Chapter 110: Plotting to Rule the World

Jia Cong was utterly bewildered; though it was good news, he had never imagined that not only had his disqualification been overturned, but the Emperor had also appointed him as a Grade-8 Fengyi Officer—this was utterly unexpected.

When Cai Cai Xiaoyu came to deliver the news, he had already anticipated that Liang Zuo Vice Minister Guo Guo Youchang and others, eager to avoid being implicated, would spare no effort to protect him as the top candidate of the academy examination.

Thus, though accused on the grounds that a son of a courtesan was barred from the imperial examinations, the matter had not yet become hopeless.

Only when Liu Jing'an took him in during his hour of peril, using his own towering literary reputation as a disciple of the Literary Sage to shield him.

His status as a disciple of the Literary Sage gave him greater confidence in escaping this crisis.

Zhao Zhao Chongli, who had come with Liu Jing'an from Qingshan Academy, had also mentioned that he intended to visit several students who had graduated from Qingshan and now held office in the capital, asking them to submit petitions and mediate on his behalf.

With these allies, and the fact that after the students had lodged their complaint at the Ministry of Rites, the court had yet to issue an edict of dismissal,

Jia Cong had nearly an eighty percent chance of weathering this crisis.

Whether or not he was the son of a courtesan—once the subject of public scorn—no longer mattered; what mattered was the balance and maneuvering among the various factions in court.

…

After all, even the top scorer in the palace examination received only a Grade-6 Hanlin Academy Compiler; yet Jia Cong, merely the top candidate of the academy examination, had been granted a Grade-8 Fengyi Officer—this was an extraordinary honor.

Incidents like being openly provoked by Wang Wang Zhangshi in Rongqing Hall or humiliated by Wang family sons would be unlikely to recur.

These pieces of information flashed rapidly through his mind, gradually clarifying the entire situation—he now understood almost perfectly why he had been appointed Grade-8 Fengyi Officer.

Guo Lin smiled and said, "Master Jia has been appointed Grade-8 Fengyi Officer—you are now an official; you may address yourself as ' Chen '."

The imperial edict had mentioned that though his birth mother was obscure, his filial piety toward her had earned him the Grade-8 Fengyi Officer appointment, and according to Ministry of Rites protocol, he must go to Da Ci'en Temple to transcribe sutras in prayer for Empress Empress Xianxiao.

Though some details still eluded him, this was likely due to his limited information.

"Your servant, Jia Cong, thanks Your Majesty for this boundless grace!"

Fengyi Officer was a civilian honorary title in the Great Zhou, a Grade-8 civil rank without actual duties, merely signifying that the holder possessed the status of a Grade-8 official.

Guo Lin, smiling broadly, held out the edict and said to Jia Cong, "Master Jia, receive the edict."

He had occasionally heard classmates from Qingshan Academy speak of Empress Empress Xianxiao's origins.

In truth, Jia Cong's Grade-8 Fengyi Officer appointment was merely a facade created by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao to defy court norms and ancestral rites, to build a temple and erect a stele in honor of his birth mother.

But for Jia Cong, it was an immense practical benefit; under normal circumstances, he might not have received official status until after passing the spring examinations, and even if he passed consecutively, that would still be years away.

Unlike those selected by the Ministry of Personnel from among Provincial Graduate Wu and Rank Jinshi, he was appointed directly by imperial decree, transcribing sutras for the Emperor's birth mother—representing the dignity and prestige of the imperial house.

In short, the Emperor was no ordinary man—he wielded power with ruthless brilliance.

Outsiders unaware of the truth would likely assume this youth had won the Emperor's special favor.

He had actually stumbled upon such extraordinary fortune.

Now that he held official status, as long as he did not violate the filial rites of this world, he was already invincible within the Jia household, immune to any restraint or manipulation.

Jia Cong received the edict with both hands and said, "Your servant, Jia Cong, thanks Your Majesty for this boundless grace."

Fengyi Officers received symbolic annual stipends, and would only be granted actual posts when suitable vacancies arose.

He also knew a little about the controversy over Empress Empress Xianxiao's funeral rites.

Those like Wang Wang Zhangshi and her son, if they continued to act as recklessly as before, would have to weigh the weight and danger of this situation.

…

"Madam, since the edict has been read, this eunuch takes his leave. By His Majesty's oral command, I must proceed to the residence of General Wang of the Capital Garrison."

Jia Mu, still recovering from the shock of the edict, asked, "Are you also going to General Wang's residence to read an edict?"

Guo Lin smiled. "Not to read an edict—His Majesty merely sent me to inquire about something at the Wang residence, and it happens to relate to Master Jia."

After interrogation by the Judicial Office, the scholar who accused Master Jia, Liu Liu Wenxuan, has close ties to the Zhang family of Deqing Prefecture; General Wang's wife, Lady Zhang, is the eldest daughter of the Zhang family's main branch.

