Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Three days later, in the evening
Jia Cong brought Cheng Lingsu into the east courtyard again to "visit" Jia She.

Madam Xing and Jia Lian were also in the ward. When they saw Jia Cong come in, they hurriedly stood up to greet him.

"Is the master feeling better?" Jia Cong asked with concern. He saw that Jia She's eyes were dull, his cheeks were sunken, and his face was ashen. He was only a breath away from death.

Jia Lian shook his head and whispered, "Mr. Ye said... we can only endure as much as possible."

Mrs. Xing wiped her eyes and sighed, "I don't know what sin our family has committed. We are so prosperous, but the eldest master has not even had a day of peace and happiness, and he has become so ill. What will we do in the future?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry. Although the eldest master doesn't enjoy happiness, it's the same if you enjoy his happiness as well."

Mrs. Xing's face showed an expression of joy that could not be concealed. She twitched her lips and tried to suppress her smile. She said, "Your brother is a useless man. From now on, our family will rely on Cong."

Jia Cong said, "Don't worry, Madam. Go and have a rest. I will talk to the elder master for a few words. Tell him that we have won another victory in the Western Regions. The emperor has rewarded me with the grace of riding a horse in the Forbidden City without having to walk in the court. Let him have some fun too."

Mrs. Xing and Jia Lian laughed and said, "This is a great happy event for our family. It would be nice to make the master happy." After saying that, they turned around and went out, closing the door.

Jia Cong lifted his clothes and sat on the stool beside the bed. He looked at Jia She coldly and said, "Don't play dead. I've let you live a few more years, which is considered to be a reward for you!
"Old bastard, back when I was in Rongqing Hall, I swore to kill you with my own hands, but I never found a way to do it. I was also afraid that if I killed you, I would have to mourn for three years, which would delay my chance to rise. I didn't expect you to want to get your hands on my Qingwen. Haha, do you think you should die?"

Upon hearing this, Jia She's eyes opened wide in fear. He tried to open his mouth and call for help, but only weak and loud sounds came out, like tearing a bellows.

Jia Cong said slowly: "It's all right now. Killing you will allow me to temporarily escape from the vortex of court struggle. You, a waste, have also made a small contribution to the clan.

Do you know that in order to send you to see that loser Jia Zhen, I even consulted the Chief of Punishments on how to make a person die in great pain without leaving any trace.

He told me several ways, and I picked a simple and easy one for you to try."

After taking Ye Tianshi's medicine, Jia She was basically conscious. But after hearing what Jia Cong said, he was scared to death. He didn't expect that Zhen Ge'er was murdered by this beast. How dare he kill his father?
It's a pity that he was paralyzed in bed. The only part he could move was his face. Even if he wanted to yell and beg for mercy, he could only make hoarse sounds.

Jia Cong sneered and said, "You bastard, get on your way. No one I want to kill can escape."

Before he finished speaking, Cheng Lingsu had already brought over the copper basin from the corner, which was half full of water. She then took out a stack of mulberry paper from her bosom and handed it to Jia Cong one sheet at a time.

"This method is called 'Like a person drinking water', but the conditions here are limited, and there is not that much water for you to drink. I changed the name to 'Still holding the pipa half-covered'. How about it, it is quite artistic, isn't it? You can slowly appreciate it."

Jia Cong chuckled, picked up a piece of wet mulberry paper, gently covered Jia She's mouth and nose, and patted him tightly.

Jia She suddenly felt suffocated, whimpering continuously, and his limbs trembling violently, and he couldn't struggle at all.

The second piece of paper covered it again, like a pair of cold scissors, cutting off the remaining life of Jia She.

There is great terror between life and death. Jia She clearly felt that his life was slipping away quickly. The huge fear and suffocating pain surged like a tide, turning into turbid tears that burst out of his eyes. He looked at Jia Cong pleadingly, hoping that he would show mercy for the sake of their father-son relationship.

