"You will," Wang Fèn Yǒng told her, "He is purchasing the old Chen's garden residence next door."
"What!" Both Wang Dǔ Zhì and Wǔ Gāng Huā loudly exclaimed.
"Explain!" The Grand Prince commanded.
While placing the map inside of the packaging and securing it properly, Wang Fèn Yǒng explained how Liu Tián Qǔ said his family promised that he would be allowed to get a Manor of his own when he turns 13. However, Liu Tián Qǔ must get it on his own without the help of his family. He explained how Liu Tián Qǔ said he has money to purchase his manor but was afraid that his age would be an issue. So they came to an agreement that Liu Tián Qǔ's fee for buying the map is to allow Liu Tián Qǔ to use his name to push through to get his manor.
"What kind of family is this?" Wǔ Gāng Huā said in displeasure and a slight frown on her face. "This doesn't sound like a good family allowing someone this young to be left to his own devices."
"I sent Butler Huang with him to visit Elder Chen. So he shouldn't have a problem. You will meet him sooner or later."
Looking over at his son The Grand Prince asked, "What is your honest opinion of his character? Do you think we should allow Jǐng Jiè to be friends with him?"
Wang Fèn Yǒng had finished securing the map in the packaging. He rose to his feet looking at his parents he said to his parents' complete astonishment. "It is very hard for me to get a gauge on his character."
Wang Fèn Yǒng was known to have a gift for understanding a person's character at first glance. So it shocked his parents to hear him say this.
Wang Fèn Yǒng continued, "He is a complete contradiction. He's young, yet he has the wisdom of an elder. He is a child, yet when talking to him, you feel as though you are talking to an adult who has experienced much. When I drew my sword on him and almost killed him, he showed no fear. Instead, with a few words, he was able to calm my anger." He explained to his parents.
"I even asked him why he has befriended Jǐng Jiè, and why does he treat him so well? He calls Jǐng Jiè Little Dumpling, but not in a derogatory way. He does with a voice full of affection."
"And Jǐng Jiè allows it?" Wǔ Gāng Huā asked she was very aware of how selfconscious Jǐng Jiè was concerning his weight.
"Yes, Jǐng Jiè allow him to call him by that name."
"What did he say when you asked him why he has befriended Jǐng Jiè?" The Grand Prince asked.
"Liu Tián Qǔ said that the same way that I reminded him of someone. It is the same way that Jǐng Jiè reminded him of someone. Liu Tián Qǔ said the moment he saw Jǐng Jiè he decided he and Jǐng Jiè will be great friends for life." Wang Fèn Yǒng watched the complicated emotions that flashed through his parent's eyes as he spoke.
"As for treating Jǐng Jiè well, Liu Tián Qǔ said that is how friends should be treated. He warned me not once but twice that he is not nice person, he said that he just believes in honoring a friend's true heart. As I said, he is too much of a contradiction. I would have to be exposed to him some more to get a good reading on him."
With a sigh, Wǔ Gāng Huā, " I guess we will have to just go along with it to see how things go."
With eyes twinkling in amusement, Wang Fèn Yǒng said, "He already informed me that he is not going to leave Jǐng Jiè all alone in confinement.
******
The Old Chen Garden Residence
Liu Tián Qǔ stood in front of the old Chen's garden residence stunned completely stupid. "Small!!! How the hell is this small! Which idiot said this is a small garden residence?! Ah? Not even the old Lu country estate in my past life was this big! Ah?"
Liu Tián Qǔ stood in front of her new residence. Although for the wealthy noble people of this time, this garden residence was considered small. To Liu Tián Qǔ this moderate open plan garden residence was considered very massive.
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Liu Tián Qǔ climbed the stone steps to the front entrance of the garden residence. She pushed open one of the extremely heavy wooden doors to the garden residence and entered. Turning around, she pushed the heavy wooden door close behind her.
Looking into the garden residence standing at the entrance. Liu Tián Qǔ saw that the space at the entrance was loosely divided by gateways, partitions, and beautifully built verandahs. It created rich visual layers.
"Why does the design of this garden residence look so familiar? Did I see something like this before?" Liu Tián Qǔ muttered to herself as she walked through the entrance of the garden residence.
As Liu Tián Qǔ walked through the outer courtyards, she tried to think if any of her friends had a countryside residence like this. Most of her friends in her past like was very wealthy. However, Liu Tián Qǔ thought to herself that they all had modern countryside manors and residences. Very few of them had old traditional manors or garden residences.
Leaving the outer courtyards, Liu Tián Qǔ headed towards the inner courtyards looking for the master courtyard. She wanted to see what her courtyard and chambers would look like first. She passed through a lovely Peach blossom garden that led to the outdoor corridors that led to the master courtyard.
She entered the master courtyard through a doorless moon gate. Liu Tián Qǔ decided that she would leave the decor as is. She felt pleased and very blessed. It was a splendid, very massive courtyard that was actually an enormous peach blossom garden. On the left of the courtyard stood strategically placed peach blossom trees surrounding a large pond of water with a large stone fountain in the center of it.
