Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 48 Forced by the Situation
When Yingchun heard that although Jia Cong was severely beaten, he had been carried out of the East Courtyard and was recuperating in the study outside the West Palace, she felt sad but also relieved.

After hearing that Jia Cong burned his writing brush for his dead maid, Daiyu chose to be beaten to death by her uncle rather than write in the East Courtyard anymore.

But there was a strange light in his eyes. This Third Brother Cong could write beautiful calligraphy and compose beautiful lyrics, and he was also such a loyal person.

She had been following her father, a scholar who had won the imperial examination, since she was young, and had been influenced by him. She was well-read and knowledgeable, and her horizons were better than those of ordinary girls.

People of great talent have always been cynical because they see things more clearly than ordinary people. Daiyu is no exception. Although she has the ideas of courtesy and filial piety in her heart, she is not blindly loyal and rigid.

So he didn't think that Jia Cong's refusal to write to Jia She was a heinous crime, and he didn't even look at what his uncle had done before.

……

After Wang Xifeng placed Jia Cong in the outer study, she went to Rongqing Hall to inform Lady Jia. As soon as she entered the hanging flower gate, she met a maid who delivered the message.

It is said that a servant outside the second gate came to deliver a message that Wang Dong, the chief supervisor of the Jiashun Palace, learned that the third master Cong had escaped from trouble and came to the palace to visit him.

Wang Xifeng's expression froze. Wasn't this Wang Dong the one who gave Jia Cong a New Year's gift on New Year's Eve? He really knew how to pick the time to come and see Brother Cong at this time.

Wang Xifeng entered Rongqing Hall and quickly told everything to Grandmother Jia, who was so confused that she was overwhelmed.

The last time Wang Dong sent a New Year's gift to Jia Cong, Grandmother Jia took it to heart. Eunuchs in the capital who have reached Wang Dong's level are not ordinary people.

During the year, the wives of four kings and eight dukes came to visit. During the conversation, Jia's mother mentioned it casually and learned that Wang Dong had a profound background and had been a eunuch beside the retired emperor.

Wang Dong was transferred to the Jiashun Prince's Mansion because the Jiashun Prince had left the palace when he reached adulthood. If he was not a confidant of the retired emperor, how could he have been transferred to be with his youngest son?

An eunuch with such a strong background in the palace has now had several contacts with his grandson, even though it was under the order of Prince Jiashun.

Fearing that there would be inevitable connections in the future, Grandmother Jia had many ideas in her mind.

Besides, it was such a coincidence that Wang Dong came to see someone at such a good time.

That man had just been beaten half to death by his father. What would it mean to go and see him? The Jia family couldn't even cover up their shame.

So he asked someone to bring Wang Dong to Songxuan Hall to wait for a while, and then asked the maid to invite the second master.

As soon as he finished speaking, a maid came over outside and said that a scholar named Liu Bi heard that Third Master Cong had returned safely and came to visit him specially. He said that he was a good friend of Third Master Cong and the grandson of Liu Jing'an, the old Sikong of the Ministry of Rites.

There was also a young Taoist priest from Xuantian Temple who said he came to visit Master Cong Sanye on the orders of Zhang Tianshi.

Mrs. Wang, Wang Xifeng and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. Could it be that these people had made an agreement to come together to watch the Jia family make a fool of themselves?

Grandmother Jia felt as if someone had hit her in the chest, and she felt stuffy from time to time. How could this evil creature be so wicked? He wouldn't stop until something happened one day. Would he let people live?

This is the Jiashun Palace, and Emperor Wenzong Liu Jing'an, what does it have to do with the Taoist leader? Why did he show up too?
Each of these people has a prominent background. It is not easy to meet one of them at other times. Why are they coming to my house one by one today?

If they knew the reason why Jia Cong was beaten, the Jia family's reputation would be trampled underfoot all over the capital.

But people still have to be seen. They are not ordinary people. They cannot be sent away just like that.

At this time, Jia Zheng entered Rongqing Hall, looking pale and tired.

Just now in the outer study, a doctor was called in to check on Jia Cong's injuries. He said that he was beaten too hard, and although his muscles and bones were not broken, he would need to rest for a month before he could recover.

Just now when Jia Zheng went to the East Courtyard to rescue someone, his elder brother was drunk. There was no way he would show any restraint when beating someone after drinking, so he just beat him to death.

