Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 293 Hui Xin Persuades to Resign

Aunt Xue, who was standing by, looked happy when she heard this. She thought that her brother-in-law was an official outside and had seen a lot of the world, so he was a truly wise man.

Then she heard Grandmother Jia slamming the table and shouting, "What nonsense you are talking about! You don't even think about the fact that your brother was a scoundrel in the past, but you studied hard and made progress.

But your father still let your brother inherit the title. Don't you know why? It's because in aristocratic families, there is an order of seniority and distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Without rules, there can be no order.

Only in this way can you have a prosperous and long-lasting family, otherwise everything will be in chaos!

Any capable young man would be given the title and property regardless of whether he was legitimate or illegitimate. How would those weak young men survive then?

That kid has been a capable person since he was young. Now he has earned merit and returned. If he is allowed to inherit the title, and he gets into trouble one day, wouldn't his whole family suffer with him?

Don’t you think about it? He has been a cold-hearted person since he was a child. If he really gains power, what will happen to Baoyu and Lian'er in the future?

You are a father, but you never think about my Baoyu. Your mind is always elsewhere!

These words left Jia Zheng speechless. He seemed to think that what Jia Mu said made some sense, but also made no sense. As for whether Jia Cong would harm Baoyu and Lian'er in the future, he simply did not believe it.

Grandmother Jia said bitterly, "Duke Qi was also friends with your father in the past, and the eight dukes were of the same blood. Now he is really forgotten. He actually came up with such an idea to disturb my family. It's really abominable!"

If the Duke of Qi heard this, he would probably bang his head against the wall. He had good intentions in the palace to help Jia Cong propose the title, but in the end, he was blamed by the Jia family.

The only thing to blame is Zheng Yushu, who mentioned the names of Minister Peng of the Ministry of War and the Duke of Qi in order to praise Jia Cong's achievements and show that all high-ranking officials in the court said that Jia Cong had the qualifications to inherit the title.

Grandmother Jia had been a duke and imperial edictant for most of her life, so naturally she knew something about officialdom. It was impossible for a civil official to suggest conferring a title on a military official, so this idea could only have come from the Duke of Qi.

But Grandmother Jia didn’t know that Emperor Jiazhao also played a role in this…

……

At this time, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall, and Wang Xifeng almost ran in.

What happened in Rongqing Hall could not be concealed at all. There were as many spies in this mansion as a sieve, and the news just now was quickly reported to Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng envied the lady and the imperial edict and title she received the most.

She always thought that money was easy to earn, but this imperial edict was not the most difficult to obtain. It was the most honorable and dignified thing in a woman's life.

Last time, Jia Cong's biological mother was posthumously conferred the title of a fifth-rank concubine, which made Wang Xifeng extremely envious.

If a woman who has been dead for more than ten years can still be posthumously conferred an imperial title, it is better than having lived for more than ten years in vain.

Her only hope was that her man would inherit the title decades later, and she would be granted an imperial decree, which would then fulfill her lifelong dream.

Now, he heard that the clan affairs office was going to give Jia Lian's position as the crown prince to Jia Cong, who had made military achievements abroad. This was unacceptable, so he rushed to Rongqing Hall in a rage to seek help.

As soon as he entered the hall, he knelt down in front of Lady Jia with tears on his face, which scared Lady Jia and others.

"Madam, although our Second Master is not as capable as our Third Brother, he is your eldest grandson. He has always been filial and obedient to you, and has been busy running around the house all day long.

Even though he has no merit, he has worked hard. Old Madam, please don't take away the Second Master's position as the Crown Prince. Otherwise, how can I face people in the future? It would be better for me to die."

After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she did not stand up but knelt there sobbing. She was charming and graceful, with tears in her eyes, which made her very sympathetic.

Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "You are also confused. Why do you have to do this? I am not dead yet, and no one in this family can turn the tables!

Lian'er is my eldest grandson from the eldest house, so I naturally know his good points. Over the years since you married into the Jia family, you have taken good care of me, an old woman, and I always remember your kindness in my heart.

I have said that there is an order of seniority and distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. This title will belong to Lian'er in the future, and no one can take it away."

When Mrs. Wang heard this, her face froze slightly. This "who" not only refers to Jia Cong, but probably also includes her Baoyu. The rosary in Mrs. Wang's hand began to spin faster again...

Grandmother Jia said to Jia Zheng: "Write a letter to Cong'er and explain the matter clearly, so that he won't have any improper thoughts when he comes back, which will make everyone embarrassed!"

What Jia's mother said put the final conclusion to the matter.

When Aunt Xue heard this, she could hardly hide the disappointment on her face.

……

Behind the screen, Daiyu pulled Tanchun and Yingchun, and the three of them quietly left Rongqing Hall.

The three of them were a little depressed along the way. Just now, except for Jia Zheng and Aunt Xue, everyone else in the hall seemed to be united in their hatred of Jia Cong's inheritance of the title, which was a little frightening.

Yingchun suddenly said, "It would be terrible if Brother Cong received the title. How would he survive in the family in the future?"

