Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 316: The Law of Gratitude and Grudge
Listening to Huang Hongcang reading out the imperial edict, everyone in the Rongxi Hall had an expression of unspeakable shock on their faces and almost lost their normal state.

Even Jia's mother, who was so old, could not stand kneeling for long. She continued to kneel there in a daze, looking a little at a loss, until Huang Hongcang finished reading the imperial edict.

After hearing the imperial edict, Jia She and Mrs. Xing's faces turned pale. Jia She was even more jealous. He lowered his head slightly and stared at Jia Cong who was kneeling in front of him.

He thought back to a few years ago, when he despised and beat the evil beast he had treated every day out of resentment for not being able to inherit the mansion, and he unexpectedly became an earl.

Jia She was filled with anger and indignation. How could this be possible? This beast was only very old, yet the emperor was so kind to him. How could this beast deserve such a favor?

He couldn't even get involved in the Rongguo Mansion, but this beast actually got the Ningguo Mansion. He was really pissed off!

When Jia Zheng heard the imperial edict appointing Jia Cong as Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, adding a silver seal and a blue ribbon, and conferring the title of second-class Weiyuan Earl, his head began to buzz.

The Jia family truly had a son of heaven. Brother Cong was awarded the title of Yinqing Guanglu Dafu, which is a third-rank civil official honor, and was also granted the second-class title of Weiyuan Earl, a combination of civil and military talents!
He... is not even old enough to dance with an elephant, but he can actually do this. This is incredible. The Jia family will be able to revive from now on. The ancestors have blessed us with such a talent!
At this moment, Jia Zheng seemed to be unable to hear the following passionate words such as the imperial edict of granting the iron certificate and hereditary succession, and was completely overwhelmed by the ecstasy.

After hearing the imperial edict, Mrs. Wang, who was kneeling behind, was almost fainted with jealousy. She glanced at Baoyu who was kneeling beside her, her eyes full of injustice.

Last time, the clan government proposed to make Jia Cong the crown prince of Rong state, and this kid almost got the title of Rong state. Fortunately, it was rejected by the old lady in the end, which made Mrs. Wang breathe a sigh of relief.

But no one would have expected that within two months, this guy himself was conferred the title of Earl by the Emperor...

He is no longer the heir of the Ningguo lineage, so why should the Ningguo Mansion be awarded to him? You should know that the luxury of the Ningguo Mansion is even greater than that of the Rongguo Mansion. She was not convinced in her heart, she really was not convinced!

Jia Lian also looked at Jia Cong in shock. I haven't inherited the title yet, but this kid has become a baron first. It's good this way. In the future, both brothers will be lords, which will be decent to say.

However, if Jia She knew about Jia Lian's irrational idea, he would probably be beaten to death by his father.

……

Huang Hongcang saw that after he had read out the imperial edict, the Jia family members seemed to be frightened and were still kneeling there in a daze. It was estimated that they were deeply shocked in their hearts.

Huang Hongcang was a high-ranking official of the third rank. All those who were summoned and rewarded by him were of high rank and above ordinary favors. Half of the families who received the rewards were extremely happy.

This scene before him was something Huang Hongcang was used to seeing.

In his opinion, although Jia Cong was young, he was a man of both literary and military skills, and was dazzling. He had made many achievements in Liaodong, and the victory of Qingyuanji annihilated the Jurchens in one fell swoop. It was a glorious victory that almost destroyed the country.

If he were not so young and had little military experience, even the title of marquis could be discussed. Although the title of second-class earl was considered a favor, it was not out of the ordinary considering his achievements.

However, as Huang Hongcang was the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the right-hand man of the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan Guo Youchang, he naturally knew some inside stories of the enthronement ceremony here.

In the list of honors and awards submitted by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel that day, Jia Cong was recommended to be awarded the second-class title of Weiyuan Earl, which was a lower rank and inherited title. This was also the usual practice for officials to formulate awards and honors.

The titles and salaries will be lowered so that it will be easier for the emperor to show more grace.

According to the expectations of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, based on Jia Cong's great contribution in exterminating the Jurchens, the Emperor would grant him a special favor by allowing him to inherit the title without being demoted for three generations. This would be just right.

