Chapter 124: Parting Gift: Embroidered Handkerchief

At the Shen hour, the grand silhouette of Jin Ling's city walls came into view.

Amid the vast, surging river currents rose a massive cliff hanging free on three sides, shaped like a spring swallow ready to take flight—this was the famed Yanzi Rock on the eastern edge of Jin Ling.

At that moment, a grasshopper-speed boat appeared on the river, slicing through the waves with swift speed toward the official vessel.

The figures aboard were all alert and vigorous, clad in military guard uniforms, wearing black silk felt hats, with a blue silk banner bearing white characters flying from the mast: Jin Ling Wei Water Supervision Office.

After the crew on the official ship communicated with them, they reported back that the Jin Ling Wei Water Supervision Office had received word and dispatched this boat specifically to guide the water route.

As the crimson twilight spread across the sky, the official vessel carrying Jia Cong and others, guided by the Water Supervision Office's fast boat, finally entered Longtan Port in Jin Ling.

Longtan Port is Jin Ling's largest foreign river dock, where ships traveling north and south along the Grand Canal all stop to transfer cargo.

Since the Great Zhou established Maritime Trade Offices in Jin Ling, Ningbo, and Fuzhou, foreign merchant ships have frequently sailed up the river to conduct trade at Longtan Port.

Compared to Ningbo and Fuzhou, Jin Ling's waterways are slightly less wide and convenient.

The dock was densely packed with vessels of all sizes, yet one larger merchant ship stood out most prominently, for it had been severely burned and could barely float on the water.

Suddenly, someone called out behind him; he turned to see Rui Zhu waving at him, then hurrying over.

Thus, many foreign merchant ships abandoned the easier route and, after entering the sea, sailed straight up the river to Jin Ling to conduct trade.

"Cong Sanye Cong, peace be upon you. This afternoon, the old residence received word from Guo Zhi: you would arrive today, and the household's carriages have been waiting for some time."

Jia Cong nodded, first had Wu Er and Qing Wen board the carriage, then had Xing Er lead the servants to carry the luggage.

All manner of exotic foreign novelties flowed rapidly into Jin Ling Province.

As Jia Cong disembarked, he saw not far behind him Qin Qin Keqing standing gracefully, her veil hat drawn, the white gauze fluttering in the river wind, revealing glimpses of her peerless beauty.

The cherry blossom emblem was still clearly visible on the bow; according to Jia Cong's knowledge, during the Edo period, the cherry blossom had already become a symbol of the samurai.

Several carriages were already parked at the dock, some bearing the Jia family crest; this morning, as the official vessel passed Zhenjiang, Jia Cong had sent Guo Zhi ahead to the old residence in Jin Ling to deliver the news.

This Liu Platoon Leader was young but efficient, calm and meticulous; he first verified the imperial credentials of Qin Ye and Jia Cong, then carefully examined the orders from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites.

But Jin Ling lies at the vital crossroads between north and south Great Zhou, long known as a place where tigers crouch and dragons coil, making it the second-largest city in Great Zhou after the Love Shenjing, its wealth even surpassing that of the Love Shenjing.

Nearby nations include Korea, Japan, Chenla, and Siam; distant overseas lands include Rumu, Folangji, Hulan, Folangxi, and Yingjili.

Only after confirming everything was in order did the Water Supervision Office soldiers begin unloading the luggage and cargo from the ship.

"Cong Sanye Cong, the young lady says the herbs you sent cured her cold, so she sends you this small token as a gesture of thanks."

At the dock, a servant of about twenty ran over—it was Xing Er, Jia Lady Lian's trusted valet.

Items such as clocks, silverware, tapestries, cocoa, exotic fruits, and all manner of foreign curiosities were nearly everywhere to be seen in a great city like Jin Ling.

These carriages must have come to meet them.

He showed the guard post identification card, which bore the inscription: Jin Ling Wei Water Supervision Office, Battalion Commander Liu Hai.

Could this be the Japanese merchant ship that Qu Qu Hongxiu mentioned, the one that had been burned?

After the official ship docked, a lean, capable young man under thirty swiftly boarded from the grasshopper-speed boat guiding them.

Even potent firearms such as Rumu cannons and Folangji cannons had flowed in considerable numbers; fortunately, a few discerning officials recognized the power of firearms, petitioned the court, and timely imposed controls on their influx.

Jia Cong saw Rui Zhu hand him a finely crafted ingot-shaped pouch, made of pink-and-white silk satin, embroidered with tranquil waves and birds, and seemingly containing something inside.

