Chapter 133: Seeing the Prince of Ning at Qixia

Old Jia residence, in Jia Cong's courtyard.

The afternoon sun was warm, the little maids in the courtyard were sweeping the courtyard, and everyone in the room was doing their own things, a piece of peace and warmth.

Qing Wen was making a dark blue engraved silk eight-group fur-lined jacket, her needle and thread flying, her movements clever and pleasing to the eye.

Although Jin Ling is not in the north like the Love Shenjing, the winter is much colder than the Zhejiang and Fujian areas, and the humidity in the south is heavier than in the north, so the winter humidity and cold are even worse than in the north.

In recent years, the climate of the Great Zhou has been abnormal, and it has become colder day by day since entering September.

Jia Cong's imperial errand this time will last until the end of the year, so Qing Wen started preparing new winter clothes early.

Liu Wuer was stewing a bowl of jujube paste and yam porridge in the flower corridor outside, and the fragrance of yam and the sweet and sticky taste of rice floated in the air.

Liu Wuer had been influenced by Liu's wife since she was small, and she was the most proficient in this kind of expensive diet in the big mansion.

Jia Cong writes and reads every day, which consumes the most energy. This jujube paste and yam porridge can best nourish blood and essence, and can also warm and nourish the spleen and stomach.

Xiang Ling was neatly placing a set of imperial brushes, ink boxes, inkstones, and other writing materials into a book box. These things were to be taken to Qixia Mountain tomorrow.

He also vaguely realized in his heart that if he continued to do this, he would only be a small shop owner in the Dazai Gate for the rest of his life.

Even Qing Wen, who had a sharp mouth but a soft heart, met her gentle personality, like hitting cotton, and was assimilated by Xiang Ling in less than two days, sometimes even laughing and talking.

Now the land measurement has been completed, and tomorrow is the auspicious day. The temple site foundation laying and consecration ceremony will be held. Jia Cong needs to be present tomorrow to start copying scriptures and praying for blessings.

He asked Qian Bin to help him pay attention to the import and export of foreign goods in Jin Ling, especially the situation of Japanese Iwate crystal bottles. He was very optimistic about the packaging of perfume with crystal bottles.

Her personality was gentle and shy, and she naturally got along very harmoniously with Liu Wuer.

These few days were the best days in Xiang Ling's memory.

Since Jia Cong sent a letter to Jia Yucun through a servant, the matter of the big fool Xue had nothing to do with him, and he was too lazy to pay attention to it.

Qian Bin even vaguely felt that being able to make friends with such a person was much more valuable than earning a few taels of commission, so he agreed to everything Jia Cong entrusted to him.

Even Jia Cong was a bit surprised by Xiang Ling's affinity.

In addition, Jia Cong also sent half of the crystal bottles he bought back to the Love Shenjing through the post station, asking Qu Hongxiu to launch a batch of exquisite perfumes to see the market situation in the Love Shenjing.

And Jia Cong was a person from another class to him, a wealthy young master born in a noble family, and his strategies and means were also very good. The important thing was that he was willing to associate with people like himself.

It is even possible to open a branch of the Xiuniang Perfume Shop in Jin Ling.

She seemed to have adapted to her new role very quickly, and every day she kept Jia Cong's study tidy.

A few days ago, Qin Ye sent news that the site of the Daci'en Temple was selected at the western foot of the middle peak of Qixia Mountain in Jin Ling.

Although Qian Bin was a person who grew up in the market, he also had some hills and vision. What he contacted daily were not peddlers and soldiers, but small people like Dong Lao Er who ran single-handed and knocked on the side.

She also often followed Qing Wen to do some needlework, learned to brew tea and cook soup from Liu Wuer, and soon the three maids became one.

If the business is successful, it is agreed to let Qian Bin draw commission as usual.

If this kind of perfume packaged in crystal bottles can sell well in the world as he expected, he will collect and hoard these Japanese crystal bottles in Jin Ling.

This morning, Jia Cong went to the Dazai Gate to find Qian Bin, because Qian Bin's shop also did foreign goods business, and he was familiar with the circulation of foreign goods in Jin Ling City.

No need to worry about being beaten or scolded for improper behavior, no need to stand by the wet well to fetch water every day, let the shoulder pole hurt the tender shoulders, and no need to worry about being sold at any time.

Although he is now on the path of imperial examination, he will not despise the way of merchants like people in this era. He knows better than anyone that the way of merchants has an irreplaceable role in strengthening the country and enriching the people.

And returning to the individual, having abundant assets is an important way to protect oneself in any era. Who would think that there is too much money?

Qixia Mountain, where the Daci'en Temple is located, is a two-hour carriage ride to and from Xinglong Fang, and the time spent on the road is not short.

The Ministry of Rites arranged a copying schedule for Jia Cong of three days of rest, which means he has to stay at the temple site to copy scriptures for three days, and then rest for one day, and then adjust according to the temple construction period.

Qin Ye requisitioned a book building and refined house in the Ding'an Temple near the Daci'en Temple site as a management office for temple construction affairs.

