Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 119: First Meeting with Qin Keqing

Jia Cong was shocked when he heard this. He was about to go to Jinling when something like this happened. He asked, "Were those murderous Japanese wanderers captured later?"

Qu Hongxiu shook his head: "Although this happened more than ten days ago, the Jinling Guards are incompetent, and the group of Japanese wanderers are still at large.

There may be some risks in Jinling City. When you go there, just copy your scriptures to prevent any danger. Don't cause any other trouble to avoid unnecessary complications."

Jia Cong felt a little warm in his heart when he heard the earnest emotion in Qu Hongxiu's words.

However, he was not too worried about the safety of his trip to Nanjing. This time he was on a mission from the emperor. The Da Ci'en Temple was built for the emperor's biological mother, Buddha, and was heavily guarded by troops.

The old house of the Jia family where he lived was in Longxingfang, Jinling. Within a stone's throw of the road, there were important government offices such as the Yingtian Prefecture Government Office and the Jinling Thousand Households Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It is an important place in Jinling with strict defenses. As long as you stay in the Jia family's old house, you will be absolutely safe. You just need to be more cautious when going in and out on a daily basis.

However, the garrison troops were several times larger than the Japanese ronin, and yet they were unable to resist.

Is it that the fighting power of the official army of the Great Zhou is too weak, or that the fighting power of these Japanese ronin is too strong?

When Jia Cong was in the academy, he heard a lot about foreigners, plus some of his experiences in his previous life.

It is known that many of these ronin were down-and-out samurai who were involved in the struggles for the Japanese shogunate. They believed strongly in the spirit of Bushido and valued sacrifice for their own lives.

In addition, Japanese swords are known for their fineness and sharpness, and their reputation remains high in later generations.

In recent years, the Great Zhou has enjoyed peace for a long time. The officers and soldiers in the garrisons have been slack in their military preparations, their pay has been seriously unpaid, and their combat effectiveness has become increasingly weak. In comparison, it is no surprise that those Japanese ronin are rampant.

Qu Hongxiu took out another scimitar, which was wider and longer than the one she used herself. The handle was simple and antique, with a restrained beauty of craftsmanship.

"You have practiced swordplay for two years, you should have a sword that is more suitable for you. I asked an expert to forge this sword for you. I wanted to give it to you after you came back, but in this situation, you should take it with you for self-defense first."

She put the knife in a package and stuffed it into his hand, then straightened his collar, turned and left. Then she turned back and looked at Jia Cong with her bright eyes, seeming to be hesitant.

After a while, he took out a square iron plate from his arms and said: Keep this iron plate and don't let anyone see it. If you really encounter any emergency, go to Yao's Liquor Shop in Xinghua Lane.

Show this iron plate to the lady in the display cabinet, and someone will come to help you. Remember, don’t use this iron plate unless it is absolutely necessary.”

Jia Cong was startled when he heard this. In the past few years, he had been practicing sword with Qu Hongxiu, who had always taught him hand in hand. The young man and woman were touching each other's skin and whispering to each other, and it was no exaggeration to say that they were very intimate.

Together, the two of them managed to run the Xiuniang Incense Shop prosperously, which was a lot of fun. After spending several years together, they had unknowingly become an indispensable part of each other.

They can talk about anything except one topic which is taboo, that is the hidden door.

Jia Cong knew that Qu Hongxiu had long been tired of the wandering and killing. In recent years, she had been trying to get rid of the shadow of the Hidden Sect. However, the scars left by many years made her unconsciously get involved when she felt danger.

Just like a drowning person, at the critical moment of life and death, will subconsciously grab the rope that she thinks is the strongest and most effective.

Jia Cong understood what this iron plate represented, and he also understood the meaning of Qu Hongxiu's words that this iron plate should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary.

Jia Cong smiled at her and said, "Don't worry, wait for me to come back."

He smiled again and said, "Jinling is a prosperous and luxurious place in the world, where rich merchants and nobles gather, and the extravagance is even better than that of the capital. I will go there to see if there is a suitable place, so that we can open a branch of Xiuniang Incense Shop in the future."

