My British Empire

ps: It's the last day at the end of the month, ask for tickets, ask for subscription

The cold winter wind blows against the roadside sycamore trees from time to time, and it seems that they will not give up until they knock off the few remaining leaves from the branches.

But the tall and straight sycamore tree is holding on at this time, unwilling to give in half a point, still hanging a few dry autumn leaves to resist, as if to prove its unyielding spirit.

On the side of the Duke of Norfolk's mansion, facing the empty appearance in front of the mansion, two young servants could only tilt their necks listlessly and wait at the gate.

"Tell me, there has been no one in the Duke's mansion for two or three years, why do we need the two of us to guard it!" One of the thin servants looked around, and asked softly to his fat companion on the other side.

"How do I know, this is what the housekeeper meant, for the dignity of the Duke's Mansion!" Fatty's voice was a little thick, and his face was full of doubts.

"Hey! We are also unlucky. We used to be on duty here and there was a lot of oil and water to fish for. Now we can only blow the cold wind and freeze me to death!" The thin man's eyes were listless, his neck was tilted, and he sighed helplessly. When the wind blows, the whole person trembles non-stop.

"Yes! It's winter, no matter how much you wear, it's better inside!" Fatty said tremblingly, his teeth chattering in the face of the damp cold wind.

"Oh! It would be great if it could be the same as before, and the food at home can be improved from time to time!" The thin man looked longingly at the sparsely populated street.

Suddenly, a carriage appeared on the street. Although it didn't have many precious decorations, it slowly stopped at the Duke of Norfolk's mansion.

I saw two rich merchants in silk and satin get out of the car and walk slowly to the front of the mansion.

In this regard, the fat man and the thin man immediately beamed with joy. This is the best gift God has brought them.

When they looked carefully, one had a fat body and a broad face, and one could tell at a glance that he was a fat and oily rich businessman; the other had a thin figure, covered by a black cloak, making it impossible to see clearly.

When the two slowly approached them, the thin man and the fat man raised their chins more and more steeply, looking extremely proud.

"Excuse me, is there a hospital nearby? My brother is sick!" The chubby rich businessman hurried forward and said kindly.

"Cut—" The thin man curled his lips, turned his neck directly, and ignored him.

The utterly disappointed thin man had already greeted the maternal relative of the fat rich businessman in front of him several times in his heart.

The fat man also felt a little unhappy, but he was straightforward and replied seriously: "Sir, this is the Duke of Norfolk's mansion. You can't come if you have anything to do. For the hospital, you go straight ahead and turn around at the intersection." , you can see it straight ahead!"

"Thank you, little brother!" The rich businessman said with a smile, "This is a gift for you, and you deserve it!"

After saying this, the rich businessman and the sick brother returned to the carriage, leaving the fat man and the thin man with astonished faces.

"My God, a shilling, what a rich fellow!" said the thin man in surprise, looking at a silver coin in the fat man's hand.

"Yes! Hehehe!" The fat man smiled foolishly.

"There's half of me in it!" The thin man said without hesitation, looking at the silver coin greedily.

"No! This is mine, it's all mine!" The fat man stared at the thin man with his eyes wide open, and said directly.

"Sixpence—"

"No, it's all mine!"

"Five pence—"

"No, it's all mine!"

………………

Looking at the fat man who didn't eat oil and rice, the thin man felt that his mouth was dry and he didn't get any benefit, so he felt unwilling.

Looking into the fat man's eyes, he said directly threateningly, "Then I'll tell my father, you won't get much!"

"How about—" Hearing the thin man's threatening words, the fat man said hesitantly, "I'll give you a penny!"

"No, sixpence—"

"One and a half!"

"No, sixpence—"

Thus, the two brothers began a new battle.

The carriage drove slowly in the direction the fat man pointed, and soon arrived at a small hospital, or a private clinic.

However, the carriage did not stop at the entrance of the clinic. Instead, it continued to move forward and stopped at a small door obliquely in front of the clinic.

"This place is really hard to find!" The cloaked man got out of the carriage, looked at the small door in front of the black tulle, and said to the fat rich businessman beside him, his voice was low and hoarse.

"Yes! It's really hard to find!" The fat rich businessman looked up, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and said.

"Dong dong dong!" The groom stepped forward with a wink, holding the cold copper block on the door, and knocking.

"Who is it?" There was an irritable voice from inside the door, and soon the door was opened, and a seven or eight-year-old child was wearing shabby clothes and yawning.

"Children, we are guests invited by the Duke!" The fat businessman took a step forward and whispered in his ear.

"Come in!" The child glanced at the two of them, then at the carriage in front of the door, "The carriage comes in slowly!"

Afterwards, the child directly let the two of them in, and directed the carriage through the narrow doorway.

After closing the door, the child breathed a sigh of relief, and said to the two of them, "The carriage goes straight to the rear, there is a stable there, and someone will take care of it!"

"You two follow me, don't talk too much!" The child said directly with a serious face.

Seeing the child walking straight ahead to lead the way, the fat rich businessman and the cloaked man exchanged glances and followed directly.

Soon, the two felt that they had come to a side hall, which contained all kinds of oil paintings and sculptures. A middle-aged man with black curly hair was concentrating on painting oil paintings there, and a silver-haired butler stood by.

Afterwards, the child went up to him and muttered a few words to him, and the housekeeper glanced at the two of them and walked over.

"I'm so sorry! Your Excellency is painting, please wait a moment! You can also sit aside and rest for a while"

The housekeeper showed a friendly smile, and said in a gentle tone, without any intention of looking down on the two of them.

"It's okay, it's okay, the Duke's business is more important!" The flesh on the fat businessman's face was squeezed into a ball, his eyes were narrowed, and he nodded and bowed.

"It just so happens that we are also tired, we can take a rest, thank you, Mr. Butler!"

"The two of you will rest for a while, and His Excellency the Duke will receive you in a while!"

When the silver-haired butler heard such good words, his smile became more gentle. He glanced at them, bowed to both of them, and walked towards the Duke.

"Sit down! Don't be in a hurry!" The fat businessman put away his smile, looked at the cloaked man, and said helplessly.

"En!" The cloaked man nodded, sat on a chair beside him, took off his black cloak, and took a deep breath.