Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 252: Beppu Renews Old Relationship

Rongguo Mansion, back corner gate.

Today is the day that Keqing is leaving the house. Grandmother Jia has issued an order that divorced women cannot use the east and west corner gates on either side of the main gate.

She could only go through the back corner door on the north side of Rongguo Mansion. The old lady's dissatisfaction was obvious, but she just couldn't say it out loud.

Going out of the back corner door is the back street of Judefang. Usually there are few people passing by there, so it looks empty.

There were already three carriages parked here, two of which were pulled by the Qin family, loaded with more than a dozen red-painted and gold-painted boxes.

The carriage in front was prepared by Jia Cong in advance, and Baozhu and Ruizhu were about to help Keqing get on the carriage.

On the steps of the back corner door, Youshi was dressed in plain clothes. Jia Zhen was still in mourning.

Wang Xifeng, who was standing aside, had her hair covered with pearls and jade, and wore a brocade stone-blue silver mouse coat on the upper body and a jade-sprinkled crepe skirt on the lower body. She looked elegant and graceful.

Among all the people in the mansion, only the two of them saw Keqing off, which seemed a bit desolate and lonely.

When Youshi looked at the young and beautiful Keqing, she felt a little envious.

Although Keqing divorced and left home, her parents' family was an official family and she was the eldest daughter in the family. She was very much loved by her parents and had someone to rely on when she returned home.

Unlike her own family, which was in decline and where her mother and two younger sisters were struggling to make ends meet, Youshi had no way out except to join the Jia family.

Although Wang Xifeng is aggressive and shrewd, she likes Keqing's outstanding character. Keqing has been very close to her since she married into the Jia family.

Now seeing Keqing leaving the house, Wang Xifeng felt very reluctant to let her go. No matter how powerful she was, she was just a housewife who could hardly leave the house. It would not be easy to see Keqing again in the future.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the empty back street.

There were usually few people walking in this back street, so Wang Xifeng looked around curiously.

Jia Cong was seen wearing a snow-blue light silk robe, a bamboo-patterned satin belt around his waist, and a jade hairpin in his hair. He looked incredibly handsome and capable.

Wang Xifeng saw that he was riding a big black satin horse. She recognized this horse because it was the only one in the Rongguo Mansion.

It is said that it was a gift from Prince Jiashun when Jia Cong was appointed as an official, and it has been kept in the mansion for the past two years.

Wang Xifeng asked, "Where are you going, Brother Cong?"

As for Jia Cong's appearance here, Wang Xifeng was not surprised. Jia Cong's Qingzhizhai was close to the back corner gate, and he went in and out of the back street every day when he went to the yamen.

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "Today I am on a business trip to the North Parade Ground of the Fifth Army Camp. I happened to pass by the Qin Residence in Guizhi Lane. Miss Qin is leaving today, so the Jia family should see her off, which is also a courtesy."

Wang Xifeng often went into the garden to chat with her sisters about the things happening in the Five Military Camps. She had heard Tanchun talk about it. Tanchun was most curious about what the Cong brothers were doing outside.

It was said that her brother had been going to the Fifth Army Camp to tinker with firearms recently. Naturally, she didn't know what they were specifically.

However, neither Youshi nor Wang Xifeng were stupid women, and they could sense to some extent that there was something strange in Jia Cong's words.

But Keqing has now divorced and left the house, and is no longer a daughter-in-law of the Jia family. Even if Jia Cong's behavior is a bit abrupt, others can't say anything wrong.

Keqing blushed slightly, looking indescribably shy and charming. She bowed slightly to Jia Cong and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Cong... Master Cong."

Now that she has divorced and left the Jia family, there is naturally no need for them to address each other as uncle or niece.

As Youshi watched Jia Cong riding away with the carriage, she felt a strange feeling in her heart.

Wang Xifeng, who was standing aside, kept hearing Jia Cong's words: Miss Qin is leaving home today, and the Jia family should see her off, which is considered a complete courtesy.

Miss Qin... This name revealed a strange intimacy, which always made Wang Xifeng feel uncomfortable.

She suddenly remembered that when the Ningguo Mansion was about to be raided, Jia Cong suggested that the women of Ningguo be taken to Rongguo for temporary shelter.

At that time, Jia Cong called Keqing "Miss Qin". Keqing was still Rong'er's wife. Wang Xifeng found it strange and thought it was just a slip of the tongue by Jia Cong.

Now that she thought about it carefully, Jia Cong seemed to have never called Keqing "Rong'er's wife". Instead, he called her Miss Qin very easily, as if he was used to it.

It was as if he knew that Keqing would not be able to be Rong'er's wife for long. Wang Xifeng's mind was sharper than that of ordinary people, and when she thought of all the clues, she couldn't help feeling a little scared.

Thinking back to that day in Rongqing Hall, Jia Cong spoke so strongly to defend Keqing, and today he said it was just on his way, but looking at his posture, it was clear that he came prepared.

This is not just a farewell, it's more like sending a daughter-in-law back to her parents' home!