His Majesty fears Liu Liu Wenxuan may have fabricated charges, so he sent me to clarify matters with the Wang family."

These words struck like thunder, leaving Jia Mu and the others stunned; Lady Wang turned deathly pale, and Jia Zheng's face darkened with fury.

Jia Cong was momentarily stunned—not because the scholar who accused him was connected to the Wang family,

But because Guo Lin had spoken these words openly in the hall—it was plainly an attempt to sow discord between the Jia and Wang families, to poison Wang Ziteng's mind.

He had risen to Deputy Director of the Qianqing Palace Eunuchs—he was no fool; such direct and reckless conduct was utterly unreasonable.

Unless he was acting on orders—who else could command a Deputy Director of Eunuchs? Only the Emperor, the sovereign of all under heaven.

Guo Lin had set a fire, yet acted as if nothing had happened.

He said to Jia Cong, "When your departure date for Jin Ling is set, the Ministry of Rites will notify you; they will handle all formalities. You need only wait at home."

Without even glancing at Jia Mu's embarrassed face, he left without further ado.

Jia Cong followed him out alone: "Eunuch Guo, please wait—I am deeply grateful you came to deliver the edict.

I had intended to offer you a cup of wine to express my thanks, but since you have urgent business, I shall wait until you are free to invite you properly. This is a small token—just enough for a cup of hot tea."

As he spoke, he withdrew a two-hundred-ounce silver note from his sleeve and slipped it into Guo Lin's hand.

Eunuchs, deprived of ordinary pleasures, were usually obsessed with power and wealth.

Guo Lin was no exception; though only Deputy Director of Eunuchs, the Director, Old Ouyang Bin, was over sixty and constantly attended the Retired Emperor, rarely appearing in public.

Guo Lin, though nominally Deputy Director, handled the duties of the Director—his power had reached its zenith.

Though two hundred ounces were trivial to him, this youth was sharp-witted—and recalling the Emperor's unusual regard for him,

He naturally would not refuse Jia Cong's gesture.

"Master Jia, though young, has already shown his brilliance—you are a man of noble fortune. I shall drink your tea, and gladly share in your good fortune."

As he spoke, Guo Lin's gaze shifted slightly: "Today, in delivering the edict to you, we have formed a bond. I have a word of advice to offer."

Jia Cong's eyes sharpened: "I humbly beg your guidance, Eunuch Guo."

Guo Lin smiled faintly: "Disaster from within the walls is hard to guard against."

Jia Cong watched Guo Lin's retreating back—this eunuch was no good man; even as he left, he lit another fire.

The words Guo Lin had spoken so suddenly in the hall had made even him suspect that the mastermind behind the accusation was likely the Wang family.

Jia Mu and Jia Zheng would surely reach the same conclusion.

Suddenly, a thought struck him—he felt a chill run through his entire body.

Of the Four Princes and Eight Dukes, only Shi Ding of the Shi family, the Marquis of Marquis Zhongjing, was a new favorite of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

The rest were all loyal supporters of the Retired Emperor from his time.

The former Marquis of Rong, Jia Jia Daishan, had been a trusted minister of the Retired Emperor.

Wang Ziteng had become Commander of the Capital Garrison only because of the Jia family's influence; his power rested on the foundation of the Four Princes and Eight Dukes.

The position of Commander of the Capital Garrison had been cultivated for years by the Ningguo branch of the Jia family, with countless disciples and old associates in the army.

When Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao appointed Wang Ziteng to this post, it was largely out of necessity.

The Commander of the Capital Garrison held the critical responsibility of defending the imperial capital—it was a vital post for safeguarding imperial authority.

Could the Emperor truly wish to see such a vital position potentially controlled by the Four Princes and Eight Dukes?

A dagger at one's bedside has always been the Emperor's greatest dread—especially when the Four Princes and Eight Dukes were backed by the Retired Emperor in the Ronghua Palace…

Now, the scholar who accused and persecuted Jia Cong's academy top candidate, Liu Liu Wenxuan, was entangled with Lady Wang Wang Zhangshi of Wang Ziteng's household.

Could such a deep and calculating Emperor possibly fail to exploit this?

That was why Deputy Director of Eunuchs Guo Lin had spoken those cold, calculated words in Rongxi Hall!

The Emperor intended to sever all ties between the Wang and Jia families, to turn them against each other, to make Wang Ziteng a rootless floating weed.

A Commander of the Capital Garrison stripped of his base could only cling to the Emperor above him, becoming a loyal hound easily controlled.

Brilliant—truly brilliant. This incident of a scholar accusing the academy top candidate had been drained of every last drop of value and manipulated to this extent by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao!

(End of Chapter)