Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 104 The Emperor’s Heart Feels Like His Kindness

But while he was full of gratitude, Jia Cong couldn't help but feel doubtful.

In fact, this vague doubt did not arise today. He had doubts as early as two years ago when Liu Jing'an suddenly recommended him to study at Qingshan College.

Because before that, he and Liu Jing'an had only met once at the Nanxi Literary Meeting, and then he suddenly recommended himself to study in the world's number one academy.

Although Jia Cong was extremely grateful at the time, he also thought in his heart that even if the old man had a love for talent, it was still a bit abrupt and unreasonable.

Or maybe he was not the only one who thought so at the time. Someone as worldly-wise as Lady Jia would not have such an idea. But since it was a good thing anyway, no one would bother thinking about it.

And now that I am in danger, this old man has disregarded his own gains and losses, lent me a helping hand, and accepted me as his disciple. This is such a noble act that ordinary people cannot do.

Although I have some doubts in my heart, they are not worth mentioning.

Liu Jing'an helped him up with a smile on his face and said, "Once you finish your business here, you can go back to Luocang Mountain to pay respects to your mistress and meet your family members.

You have been in frequent contact over the past few years, and your mistress must be very fond of you. She will be very happy to know that you have entered my sect."

The reason why the ancients called them "in-room disciples" was that it was a teacher-student relationship that was almost equivalent to that of blood-related offspring. Only true in-room disciples would be introduced by the master to the children of his family members.

Zhao Chongli, who was standing by, also hurried forward to congratulate him. He was also very happy that Jia Cong could become Liu Jing'an's disciple. It was possible that Jia Cong's worries about his life experience would turn around.

Jia Zheng was even more delighted. My Jia family actually has a disciple of Wen Zong. How great!

Not long after, the news that Jia Cong was accepted as a disciple by Emperor Wenzong Liu Jing'an spread quickly in the Jia family.

Those in the Jia family, some flattering the powerful and some watching the show with indifference, suddenly felt a little at a loss as to what to do.

……

The palace city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qianyang Palace.

It had been cloudy for the past two days, and the dim sunlight outside made the empty Qianyang Palace even darker and gloomy. Just after noon, the eunuchs had already lit white candles in the hall.

In the bright candlelight, Emperor Jiazhao was reviewing the memorials piled up on the imperial desk.

In the past few days, the Censorate has submitted three memorials impeaching Li Dekang, the Vice Minister of Works. One memorial impeached him for violating the rules by starting the construction of Da Ci'en Temple, and the other two impeached him for being stupid and mediocre, and unworthy of the position.

It was nothing more than Xiang Zhuang's sword dance aimed at Pei Gong. These people were also trying to dissuade the emperor from building a temple to rest in peace for his biological mother.

Emperor Jiazhao kept these memorials and threw them aside without sending them out.

In the past two days, several civil servants in the court have submitted memorials to the emperor to exonerate Jia Cong, the top scorer in the current imperial examination. They said that Jia Cong was a top student in Qingshan Academy and had outstanding talents, and his background was more than enough to cover his merits.

These civil servants were elites in the imperial examinations. Their memorials were written with quotations from classics and brilliant literary talent. Emperor Jiazhao read them carefully with great interest.

Guo Lin, the deputy chief eunuch, walked quickly into the hall holding a few gray-white covered letters.

"Your Majesty, the latest secret report from the Central Vehicle Department has arrived. Please take a look at it."

Yesterday at the court, the Censor-in-Chief requested to remove Jia Cong from the top of the imperial examination. Emperor Jia Zhao asked the Ministry of Rites to review Jia Cong's background before making a final decision.

After the court was dismissed, Guo Lin was ordered to use the Imperial Chariot Department to secretly investigate the affairs of the Jia family of Rongguo, as well as the details of the dozens of examination students who went to the Ministry of Rites to report Jia Cong that day.

He even asked Guo Lin to transfer the files of the Censor Chen Minyan from the Ministry of Rites.

It is not surprising that Emperor Jiazhao had no impression of Chen Minyan in the past.

There were dozens of censors in the thirteen divisions of the Censorate, and it was impossible for the emperor to remember them all.

But that day in the court, Chen Minyan requested to strip Jia Cong of his official title. His words were cunning, his reasoning was bizarre, and he was so aggressive that even Guo Youchang, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, was at a loss for words.