Jia Cong sneered and said, "Do you know what the original novel says about a fool like you? That's right, when you have more than enough, you forget to withdraw your hands, and when you have no way ahead, you want to turn back." As he said this, he covered it with the third piece of mulberry paper neatly.

Jia She's eyes rolled back and he fell into a coma due to lack of oxygen.

Jia Cong smiled coldly and covered him with two more pieces of paper. He stopped only when he saw that he had completely stopped moving.

Cheng Lingsu reached out her hand to touch his neck and said, "Master, he's dead." When Jia Cong nodded, she peeled off the mulberry paper on his face, squeezed it dry and put it in her arms, then used a handkerchief to wipe the water stains on Jia She's face.

After everything was in place, Jia Cong shouted, "Someone come!"

When Mrs. Xing and Jia Lian heard the news, they hurried over and saw that Jia She's face was blue and purple, his eyes were wide open, and he had already died. They both howled loudly.

Jia Cong sighed, "I just told the elder master the news of the great victory in the Western Regions, but I didn't expect that he would be so overjoyed that... Oh, let's report it."

"Yes." Jia Lian said, wiping his tears.

"Have you prepared everything for your funeral?"

"They are all ready and will be available immediately," said Jia Lian.

Jia Cong said, "That's good. This year our family has been plagued by many sad events. First, the Madam had an accident, and now the eldest master has passed away. We need to tell the old lady slowly, so as not to alarm her."

Madam Xing covered her face with a handkerchief and nodded while sobbing.

Jia Cong said, "Now, it's up to the eldest wife to take care of all the affairs at home. I have a lot of things to do over there, so second brother Lian should share more of the worries."

Mrs. Xing was overjoyed. Jia She was finished and she could finally stand up straight and be a wife.

Jia Lian nodded and agreed: "Don't worry, Third Brother, I will serve the Madam well."

"As the ancients said, 'A tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop; a son wants to support his parents but they are no longer there.' This is true. Let's send out the obituary." Jia Cong sighed, got up and left.

"Yes." After Jia Lian sent Jia Cong away, he turned around and hurriedly ordered the maid to clean Jia She's body and change his clothes.

The imperial physician and the clan affairs office came to see Jia She and had no objection to his death, so they reported that he had died of illness.

The mourning hall was quickly built in Rong Xi Tang and the coffin was placed there. The funny thing was that Jia She, as a nobleman, never enjoyed the treatment of Rong Xi Tang for a single day during his lifetime, but finally got it after his death.

Jia Cong was not stingy either. He invited two groups of 108 monks and Taoists to sit in the first and second courtyards and perform rituals.

On that day, many old friends came to pay their respects. The three brothers Jia Cong, Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu were dressed in mourning, knelt before the coffin, wept bitterly, and responded to the guests' greetings.

Jia Cong really couldn't cry, and thought it would be bad if so many people saw him, so he quietly asked Wangcai to get some ginger juice and rubbed some on his eyes. Immediately, his eyes turned red and tears flowed like a fountain, and he cried out loudly because of the spicy taste.

Upon seeing this, the guests all praised Shao Bao for his filial piety and said he was worthy of being a role model for the country.

Seeing that most of the important people had arrived, Jia Cong was too lazy to act anymore. He stood up, patted Jia Lian on the shoulder, and said, "I will go outside to entertain the guests. You and Baoyu will return the greetings here."

"Third brother, just go ahead. Baoyu and I will stay here." Jia Lian said hurriedly.

Jia Cong came out and first slipped into the inner hall at the back to wash his face. Then he lay leisurely on a chair and drank tea while Jin Chuan'er and Liu Wu'er massaged his legs.

Sister Feng came in from the back building and saw him relaxing. She said with a smile, "Why are you lying here? Who will take care of all the things going on outside?"

