Chapter 760 - 534: Just Like Your Grandmother

Chapter 760: Chapter 534: Just Like Your Grandmother

The Grand Duke’s mansion is not far; we arrived shortly.

As we stepped off the carriage, without even knocking on the door, one could already feel a sense of bleakness.

The driver had already gone to knock; Wei Ziang personally carried two boxes, guiding Xiaomiao down from the carriage, instructing the returned driver to take the two bags from the carriage into the kitchen of the Grand Duke’s mansion.

"Who are you?" The door was opened not by a doorman, but by a young soldier wearing armor.

Seeing Wei Ziang and Xiaomiao, he paused, somewhat puzzled, clearly not recognizing them.

Wei Ziang slightly cupped his hands, "I am Wei Ziang from the Marquis of Agriculture’s mansion, and this is my fiancée Jiang Xiaomiao. We have just returned to the Capital City today, having heard that the old Grand Duke is unwell, we have come to visit. Has the Grand Duke rested yet?"

The soldier let them in.

"Not yet, the Marshal often says he’s aged, sleeps little, and goes to bed late. But we all know that the Marshal actually suffers from many internal injuries from early years, causing discomfort now."

Although he is the Grand Duke, in the soldiers’ eyes, he was first a Marshal, then anything else.

"The young lady of the Marquis of Agriculture’s mansion often comes to visit the Marshal. Knowing you were coming back, the Marshal originally intended to visit you as well, but who would’ve thought the temperature dropped suddenly last night, and the Marshal caught a chill, only waking up just last night."

Speaking of this, the soldier’s expression also turned somber.

Clearly, everyone knows the surface reason is a simple cold, but the real situation is well known by all.

Wei Ziang nodded, indicating he understood, then handed over a box.

"Tell the servants to brew a bowl of ginseng tea, remember not to use too much; the old Grand Duke is aged and frail, taking care slowly is best."

The soldier accepted it but hesitated, "There’s no shortage of ginseng in the mansion; even the Emperor sent more today..."

Before finishing his sentence, he saw Wei Ziang motioning him to check first.

Without thinking much, the soldier casually opened it, immediately widening his eyes, "Such a large ginseng!"

Ginseng almost as thick as a child’s arm, even freshly harvested, might it be a true millennia-old ginseng?

He immediately grew excited, "Please wait a moment, I’ll be right back."

Saying this, manners were forgotten as he turned around and ran back.

Wei Ziang shook his head, he hadn’t even mentioned there’s another one in his hand, oh well, he thought, handing it over later.

The soldier was gone but for a short time, returned quickly.

"Forgive me for keeping you waiting; the Marshal dislikes hustle and bustle, there are few people in the mansion, everyone else is either attending to the Marshal’s courtyard or brewing medicine in the rear courtyard."

Thus, when he left earlier, there was no one to guide them.

Wei Ziang shook his head, "It doesn’t matter, but have you ensured they know not to overconsume the ginseng tea?"

"Rest assured, General Wei, there’s an Imperial Physician in the mansion, appointed by the Emperor specifically to care for the Marshal, aware of the Marshal’s condition, he shall not dare use too much medicine."

Wei Ziang nodded, knowing an Imperial Physician certainly understands better, that’s reassuring.

Then, under the soldier’s guidance, they quickly arrived at a courtyard.

As they stepped inside, coughing sounds resonated, endless coughing, loud yet lacking in strength.

The soldier grew anxious, his steps hastened, even forgetting about Wei Ziang and Xiaomiao.

"How is the Marshal, hasn’t he taken medicine already? Why is he still coughing so badly?"

"Ah, it’s the young General Shao; the Grand Duke insisted on getting some fresh air earlier, caught a little breeze and thus began coughing again."

This guardian soldier, it turned out, was a young General, yet why he was here guarding for the old Grand Duke was unknown.

Young General Shao stomped his feet in worry, evidently concerned, yet remembering his duty at least.

Just then, the coughing inside subsided, and he gently knocked on the door.

"Marshal, the third young master and fourth young miss from the Marquis of Agriculture’s mansion are here to see you, the ones involved in shipbuilding and cannons I mentioned before."

Though residing in the Capital City these years, he was informed about matters far on the coast.

"Quick, come in," an elderly voice came from inside the room.

Young General Shao opened the door and gestured for Wei Ziang and Xiaomiao to come in, then swiftly entered the room himself.

Wei Ziang hesitated for a moment, but the next second felt his hand held, glanced sideways, saw Xiaomiao gazing at him worriedly.

He smiled gently, shook his head, signaling he was okay, and then followed inside.

The room was warmed by charcoal fires, not cold; candlelight by the bedside, where Young General Shao was helping an elderly white-haired man to sit up.

This must be the old Grand Duke.

"Marshal, observe; these are the individuals I mentioned before, General Wei and Miss Jiang. I heard the large ships are nearing completion; next spring, I’ll request the Emperor’s command to take you to see the coast, how about that?"

The old Grand Duke shook his head with a smile, "That’s considerate, but this body of mine, I fear I won’t last until next spring."

It’s clear the old Grand Duke had come to terms with his life’s brevity.

Then he glanced at the pair who entered; his gaze settled on Wei Ziang’s face, showing confusion, shock, excitement, even trembling.

"You, are you..."

Speaking, he attempted to get off the bed, fortunately supported by Young General Shao, preventing a fall.

Young General Shao found the old Grand Duke’s reaction peculiar, yet carefully explained, "Marshal, this is General Wei whom I often mentioned, coincidentally sharing the surname with you."

Wei Ziang stepped forward, nearing the bedside.

The old Grand Duke grasped Wei Ziang’s wrist firmly, "Child, what is your name?"

"Wei Ziang." Wei Ziang responded without delay.

A flicker of disappointment crossed the old Grand Duke’s eyes, yet he persisted, asking, "Do you have a birthmark on your back?"

This time, Wei Ziang hesitated.

Yet, Xiaomiao promptly nodded, "Yes, I saw it once while treating him, a small red birthmark, about only as big as a small fingernail, located on his back, somewhere he likely cannot see himself."

Immediately the old Grand Duke became excited, clutching Wei Ziang’s hand tightly, his whole body trembling, "It’s true, you’re really him, aren’t you? You came deliberately to see your grandfather, didn’t you?"

Young General Shao beside him was now dumbfounded, what, what is happening here?

Wei Ziang sat by the bedside, "Grand Duke, I was injured as a child, and don’t remember anything from before I was five."

But the old Grand Duke seemed not to hear, "It cannot be mistaken, you resemble neither your mother nor your father, but are almost identical to your grandmother, it’s unmistakable."

Young General Shao beside him finally understood.

"But Marshal, isn’t the young ones’ name Wei Xiuyuan? This General Wei here is called Wei Ziang."

The old Grand Duke, so excited at this point, his face flushed with vigor, eyes intensely bright, just kept staring at Wei Ziang.

"They, the mother and children, often travel, frequently using aliases. At that time, Xiuyuan was still small, forgetting his true name is normal."

"But it’s unmistakable, certainly not wrong, neither the appearance nor the birthmark, are mistaken."

Perhaps, even evidence of a familial bond connecting them, the old Grand Duke, almost immediately determined the young man before him as his long-missing grandson.