However, Emperor Jia Zhao remembered this person. If Chen Minyan was using the Jia Cong incident to gain fame, he was successful.

Just because the emperor remembers you doesn't necessarily mean that you are in his heart.

A top candidate in the imperial examination was just an insignificant little person in the eyes of the emperor who faced a room full of nobles and had a vast country in his heart. Under normal circumstances, such a scholar who was only slightly outstanding would not be noticed by a noble government like the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

But it was such a small person who caused such a huge uproar.

First, dozens of students taking the imperial examination gathered at the Ministry of Rites in broad daylight, and angrily accused the top candidate of being of low birth and unworthy of the title.

On the second day, the Censor-in-Chief impeached Jia Cong in the court and requested that Jia Cong be deposed from the title of first place in the imperial examination and that he be banned from taking the imperial examination forever.

Is there such a coincidence in the world? It seems like a group of people have planned and put on a good show.

Emperor Jiazhao was once the least noteworthy of the sons of the retired emperor. His biological mother was of low status and he himself was introverted and deep-minded. Compared with other princes with flamboyant personalities, he seemed unremarkable.

But such an unknown prince had the last laugh, ascended to the throne, and even made the retired emperor, who had been a talented man throughout his life, willingly retire to the deep palace.

How many thrilling things must have happened in this process? The imperial power is strict, and how much do outsiders know about the hardships and cruelty involved.

Emperor Jiazhao's wise yet suspicious character might have been developed during those extreme years.

Since there are some clues in the dispute over the first place in the college entrance examination, given Emperor Jiazhao's sharp temper, how could he just follow the crowd and be swayed by several impeachments and memorials?

As a king, the most taboo thing is to be deceived and used by your subjects!

He opened the first secret note presented by Guo Lin, which recorded in detail the recent events in the Jia Mansion of Rongguo, organized by date.

Among them, during Lady Jia's birthday, several people of the fifth rank and above were present, several civil and military officials of the third rank and above were present, the heads of noble families were present, and several princes and their sons-in-law were present.

Even who gave an unusual birthday gift and who gave a gift that was slightly beyond the ordinary were recorded in detail. I don't know how the China Railway Corporation arranged for the spies to know so many details.

However, Emperor Jiazhao just glanced over the contents without studying them in detail. When he saw the next line of content, he suddenly fixed his gaze and read it carefully.

"The mother was humble, but the son did not despise her ugliness. After ten months of pregnancy and the grace of giving birth to her, she became the most noble and precious woman in the world..."

When Emperor Jiazhao saw the records in the secret letter, his eyes softened slightly.

This is a well-spoken statement. A son will not dislike his mother's ugliness. The grace of giving birth and raising a child is as deep as the sea. Is there anything more noble in the world than this?

Between the lines, one seems to be able to see a young boy standing in front of the crowd and speaking firmly to defend his humble biological mother.

Emperor Jiazhao's heart suddenly surged, and a hint of moisture appeared in his sharp and deep eyes.

His biological mother was just a maid in Jingxiu Palace with a humble status. Even if she was lucky enough to give birth to a prince, according to the ancestral system and palace rules, she was not qualified to raise her own child.

Before Emperor Jiazhao was ten years old, he only knew that the empress was his mother, but since he was a child there was a palace maid in Jingxiu Palace who was extremely kind to him.

She would often secretly watch him from the side. Perhaps because they were related by blood, he and the palace maid became familiar with each other over time and he would often secretly go out to play with her.

He didn't know at that time that that was his biological mother.

Every time the palace maid saw him, she would cry and laugh, hold him in her arms and not want to let go, and bring him his favorite osmanthus cake.

When he was ten years old, he found out that his favorite palace maid was his biological mother, and he became even more attached to her.

Somehow the Queen found out about this, and after that he was sent to the Upper Study to study and to the Imperial Stables to learn martial arts, and he spent less time with his biological mother.

Perhaps the subtle and unspeakable rift between him and Empress Dowager Yizhang originated from that time.

Now he is the ruler of the world, rich as a behemoth. When he thinks back to the happiest and most carefree time in his life, it turns out to be his childhood, when mother and son met but did not recognize each other.

The beautiful woman who grew older year by year in Jingxiu Palace was still hoping to be by his side every day until the day she died.

This has become an indelible pain and knot in Emperor Jiazhao's heart.

(End of this chapter)