But no one expected that the extent of His Majesty’s favor would be beyond their expectations…

At this moment, Huang Hongcang wanted to see how ecstatic the young man was to receive the emperor's grace. After all, those Jia family members who came to welcome the emperor's order were a little out of control, let alone a young man.

But he did not see the scene he had imagined. Although Jia Cong had a look of joy on his face, his expression was respectful and high-spirited, without any sign of confusion or ecstasy.

Huang Hongcang, an old official who has been in officialdom for half his life, had to look at him with new eyes.

I couldn't help but nod slightly. He charged into the battlefield, killed the enemies, and annihilated thousands of soldiers. He was indeed broad-minded and magnanimous. Compared with those people of the Jia family, he was incomparable. It was no wonder that the emperor...

"Marquis Weiyuan, accept the order!" "Your Majesty, I, Jia Cong, kowtow to thank you for your great grace. Long live the emperor!"

Jia Cong knew that he had made remarkable achievements in wiping out the Jurchens in Liaodong this time, and it was inevitable that he would be granted a title, but his own estimate was basically the same as that of Jia Mu.

The possibility of awarding him the first-class viscount is the greatest. After all, the dynasty is now at its peak, and the merit of exterminating the enemy is not related to the survival of the country.

Moreover, I am inherently deficient in terms of age and qualifications. Besides, the current emperor has a reputation for being ungrateful and thrifty, so the rank of first-class viscount is just right, and that should be it.

He thought that although he could be granted the title of Earl, the possibility seemed slim. However, he did not expect that Emperor Jia Zhao would actually grant him the title of Earl and grant him the privilege of hereditary succession.

This was really a pleasant surprise for him, so he shouted "Long live the Buddha" very sincerely.

……

At this time, Grandmother Jia asked Yuanyang and Amber to help her back to Rongqing Hall.

The scene of the imperial edict being announced in Rong Xi Hall was so shocking that Grandmother Jia's mind was still a mess and she has not come back to her senses until now.

In Rongqing Hall, Mrs. Chen, wife of Marquis Baoling, Mrs. Li, wife of Marquis Zhongjing, Wang Xifeng, Li Gongcai and other female relatives were already waiting there.

Naturally, they all knew the content of the decree announced in Rong Xi Hall.

Wang Xifeng looked a little dazed. Some time ago, she had been pretending to be pitiful in front of Lady Jia, and had tried her best to prevent the third son Cong from taking away the title of her family.

Unexpectedly, not long after that, the third brother Cong earned the title of earl, which made Wang Xifeng very unhappy. The third brother Cong was really going to heaven.

Li Gongcai was holding Jia Lan's little hand and whispering instructions to him, probably asking him to follow his uncle's example and eventually win an imperial decree for her.

Aunt Xue also heard the news that Jia Cong was conferred the title of Earl. She couldn't help but be excited, and hurried to Rongqing Hall to congratulate the old lady.

Baochai was originally talking to her sisters in Qingzhizhai, but was dragged by Aunt Xue to Rongqingtang to congratulate them.

Baochai was reluctant to go at first. She was intelligent and sharp-sighted by nature, so she knew what her mother was thinking. It was nothing more than that the Cong brothers were conferred titles, and her mother had some ideas in her mind.

Among these sisters, only Baochai was not so happy about Jia Cong's title.

Because she knew very well that Jia Cong was now a hereditary earl, and many people would be watching him.

Would he marry the daughter of an imperial merchant? Only a noble lady from an official family like Lin Daiyu would be a good match for him. The thought in his heart had become extremely slim.

At this juncture, she really didn't want to go to Rongqing Hall to join in the fun, let people see what she was thinking, and embarrass herself for nothing.

But Baochai could not resist her mother's insistence. After all, she had always been filial, so she followed reluctantly.

Mrs. Chen, wife of Marquis Baoling, and Mrs. Li, wife of Marquis Zhongjing, were both busy congratulating their aunt, and their words praised Jia Cong as if he was about to bloom.

Chen looked around the hall with her eyes, and couldn't help but feel angry in her heart. Where had Xiangyun gone again? Why was she still running around at this time...

When Lady Jia saw Aunt Xue coming with Baochai to congratulate her, Aunt Xue's face was full of joy, as if she had been conferred the title herself. Baochai, who was standing aside, did not do anything to please her, but just stood there silently.

Grandmother Jia took one look at the pretty Baochai and sighed secretly.

(End of this chapter)