Grandmother Jia asked, "How is your nephew settled? Has the doctor examined him? Many people have come to see him now, and I don't know how he will end."

She told Jia Zheng about the people who came to visit. Jia Zheng replied, "Madam, I am not the only one who thinks highly of Cong-ge'er. Look at all these people who came and saw him. They all think highly of him. Are they all blind?
We are the ones who treated him so harshly. Didn't you see Cong's injuries? His skin and flesh were all broken. Why did he have to do this? Why did he have to do this? "

As Jia Zheng spoke, he actually burst into tears of grief and indignation. Seeing this, Jia's mother had another headache. Her son had read too many books and only saw the superficial aspects of things without thinking deeply about them.

He said: "Let's not talk about that now. I think he has become quite famous and people outside like him.

I also see through it. He and his father can never be on the same page. If he stays in Dongluyuan, something bad will happen sooner or later, and it will be out of control.

I will talk to his parents about this myself. He was the one who caused the incident with that woman, so he can't blame anyone else.

Now that my son has grown up, how can I not tolerate him? I have to humiliate him to death. If this gets out, people will laugh at me to death.

Since you like him reading and writing, then keep him under your care. In a few years, when he grows up, you can arrange for him to move out of the house and set up his own household, and then everyone will have peace and quiet.

If he can really study and go to school, he will remember your kindness. "

Jia Zheng was delighted. The old lady asked him to educate Jia Cong, and he was very willing to do so.

He has always liked talented and learned scholars. Jia Yucun had no relationship with the Jia family and was only recommended by his brother-in-law. He still used the Jia family's connections to get him an official position.

In the final analysis, it was because Jia Yucun was a double-listed Jinshi, an outstanding scholar, and had elegant and refined conversation, which won his favor.

Jia Cong is only this young, but he has already shown his talent. His future prospects may be even better than that of Jia Yucun. He was brought up by himself, so it will be a honor for him if he succeeds in the future.

Originally, Jia Zhu had passed away, Baoyu was a useless person, not to mention Huan'er, Jia Zheng had been depressed for a long time. Now that the old lady had actually brought up this, it really cured his worry.

Grandmother Jia continued, "I think he is willing to listen to you, but there is only one thing you need to tell him.

No matter what happens at home, it is a family matter behind closed doors.

If there is anything wrong, we will speak up, but we won't let him go out. If he damages the reputation of the family passed down by the old Duke, I will not forgive him. "

When she said this, Lady Jia's tone was surprisingly harsh, which shows that the reputation of Rong State was highly valued by the old lady.

Then he said: "I won't say anything about the quarrel between him and his father over a maid. Since he has lost a beloved one, I will compensate him with one. Just let him remember my words in his heart."

Those who were more insightful at the table, such as Wang Xifeng, Daiyu, and Tanchun, naturally understood that Grandmother Jia was trying to criticize Jia Cong.

They were afraid that he would meet these officials or sons of prominent families and tell others about his ugly deeds such as forcing maids to death and abusing his own children, thus ruining the reputation of the Rongguo Mansion.

You have to know that the people who came to see Jia Cong today are not ordinary people.

If these things were to be spread, I wonder how many people would criticize me and make fun of me.

While beating Jia Cong, Grandmother Jia also gave the maid to Jia Cong as a reward, to both shut him up and comfort him.

It was said that Jia Cong's original maid was an outstanding one, otherwise she would not have been favored by the eldest master. However, he did not know that Jia's grandmother gave that person to him as a reward.

But Wang Xifeng saw more deeply. She knew that the old lady had someone most important in her heart, and that was Jia Yuanchun, who worked as a female historian in Fengzao Palace.

If the Rongguo Mansion were to suffer a ruined reputation, Yuanchun, who was chosen into the palace because of her "virtue, filial piety, talent and virtue", would be dishonoring the royal family and might lose her chance to rise to the top.

That would be an unacceptable blow to the Jia family, and Grandmother Jia was far-sighted and would naturally want to take precautions before it happens.

Not only did the girls in the boudoir such as Daiyu and Tanchun not think of this, even Jia Zheng had not thought of it yet. However, the leading ladies in the harem such as Wang Xifeng and Mrs. Wang knew it clearly.

(End of this chapter)