Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 110: Conspiracy to Conquer the World

Jia Cong was at a loss. Although it was a good thing, he had never expected that not only was his fame not dismissed, but the emperor also appointed him as an eighth-rank Fengyilang. This was really unexpected.

When Cai Xiaoyu came to report the news, he thought of Guo Youchang, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and others. In order to prevent their families from being implicated, they would definitely try their best to keep him as the first place in the college examination.

So even though he was reported for not allowing the sons of prostitutes to take the imperial examinations, the matter was not completely dead yet.

When Liu Jing'an took him in as his disciple in times of crisis, he protected him with his unparalleled literary reputation as the sage of literature.

His identity as a disciple of Emperor Wenzong gave him a better chance of escaping from the predicament.

Zhao Chongli, who came with Liu Jing'an from Qingshan Academy that day, also said that he would visit several students who had graduated from Qingshan and were serving as officials in Beijing, and ask them to submit petitions and mediate.

With these supports, and after the students filed a complaint with the Ministry of Rites, the court delayed issuing the decree of dismissal.

Jia Cong was almost 70% sure that he could get through this difficult time.

In the whole incident, it no longer matters whether he is the son of the criticized courtesan or not. What matters is the balance and game among the various forces in the court.

The imperial edict just mentioned that although his biological mother was not prominent, he was extremely filial to her, so he was conferred the title of Eighth-Rank Fengyilang. According to the rules of the Ministry of Rites, he went to the Da Ci'en Temple to copy scriptures and pray for Empress Dowager Xianxiao.

I had often heard my classmates at Qingshan Academy talk about the origins of Empress Dowager Xianxiao.

He also knew a thing or two about the dispute over etiquette between the Empress Dowager and her husband.

All this information quickly flowed through his mind, and the context of the whole thing gradually became clear. He also almost knew why he was conferred the title of Eighth-Rank Fengyilang.

I can actually hit upon such great luck.

Although he hasn't figured out some of the details yet, it's probably because he has limited information.

In short, the emperor was no pushover, he was a very powerful person who took advantage of the situation.

……

Guo Lin smiled and held up the imperial edict, saying to Jia Cong, "Master Jia, please accept the edict."

Jia Cong took the imperial edict with both hands and said, "Student Jia Cong thanks the emperor for his grace."

Guo Lin smiled and said, "Mr. Jia has been appointed as an eighth-rank Fengyilang. He is now an official and can serve as a minister."

"Your Majesty, I, Jia Cong, thank you for your grace!"

Fengyilang was a civil official of the Great Zhou Dynasty, an eighth-rank civil official with salary. This position had no actual job, but only represented that the person who was granted the position had an eighth-rank official status.

Fengyilang would also receive a symbolic salary every year, and would be reappointed to a real position only when a suitable vacancy appeared in the court.

One should know that the first place in the palace examination would only be awarded the sixth-rank position of Hanlin Academy Compiler. Jia Cong, who ranked first in the palace examination, was exceptionally awarded the eighth-rank position of Fengyilang, which was already a great honor.

Outsiders do not know the truth, and most of them think that this young man is in the emperor's heart.

In fact, Jia Cong, an eighth-rank Fengyilang, was just a cover created by Emperor Jiazhao to suppress court officials, go against ancestral system and rituals, and build a temple and erect a monument to pray for his biological mother.

But for Jia Cong, it was a huge benefit. According to normal channels, he might have to wait until he passed the spring examination before he could be granted an official position. Even if he passed the imperial examinations repeatedly, it would be several years later.

Now that he has become an official, as long as he does not violate the filial piety and etiquette of this world, he is invincible in the Jia family and is not afraid of any constraints or restrictions.

Things like being provoked in person by Wang Zhang and humiliated in person by Wang Jiazi in Rongqing Hall are unlikely to happen again in the future.

Because he was different from those juren and jinshi selected by the Ministry of Personnel, he was an official appointed by the emperor's decree. He copied scriptures and prayed for the emperor's biological mother, representing the dignity and respect of the royal family.

If people like Wang Zhang and her son continue to be as unscrupulous as before, they must consider the weight and severity of this matter.

……

"Madam, now that the imperial edict has been announced, I will take my leave now. I have to go to the residence of General Wang, the governor of the Beijing camp, in accordance with the emperor's oral order."

Grandmother Jia had just recovered from the shock of the imperial edict and asked, "Eunuch Guo is also going to General Wang's mansion to announce the imperial edict?"

Guo Lin smiled and said, "It's not that I went there to announce the decree, but the emperor asked me to go to the Wang family to inquire about something, which is somewhat related to Master Jia.

After interrogation by the Magistrate's Court, it was found that the scholar Liu Wenxuan who sued Master Jia had a close relationship with the Zhang family of Deqing Prefecture, and General Wang's wife, Zhang, was the eldest daughter of the Zhang family.