Qin Ye, as the highest official in charge of temple construction, must live here permanently to inspect the various affairs of the construction site every day.

Building the Daci'en Temple is a matter of great concern to the Emperor, and it is also the first-class construction official business of the Ministry of Works this year, so Qin Ye naturally does not dare to be the slightest bit negligent.

And Jia Cong, for copying scriptures for the Daci'en Temple, also has to stay in the official residence of the Ding'an Temple.

Before dawn the next day, Jia Cong took Xiang Ling and got on the carriage, heading straight for Qixia Mountain to catch the consecration ceremony of the main hall of the temple at the third quarter of the Mao hour.

Because he has to return to Jin Ling every three days, Liu Wuer is not at ease and must let him take someone to take care of his daily life. Xiang Ling is the most proficient in the literary affairs of washing brushes and grinding ink, and is also familiar with Jin Ling, so he let Xiang Ling stay by his side.

In the early morning of Jin Ling City, the streets were empty, and Guo Zhigui was the best at driving a carriage and controlling horses, driving the carriage fast and steadily.

After walking for an hour, the east gradually turned white, and the outside of the carriage gradually became dense with trees, and the shadows of trees were pupil-like, and the carriage began to enter the middle peak of Qixia Mountain.

When he arrived at the temple site, Jia Cong put on his official uniform and got out of the car, and found that many carriages had already stopped at the scene, one of which was a luxurious palace carriage with four horses, which was very eye-catching.

Only princes and princes of different surnames can ride in a four-horse carriage, which means that today's foundation laying and consecration ceremony is presided over by a prince.

The outside of the ceremony site was guarded by a large number of Jin Ling garrison soldiers, and near the foundation laying place of the main hall, many people in various official uniforms were waiting.

Jia Cong guessed that these should be officials at all levels in Jin Ling Province. The Daci'en Temple is a place for the Emperor's birth mother to pray for blessings, and even the prince attended the foundation laying ceremony, so officials at all levels naturally attended.

He saw Qin Ye talking to several officials in the crowd, one of whom Jia Cong even recognized, which was the Yingtian Prefect Jia Yucun.

And these people were vaguely centered on a young man.

This person was wearing a moon-white five-group dragon robe, wearing a silver-winged king hat, tall and straight, with a luxurious bearing.

Jia Cong saw Qin Ye facing the young man, his attitude was unusually respectful, and this person could wear a five-group dragon robe, he must be the prince who arrived today.

When Jia Cong was at the Qingshan Academy, he heard people talk about the current princes.

The Prince of Ning is the second son of the current Emperor. This person is humble and cautious, and his talent is not as outstanding as the eldest prince.

But whether it is reading or doing things, he is very diligent, and he can be considered diligent to make up for his clumsiness, so he is still very loved by the current Emperor.

Jia Cong saw that his face was handsome, humble and gentle, and although he gave people a sense of affinity, his eyes had a deep and introverted meaning.

This subtle feeling was not obvious, but Jia Cong could clearly perceive it, and even felt a bit familiar.

After Jia Cong met the Prince of Ning, Qin Ye introduced several other people to him.

One was the Jin Ling Regional Military Commissioner Du Hengxin, another was the Jin Ling Guard Water Supervision Division Battalion Commander Zou Huaiyi, and the last was the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Office Thousand-Household Feng Fengnian.

These people were all leading figures with real power in the Jin Ling officialdom, and their positions were very important.

That Prince of Ning was very interested in Jia Cong. After all, Jia Cong had made too much noise in the past few months, and now there are really not many people in the officialdom who don't know his name.

These people were all influential figures holding real power in the Jin Ling officialdom, and their positions were of vital importance.

He also said: "I came south to Jin Ling this time by imperial decree, firstly to handle the case of Japanese ronin causing trouble on Japanese merchant ships at Longtan Port, and secondly, the Emperor is very concerned about the matter of Empress Xianxiao's peace and blessings."

"I ordered me to supervise the construction progress of the Daci'en Temple during my stay in Jin Ling. I hope that Qin and Little Jia will not fail the Emperor's grace and work hard to handle this matter well."

"In the future, you can go to my residence every five days to discuss the construction progress. If there is any deficiency in the construction affairs, I can also coordinate and supplement it in the middle."

Only then did Jia Cong understand why Qin Ye had such a respectful attitude toward the Prince of Ning. It was not because the other party was a prince, but because the Prince of Ning was ordered by the Emperor to supervise the construction progress of the Daci'en Temple.

Li Dekang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works who was far away in the Love Shenjing, could not reach him, and the Prince of Ning who was in Jin Ling was Qin Ye's real direct supervisor, so naturally he was respectful.

And he, Jia Cong, a Fengyilang who copied scriptures, also had to report his work to the Prince of Yongning every five days, but he was just a foil for Qin Ye.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 134 =====

Yet he, Jia Cong, a mere Grade 8 official who copied scriptures, also had to report his work to Prince Yongning every five days; he was nothing more than a foil for Qin Ye.

(End of chapter)