The Mandheling family mansion is not far from the Caddo family, and it only takes about thirty minutes to get there by horseback.
This mansion is more than three hundred years old and has been renovated several times, the most recent one was more than eighty years ago, so the whole mansion exudes an ancient atmosphere. The front and back of the house are lined with green trees and surrounded by vines. In the middle of the flower bed in the middle of the front yard stands a bronze statue of Punings Mann, the first generation head of the Mandheling family and the founding hero of East who made great contributions to East. The statue of Twining was given by the first king of East. It was originally placed in the territory. It was moved here by the then head of the family when the mansion was completed.
From that time until sixty years ago, every king of Easton who ascended the throne would come and plant a tree around the statue. This is a tradition of the royal family, but since the Mandheling family's title was demoted, no royal family members have come. Despite this, the bronze statue, surrounded by trees planted by successive kings, still holds extraordinary significance. Anyone who passes the Mandheling's door can't help but slow down their steps for fear of blasphemy.
Minna tied the horse in a nearby grove and let it graze on its own. Then she hid not far from the gate of Mandheling's house and observed it carefully for a while. The ancient bronze door was tightly closed, but people occasionally came in and out of the small door next to it. The gatekeeper is an arrogant middle-aged man, with his head held high and his back straight. His formal clothes and gray hair are all intact. He hands over his business card and requests for a meeting. Sometimes he will bow and let him go, and sometimes he will just squint with a cold gaze. He looked at the person and said lightly, "Master, I don't see strangers, please come back." and then ignored the other person's request. But the door has never been opened, whether the guests come on foot or in a luxury car with six horses and four wheels.
Minna remembered that Alex once casually mentioned that the door to his house would only be opened when the king or members of the royal family came, and only the small door would be opened normally. Therefore, in order to meet the needs, the so-called small door is actually more than three meters wide...
Minna would not foolishly run up to the gatekeeper, confess her identity and ask for an audience. Although the Mandheling family and the Xiao... Card family were not feuding, they still had deep grudges. Alex's aunt Elena still stayed in Vana after the war, and I heard that she had decided not to leave the temple gates for the rest of her life. After the current head of the Mandheling family learned of his sister's decision, his hatred for Xiao Tianjian deepened. Although Mingna privately felt that this had nothing to do with her grandfather, Ms. Elena was clearly implicated by spies from the Demon Realm.
How was she going to see Alex if she couldn't get in through the front door? She couldn't make up an identity. Since I have to live in Ito for a short period of time, my deception will be discovered sooner or later.
She thought hard for a long time, and suddenly remembered that Alex had mentioned the situation in the back garden of his house during a chat, and hurriedly ran from the path next to the mansion to the back door, where she saw the "ivy-covered" floor wall she mentioned, and then On a remote corner, find a sunken gap. Although Alex said that their cousins used to play through this crack in the wall when they were children, it is obvious that the adults have discovered the secret and repaired the wall. Although the gap is still two or three feet shorter than the wall next to it, it is still three meters high.
But this is not difficult for Minna. She looked around and saw that no one was passing by, then took out her wand and turned her dress into the color and pattern of ivy. Then she inserted a dagger into the wall, stepped back a few steps, ran for a short distance, and then He jumped up to the wall and stepped on the dagger. When he saw a figure shaking in the wall, he quickly lowered his head and hid until the servant entered the house. Then he climbed over the wall and jumped in, and then quickly turned his dress into the color of grass.
The Mandheling family's house is mainly made of stone. The outside of the house was covered with ivy and other plants, and there were dense bushes and flowers planted under the shade of the trees, which greatly facilitated Minna's evasive actions. She was carefully avoiding the passing servants while rolling and crawling on the ground, according to Alex's description in her memory. Looking for a friend's place to live.
Although she was a little embarrassed, she quickly discovered an independent two-story building. There are two bushes of thorn roses planted in front of the building, which are in full bloom now. The flowers were as red as her dress, just as her friend described.
This small building was Alex's birthday present when he was ten years old. He is a rare magic genius in his family. He moved into this small building to study and live alone when he was very young. She remembered that the first floor here was the living room and study room. The basement is a laboratory and storage room. The second floor is Alex's bedroom. There is a large terrace. There is no shading device at all. Just exposed to the sun.