Daiyu and Tanchun both looked at Yingchun in surprise, with some admiration in their eyes.

This second sister usually doesn't cry out in pain when she's pricked by a needle and she doesn't talk much, but when it comes to her brothers, she suddenly becomes smart and wise, which is a strange thing.

When Yingchun saw two pairs of bright eyes looking at her with interest, she suddenly felt a little panicked and touched her face.

He became a little confused again, opened his eyes wide, and asked, "Is there something wrong with me?"

Tanchun sighed and said, "Second sister, you are actually a very smart person." Yingchun asked curiously, "Look at what you said, do you think I am stupid?"

Tanchun couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard this. She was pretty, charming and attractive.

Even Daiyu's lips twitched as she said to Tanchun, "Don't tease Second Sister anymore. She is absolutely right.

My third brother has already become an official of the sixth rank. With his military achievements this time, the emperor will surely promote him. He is so young, but he is already so capable. It will be easy for him to become an official of the first or second rank in the future.

This title is a rare thing for others, but it means nothing to my third brother. If he really wants this title, I'm afraid my grandmother, my second brother Lian, and my sister Feng will all hate him.

It’s even harder to say about the others… Just like my second sister said, how can we survive in the family in the future?”

Tanchun said with some pride: "That's right. Others care about this useless title of nobility. It means nothing to Third Brother."

But on second thought, he became anxious again. His third brother was far away in Liaodong and had no idea about this. If this became true and he really got the title, that would be terrible.

Daiyu said, "I heard from my father that the Imperial Clan Court is responsible for the royal family and the children of nobles, and they only listen to the emperor.

So the clan officials came to the palace to report this matter, most likely because the emperor asked them to do so."

Tanchun asked curiously, "The emperor is quite good to my third brother and is even thinking of letting him inherit the title."

Daiyu tilted her head and thought for a while, her beautiful brows slightly frowned. After all, she was still young, a girl who never stepped out of the house, and had not seen much of the outside world.

But she was naturally smart and intelligent, and she felt something was wrong.

"Is the emperor good to my third brother? I don't think so, but it is true that my third brother cannot accept this title.

Although my grandmother was extremely reluctant about this matter, she did not tell the official from the clan affairs office in person. She must have been afraid of offending the emperor by opposing it in person. Yes, that must be the case.

Grandmother asked my second uncle to write a letter to my third brother, hoping that he would not agree to this matter himself, so that even the emperor would not force him to do so, and the matter would be rejected, and it would not harm the Jia family. "

Yingchun opened her eyes wide and looked at Daiyu with admiration: "Sister Lin, you are so smart. How did you come up with such a difficult thing?"

Tanchun's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she said, "Sister Lin, if you were a man, you would be as capable as Third Brother."

Daiyu blushed and said, "What's the big deal? My father has been an official for many years, and I have heard a lot of things around him since I was a child."

Tanchun frowned and said, "I just hope that Master will write a letter soon to let Third Brother know that he cannot take the position of the Crown Prince, otherwise he will cause a lot of trouble out of thin air."

Daiyu said, "Second uncle has always valued third brother the most. I'm afraid there are some things he can't say. This letter is difficult to write..."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Mengpo Zhai Study.

Jia Zheng picked up his pen and wrote a few lines, then crumpled the paper into a ball. He found it really difficult to start writing the letter. Cong'er knew nothing about this, so how could he start writing?

Suddenly he saw Tanchun entering the study, and he was a little surprised, because Baoyu and Jia Huan usually came to this study, of course, because he wanted to test their homework...

But sisters like Tanchun seldom come.

Tanchun asked timidly, "Master, are you writing a letter to my third brother?"

Jia Zheng asked curiously, "How do you know?"

"Sister Lin and I heard it behind the screen just now."

Jia Zheng smiled bitterly and said, "I see. It's just that I find it hard to write this letter to Cong'er. This matter has nothing to do with him, yet he has to write such a letter."

Tanchun's eyes sparkled when she heard this. Could it be that Sister Lin was so good at fortune-telling that she even guessed this...

Tanchun said, "Master, my third brother is very capable. Even without this title, he will surely be very outstanding in the future.

If the master finds it difficult to say it, it would be better for us sisters to write the letter.

"Third brother has been close to us since he was young, so he will definitely listen to our words. It is best for him not to accept this title."

Jia Zheng's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said, "Tan'er, what you said makes sense. You sisters are close, so naturally there is no need to be shy about talking to each other.

With your third brother's military and literary skills, he will be able to achieve fame and honor in the future. Or... a harmonious family brings prosperity. Please explain this to him."

Tanchun took out a letter from behind her and said, "Please send it to my third brother, Master."

Jia Zheng was surprised: "How come you have even written the letter?"

Tanchun blushed and said, "After leaving Rongqing Hall, my second sister and I discussed it. Sister Lin wrote a letter with her own handwriting, and the master's meaning was all written in the letter."

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "Miss Lin is also smart. You are all good children who know how to cherish your brothers."

(End of this chapter)