Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 178 No Reason to Bring Back Old Grudges

Wang Xifeng was indeed very good at predicting things. Just now, when Zhou Rui's wife came to see her, she happened to hear what Jia Lian said.

She knew her master, Madam Wang's, thoughts best. Now that she knew about Jia Cong's scandal, how could she not go and spread the news? She turned around and went to Rongqing Hall to be the informant.

When Grandmother Jia heard that Jia Cong had actually brought a nun home, she was so angry that she smashed the teacup on the spot.

At that time, Jia Jing from the East Palace abandoned his huge family business and became a Taoist priest, which caused a huge disturbance. The old lady had always been superstitious about monks and Taoist priests.

This beast wanted a woman, so he could go anywhere else to find one, but he chose to go to the temple to find a nun and bring her back to his house.

In the beginning, his father brought a prostitute into the house, which resulted in the death of a large number of people, even the old Duke was harmed. It caused an uproar in the city and turned the world upside down, making the nobles in the capital laugh at him enough.

This case has been weighing on Grandmother Jia's mind for more than ten years. It is the most disgusting and hateful thing in her life, otherwise she would not have disliked Jia Cong so much.

Therefore, the indescribable disgust and hatred towards this kind of woman who is not from a decent family has almost become a knot in his heart.

Now, this audacious and dirty bastard has learned from his father and actually brought such an inappropriate woman into the house.

Is it necessary to let what happened in the past happen again and let outsiders laugh at the joke again? That would be outrageous and it really touched Lady Jia's sore spot.

Furthermore, after hearing what Madam Shi Zhe said, the Shi family was her maternal family. This evil creature had done something like this, which was simply stepping on her face.

The two sins in his heart combined into one, making him even more furious.

Moreover, this kind of thing, not to mention the Jia family, any noble family, if their sons were extravagant and lusty and kept as mistresses, would be criticized, not to mention bringing them back home openly.

The news reached Jia Zheng's ears. Although he had always respected Jia Cong very much, he also felt that Jia Cong's behavior this time was a bit ridiculous.

After all, he is still a young man full of youth. He has been away from home for nearly half a year without the restraint and guidance of his teachers, so his behavior is a little too inappropriate.

However, his reaction was not as strong as that of Lady Jia. It was common for young men from aristocratic families to be full of vigor and love women, and even he himself was not immune to this.

Jia Zheng also made up his mind that when Jia Cong returned home in a few days, he would ask him to supervise and guide him more.

Nowadays, Jia Cong's reputation for poetry, calligraphy and literature has spread almost throughout the country, which is also a great honor for the Jia family. If his reputation is ruined by these romantic and frivolous people, it would be a loss.

He also sent a trusted servant to go to the dock and the city gate to inquire every day, and report the news of Jia Cong's return to the city in advance to prevent him from causing trouble and angering his mother.

……

In Daiyu's room, Yingchun and Tanchun came over to talk and laugh, and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable.

This morning I heard from Fengjie that she had received a letter from the old house in Nanjing. Jia Cong will leave Nanjing for Beijing on December 20th, and he will be able to return home in the next few days.

Several people were discussing finding some lively ways to celebrate the New Year, and the first thing they wanted to do was to ask Jia Cong whether he had any new works besides those two good poems.

At this time, Zijuan came in from outside with a worried look on her face. She said, "Miss, the old lady got angry in Rongqing Hall and even broke the teacup."

Daiyu was shocked when she heard this. Her grandmother was the ancestor of both families and had a high status. Everyone respected her very much. Who would dare to treat her so generously?

"Grandma is so angry for no reason. What happened?"

Grandmother Jia was furious in Rongqing Hall. This kind of thing could not be concealed from anyone in the mansion, and the reason for her anger was so strange. Zijuan came from Grandmother Jia's room, so naturally someone told her the news.

She was a little hesitant at first, but when she saw the Second and Third Young Miss were there, she thought she was not afraid. Everyone in the mansion knew that the Second Young Miss cared the most about her brother, the Third Master, and the Third Young Miss and the Second Master got along best.

He then told him everything he had heard.

The old lady also threatened that if Master Cong brought that nun back, she would not allow him to enter the house.

When Daiyu heard that Jia Cong had only met her once and then went all over Jiangnan to look for her, and even wanted to bring her back to his house, she couldn't help feeling sad.

There really is such a good person who has won his heart, but on second thought, he felt something was wrong.

Brother Cong is such a smart person, how could he do such a ridiculous thing and give people something to talk about?

After hearing what Zijuan said, Tanchun blushed. She was ashamed that her third brother was also doing such a romantic thing. She said, "Third brother is a thoughtful person. He doesn't seem to be a reckless person. I'm afraid there are other reasons. It's just a rumor spread by outsiders. Who knows."

Yingchun was stunned for a long while before she said, "Even if I bring someone back, as long as they are willing, it's not worth it. What's important is that Brother Cong can return home safely."

