Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 56: Qizi's Deep Involvement

Zheng Yingquan, the chief judge of the Court of Inquisition, was gentle in appearance and calm and meticulous in character. It was obvious that every question he asked Jia Cong was one that he had carefully considered beforehand.

Jia Cong said that the thief was stabbed in the back, but because Jia Cong stated that he was a descendant of the Rongguo Mansion, the thief was cautious and did not harm him for the time being, and only wanted to use him as a talisman.

Later, the thief's knife wound relapsed and he was short of medicine, so he suffered from post-traumatic fever and was dying. He wanted to kill Jia Cong to silence him, but Jia Cong took the opportunity to escape.

Zheng Yingquan was thoughtful and asked Jia Cong about the location of the thieves' knife wounds, the symptoms of the fever, where they were hiding, etc.

He also asked them whether they had met anyone from the Magistrate's Court on the way, and even asked about the details of how Jia Cong escaped.

If it were someone else, the flaws would have been exposed long ago.

Fortunately, these problems were all within Jia Cong's imagination. Due to the information explosion in his previous life, his insights in this area were naturally beyond Zheng Yingquan's imagination.

He even discussed some of the details with Qu Hongxiu on the way back to the city.

In the end, Zheng Yingquan got nothing. When he left, he looked at Jia Cong with a complicated expression, and his eyes were somewhat gloomy.

Jia Cong was a victim and a descendant of the Rongguo Mansion. Although the Court of Inquisition was powerful, they did not dare to put him in prison and interrogate him according to etiquette and law.

Behind the Jia family stands a group of nobles including the four kings and eight dukes, and the energy contained in them is difficult to measure.

To execute such a noble son without any guilt, Zheng Yingquan would have to do it desperately.

After sending away Zheng Yingquan, the little devil under Zhou Yanluo, Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief.

He has made up his mind to study behind closed doors for the next period of time. After he recovers from his injuries, he will go to Qingshan Academy to study and avoid contact with the outside world to avoid trouble.

……

Wu'er's mother is in charge of the kitchen. There are frequent visits from maids and servants in that place, so she is the most well-informed.

When Wu'er was serving Jia Cong dinner, Jia Cong mentioned a few things. Wu'er was very smart. When she came back from the kitchen, Jia Cong knew what had happened in the East Courtyard in the past few days.

On the day when Jia Cong met the foreign guests, Jia's grandmother summoned Jia She and his wife to Rongqing Hall and told them that she wanted to raise Jia Cong in the West Mansion.

Since the old lady had spoken, Jia She, as her son, naturally had nothing to say. Besides, he had forced the maid to death and beat her son, so he couldn't say anything.

But after returning to the east courtyard, he smashed everything in the house, and then he drank with his concubine every day.

Anyway, he already disliked Jia Cong's son to the core, so it was better if he didn't show up in front of him.

As for Mrs. Xing who often cursed behind closed doors, the old lady didn't dare to curse. She would only criticize the second wife, and would stop after a few times.

A day later, Nanny Zhao said that Wang Shanbao's wife had invited Ma Dao Po to perform a ritual in her room and took away fifty taels of silver from Wang Shanbao's wife.

They also agreed to perform the ritual again in two days to ensure that all disasters for Wang Shanbao's family would be eliminated.

……

When Jia Cong's injury was almost healed, he asked Guo Zhigui to drive him to East City. When they arrived at Chunhua Tower, he asked Guo Zhigui to drive to invite He Jizhen and Zhou Xizhe.

He said that he wanted to thank them for their last visit and specially invited them to have tea at Chunhua Tower. He was studying painting skills recently and wanted to ask the two gentlemen for advice.

After Guo Zhigui left, Jia Cong went to his rented house alone, but did not see Qu Hongxiu, and could not help feeling disappointed.

After rushing back to Chunhua Tower, they waited for a long time before Guo Zhigui arrived with He Jizhen, saying that Zhou Xizhe had gone out to visit a friend and was not seen.

Jia Cong's maternal grandfather in his previous life was a master of picture mounting who was an excellent painter and calligrapher. Although he was not as proficient in painting as in calligraphy, he still had some knowledge and asked He Jizhen some questions about painting techniques.

This touched He Qingzhu's itch, and they started to talk about sex.

He Qingzhu is different from Zhou Xizhe, who is serious in character. He Qingzhu is somewhat playful and worldly. Although he is a well-educated man with a wealth of knowledge, he is not burdened by paperwork and often goes in and out of the streets.

Therefore, he had extensive knowledge and was good at talking about many things. He could even talk about such official anecdotes as the old head of the Imperial Clan Court resigning due to old age and the emperor appointing Prince Zhongshun as the new head.

