Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 64: The Sacred Heart Has a Dictatorship

The palace city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qianyang Palace.

This was where Emperor Jiazhao of the Great Zhou Dynasty reviewed memorials and handled government affairs on a daily basis.

Emperor Jiazhao was nearly forty years old, but his temples were already gray and his face always had a hint of fatigue. Only his eyes were full of light and looked awe-inspiring.

Emperor Jia Zhao was probably the most diligent emperor in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Since he ascended the throne, he reviewed memorials until late at night almost every day. He was diligent and pragmatic, and attracted attention from both the court and the public.

Before he ascended the throne, he was just an inconspicuous prince. Compared with his dazzling brothers, he even seemed a little mediocre.

But he had the last laugh, ascending the supreme throne beyond everyone's expectations, and showing astonishing strategy and means, eliminating dissidents, cleaning up the court, and quickly securing the throne.

He has been in power for ten years now, and his throne is as stable as Mount Tai. Although there are still many unsettled events inside and outside the Great Zhou, the political situation is becoming increasingly stable under his control.

At this moment, he was reading the note from the newly appointed Prince Zhongshun, the head of the clan affairs office. It said that the servants of the eldest branch of the Rongguo Mansion used witchcraft to murder the second branch, and that the first-class general Jia She was suspected of instigating and directing it.

Humph, these military and wealthy families have enjoyed peace for too long, and have bred some lawless playboys. It's a pity that Jia Daishan's reputation has been ruined.

Guo Lin, the deputy eunuch, hurried into the hall holding a gray-white cover letter and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Chariot Division has presented the secret letter about the witchcraft incident in Rongguo Mansion."

The Zhongchesi did not have the privileges of investigation, arrest, and interrogation like the Tuisuiyuan. It was also much more low-key in the court. Even minor officials below the fifth rank were unaware of its existence.

The Zhongchesi was responsible for investigating secret reports inside and outside the court and monitoring all officials and nobles. It was the emperor's most important eyes and ears, led by the eunuchs in the palace. Outside of the Three Departments, it was directly under the emperor's jurisdiction.

The content of the memorial submitted by the clan clan house came from the excerpts of the interrogation in Zhen'an Prefecture, and could not give the full picture. Emperor Jiazhao was meticulous and the matter involved the witchcraft disaster in Rongguo Prefecture, so he used the secret memorial of the Imperial Chariot Department as evidence.

Guo Lin, the deputy chief eunuch, had been serving beside Emperor Jiazhao when he was in the Qiandi Palace. It had been more than ten years now and he knew very well that the emperor was scheming and suspicious, and would not completely trust anyone.

The emperor always trusted Prince Zhongshun and used him in important positions, but he did not listen to the memorials he submitted completely. He always compared them with circumstantial evidence and tried to get to the heart of the matter.

It was this hard-working and hands-on character that caused this emperor to have gray hair before he was forty.

Guo Lin had served beside him for many years and naturally knew the emperor's temper well. He asked for the relevant secret documents of the Central Chariot Department early on for his advice.

Sitting on the throne, Emperor Jiazhao carefully read the secret letter from the Imperial Chariot Department and compared it with the letter from the Ministry of Clan Affairs.

Guo Lin was a shrewd man. The reason why he could stay by the side of a strict monarch like Emperor Jiazhao for many years and remain standing was that he could understand the emperor's mind.

Although he was standing by with his head down and serving, his eyes were always checking what was happening above him. When he saw Emperor Jiazhao noticed something, his eyes lit up.

"National laws are strict, and family laws are hard to tolerate! This young man is quite interesting. Jia Cong, why does this name sound familiar? I feel like I've heard it somewhere before?"

Guo Lin said, "Your Majesty went to Chonghua Palace to pay respects to the Emperor last month and saw the Buddhist scripture that the Emperor cherished. It was written by Jia Cong.

At the Nanxi Literary Conference held by Prince Jiashun in early January, Wu Jinrong, the editor of the Imperial Academy, was killed. The Imperial Carriage Department had submitted a secret note recording the whole incident, which also mentioned that Jia Cong had once amazed the audience with a poem about plum blossoms.

"Oh, the eleventh prince actually invited him to attend the Nanxi Literary Meeting."

An expression of surprise emerged on Emperor Jia Zhao's face. His brother was a talented man in the royal family with broad vision. It was not easy to catch his eye.

Guo Lin walked to the bookshelf in the hall, picked out a book from the densely piled documents, and presented it to Emperor Jiazhao.

The Central Vehicle Department would send all important events that occurred in the capital, as well as events that they felt needed to be recorded in secret, to the palace in secret letters for future reference.

Emperor Jiazhao was busy with many affairs, so of course it was impossible for him to read every copy of the Zhongche Simi letter.

The death of a Hanlin editor was a big deal for Zhen'an Prefecture, but a small matter for the emperor who looked down on the world.

