Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 187 Qingzhi Talks about the Countryside

In Qingzhizhai, bamboos grow slowly, and the windows and pavilions remain the same.

Jia Cong took Wu'er and Qingwen away for half a year, but the little maids Si'er and Juan'er stayed here.

Seeing them come back, they were so happy that they chattered non-stop and begged Jia Cong to take them with him next time he went out.

During the past six months, there were only two of them guarding Qingzhizhai, which must have bored the two girls.

They met the new arrivals Zhishao and Yinglian, and were particularly curious about Zhishao's black clothes.

There is one main house and five side rooms in Qingzhizhai. Even with the addition of Zhishao and Yinglian, there is still plenty of room for them to live. Jia Cong arranged them to stay in the two vacant side rooms on the east side.

By the time everyone had settled in and it was getting dark, Sister Liu from the kitchen brought in a variety of dishes that looked very sumptuous. When Jia Cong asked, he learned that Sister Liu had started preparing them at noon.

Sister Liu knew a few days ago that her daughter and her master had returned to the capital, but the old lady stopped them from entering. She had been worried the whole time, and only heaved a sigh of relief when she heard today that they were formally taken back to the mansion by Master Lian.

When it was dark, Jia Cong asked Si'er Juan'er to close the courtyard gate. The group sat together and had their first meal after returning home.

Jia Cong thought of his ups and downs in Jinling, the sudden assassination in Gusu, and the upset of being turned away a few days ago. He was indeed a little exhausted physically and mentally.

Fortunately, he found Zhishao and took Yinglian back, which reversed their original fate of loss and decline, and the trip was not in vain.

At this moment, in the closed Qingzhizhai, sitting together with these beautiful and charming people in front of him, his heart finally relaxed and calmed, and he felt a simple satisfaction and joy.

……

The next day.

At daybreak, Qingzhizhai began to get busy.

Various graceful figures were coming and going.

In order to adapt to Jia Cong's study at dawn every day, Wu'er, Qingwen and others got used to getting up early.

Wu'er and Juan'er went out to get hot water for washing.

Seeing that it was a sunny day today, Qingwen took Yinglian and Si'er to move the clothes to the yard to dry in the sun. In fact, this should have been done a long time ago, but it was delayed until now because she didn't go back.

Jia Cong put on his clothes and was about to tie his lotus-patterned satin belt when suddenly a pair of hands reached out from behind him and helped him fasten the buckle.

When Jia Cong looked back, his eyes lit up.

Today, Zhishao has changed out of her Buddhist robes and put on an ordinary girl's dress, looking pretty and charming.

Her long black hair was tied up in a black bun with a shiny jade hairpin inserted in it. She wore a snow-blue satin embroidered cross-collared long jacket on her upper body, a white cotton horse-faced skirt embroidered with plum and bamboo leaves on her lower body, and a pair of bright red embroidered flower shoes on her feet.

Jia Cong recognized her outfit. It was not the reward from the palace yesterday, but the hairpin and dress he gave her in Gusu.

Zhi Shao saw Jia Cong staring at her intently, her face turned red, and she asked, "This is my first time wearing it, doesn't it look good?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "How can it not be beautiful? I am almost dazzled by it. You look really good in this outfit."

Suddenly he took her hand and said, "I am here with you from now on. It's up to you whether you like to wear a black dress or a skirt. I didn't protect you well back then, and I will never let you suffer in the future."

Zhishao's eyes turned red, and she felt confused and agitated inexplicably. She leaned gently into his arms, allowing Jia Cong to hold her tightly.

I didn't know when my two soft lips were bitten, I felt intoxicated and my whole body went limp. I struggled for a while but couldn't get free, so I let him do it.

After a while, when she heard footsteps outside, Zhishao pushed Jia Cong away with a red face.

Wu'er and Qingwen carried in a box.

Inside were pens, ink, stationery, sachets, scent beads, fans, fan pendants, pollen, rouge and other items bought from Nanjing and Suzhou.

Jia Cong and Wu'er classified the various gifts and had them delivered to the rooms of Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Li Gongcai and others.

There were also gifts for male guests and elders, which were also packed up and sent to Baoyu, Jia Lian, Jia Zheng and others. They were all simple Jiangnan items, just a courtesy.

In addition to various gifts, Daiyu also received letters from Lin Ruhai and skirts, hairpins and clothes purchased by the Lin family.

There were also several boxes of high-quality green salt, which Lin Ruhai prepared for his daughter's daily use and as gifts.

Don't underestimate those boxes of green salt, it is the most precious salt nowadays. Ordinary people use ordinary sea salt and lake salt, while green salt is the top-grade salt refined from lake salt, which can be used for direct consumption and cleaning the mouth, and only the rich can afford it.