They gathered for nearly two hours before dispersing. He Ji was in a very good mood and even painted a picture of bamboo in ink for him on the spot.

The next day, he asked Guo Zhigui to take him to Chunhua Tower again, and this time he asked him to invite Zhou Xizhe. After Guo Zhigui left, when he went to the small courtyard again, he saw Qu Hongxiu wearing coarse cloth clothes, her hair wrapped in a piece of printed and dyed cloth, sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

With slender hands, graceful figure and flowing hair, she looks like a little lady in a cloth skirt and hairpins. She doesn't look like a hidden killer at all.

Jia Cong said happily: "You are really here!"

"I was just looking for a place to stay in the city. Your place is very secluded, so I came to stay for two days. It seems that your injury has almost healed."

"I'm using this place for emergencies. You can stay as long as you want. I came to you because I want you to do me a favor."

Qu Hongxiu smiled and said, "Since I live in your yard, I have to order me around. You won't suffer any loss..."

After leaving the small courtyard, he returned to Chunhua Tower. After waiting for only half a cup of tea, Guo Zhigui invited Zhou Xizhe to come. Jia Cong and Zhou Xizhe asked for advice on painting skills and sat for more than an hour before leaving.

When Jia Cong returned to the Jia Mansion, Wu'er came forward to help him take off his coat and said: Sister Ping'er came over just now and said that the Second Madam pointed to the empty courtyard next to Lixiang Courtyard for the Third Master to live in.

"Second Madam has ordered people to clean up the house these past two days, and is preparing the furniture. Third Master will move in in two days."

The courtyard next to Lixiangyuan was not where Xue Baochai and her family stayed when they first arrived at the Jia Mansion, but it was probably where they stayed one or two years later according to the time calculation.

When Qingwen heard that they were going to move to a new courtyard, she was very excited. She said that she knew the place and that it was far away from the old lady's Rongqing Hall, so no one would care if she made some noise.

Wu'er just smiled faintly, and looked at Jia Cong's expression. Seeing that he didn't show any abnormality, she felt a little aggrieved for Jia Cong in her heart.

She was a sensitive person and could tell that the old lady and the wife had a grudge against the Third Master, otherwise why would they send him to such a lonely place.

Ever since Wu'er came, Jia Cong's daily meals have been prepared by Wu'er. She has been helping her mother since she was a child and knows the most about these matters of fine food and nourishment.

Qingwen was clever and efficient, so she took care of Jia Cong's dressing and sewing. Since the two maids came into the house, Jia Cong's life became much more comfortable than before.

After dinner, it was already dark. Jia Cong said to Wu'er and Qingwen, "Tonight, I will stay indoors to study. You don't need to stay with me. Go to the side room and rest."

Qingwen asked hurriedly, "What if the Third Master wants tea? He doesn't need anyone to serve him?"

"Well, you can make the tea and put it in the warm vine on the table. I will pour it myself when you are thirsty."

Qingwen seemed a little disappointed. She had only been there for a few days, and although the Third Master didn't talk much, she felt that this master was different from the other masters in the mansion. He was very friendly, and she also liked to have him around.

"Wu'er, Third Master's injury hasn't fully healed yet. It won't be too late to study so hard in the next few days."

Wu Er rolled her eyes at Qing Wen and said, "They say that Third Master has beautiful handwriting and can compose good poems. These knowledge didn't just fall from the sky. They were acquired through hard study."

Qingwen said excitedly, "I heard Miss Lin read Third Master's poems in Rongqing Hall. Miss Lin is well-educated and she also said Third Master's poems were very good."

Wu Er asked curiously, "Have you heard the lyrics written by Third Master? Read them to me too."

Qingwen frowned and said, "I can't read, so even though I heard it, I forgot it the moment I turned around."

Qingwen suddenly felt that it was shameful to be an illiterate maid for such an educated man like the Third Master. After moving to a new courtyard, she would definitely ask the Third Master to teach her how to read when he had time.

The two little maids were chattering when they saw Jia Cong close the door of the main room, light the candles, and sit down in front of the desk.

Qingwen quickly brewed some hot tea and brought it in. When she came out, she felt a little bored, so she yawned and went into the next room.

Wu'er went out to get a basin of water to wash her face. Suddenly, she saw a dark shadow flash in the yard. She was startled. When she looked carefully, there was nothing there.

Perhaps she was dazzled, she shook her head and entered the room carrying the washbasin, only to see Qingwen sleeping on the bed without taking off her clothes.

Wu Er said with a smile: "He is so heartless that he fell asleep right next to the bed."

She washed her face with warm water and suddenly felt a little sleepy. She staggered towards the bed, thinking in her heart that it was Qingwen who led her astray.

　In this new book stage, please follow me and collect it. Thank you very much!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)