Chapter 66: Old Master Wen
Chapter 66: Old Master Wen
Steward Zhou is the chief steward of the Wen Mansion.
He has been working in the Wen Mansion for decades. He was able to rise from a servant beside Old Master Wen when he was young to the position of butler today, all thanks to his ability to understand Old Master Wen's thoughts.
But today, he didn't know what to do.
He just paced back and forth outside Qingfeng Pavilion, hesitating and not daring to go in.
Just then, Chuntao, the maidservant beside Old Master Wen, came out carrying a tray. On the tray was the bowl of medicine that the old master had just finished drinking. There was a layer of black medicine residue at the bottom of the celadon bowl.
"Has the old master gone to bed?" Butler Zhou stepped forward and asked softly.
Chun Tao shook her head and said, "The old man just drank the medicine and said it was too bitter to bear, so he asked me to go to the kitchen to get some sweet soup."
"I didn't expect that such a heroic old man would have such a childish temper at this moment." She chuckled.
At this time, a vicissitudes and steady voice sounded in the room: "Chun Tao, who is outside?"
It turned out that Old Master Wen had heard some whispering conversation outside, so he asked this question.
Chun Tao responded loudly: "To answer the old master, it was Butler Zhou who came to see you."
Completely ignoring the winks and glances from Butler Zhou.
"Let him in."
As he spoke, a few light coughs were heard.
"Yes." Chuntao turned to Butler Zhou and pursed her lips.
Butler Zhou sighed softly, took a deep breath, and then slowly walked into Qingfeng Pavilion.
Inside the Qingfeng Pavilion, the charcoal fire was burning very vigorously. The heat and the strong smell of medicine mixed together, making Butler Zhou feel dizzy.
Old Master Wen was wearing a dark fox fur cloak and was half leaning on a carved couch by the window. He was holding an ancient book in his hand and reading it in the light coming in from the window.
Although he is old and has recently fallen ill, making him much weaker, his eyes are still as sharp as an eagle's, revealing his extraordinary demeanor.
Butler Zhou stepped forward, bowed, and called out, "Old Master..." Then he murmured and dared not say anything.
"Go ahead." Old Master Wen didn't even raise his head, still concentrating on the book in his hand, but his voice was filled with authority that brooked no room for questioning.
As a steward, he has always been mature and prudent, and rarely gets into such trouble. Now there must be something extremely difficult.
Butler Zhou's heart tightened, but he still reported truthfully: "Old Master, someone is coming from the weaving house."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Wen paused with the ancient book in his hand, raised his eyes to look at Butler Zhou, and said calmly: "Is it about that strange thing? Hasn't this matter been concluded?"
"Tell them I have driven that weirdo out of my house and have nothing to do with him anymore."
Butler Zhou knew that the "strange creature" that Old Master Wen mentioned was Miss Wen.
He can be said to have watched Miss Wen grow up. When she was a child, Miss Wen always called him "Grandpa Zhou" in a very sweet way. But as she grew up, she became more and more calm and reserved, and she no longer looked like the naughty little kid she used to be.
He was not expecting Miss Wen to end up like this, and he felt sorry for her.
He knew that Old Master Wen would definitely not be able to bear it, as Miss Wen was his most beloved granddaughter. He even saw Old Master secretly wiping away tears last night.
Just for the sake of family honor, I have to be cruel.
"That's what the government said, but... there's a woman who claims to be Miss Wen's good friend. She insists that Miss Wen was murdered by a strange creature, and she asked Wanshitang to come investigate."
"What else..." Butler Zhou swallowed his saliva, glanced at Old Master Wen's face, and continued, "You want to search the Wen Mansion..."
After hearing this, Old Master Wen's face flashed with annoyance, his eyes were deep: "What right do they have? My Wen family has been prominent for generations, when did we ever fall to the point where we were searched at will?" "It's just Wanshitang, just a vassal used by the Weaving Institute to make money. Although they are people from the Weaving Institute, they are just entrusted to do things, and have no real power or credentials, so don't pay attention to them."
"These people are the same. It's almost time for dinner, and they still come to disturb us. They really don't know etiquette."
"Just deal with them casually and send them away... ahem..."
Old Master Wen was very impatient. After saying a few more words, he couldn't help but coughing violently.
Butler Zhou hurried forward and patted the old man on the back, helping him to calm down, while saying: "Yes, old man, I wanted to refuse them like this, but..."
Butler Zhou paused, as if he had something to hide.
"But what?" Old Master Wen finally calmed down and his voice became cold.
Butler Zhou hesitated and said, "But, that woman has already said... that if we don't let them search, she will let the whole Qinghe know that there is something fishy going on in our house."
"I know this rumor is nothing, but now that Lord Wen is at a critical juncture in his promotion, my daughter's misfortune has already caused controversy. Moreover, the current emperor seems to be interested in raising the status of the Weaving Institute..."
"Besides, as you said, the matter of strange things is very sensitive in the court right now..."
What Old Master Wen liked most was Butler Zhou's cautiousness, so he often asked Butler Zhou to learn to read the court bulletin and discuss current affairs with him.
He has always been successful and has become accustomed to being fearless, so he still needs Butler Zhou's perspective occasionally.
So after hearing this, Old Master Wen frowned and was silent for a while, then said calmly: "In that case, let them search."
Butler Zhou was startled and nodded, "Okay, I'll go take them myself."
Just as he turned around and was about to leave, Old Master Wen said, "Wait, let your wife take them around for a while, and you go somewhere with me."
"But your health..." Butler Zhou said worriedly.
Although Old Master Wen is a practitioner, his old injuries have recurred in recent years and his body has become increasingly weaker.
"It's okay," Old Master Wen waved his hand, "I know my body."
……
If Fu Ze and Liao Chengpeng were not both calm and composed people, most people would have lost their patience after being left waiting in the front hall for such a long time.
However, Liu Sheng had already reminded them that the search was extremely humiliating and difficult for the Wen family, and her words were just a try to see if they would work.
She also knew that it would take some time for Butler Zhou to ask the old man for instructions, so it would be better for her to wait patiently and eat all the exquisite teas and fruits served by the maid.
Anyway, she didn't eat wontons.
She had thought it through. If it really didn't work, she would just climb over the wall.
Fortunately, at this time, an old nanny who looked to be in her fifties or sixties came out from the back hall with a young maid.
It seems that her backup plan can be put on hold for the time being.
The old lady had a warm smile on her face and greeted them, "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. My master is not feeling well and cannot meet with guests. Please forgive me."
"But my master has always respected the weaving house's efforts in resisting strange things, so he should cooperate well. He specially asked me to take the three of you around the mansion."
The old lady spoke with a natural sense of intimacy and her smile was warm and enthusiastic, but Liu Sheng could sense that deep inside her kind eyes, there was coldness and arrogance.
"But please be sure to abide by the rules of our Wen Mansion. Some places are not convenient for casual entry and exit searches. I believe you can understand."
When she said the last sentence, there was a hint of coldness in the old lady's smile.
(End of this chapter)