allendalepharm Chapter 73 Greetings
Chapter 73 Greetings
the other side.
After separating from the main force in the west wing of the main courtyard, Zhao Hu and his two companions went straight to the main house where the old general lived.
The main house in the main courtyard is the highest courtyard in the entire mansion, with a south-facing gate made of vermilion wood.
Two pots of orchids were placed beside the door, and the courtyard was paved with bluestone.
In the center of the courtyard is a stone table and benches, with two tall poplar trees planted on either side, their branches and leaves providing shade and coolness.
The three entered the courtyard and saw three houses, one tall and two short. Behind the houses were two rooms deep, with green tiles on the roof and auspicious beasts on the ridge.
"Easy to display."
Zhao Hu looked around and couldn't help but sigh.
A short while later, two maids came out from the middle room.
"This maid greets the three gentlemen. Please come inside. Master has been waiting upstairs for some time. Please come upstairs in order to pay your respects."
After the maidservant bowed respectfully and finished speaking, she led the three of them into the house.
As soon as the three stepped across the threshold, they smelled the scent of incense ash; the room was quite spacious.
In the very center stood a large sandalwood table, on which the Four Treasures of the Study were neatly arranged, and incense was burning in an incense burner.
There were armchairs on either side of the table, and several display shelves against the wall.
Several small tea tables were placed on the inner side of the room. A maid stepped forward and poured tea for the three of them.
The maidservant arranged the tea and said, "There is no order to greetings. Gentlemen, please wait here for a moment."
Seeing this, Zhao Hu knew that they had been thoroughly arranged.
On the surface, it was a greeting, but who knows what tricks the old general was up to?
This morning, when the three learned that they were the first group to have close contact with the old general, Zhao Hu knew that there must be a trap. The three went back and discussed countermeasures.
At this moment, Zhao Hu exchanged glances with Li Na and Qin Cang, and was the first to follow the maid toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
When they reached the stairs, the maid stopped. "Young master, please go upstairs."
Zhao Hu nodded to the maid, then looked up.
The sun was shining brightly outside, but the second floor where the old general was located appeared to be pitch black.
Zhao Hu swallowed hard and slowly stepped onto the stairs. The wooden steps creaked, and his heart began to beat faster.
Inside the room, all the windows were covered with black cloth, and the only lighting was a dim yellow oil lamp lit on a table against the wall.
Directly opposite the staircase entrance was a large rosewood seat, with its back to Zhao Hu.
Zhao Hu could only see the old general's head and general outline; the crown on the old general's head was crooked.
Even from the clothes hanging on his shoulders, one could barely tell that he was still wearing that ochre-yellow round-necked dragon robe.
However, the clothes were just wrinkled and hung on his body, hardly considered proper.
The old general sat upright, motionless, like a statue.
Seemingly unaware of Zhao Hu behind him, the old general neither turned around nor spoke; his shoulders rose and fell slightly, and his breathing was so light it was almost imperceptible.
The candlelight flickered, casting the old general's shadow long, stretching from his seat all the way to Zhao Hu's feet, as if it were about to wrap around him.
Zhao Hu took two steps forward with his courage and knelt on one knee.
"Greetings to the old general."
Perhaps because of nervousness, Zhao Hu only realized after he finished speaking that he must have said something wrong.
Now that he is the eldest son, it would be more appropriate for him to pay his respects to his father.
Zhao Hu's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong.
But to Zhao Hu's surprise, the old general only gave a very slow and very slight "hmm".
The voice was muffled in the throat, not like a living person speaking, but more like a wet rag stuffed in the chest cavity.
The old general never turned his head once.
Zhao Hu could not see his face, only the ceremonial robes hanging down, motionless.
Seeing that nothing had happened, Zhao Hu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He politely retreated to the stairwell and quickly turned around and went downstairs.
After Zhao Hu came down, Qin Cang and Li Na stood up. Seeing that Zhao Hu's face was a little pale, their hearts couldn't help but jump.
"Brother Zhao, what's the situation up there?" Li Na asked.
"It was very dark up there, and the old general was sitting with his back to us. I'm not sure either..."
Before Zhao Hu could finish speaking to the two men, the maid who had been standing by the stairs spoke first.
"Please rest for a while, young master. Third young master, please come with me."
The maid was speaking to Li Na.
Seeing this, Zhao Hu didn't dare to say anything more. He just told Li Na not to forget who she was, and then pulled Qin Cang back to the coffee table.
"Don't forget who I am?"
Li Na pondered these words in her heart as she went up to the second floor.
"Ouch... It's so cold."
The moment Li Na stepped onto the second floor, she felt a chill envelop her, and she couldn't help but shiver.
The room was still dark, and Li Na saw the old general sitting facing her in a large seat.
The old general sat sideways, one arm resting on the armrest, the other hand hanging down on his knee, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Li Na stood at the top of the stairs for a moment, but the old general seemed not to see her at all.
His gaze was fixed on the empty corner of the wall, his eyes unfocused, as if he were staring at something unseen.