Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 358: Love and Self-Confidence

Jude Square, Earl's Palace.

Ever since Jia Cong learned that the Dali Temple had failed to capture Zhou Zhengyang in Jinling, he has paid more attention to recent developments in the court.

Today happened to be a day when the government offices were closed. Early in the morning, Qingwen was at the second gate, took out an envelope that was passed in, and delivered it to Jia Cong's study.

This envelope was sent by Liu Ping, a clerk at Xiuniang Incense Shop.

The group of orphans adopted by Jia Cong and Qu Hongxiu in Shenjing have now been moved to a private school run by Xinchunhao in the west of the city.

Now that Xinchunhao has a solid foundation in Jiangnan, its income is not just limited to Shenjing. It is natural for it to run a private school with complete specifications.

The private school also invited failed students and priests from Western churches to teach these orphans the necessary academic skills such as literacy, arithmetic, and the study of things.

When these male and female orphans turned thirteen years old, Jia Cong would arrange for them to work and gain experience in Xiuniang's incense shop or the women's dormitory on Xinchun Street.

Those with outstanding qualifications found during the labor process will be given intensive training, and those with ordinary qualifications will also be taught sufficient survival skills.

There were more than a dozen pieces of paper filled with words in the envelope, all of which recorded various market information circulating in Xiuniang Incense Shop and Xinchun Women's House recently.

These were the unique assignments that Jia Cong assigned to the children working in the private school. He and several students who taught the children to read explained that this was called "writing a diary."

Recording what happens around you and what you hear can be used to train children's thinking and writing skills.

Jia Cong was the top scorer in the Yongzhou county examination, a talented man whose name was known throughout the world for his poetry, and he had a dazzling aura of literary talent. Naturally, these professors and students believed what he said without a doubt.

He even supervised the schoolwork of the children who worked in private schools very carefully, and evaluated their strengths and weaknesses. After a period of adjustment, the neatness and accuracy of the diary descriptions improved greatly.

Jia Cong read every diary in the envelope in detail, and made highlights and excerpts of the important parts.

He recorded what he saw and heard in his daily observation of government affairs in the Ministry of War, his interactions and conversations with his colleagues in the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Works, and the diary records of these young men and women working in the market.

It provides him with a source of information that is as three-dimensional and complete as possible, and through mutual deduction, it also enables him to have a more three-dimensional and in-depth understanding of the things he wants to know.

……

According to the content of the letter sent by Feiyu, Zhou Zhengyang had already arranged a way to escape before Yang Hongbin arrived in Jinling.

The only reason is that before Yang Hongbin arrived in Jinling, the news of Zhou Zhengyang's arrest had already leaked to Jinling from Shenjing.

Since he could think of this, the scheming Emperor Jia Zhao would naturally think of it as well, and the relevant government offices that knew the arrest information in advance would probably not escape suspicion.

Yang Hongbin of the Dali Temple failed in handling a case in Nanjing. Given Emperor Jiazhao's style of doing things, he would definitely send more capable people to Nanjing to make up for the loss.

However, under the feet of the Son of Heaven, on the bed of the emperor, there were people who colluded with the inside and outside, secretly transmitted information, interfered with state affairs, harbored corruption and indulged in evil, which had touched the emperor's sensitive nerves.

If this is not thoroughly investigated and eradicated, there will be no future troubles. If everyone behaves like this in the future, where will the dignity of the Great Zhou Dynasty be, and where will the majesty of the emperor who governs the people be.

Over the years, Jia Cong had a lot of contact with Emperor Jia Zhao, and he had a deep understanding of the emperor's meticulous logic and sharp style of governing.

Before he stepped up his efforts to investigate the major case in Nanjing, he had to first clean up the channels through which information was leaked from Shenjing. Otherwise, no matter how many people he sent to Nanjing, it would most likely be a waste of time.

What happened in recent days also confirmed Jia Cong's speculation.

Ever since Emperor Jiazhao promulgated new policies such as reducing the tax-free land of officials and gentry and levying taxes based on land, he has been resisted by old party officials both inside and outside the court.

The Magistrates' Court relieved the king's worries and quickly arrested five old party officials of the fourth rank and above overnight, intimidating the government and the public and clearing the way for the implementation of the new policy.