As the Imperial Inspector of Salt, Lin Ruhai used green salt as a gift, which was a symbol of status and power that ordinary people did not have.

……

Si'er's voice came from the yard: "Second Miss, Miss Lin, Third Miss, Fourth Miss."

Then he heard Tanchun's crisp voice outside: "Let's go see Third Brother. Qingzhizhai is much more popular now. Hey, who is this girl?"

"This is Yinglian, whom the Third Master brought back from Jinling."

"What a pretty girl, this rouge mole looks so proud."

When Jia Cong came out, he saw Tanchun and Yingchun talking to Yinglian.

Yinglian is delicate and lovable, and has a very good relationship with people.

Back then in Gusu Panxiang Temple, whether it was the nun Xiushan who had a deep understanding of Buddhism, or the cold and aloof Miaoyu, as well as all the monks and nuns in the temple, they all loved her.

With such outstanding affinity, it was no problem for him to win over Tanchun and Yingchun.

Daiyu saw the woman in the new skirt and hairpin standing behind Jia Cong. She was as beautiful as a peony, elegant and refined. She was indeed an outstanding person.

Daiyu had seen her once yesterday in Rong Xi Tang. She heard that she was the maid who had served the third brother since she was a child. No wonder the third brother cared about her so much.

The sisters thanked Jia Cong for the gifts he brought back from Jiangnan, and asked about his experiences in Jiangnan, listening to him talk about the prosperity of Jinling, the elegance of Suzhou, and the ancient charm of Yangzhou.

A woman as upright and heroic as Tanchun can't help but feel relaxed.

However, Tanchun, as a woman staying at home, could not travel around the country like Jia Cong. Listening to him talking with a smile on his face, she could not help but feel her eyes aroused and her feelings immersed, as if she had been there herself.

When Daiyu heard Jia Cong talk about the plum blossoms in Panxiang Temple, she felt homesick. Then she heard Jia Cong say that her father was in good health and everything was fine. Although the father and daughter were separated by thousands of miles, she felt relieved.

Yingchun does not have the same gentle feelings as Daiyu and Tanchun. As long as her brother Cong returns safely, without any taboos, and talks about the interesting things he has seen and heard outside, she will be satisfied and has no other requests.

……

South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

Liu Jizu, a doctor of the Ministry of Rites, walked into the official residence of Guo Youchang, the new Grand Master of Rites, holding a bright yellow scroll of imperial edict and a red satin brocade box.

A few months ago, just before and after the groundbreaking of the Da Ci'en Temple in Nanjing, Li Jizon, the former Grand Master of Rites, wrote to Emperor Jiazhao to request his retirement and to leave his body.

Li Jizong is seventy years old this year. Although he has reached the age for retirement as an official, he is still in good health and can probably hold on for a few more years.

Moreover, he was well versed in etiquette and law, and served as the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of Rites for ten years. He was upright and incorruptible, and was strict in etiquette, so he was respected by scholars in the court and the country.

When Emperor Jiazhao wanted to build a temple to rest the body of his biological mother, Empress Dowager Xianxiao, there was constant opposition in the court as it went against ancestral rules and etiquette. Li Jizon, the Grand Master of Rites, was one of the foremost among them.

Later, Emperor Jia Zhao took advantage of the case of Jia Cong, the first place in the Yongzhou Academy Examination, being falsely accused, to maneuver and seize the opportunity to settle the dispute over the etiquette of the empress dowager's life and death.

The construction of the Jinling Grand Temple began, and Jia Cong was ordered to copy scriptures. As the Grand Master of Rites, Li Jizong had lost his stance on rites and laws, and he was old and had no intention of clinging to power, so he retired at the right time.

Regardless of his success or failure in political affairs, his upright demeanor has won him a good reputation in the government and the public.

Emperor Jiazhao was a pragmatic emperor. He was actually very troubled by such old ministers who were very strict with etiquette. Seeing that he took the initiative to step down, he naturally agreed.

Emperor Jiazhao did not treat this old minister badly. He gave him a thousand gold coins, a mansion, and a full salary. All the officials saw him off, and the relationship between the emperor and his minister was respectful enough.

After Li Jizon retired and returned to his hometown, Guo Youchang, who was forced by the situation to stand on the side of Emperor Jiazhao in the dispute over rituals, was appointed by the emperor as the new Grand Master of Rites.

Perhaps in Guo Youchang's heart, he never thought of reaching the pinnacle of his career in this way.

But it’s the time and the situation.

Stepping into the flowing water, he was destined to be a footnote to demonstrate the emperor's sacred heart, who had won a great victory in the dispute between filial piety and righteousness.

Moreover, he is not the only one with such a footnote.

(End of this chapter)