A few days ago, Yingchun heard from Tanchun that although Jia Cong had done many outstanding things in Jinling, he also took many risks. For her, as long as Brother Cong returned safely, nothing else mattered.

Although Daiyu and Tanchun were puzzled about Jia Cong's affairs, they smiled at each other after hearing Yingchun's words. This second sister was always one step behind others and was too indulgent to the third brother.

As long as her brother can come back safely, the second sister probably won't worry even if he brings home a girl or causes a big disaster.

……

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

Guo Lin was holding a folded volume with an off-white cover. This cover was unique to the secret books of the Central Railway Department and had just been delivered by express horse from Nanjing.

"Your Majesty, this is a secret report sent urgently by the Central Vehicle Department from Jinling, saying that Jia Cong was assassinated in Gusu, the assassin was a personal soldier of Zou Huaiyi, the Water Supervision Department, and the mastermind was Cui Bowang, the Jinling Guards' Experience Department."

Emperor Jiazhao's eyes were as sharp as knives. He took the secret book and read it carefully.

Guo Lin said, "Your Majesty, Cui Bowang's younger brother Cui Boliang was a trusted centurion of Zou Huaiyi, the captain of the Water Conservancy Bureau. He refused to fight and was killed by Jia Cong on the spot in Zou's mansion.

Cui Bowang assassinated Jia Cong in order to avenge his brother. Fortunately, Jia Cong escaped the assassination and was only slightly injured, which was not serious. "

Emperor Jia Zhao sneered: “If this is just an assassination due to personal vendetta, it is nothing.

But why could the people of Jinling Guards command the personal soldiers of the Water Supervision Department, and Cui Bowang was killed as soon as he was defeated? The more they try to cover up, the more obvious it is. They really think everyone in the world is a fool!"

After hearing this, Guo Lin felt awe in his heart. The emperor seemed to be suspicious of the Jinling Guards, but he had no concrete evidence. If this was true, then where in the whole of Jinling would be clean?

This time, the emperor ordered him to send a secret agent from the Central Vehicle Department to Jiangnan. In addition to collecting information on major cases from the Water Conservancy Department and monitoring the actions of personnel sent from Shenjing, he also investigated and collected information on the people's livelihood and political affairs in Jiangnan.

Although Jiangnan was an important tax-collecting area of ​​the imperial court, private salt trafficking, banditry, abuse of power by gentry and wealthy families, and land annexation caused disasters to the people. All these problems accumulated over time, and the prosperous area was now in a difficult situation.

The garrisons in various places were responsible for defending the territory and ensuring the safety of the people. Among them, Nanjing was the most important place in the south of the Yangtze River, and a single move would affect the entire body. The emperor had some concerns, and there was no concrete evidence, so he kept it secret.

At this time, the eunuch outside the door came to report that the Minister of War Gu Yankui was waiting to see him outside the hall.

During this period, Gu Yankui was ordered to prepare for the establishment of a firearms battalion, select personnel from the five military camps, and purchase additional firearms, etc., all of which have made some progress.

This time, he went to the palace to meet the emperor, to present to him the strategy for setting up the firearms camp that he had spent so much effort to write.

Emperor Jiazhao looked at the strategy presented by Gu Yankui. Although it was not amazing, it was mature and prudent. He also encouraged this old minister.

He added: "Now the blood and courage of the soldiers in the various guards are weak and their fighting power is not strong. I want to promote the method of firearms to help them. Gu Aiqing should work harder in this regard."

After Gu Yankui left, Emperor Jiazhao asked Guo Lin again:
"Yesterday, Li Dekang from the Ministry of Works reported that the main hall of Da Ci'en Temple has been completed and consecrated, and the empress dowager's shrine has been enshrined. Why hasn't Jia Cong returned to the capital to submit his report yet?"

"Your Majesty, I have received news that Jia Cong has already set out from Nanjing on the 20th of this month. He will arrive in Beijing in the next few days to submit his decree."

What Emperor Jia Zhao was thinking at this time was that Jia Cong had quite a lot of insights into firearms. It was he who proposed the three-stage attack method that day. Perhaps he could help Gu Yankui.

Moreover, Jia Cong assisted Prince Ning in solving a major case at the Water Inspectorate in Jinling, and his outstanding achievements were obvious to all.

Although Emperor Jia Zhao rejected Prince Ning's request for merit for Jia Cong, he found that Jia Cong, as a scholar, had already been awarded the seventh-rank official title and it was not appropriate to confer him a higher official title.

Despite this excuse, it does not mean that Jia Cong will not be rewarded for his merits, but that the favor must come from the top.

He has not forgotten how he ascended the throne. It has always been a taboo for emperors for princes to make friends with their subjects.

Jia Cong played a very special role in the dispute over building a temple to rest the body of Empress Dowager Xianxiao and rectifying filial piety and etiquette.

Now that the grand temple has been built and the shrine has been established, Emperor Jiazhao naturally wants to complete the task, and Jia Cong's reward must also come from this, just like doing something, it must have a beginning and an end to make it more legitimate.

(End of this chapter)