Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 188: The Imperial Edict Reveals the Sacred Heart

Liu Jizu presented the scroll and brocade box in his hand to Guo Youchang's desk and said, "Sir, this is the imperial edict that the Ministry of Rites has just sent to the Temple of Heavenly Sacrifices, requiring the Ministry of Rites to announce it according to the etiquette.

I have some doubts about the content of this imperial edict, and I would like to ask the Minister to make the decision."

When Guo Youchang unfolded the edict, his eyes froze and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Then he opened the red brocade box, revealing a horn-shaped silk scroll embroidered with orchids, flowers and auspicious grasses. It was exquisite and gorgeous, exuding a luxurious and festive atmosphere.

Guo Youchang had served in the Ministry of Rites for many years and knew that this kind of imperial edict was woven by the Shensi Zhi Bureau of the Ministry of Works and it took time to produce it. But now it was delivered together with the imperial edict, which must mean that the emperor had already made the decision.

Without even opening the edict, Guo Youchang could guess the general content.

"Sir, Jia Cong is only a seventh-rank official with an idle position. It is against the norm for the emperor to grant him such a favor. The Ministry of Rites has never issued such an edict before, so there is no set rule to follow."

Guo Youchang knew that Liu Jizu, as a doctor in charge of ancestral temples, attached great importance to etiquette and rules. In the past, the imperial edicts were issued with different etiquette and pomp according to different ranks, and there could be no mistakes.

If it was an imperial edict discussed in court, before the imperial seal was used, and without the involvement of officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites could have completely returned the edict without following the standard etiquette.

But the imperial edict was different. It was an imperial decree issued directly by the emperor without the need for discussion by the cabinet or the Secretariat. It was issued solely for his own dictatorial will.

Guo Youchang thought for a moment and said, "Ji Zu, this edict cannot be viewed superficially. Its root cause is to build a temple for the Empress Dowager Xianxiao to rest in peace.

Since the construction of the Grand Temple, Jia Cong was appointed an eighth-rank official. Each of these things was not in accordance with the rules, but in the will of the emperor.

Your Majesty wants to correct filial piety, righteousness, propriety and laws; a few minor flaws are insignificant.

This edict is just a way for His Majesty to achieve a decisive victory in the dispute between filial piety and righteousness in one battle. This way, he can take care of both ends, avoid getting involved in any mess, and do it openly.

A month ago, Jia Cong made great achievements in Jinling, but the emperor rejected Prince Ning's request. Now it seems that the emperor had already made up his mind.

This edict was not only a favor to Jia Cong, but also a demonstration by the emperor to the world of his filial piety and love for his family. Only after this edict was issued did this matter come to fruition.

The day before yesterday, it was widely rumored in the court that Jia Cong presented a strategy for strengthening the army with firearms, which was grand and meticulous and won the emperor's favor. The emperor has already followed his proposal and decided to build a firearms supervisory department in the Ministry of Works.

Gu Yankui of the Ministry of War even requested that Jia Cong be allowed to join the Ministry of War to observe government affairs, and Shi Ding, Marquis of Zhongjing, also requested that Jia Cong be allowed to assist in the Fifth Army Firearms Battalion.

Fortunately, the emperor rejected it, otherwise the honor of a scholar being given the title of Jinshi would have caused an uproar.

In comparison, this decree is just an act of extending favor, which is more honorable and glorious. There is no need to worry too much, just use the fifth-rank regulations to pacify the emperor."

Guo Youchang looked at the imperial edict on the table, his mind filled with thoughts.

Whether it was his own promotion or Jia Cong's favor, they were all caused by the same thing and had the same purpose. The Ministry of Rites also spared the former Grand Sibo Li Jizon.

It’s just that this young man has extraordinary talent and luck, which is truly unheard of. Given time, his potential will be limitless.

……

Liu Jizu originally wanted to argue with reason, but after hearing what Guo Youchang said, he swallowed back what he was going to say.

He has reached this position. Although he has a somewhat rigid personality, he is not a fool. The Minister is just giving him some pointers, so he just needs to follow his lead.

He had handed over official business to Jia Cong a few days ago, and that person was just a teenager.

He was unexpectedly identified by the Minister of War and Marquis Zhongjing as having the talent to observe and manage politics. Both of them were important officials in the court, so how could they take their words lightly?

Although the proposal was rejected by His Majesty due to concerns about regulations, the young man's talent was unquestionable. I couldn't help but be shocked. How old was that boy, yet he had already reached this point.

Compared with the two, this edict is indeed not that abrupt.

……

In the twelfth year of Jiazhao, New Year's Eve, early morning.

Western City of Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

It was daybreak and the wind was cold.

Two large carriages slowly drove into the dark and deep doorway, as if they were instantly swallowed up by a ferocious beast.

It took a long time before they passed through the city gate and entered the bustling and prosperous Shenjing City.

Compared with other carriages on the road, these wide carriages looked a bit strange. The entire body of the carriage was covered with gray and white canvas, seamlessly and it was impossible to see the inside of the carriage at all.