Ming Na once again changed her dress back to the color of vines. Only then did he dare to walk over and push the door open gently. However the door was locked. Apparently the owner was not at home. She stared at the lock with protective magic. Decided to find another way to get into the house. Although she can break that spell. But that would alarm Alex. Then there is no way to "surprise" him.
Go around to the terrace. She looked around. No one was seen passing by. Then he threw out a rope hook. Climbing up the edge of the terrace. Fortunately. The patio door is just a regular door lock. She opened it easily.
The furnishings in the room are very simple. Beds, tables, chairs, wardrobes and storage shelves. The colors are almost all earthy series. Next to the stone fireplace stands a pot of sageflower, which is more than one meter tall. Green leaves brighten up the entire room. Several pictures hung above the fireplace. One of the small portraits. The protagonist is a woman in her thirties or forties. Wearing a somewhat old-fashioned dress. Tender eyebrows. A smile on the lips. Thin and smooth hair parted on both sides. Tucked loosely behind the head. A tender red rose is inserted diagonally. She held a small baby in her arms. Staring with a pair of bright eyes. Ming Na recognized those eyes. And the slightly raised curly hair. Not exactly like Alex
So he was like this when he was a child? Chubby and puffy, she is very cute. So this woman is his mother
Ming Na got closer to the little statue and took a closer look. Suddenly I heard two bangs downstairs. It seemed to be the sound of a door opening and closing. Could it be that Alex is back? She hurriedly walked down the stairs on tiptoe. Planning to scare him.
But before she reached the corner, she quickly retracted and lay on the stairs, not daring to move.
Because it was not just Alex who came through the door, but also an old man in his fifties or sixties, with a thin build. He has a straight waist, gray temples, and is wearing a dark aristocratic formal suit. His facial features are somewhat similar to Alex's.
As soon as he entered the door, he stopped Alex: "Don't go! I want you to speak clearly! Do you know what you are doing?!"
Alex's expression was expressionless and he didn't look back: "Of course I know what I'm doing, but father...I'm afraid you don't know what you're doing!"
"Absurd!" The old man's eyes widened. "I used to spoil you so much that you did something that went against the interests of the family! When I received the letter, I couldn't believe it! In the past, you loved Nonsense. I don’t care about you, but this time, I will never allow you to go against my will again!"
"Father!" Alex closed his eyes, a trace of pain flashed across his face, "Why don't you listen to my advice? Politics is not your specialty at all. You need to manage your territory well and don't get involved in other things. This will be good for you, the family, and my brothers!"
The old man snorted coldly: "What do you know?! Our Mandheling family has reached the point where it is today. If we don't find a way to revive the family business, we will decline like other families! And... the current situation has reached the point where we have no choice. There is no way we can escape, as long as things are successful in the end, we can become the most noble family again, and no one or anything can threaten us anymore!"
Alex shook his head: "I know what you are worried about, but that is a thing of the past. As long as you stay quiet for a few years, no one will remember it as time goes by. But you What you are doing now is to force others to dig up that matter again! Father, can’t the lessons of your ancestors still alert you? How did Mandheling lose his title of duke? Why do you still want to follow the steps of your great-grandfather? The same old path as my grandfather?!”
"How is that the same?!" the old man shouted loudly. "At that time, our family chose the wrong person to support, but now, besides the second prince, is there any more suitable candidate? Everyone is on our side, and those who do not support are fools! Even if the king wants to have his own way. But With so many nobles opposing it, what can he do?!"
Alex glanced at his father sadly: "You are really not suitable for taking the road of politics. Father. If it were before, as long as His Highness was not seriously injured, His Majesty the King would not be the same. Standing behind the Queen The more nobles there are here, the less likely it is that Your Majesty will let them go easily. This is a dead end, why do you insist on pushing forward?"
The old man's expression changed: "What did you say?"
Alex smiled bitterly: "I have advised you many times, but unfortunately you have not listened. Father, you have been a member of Parliament for decades. Don't you see what is going on in His Majesty's heart? Look. Look, how many other seven duke families are left that were once as famous as our Mandheling family? Hundreds of years have passed, except for those that have declined, died, and rebelled, there are only three families left: us, Chulov, and Heda. , Heda has been completely defeated. If it were not for the fact that the current head of the family is the queen's nephew, I am afraid that even the little territory and family property cannot be saved; Chulov seems to be very prosperous, but in fact it is rotten inside, and the promising people are all outsiders. He is a descendant of Goodwin, the only good one in the direct line, and he has no heirs. Moreover, the reason why their family has been able to stand for many years is just because they cling to the king's lap; in comparison, we still have a good territory. , you and the eldest brother have two more seats in the parliament, and the second brother also has the title of deputy director, what else are you dissatisfied with? If you anger the king, I am afraid you will lose even these."