Jia Cong stretched out his hand, pulled her to sit in his arms, and said with a smile: "Someone is worried about you. I am tired for a long time. What happened in there?" Feng Jieer shook her head and smiled: "Recently, more than a hundred wealthy officials and noble ladies have come. The princess and her two wives, as well as the old lady and the eldest lady are chatting with them. There is nothing for me to do. I have no position or status, so I came out to see if the tea, food, snacks, lamp oil, and paper and candles are ready."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "This is your specialty, so it's not difficult. But now you and Ping'er are both pregnant, so you are not allowed to work too hard. Leave everything to the two sisters-in-law. You and Ping'er will go back and rest later, understand?"

Sister Feng gave him a shy look and said in a delicate voice, "I understand, Master." If Jia Lian saw Wang Xifeng being so obedient, he would be sure to drop his jaw in shock.

"Okay, I'll go out and meet the guests too." Jia Cong smiled, patted Feng Jieer's plump buttocks, and got up to go out.

At this time, the side rooms on both sides of Rong Xi Hall had been cleaned up and used as places for guests to drink tea and chat. When everyone saw Jia Cong coming in, they all stood up to greet him and said "My condolences" repeatedly.

Jia Cong clasped his hands, bowed to all four directions, and sighed, "My father passed away, and I am deeply saddened. I am sorry that you, my friends, have come to my humble home. I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I will visit you one by one to express my gratitude one day."

"You are too kind, Shaobao."

"We have been colleagues with Lord En for many years, so we should pay tribute to him."

Everyone hurriedly expressed their humility.

Jia Cong looked at Li Meng and Wang Ning again, and said with a folded hand, "Duke Anguo and Commander Wang, Cong has submitted a petition to resign and the military affairs will be entrusted to you two."

Although everyone had expected that Jia Cong's mourning was inevitable, they were still shocked to hear him say it himself. Could it be that this young giant was really willing to give up his tremendous power?
Li Meng tried to test him, "Young Master, please accept my condolences. Although observing the mourning period is a great honor, the Western Regions are still using troops. As the general of the rear army, Young Master has a lot of military duties and cannot take off his armor so quickly.

I will report this to His Majesty tomorrow, asking the Emperor to issue an order to take away the love affair, and ask the young guard to put national affairs first."

Everyone nodded in agreement, saying that the army cannot be without a young protector for a day.

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Cong joined the army when he was young, and never served his father for a single day. How can I abandon my filial duty now?

Besides, the military affairs in the Western Regions are supervised by Liu Duhu, and Governor Qiu can also help with the consultation. Cong is dispensable in the capital. If you say that you are taking away his feelings, it is unreasonable. Please understand Cong's sonly heart." He bowed.

Everyone hurriedly returned the greetings, praising "Shao Bao is benevolent and filial, and has the legacy of ancient sages."

Suddenly, the housekeeper sang: "The masters of the central hall sent people to pay their respects on their behalf, and each sent a pair of mourning couplets. Minister Feng personally wrote an obituary and offered sacrifices in front of the coffin."

When Jia Cong hurried out to see, he saw that all the ministers of the Grand Council had sent wreaths and elegiac couplets.

The following are the ones that are sent:
At the age of twenty, I wore a red ribbon at my waist and dared to go to Chang'an. I hoped to be blessed by the stars and to be as powerful as the phoenix and the auspicious unicorn. Finally, in the midst of the brocade field, my house was opened and the spiritual light came into my eyes.

The slanting light brings an end to the dream of the red dust, the golden cloth garden, the jeweled palm leaves, the long autumn moon in the sky, the distant memory of the glass world, the lotus should appear in the body of the prime minister.

Jiang Feng sent:
Thinking of the steep waves, I am the only one who can stand firm in the middle of the stream. I never expected that the laurel tree will be broken and the orchid will be destroyed, and finally the spirit tree will be lost. I just want to imitate the gentle voice of my lover and sing the song of the yellow bird again.

I remember the praises given by Yue Dan, who did not hesitate to encourage the younger generation. Who would have thought that you would rein in your horse under the green mountains and suddenly grow weeds? I should be like the ministers of Chu, and feel sad. I would ask the sky.