A warmth stirred in his heart; though they had not exchanged a single word during the many days aboard ship, Qin Qin Keqing was indeed a thoughtful person.

"Tell your young lady for me: Jia Cong thanks her for her kindness."

"Mm." Rui Zhu's eyes sparkled; she nodded with a smile and turned back.

Jia Cong looked over and saw Qin Qin Keqing boarding a carriage, her posture as she bent and leaned forward possessing an indescribable grace.

He opened the pouch and found inside a neatly folded handkerchief of soft, translucent gauze for rainy days.

The handkerchief was embroidered with a full moon, beneath it a cassia tree with lush, swaying branches, its boughs blooming with countless tiny white flowers; below, four characters were stitched: "Pluck the Cassia in the Moon Palace."

The embroidery was exquisite and elegant, the image and text harmoniously balanced, pleasing to behold.

It must be that Qin Qin Keqing learned he had topped the academy examination and chose this auspicious motif to embroider the handkerchief; moreover, such a design could not have been completed in just a day or two.

He had merely sent her a few herbal remedies to dispel her cold, yet she had spent so much time embroidering this handkerchief as a gift—she was a truly considerate woman.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Qin Ye, Jia Cong was about to board the carriage and return home when a middle-aged man in a Confucian cap and robe approached.

"Are you Master Jia Cong of Lady Rongguo Mansion?"

"That is I."

"I am Yan Yan Yuanliang, a retainer under the Prefect of Yingtian, sent by the Prefect to invite Master Jia and Lord Qin to his residence; the Prefect has already prepared a banquet to welcome you both."

Seeing Jia Cong's puzzled expression, the man smiled again: "The Prefect and Master Jia are clan brothers; his given name is Shifei."

Jia Cong suddenly recalled: the Prefect of Yingtian was none other than Jia Yucun—the same man who, years ago, had traveled with Lin Daiyu to the Love Shenjing; thanks to Lin Lin Ruhai's letter of recommendation, Jia Zheng had helped Jia Yucun secure the lucrative post of Prefect of Yingtian.

A fifth-rank official from the second branch of Lady Rongguo Mansion had effortlessly secured him a fourth-rank position, making Jia Yucun realize the immense power held by the Jia family.

A man driven by greed and ambition, once he tasted such sweetness, how could he not cling desperately? He immediately proposed a clan alliance, adopting the identity of Jia Zheng's clan nephew.

This made him the same generation as his student Lin Lin Daiyu—an act that was rather shameless.

But now that Jia Cong had arrived in Jin Ling, there was no point in needlessly offending this local power; moreover, he knew better than anyone what manner of man Jia Yucun truly was.

So he had Wu Er and Qing Wen return home first, while he and Qin Ye went to Jia Yucun's welcome banquet.

At the rear garden of the Prefecture, in a pavilion among the flowers, Jia Yucun had already prepared the banquet.

Jia Cong saw this man he had long heard of: broad-backed, thick-waisted, broad-faced with a square jaw, his features handsome and clear—he was a man of impressive bearing, showing not the slightest trace of treachery.

Jia Yucun greeted them with a broad smile: "Brother Cong, Lord Qin, to have the honor of meeting you both here in Jin Ling is truly rare—my humble abode is honored, ha ha!"

Qin Ye was merely a fifth-rank official of the Bureau of Construction; now, he was being invited by a prefect one rank above him to a welcome banquet, and he was quite taken aback.

Yet he failed to notice that during the greetings, Jia Yucun had mentioned Jia Cong's name before his own.

He invited Qin Ye only as an afterthought; the one he truly wished to court was Jia Cong.

Though he had obtained the post of Prefect of Yingtian, this man burned with ambition and still felt his cap was too small, always seeking further advancement; thus, he closely followed all developments in the central capital.

He learned that this year, the Jia family had produced an extraordinary young man—Jia Cong—who not only topped the Yongzhou academy examination but was also personally granted an eighth-rank imperial title and even granted an audience with His Majesty.

Moreover, Jia Jia Cunzhou, the head of Lady Rongguo Mansion, had placed Jia Cong under his own direct care several years ago, favoring and cherishing him more than even his own sons; this boy might well become the pillar of the third generation of Lady Rongguo.

Having seen all this, and now encountering Jia Cong arriving in Jin Ling on imperial business in his own territory, how could he not act preemptively, cultivate familiarity, and secure him as a future asset for climbing higher?

Yet he never dreamed that the teenage boy before him was, to him, a demon—knowing Jia Yucun's true nature and background better than Jia Yucun himself.

(End of Chapter)