Meanwhile, in front of the vermilion-lacquered gates of the Shui Family in Lingzhou, the bluestone steps that should have been bustling with activity were littered with fallen leaves.
Ever since they had exhausted their family fortune during the Jiangnan disaster and actively participated in relief efforts, the reputation of the Shui Family had reached its zenith, with streams of dignitaries and nobles arriving daily to express their gratitude and seek favor, forming a line from the estate gates all the way to the riverbank.
Yet today, the interior of the mansion was eerily silent. The housekeeper paced back and forth holding an empty tea tray, muttering to himself, "How can there not even be a single visitor?"
Chapter 132