After hearing this, Qu Hongxiu lowered her head and smiled, as beautiful as a beautiful flower: "You are a scholar, how can you only think about making money?"

Qingwen's voice came from behind: "Third Master, it's time to get on the boat."

Jia Cong looked back and saw Qingwen standing not far behind him. The river breeze blew her skirt, but her eyes were glancing in front of Jia Cong.

Wu Er was directing the servants to carry the luggage to the boat. When Jia Cong looked back, Qu Hongxiu had ridden away, looking back at him from time to time.

Qingwen came up, blinked her beautiful eyes, and asked curiously, "Third Master, who is this girl? I've never seen her before."

The little girl sniffed with her upturned nose: "Third Master, you smell so good, and so does this package. It's a nice feminine scent. Hmm, I seem to have smelled it before."

Jia Cong looked puzzled. This girl was really stupid. It had been so many years, but she could still remember it.

At this time, someone said, "This is the official of Rongguo Mansion."

Jia Cong looked back and saw a man with a refined and elegant appearance, wearing a fifth-grade official robe with a blue pattern.

"It is Jia Cong from Rongguo Mansion. What is this gentleman's name?"

The man smiled and said, "I am Qin Bangye, the official in charge of the Ministry of Works. This time I am going to Jinling on the same ship as the official in charge of the Ministry of Finance."

Jia Cong was stunned. It turned out that he was Qin Bangye, the engineer who was traveling with him this time, and the father of Qin Keqing and Qin Zhong.

Jia Cong quickly responded, "Lord Qin and my uncle are colleagues and superiors in the Ministry of Works. I dare not ask Lord Qin to address me as Feng Yi Lang. Just call me Jia Cong."

It can be seen that Qin Bangye has a good impression of Jia Cong. In fact, it is not surprising. Jia Cong won the first place in the imperial examination at a young age and was awarded an official title by Emperor Jiazhao.

He has become the most famous person in the capital. The young man has shown his talent and is almost like a mascot of the neighborhood in the eyes of others.

Besides, Qin Bangye was a man who wanted his son to become successful, so he felt close to Jia Cong, who was successful at a young age.

Qin Bangye smiled and said, "Then I will be too arrogant to call you my nephew."

The two stood there and exchanged a few words, the topic of which was nothing more than the construction of Da Ci'en Temple.

At this time, Jia Cong saw a carriage stopped not far away. First a maid got off the carriage, followed by a kind-looking woman and a young man with red lips and white teeth.

The last person to get off the bus was a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen. She had shoulders like a knife, a waist like a willow, a slender and graceful figure, a fair complexion, red lips and white teeth.

The maid helped the girl down from the carriage. For a moment, the girl's gorgeous and beautiful face seemed to eclipse everything around her.

Jia Cong gets along with the sisters in the back house every day. Daiyu, Tanchun and Yingchun are all extremely beautiful women, but this girl's appearance is so different from others that it unexpectedly makes him dazed for a moment.

At this time, the maid took out a veiled hat, put it on the girl, and helped her onto the stern of the official ship. The woman and the young man followed her onto the ship.

It seems that they should be Qin Bangye's family, and the girl with stunning beauty must be Qin Keqing.

……

The tall official ship slowly turned around in the dock, the huge sails were raised, and the official ship sailed against the waves in the Liuyang River and headed into the distance.

Jia Cong leaned on the bow of the boat, looking at the majestic and magnificent Shenjing, which gradually drifted away with the thousands of acres of clear waves until it disappeared from his sight.

He finally left Shenjing for the first time. Does this mean that his world will become more and more vast in the future?

He opened the package that Qu Hongxiu had given him. In addition to the scimitar, there was also a newly made long gown and a black iron bottle with a long neck and a round belly.

On the second-floor ship, a window was opened, and a girl as beautiful as a rose leaned out to look out at the boundless blue waves. The river breeze blew her hair, adding to her elegance and charm.

As her eyes moved, she saw a young man standing on the bow. He was wearing a sky-blue Confucian robe and had a handsome face. He was opening a package in his hand and examining it carefully. The river breeze blew, and his clothes fluttered, making him look like a banished immortal.

(End of this chapter)