Chapter 116

As soon as Jia Cong returned to the Jia Prefecture, Wu'er and Qingwen asked a lot of questions about the imperial palace.

Jia Cong naturally picked some novel things to say, which the two little maids found very interesting.

Not long after, he was called over by Jia Zheng and asked about the audience with the Emperor.

Jia Cong naturally didn't say the question Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked. That topic was somewhat sensitive, so it was better not to say it.

He only said that the Emperor wanted to notify the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Li Shouzhong, to let him listen to lectures at the Jin Ling Imperial Academy during his time in Jin Ling, so as not to delay his studies.

Jia Zheng was naturally happy to hear this. The Emperor not only granted Cong-ge'er an eighth-rank official status but also cared about Jia Cong's studies. This was so meticulous; it was truly imperial grace. It seemed he really valued Cong-ge'er.

As for the reason behind this, with Jia Zheng not attending court and having a somewhat straightforward and pedantic personality, it was very difficult for him to figure it out if others didn't tell him.

He only felt that he had always cared about Jia Cong's reading, which could be considered a kind of foresight, and he felt some melancholy in his heart, thinking of himself and feeling somewhat dejected.

Jia Cong also said that he saw the Eldest Sister Yuanchun in the palace. Jia Zheng also sighed. His eldest daughter had entered the palace six years ago, and he had never seen her again.

It was just that neither Wang Ziteng nor Jia Zheng could know that the split between the Wang family and the Jia family this time was just a small trick by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

During this period, Wang Ziteng shamelessly visited the Jia Prefecture twice. He didn't want to lose the face and connections of the Jia family until he was at the end of his rope.

After all, his wife was a Wang family woman, so there was no need for everyone to tear their faces again, but everyone knew it in their hearts.

Wang Ziteng left the Jia Prefecture in frustration. The face between the Wang family and the Jia family was considered finished. That foolish woman at home had harmed people deeply, and she wouldn't be able to redeem herself even if she chanted scriptures for the rest of her life.

The first time, Jia Zheng claimed illness and didn't come out. This was something that couldn't have happened in the past. For a loyal and honest person like Jia Zheng, this was already very disrespectful.

After Wang Ziteng saw Jia Zheng, he wanted to visit Jia Mu. Yuanyang came out and said that Jia Mu had been feeling unwell for the past few days and could not see outside guests for the time being.

Later, unable to withstand Lady Wang's nagging, Wang Ziteng finally saw her on his second visit.

Compared to Wang Ziteng, this unwelcome guest, some acquaintances also came to offer congratulations during this period.

Guo Lin is a person by the Emperor's side. He wouldn't say this for no reason. Eight or nine out of ten, it's true.

Even if Jia Zheng was pedantic, he wasn't a fool. How could he still add bricks and tiles to the Wang family now?

Then Yuanyang went to the back hall to count chips for Jia Mu, because Jia Mu was playing mahjong with Lady You of the Ningguo Prefecture and several old women.

The two talked about some awkward topics, and everyone was very uncomfortable. Wang Ziteng still tentatively mentioned the matter of the Nine Provinces Commander.

Back then, he didn't agree with his daughter entering the palace for selection, but helplessly, his mother and wife were very optimistic about this matter, so he didn't insist anymore. Now he regretted it, but it was too late.

Moreover, if Wang Ziteng really became the Nine Provinces Commander, the position of Regional Commander of the Capital Guard would have nothing to do with the Jia family from now on.

It was enough for Jia Mu to feel disgust and alienation toward the Wang family, just treating the Jia family as having raised a white-eyed wolf.

Back then, Guo Lin said in the Rongxi Hall that Lady Wang might be the mastermind behind the accusation against Jia Cong.

But this matter was not punctured on the surface. Wang Ziteng naturally didn't mention a word in front of Jia Zheng, and Jia Zheng also avoided mentioning it.

The heart-piercing words of Guo Lin in the Rongxi Hall, I don't know how much Jia Mu heard, but the Wang family's improper actions toward the Jia family could no longer be argued.

Classmates like Cai Xiaoyu, Cui Anzhi, and Liu Xiaoping came to offer congratulations and even took him to the Chunhua Building for a meal.