Just a few days after Jia Cong received the message from Feiyu of Nanjing, the Court of Inquiry once again caused a huge stir in the capital.

On that day, four jailers from the Dali Temple who participated in the interrogation of Zhou Suqing, a Dali judge, a criminal recorder, and three clerks were all detained and interrogated by the Magistrates' Court.

Eleven officials in the Five Military Commandery who had access to the confession information from the Dali Temple were also arrested and questioned by the Court of Inquisition one after another.

Lian Gui was the commander-in-chief of the Central Army of the Five Military Commandery. Ma Shang, the hereditary third-rank General Weiyuan and grandson of Duke Zhiguo Ma Kui, was invited to the Court of Inquiry and questioned all night. He did not return for two days and was humiliated.

According to the rumors recorded by migrant workers, two petty officials from the Five Military Governor's Office who were involved in a case died from torture in the Court of Inquiry, and an official from the Dali Temple was convicted, his home was searched, and his family members were implicated and detained.

All signs indicate that the Magistrate's Court seems to have grasped some clues.

The entire Shenjing City was in turmoil, with worries and fears arising and rumors spreading.

The Tuishiyuan, a name that once could stop the crying of children in the capital, has once again entered people's vision with great momentum.

……

Qu Hongxiu and Keqing would travel thousands of miles to send a message about this matter via feathered mail, so Jia Cong could naturally understand their deep meaning.

According to Emperor Jia Zhao's way of doing things, once the channels for information leakage in Shenjing were sorted out and cleaned up, the next step would be to send capable people to Nanjing to make up for the lost clues.

He was the man who made the greatest contribution in solving the Jinling Water Supervision Bureau case. He knew the whole story of the case and all the forces involved in it in great detail.

Moreover, he was granted a title by the emperor for his achievements in Liaodong and was in the emperor's favor.

There is a great possibility that he will become a target person that the emperor can dispatch. Qu Hongxiu and Qin Keqing, who are in Jinling, vaguely guessed this possibility, so they sent Feiyu to deliver the message to him.

Two years ago, Jia Cong was just an eighth-rank scholar with a shallow foundation and an awkward position in the Rongguo Jia family.

Therefore, after Zou Huaiyi was executed, he used the excuse of copying scriptures and praying for Empress Dowager Xianxiao to withdraw from the major case of the Water Supervision Bureau in time to avoid being implicated too much.

Because at that time he vaguely realized that Zou Huaiyi was not the real mastermind behind this shocking case, and the darkness of unknown depth was not something a small show could rashly touch.

In more than two years, his status has undergone earth-shaking changes. Not only has he made amazing military achievements in Liaodong, he has also been granted the title of hereditary earl, giving him more power to protect himself.

Even so, he was unwilling to take the initiative to touch the follow-up foundation of the Water Supervision Bureau's major case.

Because the first criminal executed two years ago was Zou Huaiyi, a captain of the Jinling Water Conservancy Bureau. If there was another mastermind behind him, it would most likely be a powerful figure in the military.

Historically, any major case involving military power and authority is bound to be a dangerous matter, as if walking on thin ice. Unless it is absolutely necessary, the best option is not to touch it easily.

However, according to Jia Cong's calculations, the emperor had granted him the hereditary title of earl. Since this was a great favor, the duties he had to perform would naturally be difficult. There were some things he could not avoid even if he wanted to.

……

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

That day, Mrs. Xing asked Jin Wenxiang and his wife to go and discuss the marriage. Two days later, Mrs. Xing asked Jin Wenxiang's wife to go over and report back.

The woman in Jin Wenxiang's family is very calculating, so she naturally dare not say that Yuanyang has flatly refused the marriage, because once she said this, she would offend the eldest master and the eldest mistress.

From now on, it will be difficult for the couple to stay in the mansion.

Although they now work in the old lady's room, the old lady is already old and cannot protect the Jin family for a lifetime.

She didn't even dare tell Mrs. Xing about Yuanyang making shoes for Jia Cong, because Yuanyang was a maid in the old lady's room and had nothing to do with Jia Cong. It sounded too ambiguous that she was making shoes for a man.

It was thanks to Yuanyang that the couple got good jobs in the mansion. If Yuanyang lost her reputation in the mansion, it would not be good for both of them.

