cupped his hands politely.

“Hehe… you’re still calling her ‘Old Madam’?” Zijuan laughed softly. “Young Master-in-law ought to change that and call her ‘Grandmother’ now.”

“Oh, right.”

Zhu Ping’an nodded seriously upon hearing this, then thanked her sincerely.

“Thank you for the reminder, Miss.”

“What kind of ‘Miss’ am I?” Zijuan replied with a smile and a shake of her head. “Young Master-in-law may simply call me Zijuan.”

Then she continued:

“Now that Young Master-in-law is one of the manor’s masters, you certainly cannot continue staying in the guest quarters. The Old Madam already prepared a courtyard for you and Fifth Miss long ago. Everything has been furnished and arranged already—waiting only for the two of you to move in.”

“You must be exhausted from your travels. This servant will lead you there shortly so you may rest.”

“If there’s anything missing or unsuitable after you see the courtyard, please tell me directly.”

As she spoke, Zijuan turned and instructed the younger maids behind her with practiced authority:

“You girls, go help organize Young Master-in-law’s belongings.”

Very quickly, the maids bustled about gathering Zhu Ping’an’s luggage and tidying the room efficiently.

Watching the sudden commotion, Zhu Ping’an could only smile bitterly inwardly.

I was originally planning to greet the Old Madam… then politely move out and stay elsewhere…

But seeing everyone already moving his belongings around so enthusiastically, he decided not to interrupt for the moment.

Forget it.

I’ll mention it later when I go pay respects to Grandmother.