Could it be that Keqing decided to divorce and leave the house just for this boy?
Wang Xifeng suddenly understood something, and her bright eyes flashed with gossip.

You are so bold, Mr. Cong, that you actually did such a thing!
……

Jia Cong sent Keqing to the vicinity of Guizhifang and stopped the carriage.

It was inconvenient for him to send Keqing to Qin's house, as Keqing had just divorced and left the house, and Qin Ye knew about his past with Keqing.

Given Qin Ye's nature of clinging to power, he would rather his daughter live a wealthy and luxurious life as a widow in the Jia family than divorce her and go home.

But now Keqing is back, which must be against Qin Ye's original intention.

If Jia Cong showed up at this time, Qin Ye would definitely be suspicious, and if something went wrong, Keqing would not be able to stay in her natal family. Although Keqing could not stay in her natal family for the rest of her life, it was the most appropriate place for her to stay at the moment.

He had almost lost her, and now that he had finally turned things around, he would not let this happen again.

He didn't want to be a moral gentleman. The most important thing for him to do was to completely possess a woman he liked and who liked him.

The world is full of strict ethics and the patriarchal system is powerful, but these are nothing to him. There are always many ways to use.

Keqing naturally understood Jia Cong's thoughts. He was concerned about his situation at home and felt a little sad.

She asked Ruizhu to take the other two carriages back home first. Jia Cong asked Jiang Liu to lead his horse and he drove the carriage to the south of the city.

In fact, he didn't have any destination. It's just that so many things had happened since they separated in Jinling, and he didn't want to miss such an opportunity to be alone.

The carriage was running briskly on the official road in the south of the city. The strong wind blew open the curtains, revealing a pretty face as beautiful as a rose.

There was an intoxicating smile on his face, filled with relief of being freed from shackles. He looked at the handsome and clear-minded young man driving the car, his eyes full of attachment and affection.

The sky is filled with mist and the roadside flowers are in full bloom.

Finally the carriage stopped, and the world seemed to be quiet at this moment.

The car curtain was gently lifted, and a pair of beautiful eyes with rippling water looked at the boy's warm and gentle smile.

Her soft hands were held in a pair of warm hands, and the heat from the palms made Keqing's heart shake.

"Brother Cong..." She had called him this when she was in Jinling, and the name was filled with sweet and unforgettable memories.

Now it all seems to be coming back again.

……

Beijing Palace.

There are no luxurious furnishings in Shui Rong's study, because it is a study in the true sense.

Although the Beijing Prince's Mansion has a history of military achievements, by the time of Shui Rong's generation, they were quite interested in literary matters.

Shui Rong has loved reading poetry since he was a child. Although his literary talent is ordinary, he has strategies and lofty ambitions.

Since the decline of the Jia family, Shui Rong has become the most outstanding figure among the four kings and eight dukes with his talents.

The royal family also showed great favor to the lineage of Prince Beijing. Shui Rong's father was specially allowed to inherit the title of prince for three generations because of his meritorious service to the retired emperor. This was a unique title among the nobles.

People like Shui Rong have been born into a wealthy family and can be said to have everything, but recently there has been something on his mind that has made him a little uneasy.

At this time, a servant of the palace walked into the study and said, "Your Majesty, I have now received confirmation of the things you asked me to find out.

The woman the prince saw that day was Qin, the wife of Jia Rong from Ningguo Mansion. She was the daughter of Qin Ye, the director of the Ministry of Works.

She married into the Ningguo Mansion in June, and it has only been a few months.

Lai Er, the steward of Ningguo Mansion, was convicted and beheaded, and his son Lai Shangrong was exiled to the northwestern border as a slave because his crime was not serious.

I did him some favors and learned from him that Jia Rong was disabled and that he and Qin Shi were not married.

Shui Rong was surprised when he heard this, and a dark and deep light flashed in his eyes.

That day he went to Ningguo Mansion to search the house in accordance with the imperial order and unexpectedly saw Qin Keqing.

He was born into a wealthy royal family and had seen countless beauties in his life, so he had long been indifferent to women.

But when he suddenly saw Qin Keqing's unparalleled beauty, he was deeply captivated, as if possessed by a ghost. From then on, he could not forget her and could not sleep peacefully.

Given his status, it was extremely disgraceful for him to covet the wife of a prisoner.

Besides, although Jia Rong was convicted, his wife and children were not implicated. His wife was still the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke Jia family and her status was extraordinary, so it was impossible for him to do so.

But he still went against his usual habit and asked people to find out Qin Keqing's background.

He was not only attracted by Qin Keqing's stunning beauty, there was another reason as well.

He found that the eldest lady of the Ningguo Mansion had a very familiar appearance and demeanor. He had known this person when he was a child, and she had been dead for many years.

Although this person's family is not royal, his status and position are also very important.

Later, he found out that Qin Keqing was adopted by the Qin family and not born by blood, which made him feel that there must be something fishy going on, or even that she was a rare treasure...

"I also heard that Jia Rong had written a letter of divorce to Qin before he was taken to Qiongzhou to be executed. I heard that he will leave the mansion and return to his parents' home today."

"This is happening!"

(End of this chapter)