Therefore, this secret volume recording the events of the Nanxi Literary Society was exactly the one he had not read.

As the head of the Central Chariot Department, Guo Lin would read every secret letter submitted by the Department. He was able to stay by Emperor Jiazhao's side for more than ten years, and he did an excellent job in these tasks.

Emperor Jia Zhao flipped through a few pages of the secret letter and was surprised: "The mother is a courtesan! This is rare in the Jia family, which is a family of two dukes." Such a background is a big taboo in the duke's mansion, which is very particular about family background. It is not easy to live a comfortable life.

Emperor Jia Zhao recalled the shocking words in the previous secret letter in which Jia Cong said that the state laws are strict and family laws cannot tolerate them.

It is strange that such a lowly bastard can see things more clearly than Jia Zheng and Jia Mu, who are officials with high positions and imperial decrees.

Emperor Jia Zhao certainly didn't know that Jia Cong's bold words at that time were not meant to maintain the dignity of the Jia family, but to break the legs of that shrewish woman and avenge his maid.

“The wind and rain bid farewell to spring, and the flying snow welcomes spring. The cliff is a hundred feet of ice, but the flowers are still beautiful...!”

"Good, it's a good poem with lofty aspirations and high spirits!"

Guo Lin was shocked. Emperor Jiazhao was always strict and reserved, with great authority, and he rarely showed such recklessness.

Are Jia Cong's poems really so good that they caught the emperor's eye?
Emperor Jia Zhao put down the secret letter in his hand and said: "At such a young age, he is not only knowledgeable, but also well versed in poetry and literature. Such talent is rare."

Then he smiled again and said, "It's a wonder that a dissolute and frivolous man like Jia She could give birth to such a son."

Guo Lin smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Jia Cong is indeed quite capable. Otherwise, he would not have been valued by Prince Jiashun and invited to participate in the Nanxi Literary Gathering."

"But I heard that Jia Cong was disliked by his biological father and stepmother because of his humble origins. He was often scolded and beaten in the Jia family, and his life was miserable."

The Imperial Chariot Division had spies everywhere, and most of them had spies planted in the homes of princes and nobles, so knowing these matters in the inner chambers was naturally nothing to them.

Emperor Jia Zhao was also stunned when he heard this: "He is so talented but his parents don't like him. Is it possible that people like him are just ordinary in the Jia family? Are there other extraordinary children in their family?"

Guo Lin said: "There is another extraordinary young man, who is said to be born with a jade in his mouth, named Baoyu, and is a legend in the capital.

This Baoyu was extremely doted on by Lady Guo of the Jia family, and no one in the family dared to control him.

Moreover, he has never liked studying since he was young, and he spends all his time at home hanging out with the maids and sisters. It sounds like he is a good-for-nothing, and cannot be compared with people like Jia Cong."

Emperor Jia Zhao had also heard some of the rumors about being born with a jade in the mouth, and he said calmly: "Being born with a jade in the mouth is a good omen only seen by ancient saints.

Baoyu is the seal, and the women of the Jia family are not afraid of death. They spread this kind of nonsense in the delivery room all over the capital."

Hearing these words, Guo Lin felt a chill all over his body, and was ashamed to hear that in the eyes of His Majesty, this was such an act of usurpation and transgression, but His Majesty was tolerant and did not take it to heart.

Emperor Jia Zhao turned to sarcasm and said, "Duke Ning and Duke Rong were both influential figures in the past. After their death, the Jia family has become increasingly decadent, and their children are mediocre. It turns out that it is all their own fault!"

Guo Lin could naturally understand what the emperor meant, and the Jia family was not without outstanding children.

It's just that they are blind and only feel proud of such nonsense as "living with a jade in their mouth". They have low knowledge and would discard gold and jade and settle for rotten rags.

"Guo Lin, pass on my oral order. Have the clan officials summon Jia She. He instigated his servants to murder his brother with witchcraft. If there is solid evidence, he will be severely punished!"

"This person is lustful and stupid. He has forced good people to death and abused his own children. He has damaged the dignity of the country. Even if he has not done such evil things as witchcraft, he should be severely punished."

"The slave obeys the order!"

Guo Lin had been with Emperor Jia Zhao for many years and had already mastered the skill of listening to orders. He sensed that the emperor wanted to let the Jia family off the hook. After all, the Jia family was a duke of two countries and had made great contributions to the country.

Some grace should still be given, but it's just that each time you use it, it becomes less.

Most likely, His Majesty is also afraid that the four kings and eight dukes are closely related, and worries that if they move one, their entire body will be affected.

However, he had already grown disgusted with the Jia family's current stupidity, so he asked the clan office to give Jia She a warning and severely criticize his mistakes, which was already a severe blow to the Jia family.

When the time comes, whether it is a sin or a grace is up to the dictatorship of the Holy Heart.

(End of this chapter)