Xiao Jindong, He Jizhen, Zhou Xizhe, and others also sent some calligraphy and paintings as congratulatory gifts.

Prince Emperor Jia Zhao sent Wang Dong from the Directorate of Palace Domestic Service to send a congratulatory gift that was somewhat special: a large Dawan famous horse as black as satin.

He said that the Prince knew he was going to Jin Ling for a long journey and sent a good horse for him to ride.

A treasure horse is worth a thousand gold; this gift is not light, but he is taking an official boat down the river this time, so this treasure horse is temporarily useless.

Because Jia Cong's itinerary to Jin Ling had been set, and he would be gone for half a year, he could not go to the Qingshan Academy to study.

Therefore, the introductory coursework arranged for him by Liu Jingan became extremely important.

The day after leaving the palace, he went to the Liu residence again to continue his unfinished coursework with Liu Jingan, stayed for two more days, and only returned to the Jia Prefecture after his coursework came to an end.

He also spent half a day buying the necessary books from Wenhan Street according to the book list listed by Liu Jingan, preparing to take them to Jin Ling to study and lay a solid foundation for his future policy discussion.

This is an era where all things are inferior, and for an ordinary family to support a scholar, it almost means bankruptcy, and buying books is a huge expense.

Although Jia Cong is a son of a noble family, with his monthly allowance of two taels of silver, he really couldn't buy many books.

Fortunately, he and Qu Hongxiu are now running a perfume business, and the business of that Xiuniang Perfume Shop is booming, with a lot of income.

Jia Cong is responsible for the perfume extraction technology and often comes up with ideas to promote perfume, while leaving other matters to the young lady Qu to toss about.

Qu Hongxiu gives him two hundred taels of silver for pocket money from the account every month, and knowing that he is going to Jin Ling for half a year, she even took two thousand taels of silver notes from the account for him at once.

You know, Lady Wang, as a noble daughter of the Wang family, has many dowry shops, and the monthly profit is only two hundred taels.

Now, not counting the silver from the Jia family's public treasury, but just in terms of private wealth, Jia Cong is one of the best in the Jia family, so buying a few books is naturally no problem.

Of course, he wouldn't reveal a word about running the perfume business. On the surface, it was just Qu Hongxiu and the five children she brought who were doing it.

In noble families, children who have not yet established their own households or families that have separated are not allowed to operate private assets. Once discovered, they will be dealt with according to clan rules, and the assets will be confiscated for public use.

This is the iron law of a clan-based society. Even someone as bold and unrestrained as Wang Xifeng only dared to steal silver from the public treasury to lend out for interest, but she would never dare to open a private shop outside to make money.

After finishing all the miscellaneous matters, he stayed in the prefecture for the remaining few days, rushing to the small courtyard in the West City to practice the saber before dawn every day, and Qu Hongxiu would guard him and give careful guidance.

For the rest of the time, he stayed with the sisters in the prefecture.

Writing poetry and couplets with Daiyu, copying calligraphy with Seeing Tan Chun, and playing Go with Yingchun.

Or a group of people playing cards, fighting grass, watching flowers, having tea, and chatting. Even little Xichun came to join in the fun, and Jia Cong would also accompany her to paint a few strokes.

In the last two days, Shi Xiangyun happened to be picked up by Jia Mu. Actually, it was her second aunt who told her about Jia Cong going to Jin Ling, so Xiangyun sent a message to Jia Mu.

However, Shi Xiangyun was also very clever. She only said she missed Grandmother, which made Jia Mu happy, so she picked her up.

As for why her second aunt specifically told her about Third Brother Cong going to Jin Ling, Shi Xiangyun was only a young girl after all, so naturally, she wouldn't think too much.

After all, she was still young and had only met a few times, so she didn't have any thoughts about Jia Cong yet, just feeling that this Third Brother Cong was quite magical and refreshing.

With Shi Xiangyun in the garden, it became even more lively.

In the past few years, Jia Cong had been studying hard at the Qingshan Academy and rarely returned to the Jia Prefecture. Although he missed them, he didn't spend much time with his sisters at home.

These last few days were actually the most carefree days Jia Cong had spent in the past two years.

(End of chapter)