The old man was silent, and after a while, he spoke again: "Child, you don't understand. What a great opportunity this is for us. Even if the king will be angry, what can he do? Although his prestige is high, But if all noble princes have enough qualifications, he is a decent young man, and even those who support the eldest prince do not deny this."
He slowly approached his son and said: "Think about it, the king is old, and it won't be long before a new king takes the throne. The second prince is still young and inexperienced. Once he becomes the new king, who can he rely on? The queen There is no way he can handle political affairs on his behalf, let alone the third prince. The children of the Hedda family are younger, and one of them is half-blind! The people of the Francis family are all mediocre, and no one else can trust them! Only us, only us The Mandheling family. My child, can you imagine what that is like? Since your grandfather passed away, I have felt extremely painful every day. I often stand in front of the bronze statue of the first generation of the family and ask him how to revive. The Mandheling family, now that we have such a good opportunity, how can you ask me to give up?!"
"Perseverance, sizing up the situation..." Alex murmured a few lines in his mouth that were neither songs nor poems, "We are Mandhelings living in the sun, rejecting humility and cowardice..."
This is an ancient language. Minna has just learned it, so she vaguely understands it, but what does it mean
The old man opened his mouth and sighed: "Why do you suddenly read this?"
"This is the motto of the Mandheling family. It is engraved in front of the statue of the first generation head of the family. My father should know it very well, right?"
"Of course!" said the old man, "and that's exactly what I did!"
Alex smiled bitterly and shook his head: "No, father, even if the sunshine in the sky is only temporary, the sunshine will always reappear, but what you did... brought us into a dark hole in the ground, where we can only live with maggots and maggots from now on. Flies
The old man turned around angrily: "Stubborn guy! If you don't listen, forget it, but don't stop us! Just because you are willing to live in humbleness and cowardice doesn't mean that others are willing too!" He walked away, slamming the door and leaving.
"Father!" Alex stopped him loudly and asked, "What if...you fail? Even if you do nothing, the new king in the future will still rely on you, why do you take risks? "
The old man paused and was silent for a moment before replying: "I can't turn back until today. Whether I do it or not, the result will be completely different." After that, he walked away.
"But if you do it, you will have to live in humility and cowardice in the future..." Alex sat down on the chair and buried his head.
Ming Na hesitated, not knowing whether she should show up to say hello. She seemed to have heard something important... So Alex's family supports the second prince? So when he helped the eldest prince on his way back, was his father angry
Just as he was thinking about it, Alex noticed something unusual when his feet moved. He raised his head and shouted sharply: "Who is there?!"
Ming Na stood up embarrassedly and waved to him with a silly smile: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I just wanted to come and see you, and by chance..." Song: "It turns out to be you..." He looked at the person who was still there... The door shook and he smiled bitterly: "I'm sorry, I seem to have let you see something not very decent..."
Ming Na laughed dryly: "Actually, it's nothing. Our family...our Xiao...Ka family also has people supporting the two princes. Beryl and Manda also had a quarrel before. It's really nothing..."
Alex smiled and didn't say anything. He asked Mingna how she came in and said, "It's just right. I don't want to stay at home anymore. Let's go out together."
Ming Na blinked and asked cautiously: "What do you mean?"
"That's what I mean." Alex twitched the corner of his mouth, "I regret a little why I chose to come back at this time. If it had been a month or two later, maybe it wouldn't be so uncomfortable."
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing." Alex shrugged and smiled sarcastically, "My father is getting married. In order to welcome the new bride, he specially cleaned up my mother's room and disposed of all her belongings. I also share There are a few things. It’s a pity that we, the children, can’t get rid of them. I hope the bride won’t find them an eyesore.”
Ming Na opened her mouth, not knowing how to comfort him, but the smile on his face was quite bright: "Guess who he is going to marry? You can't guess it!"
"who is it?"
Alex's smile became even brighter: "She is a noble widow, the mother of the head of the Heda family! The young head of the family probably felt that it was wrong. Zi Mingna's eyes widened: "Mr. Helen