Guan Pu sent:
His heroic reputation spread all over the world, but unfortunately, his reputation has been transformed into a tragedy and is now gone.

The legacy of virtue seems to continue, and as you stand and watch the sound of bells ringing, the blessings will last for thousands of years.

When Jia Cong read this couplet, he almost laughed out loud. Jia She had been a coward all his life. He had no reputation at all. His reputation was as bad as the one that filled the whole world.

When I walked into the hall, I saw Fatty Feng holding a eulogy, reciting it in a hoarse voice with great emotion and tears streaming down his face, as if no one was around. Everyone who listened to him was deeply saddened.

"Alas! My heart is tender and tears fall easily. My heart is easily hurt when I am old. Whenever I hear the flute played by my neighbor, I feel sad and grief-stricken!
Because of what we have seen in the past, we cannot help but feel sad about life and death; what’s more, we are like family members, and yet we are watching our bones buried in the wild!

Alas, Lord En! You are as stern as ice and frost, and your virtue is shared by all the ministers. Just because your mother is still alive, you miss her and never forget her. You return home to comfort your parents. You are so kind and filial that there is no one like you.

He is a man of generosity, able to take on responsibilities, helping the poor and needy, spending money without hesitation, imitating the ancient virtuous and noble people, and is the only one among them, a unicorn and phoenix of the country, a steed of the family..."

Jia Cong listened for a long time but could not make any sense, so he quietly asked Pang Chao, "Sir, what did Fatty Feng say?"

Pang Chao whispered, "He said he and the master were like brothers, and he praised him a lot, all good things. Hey, Fatty Feng really has some real talent."

Jia Cong curled his lips and said, "Fatty, you're spending so much money, you must have no good intentions."

After waiting for him to finish, Jia Cong winked and took him to the side room, saying unhappily, "Are you very familiar with my late father? Why are you writing such a corny eulogy?"

Feng Yuan chuckled and said, "Isn't this just to support you, brother? I'm too lazy to write when others ask me to. How about it? Do you feel the sorrow and move the heavens?"

"Stop talking nonsense. My father is dead and I need to observe mourning. I have already submitted a petition. Don't drag me into any mess." Jia Cong glared at him.

"Don't worry!" Feng Yuan said anxiously, "The situation is critical right now, why are you worrying about it? Can we wait two years before worrying about it?"

Jia Cong sneered, "What's so urgent? I've almost done everything I need to do. It's fine to be in mourning, and I'll be free from the burden of an official position."

Feng Yuan hurriedly said, "The feudal system is about to be dismantled. Zilong, you must not retreat now. If you retreat, what will happen to our brothers? Won't those bastards of the New Party eat us up completely?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Brother Zhengfang, our dynasty governs the world with filial piety. How dare Cong risk the world's disapproval and linger on?

Besides, you have seen what the Lord meant this time. It is not that I want to retire, but I really have to. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous. Don’t you want to write an obituary for your brother one day?"

Feng Yuan wanted to persuade him again, but Jia Cong raised his hand to interrupt him: "I have made up my mind on this matter, there is no need to persuade me anymore. As for the affairs in the court, Cong will definitely help if he can.

Please tell the two ministers Jiang and Guan that it was not Cong who broke his promise intentionally, but it was God's will, which cannot be forced by human power. "

Suddenly, a report was heard outside that the Tenth Prince, Prince Beijing, Lin Ruhai and others had come in person to pay their respects.

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "Let's talk later. I'm going to go out to entertain the guests."

Feng Yuan saw Jia Cong slip away, smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Damn it, it's a waste of energy to write a crappy eulogy, you bastard, so shameless, how can you go to the Western Regions and just ignore our brothers' affairs?"

Jia She is an old man who is neither virtuous nor sensible. Can't you die later? Is there a ghost coming to take your life? You can die immediately without considering the overall situation?

Feng Yuan stomped his feet in the room and cursed for a long time. Seeing that today was not the right time, he had to give up, not even drinking tea, and turned around and left. (End of this chapter)