So when Mrs. Xing asked about this, Jin Wenxiang's wife just hesitated and said vaguely that Yuanyang was young and shy when talking about marriage, so she had to wait before persuading her.

Mrs. Xing was also worldly-wise. Although Jin Wenxiang's family didn't say it explicitly, she could hear the meaning. Yuanyang was somewhat reluctant about this marriage. With Mrs. Xing's tolerance and thinking, she really couldn't imagine that a servant born in a family would actually refuse to be the master of a concubine.

Mrs. Xing thought about it over and over but could not come to a conclusion, but Yuanyang was carrying the old lady's private silver box, which was the thing they coveted the most, so they could not let the matter go.

So he told Jia She about the matter, and Jia She became furious.

He was lustful by nature, but in recent years his hair turned gray and his body weakened, and he gradually became unable to do what he wanted. However, his lustful heart remained unabated.

He has a severe liver and weak kidneys, is trapped both internally and externally, is suspicious and becomes increasingly sensitive and taboo, and cannot tolerate being looked down upon by women.

He thought that Yuanyang, who was proud of her youth and beauty, must have looked down on him for being old, so even if she was granted the privilege of becoming his concubine, she would not be willing to submit to him.

Jia She felt that he had suffered a great humiliation, but he could not say it out loud. He was filled with anger and passion, and became more and more unwilling to let the situation end there. He was determined to force Yuanyang into his arms.

He felt that he was the head of the Jia family and the heir of the Rong Kingdom. He wanted to have a girl, which would bring honor to him, but he dared to refuse like this.

So he had Jin Wenxiang called over and said to him, "Go tell your sister that she probably wants to marry someone else as her principal wife in the future because she is favored by the old lady.

I also heard that she had some relationship with Cong, or she might have a crush on young men like Baoyu and Jia Lian, but I don't know.

Go tell her to give up all these thoughts. Now that I have fallen in love with her, if word gets out, no man would dare to want her!

If she gets flattered, then she should just take it easy. If she keeps being coy, it will do her no good!"

Jin Wenxiang is a weak and submissive man. Although he has some ideas, he is not as good as his woman in terms of flexibility and coping skills.

After listening to Jia She's scolding and threats, he could only agree meekly.

……

Rongguo Mansion, the large flower hall in the backyard of Rongqing Hall.

On this day, Grandmother Jia was in the mood to listen to an opera, so she asked Sister Feng to order some small plays from outside, including "The Story of the White Snake" and "A Bed Full of Tablets".

Not only did Lady Wang, Aunt Xue and others accompany them to watch the opera, but Grandmother Jia also invited sisters such as Baoyu and Daiyu to join in the fun.

When Grandmother Jia heard that Yingchun had recovered in the past few days and she hadn't seen her second granddaughter for a few days, she asked Yuanyang to go to the East Palace to call her to go to the opera together.

But Tanchun had chosen the date, knowing that Jia Cong had a day off. Tanchun had always been close to this cousin, so she would always think of inviting him along for family events such as watching operas and having banquets.

So he told Lady Jia that his third brother must be at home as well.

Now that Jia Cong has moved out of the mansion and settled down on his own, he has become the one with the most connections among Jia Mu's grandchildren. So in such an occasion, Jia Mu naturally couldn't just leave him out, so she asked Yuanyang to invite everyone else as well.

A few days ago, Yuanyang heard from her sister-in-law that Jia She wanted to marry her as a concubine. Then her sister-in-law caught her in a weak spot and saw her making shoes for Jia Cong.

I have been worried these past two days, afraid that I would fall into the fire pit and that my sister-in-law would spread gossip, but in the past two days, there has been no follow-up.

I thought that it must be because I scolded my sister-in-law that day, and the news spread to the East Courtyard. Maybe the eldest master saw that I was unwilling and gave up the idea, otherwise he would not have been quiet for two whole days.

Yuanyang naturally didn't know why her sister-in-law delayed her reply for a day, and she was vague in front of Mrs. Xing and didn't tell the truth at all, deliberately giving her some thoughts.

This was why the East Courtyard did not immediately react for two days. Jia She only called Jin Wenxiang to intimidate him and asked him to pass on the message to persuade his sister.

But in the past two days, Yuanyang had something on her mind and was somewhat avoiding her brother and sister-in-law, and Jin Wenxiang couldn't take advantage of the opportunity to persuade his sister to give in.