Behind the carriage followed more than ten soldiers with swords and guns, and the drivers were all strong servants, wearing green gauze on their heads and dark brown service uniforms.

Any knowledgeable passerby on the street could recognize that these women in dark brown service uniforms were servants of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Music Bureau.

The carriages used by the Jiaofangsi to escort the convicted women would often drive into the capital from various places around the end of the year. The Jiaofangsi of the Great Zhou Dynasty was a continuation of the former Song Dynasty and was under the Ministry of Rites. Under the Jiaofangsi were the Jiaofangsi, Fuleyuan, Goulan, and Shiliulou.

Among them, the Jiaofangsi was in charge of the rituals, music, singing and dancing of the world, taught music and dancing talents, managed and prepared court banquets and music, and was directly managed by the Langguan of the Ministry of Rites.

Fuleyuan was the place where the musicians from the Jiaofang gathered.

The brothel was equivalent to a government-run theater, where the singing, dancing and musicians from the Jiaofang performed plays and miscellaneous dramas.

The sixteenth floor was located on the ground floor of the Jiaofangsi, and was mainly used to keep official prostitutes and as a place for officials and civilians to feast and have fun.

The main population source of the Jiaofangsi was the women and children of convicted officials.

There were also a small number of civilians who had no means of livelihood and were desperate, so they turned themselves in to the Jiaofangsi.

Among the women and children of criminal officials, those who are young, healthy, literate, have a good understanding of music, and are fond of arts will mostly be sent to the Jiaofangsi to be taught and trained to be musicians.

The next best ones were sent to the 16th floor to serve as official prostitutes.

The next level is those who are older or have physical illnesses, and are forced to do hard labor in various places.

But these are just common occurrences. Since he was convicted of a crime and fell into the Jiaofangsi, he had no choice.

In the man-made environment, there are countless kinds of dirty things. Even if you are classified as the top class, coveted by dignitaries and reduced to a bed plaything, it is common.

In one of the large carriages of the Jiaofangsi, more than ten women were crammed into the dimly lit interior.

Many of them were dressed as maids and servants, with dishevelled hair, pale faces, dirty clothes, and looked in a dishevelled state.

But there was a woman squeezed in the crowd who looked a little different.

Although he was a teenager, his clothes were old and shabby, but he wore them neatly. Although they were torn and stained, they did not look sloppy.

Her hair was combed neater than others, and there was an old copper hairpin stuck in her bun.

But the dirt on his face was heavier than that on others. It was so dark that his features and complexion could not be seen clearly. Only behind his ears could a bit of fair and delicate skin be seen.

The pair of little hands were red and swollen due to the cold, and had many cracks on them, making them look a little ugly.

She huddled in the crowd to avoid the cold air coming in from the carport, and her frostbitten hands often touched her waist intentionally or unintentionally.

Inside the clothes, there was a jade belt, a tiger-patterned jade leather belt, made of twelve pieces of top-grade Hetian white jade, with delicate carvings.

When the woman in her family was imprisoned in Nanjing, a man she didn't know came to see her and her mother once, saying that he was a former colleague of her father, although he only came once.

But he saved the lives of the mother and daughter. They were in the Jinyiwei prison, so they were not abused or insulted. But that was all. No one could save them.

Her mother died after two months in prison, probably because she didn't want to live anymore.

But she didn't want to die. She was still young and didn't want to die like this.

Since leaving Jinling and being sent to the Shenjing Jiaofangsi, the protection of the man who claimed to be his father's colleague has come to an end.

Along the way, she smeared her face with ashes, and her little hands were frozen into an ugly shape. She also exchanged the only gold hairpin on her body for a copper hairpin with the maid who was guarding her.

Because copper is much harder than gold, she secretly sharpened one end of the copper hairpin to make it extremely sharp and inserted it into her hair bun when she slept at night so that no one could notice.

When it becomes impossible to do anything else, you can stab someone to death, or kill yourself.

The jade belt around her waist has never left her since that day in Ziyun Pavilion. It was once her most beautiful fantasy, but also her most humiliating memory.

"I don't necessarily have to buy it. Since this lady likes it, I'll give it to you."

They just said this. Now thinking about why he appeared there, this sentence was full of conspiracy, deception and cruelty.

At his father's magnificent birthday banquet attended by many guests, he rushed into the house with countless soldiers and forced his father into a desperate situation.

She saw with her own eyes her father committing suicide in front of her. No matter how much regret and hatred she felt, she could not wash away the blood at the birthday party.

Even she herself couldn't explain why she always wore this jade belt close to her body.

She only knew that he was born in the Rongguo Mansion in Shenjing, which was one of the most noble and powerful families in the world.

She thought about killing him and avenging her father, but this seemed as difficult as climbing to the sky, and she didn't know how long she could survive in the Jiaofangsi.

Even if this is wishful thinking, it is the only reason for her to live.

(End of this chapter)