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Their convoy entered through the western city gate and headed northeast toward the nobles' district.
Heaven Dou City was truly enormous. The carriages traveled along its broad, bustling streets for more than an hour before finally reaching the Chen Duke's Mansion.
This residence had been bestowed upon the Chen Clan when the Heaven Dou Imperial Family granted its members honorary ducal titles across successive generations, embodying their longstanding status and glory.
A small group was already waiting outside the mansion's main entrance.
Jixiang, Xia Yun, and the others who had arrived ahead of them were all there. At their head stood an elderly man with white hair and beard and a somewhat stooped figure.
The wrinkles on his face were so deep they almost overlapped, and he held a smooth ebony cane steadily in his hand.
When Chen Xiaojun and the others stepped down from their carriages, the old man slowly approached, and the people behind him followed a step forward.
The old man bowed slightly. "Greetings, Young Master."
Chen Xiaojun hastily returned the bow with due solemnity. "Please, there's no need for that. How should I address you, sir?"
The old man raised his head. His voice sounded aged, but remained clear. "My surname is Shi. I am the chief steward here. You may simply call me Old Shi, Young Master."
Chen Xiaojun was somewhat surprised, but remained respectful. "You're too kind, Elder Shi."
Elder Shi nodded without lingering over pleasantries, then turned to a tall, composed elderly man beside him. "Bingming, take some people and help Changfeng and the others get everything settled."
"Yes, Elder Shi." Ding Bingming answered crisply, then immediately turned to direct the servants in unloading the luggage and miscellaneous items from the carriages.
Ding Bingming was a