Yuanyang thought she had overcome the difficulties, and when she heard that Lady Jia asked her to invite the Third Master and the Second Miss to come and listen to the opera, she was very happy and went to the East Palace to invite them easily.

……

At this moment, listening to opera is the most luxurious pastime for women in the inner court.

Inviting a famous opera from the capital to perform at home was a grand occasion only the rich and powerful could afford, and even the Jia family in Rongguo did not have such a common occurrence.

Zhishao and Wu'er in Jia Cong's room are quiet, Qingwen likes lively activities, but Yinglian likes to listen to operas.

So Jia Cong brought Qingwen and Yinglian to join in the fun.

Along the way, Yuanyang talked a lot with Jia Cong and Yingchun, and was in a very happy mood.

She saw that Jia Cong was wearing a light blue embroidered round-necked robe, a blue belt, a white soft silk undershirt, and lilac trousers. He looked handsome and elegant, and looked even more proud and beautiful. She felt happy in her heart.

When they arrived at the Grand Hall, the song "The Story of the White Snake" was just beginning to be sung. Yuanyang stood behind Lady Jia and listened for a few words. She saw Jia Cong and Yingchun and other sisters were talking.

She thought that since the old lady was attending the opera, she had some free time. Thinking that the pair of autumn boots in the room had not been finished yet, she went back to her room alone.

She didn't expect that Jin Wenxiang was in a hurry to find his sister to talk, but his sister seemed to be avoiding him, so he wandered around the door of the mandarin duck room when he had nothing to do, and now he was blocked.

When Yuanyang saw her brother's expression, she felt a little scared, fearing that he would bring up what happened the day before again, but she didn't want to chase her brother out of the house.

But Jin Wenxiang said, "My dear sister, my brother came here today to talk about that matter. The eldest master and the eldest mistress have said that you just need to agree to it.

You are not like those bought outside. As soon as you enter the house, you will be honored and made a concubine. You are both noble and respectable. This means that the master really values ​​you. What a great thing. "

When Yuanyang heard what her brother said, she actually agreed with her sister-in-law. Her pretty face suddenly turned cold: "Tell them to give up this idea as soon as possible. I will never agree to it even if I die!"

After hearing this, Jin Wenxiang sighed and said, "Good sister, just do as you wish. You can't escape the clutches of the master after all.

The eldest master said that you have some relationship with Master Cong San, and he is either thinking of hiring you from outside in the future, or he has taken a fancy to other men. He told you to give up all these ideas. As long as he spreads the word, that man will not dare to want you.

I heard from your sister-in-law yesterday that you secretly made shoes for Master Cong San and hid them on the bed.

Sister, don't be foolish. If you offend the master of the East Palace, you will offend the eldest master and the old lady. How can our Jin family live in the mansion in the future?
My dear sister, the master is a cruel man. There is nothing he can't do. If you don't obey him, he will spread the word and ruin your reputation. How can you live as a girl?"

When Yuanyang heard this, her face turned pale and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back, not wanting to cry in front of her useless brother.

But I thought in my heart, Third Master and I have never said a single excessive word to each other, it's as clean as clear water, why does the eldest master bring it up, but others don't know the whole story.

If the rumor really got out, the Third Master would lose face in the mansion because of me, and I would be finished from then on. I don’t know how the old lady and the other ladies would look at me.

I am an innocent girl. I cannot allow myself to be humiliated and tied up like this. I have no choice but to risk my life!

She gritted her teeth, and her brother said, "Even if I am willing, you still have to go back to the old lady."

Jin Wenxiang was overjoyed when he heard this. He thought his sister had finally seen through his strength and changed her mind.

He smiled and said, "I will go and tell the eldest master and the eldest mistress the good news, and then let your sister-in-law go and tell the old lady."

　Originally, there were two updates a day, with each chapter basically having more than 2000 words. Recently, they have been released together in one chapter, with more than 4000 words. In fact, the update volume has not changed.

　　The plot of the combined chapters is fuller, and there is one less chapter title.

　　It’s quite difficult to come up with a chapter title, and I feel a bit OCD about chapter title words…

　　The recent daily additions and follow-up readings have been steadily increasing.

　　It may be related to the increase in the number of words in the book, but the most important thing is the support of my fellow readers. Thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)