His Majesty was worried that Liu Wenxuan had framed someone, so he asked me to go to the Wang family to find out for sure."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, and they stunned Lady Jia and the others. Mrs. Wang's face turned pale, and Jia Zheng's face was full of anger.

Jia Cong was stunned when he heard this, not because the scholar who reported him was related to the Wang family, but because Guo Lin said this in class. It was obvious that he was trying to deceive Wang Ziteng and sow discord between the Jia and Wang families.

Since he could become the deputy chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, it means he is not a fool. It is too unreasonable for him to act so directly and rashly.

Unless he was instructed by someone, who else could have instructed a deputy chief eunuch? It could only be the Emperor Jiazhao who ruled the world.

Guo Lin set a fire but acted as if nothing had happened.

He said to Jia Cong: "When Mr. Jia leaves for Jinling, the Ministry of Rites will send someone to notify him, and the Ministry of Rites will also handle all the necessary formalities. Mr. Jia just needs to wait for the news at home."

After saying this, he left without even looking at the embarrassed faces of Lady Jia and others.

Jia Cong followed him out alone: ​​"Eunuch Guo, please stay. I am very grateful to you for coming to deliver my order.

I wanted to invite you to have a drink of wine to express my gratitude, but since you have something important to do, I can only wait until next time when you are free. This is just a small token of my appreciation, even if it is just a cup of hot tea for you."

As he spoke, he took out a two hundred tael silver note from his sleeve and stuffed it into Guo Lin's hand.

Eunuchs who have been castrated have no ordinary human pleasures and are mostly obsessed only with power and money.

Guo Lin was no exception. Although he was only the deputy chief eunuch, the chief eunuch in the palace, Ouyang Bin, was over sixty years old and had always been serving the retired emperor. He seldom showed up in public.

Although Guo Lin was only the deputy chief eunuch, he was responsible for the duties of the chief eunuch and was at the pinnacle of power.

Although two hundred taels was a small amount of money in his eyes, the young man was actually quite clever. Moreover, he thought that the emperor had a special regard for the young man.

Naturally, he would not offend Jia Cong.

"Mr. Jia is already a very distinguished young man. He is a man of noble character. You should drink the tea and take advantage of his good mood."

After saying this, Guo Lin turned his eyes and said, "Today I am announcing the decree to Master Jia. You and I are destined to be together. I have something to say to you."

Jia Cong's eyes narrowed: "Please give me some advice, Eunuch Guo."

Guo Lin smiled slightly: "It is hard to guard against the trouble within the family."

Jia Cong looked at Guo Lin's departing back. This eunuch was not a good person. He set another fire before leaving.

From what Guo Lin suddenly said in the classroom just now, even he himself guessed that the mastermind behind this lawsuit was most likely the Wang family.

What I can think of, naturally, Lady Jia and Jia Zheng can also think of.

A sudden idea flashed through his mind and he thought of something, which made him feel cold all over.

Among the four kings and eight dukes of the present time, except for Shi Ding, Marquis Zhongjing of the Shi family, who is a new noble in the Jiazhao Dynasty.

Almost all the other families were surrounded by the right-hand men of the former emperor.

Back then, Duke Rong, Jia Daishan, was a close minister of the retired emperor.

Wang Ziteng became the governor of the Beijing camp because of the Jia family, and behind him stood the power of the four kings and eight dukes.

The Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp has been managed by the Ningguo branch of the Jia family for many years, and the army has many students and old friends.

When Emperor Jiazhao appointed Wang Ziteng as the governor of the Beijing camp, it was somewhat out of helplessness.

The Jiedushi of the Capital Camp was responsible for controlling the garrison of the capital, and was an important position in safeguarding the imperial power.

Would the emperor be willing to see such a fatal position being controlled by the forces of the four kings and eight dukes?

The danger of sleeping on the bed has always been the most feared by the kings, not to mention that behind the four kings and eight dukes, there is also the emperor of Chonghua Palace...

Now, Liu Wenxuan, who is the one who reported the persecution of the Jia family in the imperial examination, has an unclear relationship with Wang Ziteng's wife, Wang Zhang.

How could we not make use of this cunning Emperor Jiazhao?

That's why the Deputy Chief Eunuch Guo Lin made those cold remarks in Rong Xi Tang!

The emperor wanted to completely sever the relationship between the Wang family and the Jia family, causing the Jia and Wang families to become suspicious of each other and making Wang Ziteng a rootless duckweed.

A Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp who has lost his foundation can only rely on the emperor who is high above him, and becomes a lackey who is easily controlled by the emperor.

It's amazing, really amazing, the matter of this student suing the top scorer in the academy examination was squeezed out of all its value by Emperor Jia Zhao and used through mediation to such an extent!
(End of this chapter)