The pond seemed to be a water lotus pond with beautiful water lotus growing in it. To the right of the garden was a large gorgeously designed open pavilion with a sitting area inside of it. There were lots of flowers, greenery and Peach blossoms throughout the whole courtyard. However, instead of clashing, it blended together so naturally and beautifully creating a stunningly breathtaking sight.
Opening one of the many doors to the master courtyard, Liu Tián Qǔ entered. The moment she entered the name Mei Changsu popped into her head.
" I got it" Liu Tián Qǔ laughed out loud in both joy and amazement. She finally realized why the layout of the open-plan garden residence was so similar.
"Wow! I Reincarnated to another world, and now I get to live in Mei Changsu's residence!" The layout of the open-plan garden residence was shockingly similar to the residence of one of her all-time favorite characters Mei Changsu. He was in one of her all-time favorite T.V. dramas Nirvana in Fire. However, it was bigger and contained more courtyards and buildings. Mei ChangSu's residence was small and only included three courtyards. Liu Tián Qǔ had yet to count the courtyards in the garden residence. It was obvious that there was way more than three courtyards in the garden residence.
The Chen's had left all the furniture behind, and Liu Tián Qǔ bought it with the residence. Liu Tián Qǔ was surprised just how similar the design and decor of the inner chambers of the master courtyard were to the chambers that the character Mei Changsu in Nirvana in fire lived in was.
There were differences. For one Mei ChangSu didn't have a breathtaking peach blossom garden in his courtyard. Secondly, the courtyard was much bigger. In the chambers of the courtyard, there was a bathing room. A sizeable sunken pool of water was in the center of the bathing room. Over to the left side, there were a couple of lovely wooden crafted benches. There was a standing rack where clothes or towels or whatever could be hung. Over to the right, there was a large cabinet where bathing oils, salts, and perfumes were probably stores. At the moment, it was empty. Attached to the master chamber were also a smaller sleeping quarters that looked as if it was designated for servants.
There was a hard partition separating the bedroom from a loose sitting/study area with tall as well as small bookshelves a desk and cabinets. There was a soft partition that separated that area from a lounge area. From the lounge area, there was also a bank of doors that opened to an exquisite enclosed courtyard. The scent that surrounded the whole courtyard was so divine.
Satisfied Liu Tián Qǔ decided to claim this courtyard and leave it as it was. Since she was going to be living as a man, then it would be best if her quarters were masculine too.
Liu Tián Qǔ left her courtyard and decided to finish touring the manor. There were six courtyards in the inner courts, including the master courtyard. There were five courtyards in the outer courts for live-in guests and visitors. It was a lot of courtyards, but then again, a big family of more than three generations had once lived there.
She took a walk through the central kitchens and the herbal and vegetable gardens near it. Liu Tián Qǔ inspected the pantries and various food storage areas that were all empty. She found a big space that was currently empty. It took her a while to figure out that it was an icehouse. Liu Tián Qǔ passed through the rear courtyard of the central kitchens. She saw cages and figured they were probably to hold chickens and other small animals.
Liu Tián Qǔ grew so excited, checking out her new house. "No, this can't be called a house." She said out loud talking to herself. "This so impressive. I really like it!"
While inspecting the servant's quarters, Liu Tián Qǔ noticed that this residence had several individual large courtyards built in the servants quarters. These courtyards were reserved for servants of high position.
'Small residence my ass.' Liu Tián Qǔ thought as she checked out the servant's quarters. 'Who said this was a small residence. My goodness, the Chen Family were living very good here. Ah? Running around deceiving everyone by telling them this was a small little garden residence. Humph. Good thing I swindled them out of that mountain. They are liars. They don't deserve it." Liu Tián Qǔ thought as she toured the garden residence.
However, after giving it a second thought, Liu Tián Qǔ though, "Aiya this is a good thing for me though. I shouldn't be mad with them. Since everyone thought it was a small garden residence. No one went to buy it. So that was good for me. Then again compared to the Lu Family compound. This is indeed a small residence. That compound is many times bigger than my beautiful garden residence.'
However little did Liu Tián Qǔ know the Chen family garden residence wasn't always this big. It was only after the long-standing feud between the Chen Family and another family had begun. Only then did the Chen family start to add on to the residence to accommodate the many people and warriors that had come to help them in their time of need.
There was a separate space for the stables. Liu Tián Qǔ stood there in shock, looking at the massive stables. There were also two large enclosed spaced for the horse on each side of the stables. On the opposite ends of each enclosed space were three small courtyards for the stable workers. Making six small courtyards in total.
Not far away from the stables. Divided by gateways and a couple of gorgeous pavilions were the barracks. The barracks looked more like a garrison. It had it's own kitchens and eating area. There was a communal bathing house and outhouse. There was also a huge training field and an empty armory. Liu Tián Qǔ looked around in utter amazement to see what seemed to be hidden Courtyards in the area as well.
After checking out the area thoroughly, she understood. There were three courtyards. One was a bit large, and the other two were modest. It appeared to be courtyards for a commander, and deputy commanders or maybe a lieutenant. Unknowingly a small slither of suspicion against the Chen's began to bloom in her heart. 'What small residence. Something about this manor rings hollow to me. When I get a chance, I need to look more into this situation. Something about this residence just doesn't ring true."